News
Robert Newman Reveals He’s Wrapped His Run as Ashland Locke on The Young and the Restless
This week on The Young and the Restless, viewers witnessed Nick (Joshua Morrow) punching the lights out of Ashland (Robert Newman) to save his sister, Victoria (Amelia Heinle). Problem is, Ashland fell and hit his head, and the Newman children thought he was dead, but then, his body somehow disappeared from the scene of the altercation. Tune in to today’s Y&R for more on that!
Now, Robert Newman has clarified his status with Y&R, revealing in a newly posted ‘thank you’ video to the fans, and the cast and crew at the CBS soap opera, that he has finished his contract and is off the series.
Photo: JPI
In his farewell message, Robert expressed: “Today, I just want to talk for a minute to The Young and the Restless fans. I think it’s appropriate for me now to finally be able to say thank you so much for letting me be a part of the legacy of this great show. Just to clarify, the scenes you saw the other day, Ashland dying at the hands of Nick, were in fact my last scenes on the show … and the end of my contract. Those were shot about five weeks ago.”
The former Guiding Light alum where he played Joshua Lewis, also took a moment to share that he is now back on the East Coast with his family. He went on to say,”I did want to take a minute to say thank you to you, and also to just do a shout-out to the cast and crew of The Young and the Restless who were just fantastic, just wonderful people to work with. I couldn’t have been happier about it. I very much enjoyed playing the character, and I hope you enjoyed seeing me in the role. I know for some of you, it was a tough transition from Richard’s (Burgi) work, but I really, really enjoyed playing the character and working with these fantastic people.”
But as soap operas go, and the curious way Ashland’s on-screen departure came to pass, Newman left fans with a cliffhanger, sharing, “Maybe I’ll see you again one day; you never know!”
Check out Robert’s video message below.
Now let us know, Sad to hear Robert is done at Y&R? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Y&R is very frustrating lately with the lack of story payoffs and wasted potential. Robert Newman was wasted as Ashland, and all the potential the character had vanished. I thought for sure the writers would pair Ashland and Diane and have them go after both the Newman and Abbott families (and companies), which would have been great drama. When that didn’t happen, I was certain Ashland would die in a “whodunit” murder storyline which could have incorporated so many characters.
But nope, instead, Ashland hits his head on the ground, we think he dies, but then he disappears… only to return at some point down the road? Let’s hope not. I just wish this story and character had more of a payoff, just like how I wish Rey’s death led to more. Another character with so much potential wasted, I wanted his death to actually mean something. I’m not sure why the show is written so blandly, but it’s really disappointing.
This is terrible news ! He was one of the only good characters left on the show . Unfortunately they didn’t know how to write a true villain . I know I’ve been saying this for some time but My God This Show Sucks !!! Please please please someone at CBS fire Josh Griffith . He is and has been the worst head writer to ever be in charge of this show . I think everyone needs to check out Young and The Restless clips online . There’s a huge difference !! Fire Josh G now !!!!
Totally
If your new to the show you wouldn’t give it a second look. Of all my family and friends who watched religiously forever I’m the only one left who still loyally watches just hoping Griffith and Morina get the boot
Say what? No offense but I have no idea what you are talking about.
Do you think that you could do a better job writing the show?
Yes! My cat could do a better job writing this show!
And yet you’re watching it? This seems to be one of those times that the advice to ‘get a life’ really applies since you’ve got nothing better to do than watch a show that you hate.
This is really too bad. It was so nice to see a new character interact with one from a legacy family instead of the same old merry go round of pairng up two characters that have been on the show forever. He and Victoria had a lot of chemistry and they could have had the characters try and out do each other for a long time to come. I really kept hoping that their fights would end passionately instead of in this tragedy.
Let’s be honest after Richard Burghi got fired and was replaced, The character took a very dark one note tone. Newman and Amelia’s chemistry as Victoria and Ashland were gone. It was almost father daughter. Hopefully one day Burghi can return as the real Ashland. Shame, He and Amelia had so much potential.
I totally agree! I love Robert Newman, but I didn’t feel the chemistry between them either. Y&R is in desperate need of a writer change.
You are such a class act guy Mr. Newman. Thank you for the time you put in on Young and Restless. I thought you were better and better in your role as Ashland. Maybe you will do a stint as Ashland’s ghost in the future. Enjoy those
grandbabies.
So, all those scenes involving Adam and Ashland joining forces against the Newmans were yet MORE wasted time? Way to go, powers that be.
Sad day for Robert Newman fans so much potential wasted. I wanted to see locke ness monster and only got groveling Ashland.
I loved The Guiding Light (Josh & Reba) and loved seeing you on Y&R. All the best for your future Robert ❤️
I loved seeing Robert Newman as well. When I first seem him I said Josh oh my goodness You are right Joshua and Reba they played their part well. How to see you again
A wonderful actor. I watched him for years on As The World Turns. It seemed strange to see him being such a tough business man and person. It just goes to show what a natural he truly is. Hope to see him pop up again in other shows. Best of luck to him!
Cathy
Don’t think he’s ever been on ATWT, I think you meant GL, where he was for years.
I for one will miss him on Y&R. I admit missing Burgi at first but then it felt like we had Joshua Lewis back again, even with the lack of chemestry between he and Victoria, I enjoyed him in all his scenes. I wish him the best life has to offer and know he will be giving pleasure to people for years to come.
What a waste lots of storyline potential here the set up in the park with Harrison was nauseating if you want us to like Kyle that wasn’t the way to do it and the character of Victoria has become such an ice princess she’s unwatchable outside of diane Phyllis Nick and Sharon and ally and noah the rest is a snore
Good job Robert. Now can GH please hire him as a recast Dr Jeff Webber?
Newman lives on the east coast and insisted on only a one-year contract with Y&R. Unless Frank wants someone short-term, I don’t see Newman playing Jeff. Heck, despite Elizabeth mentioning the character, I’m not sure we’ll ever see Jeff back in PC.
Good idea but GH already has too many talented actors who are underused!
This is kind of a side topic. I thought Robert did great in the role. I want to talk more about the writing.
Just 4 years ago, Victoria was being manhandled by JT, and Nikki clubbed him and “killed” him. The body disappeared
Flash forward now, Victoria was being manhandled by Ashland, and Nick clubbed and “killed” him. The body disappeared.
Are they just recycling old scripts? They had a classic whodunit on their hands with half the main cast having motive to kill Ashland.
It seems when Richard burgi left they didn’t know what direction to go with Ashland Diane and Ashland would have been great it fell flat Ashland seemed to be joining forces with Adam and nothing. Chelsea seemed to have a strange Rey obsession upon his death nothing the new faith and Moses are so nothing they seem to be gone chance is nothing and Devon needs to be gone just absolutely boring. Sometimes we get nice character development and many times missed opportunities
Why didn’t you sign up for a longer time on the show??
You are a great actor! God bless you
I had gotten use to Ashland being in control at all times. I know princess Victoria stripped him of everything. But it’s hard for me to believe he would so utterly fall apart at the end. Starting with trashing his hotel room. So I think his ending was sloppy, lazy, and out of character for Ashland on the writers part. But Robert played the scenes magnificently.
Wow. Josh Griffith’s writing was starting to get just a LITTLE bit better…and he pulls this lead-balloon. What a let down. All that Ashland—revenge talk, and…NOTHING.
Robert Newman breathed new life into the formerly somnolent, redundant and tiresome Newman family. The writers should have had Ashland seek vengeance through the strategic corporate raiding of Newman Industries. Instead, they turn him into Freddy Kruger and a repeat of JT’s storyline. Both Robert and his character deserved better than this. Robert is the best actor Y&R has seen in quite some time.
I completely agree. Robert Newman brought life to the redundant Newman family stories. He was a credible and interesting character who combat the Newmans for once.
I don’t understand how they ruined this story. I am happy that Ashland went missing, so I am hoping he is alive and can return.
Actually surprised he took the job he lives back east has kept busy over the years with plays etc . He sounds thrilled to be back home and he will get to skip that awful commute . Life is too short to not be with the ones you love and he is already working again!
So sad he is gone. Great actor. I liked him with Victoria.
Burgi and Newman were both great in different versions of Ashland. When Burgi was replaced, they should have went a little younger with the new Ashland. Both versions of the Ashlands seemed awkward being in a romantic relationship with Victoria. Robert Newman was fantastic in his final scenes with Victoria and then Nick. Since Ashland is gone, lets have Adam reach out to Ian Ward. He really new how to get under Victor and Nicki’s skin!
Please please please someone at CBS fire Josh Griffith. He is and has been the worst head writer to ever be in charge of this show!
Wake Up CBS get rid of Josh he’s awful and I said this since he let go Gina T.
When BB is getting more watchers than Y&R this should be your wake call. The storylines are so 100% more interesting at BB than at Y&R. And I feel bad for the cast their so talented but not strong leader. Boring storylines and all yet over at GH they are rocking it!
What a treat it was to see fantastic Robert Newman take over the role and give this character dimension that went far beyond the writing. These east coast, theatre-trained actors inject such life into the west coast shows. He’s the reason I tuned back in after giving up on Y&R a couple of years ago. It was a treat while it lasted!
I would really like to redirect this conversation to the aftermath of Ashland’s death.Im so sick of Victor playing God. He just makes things worse and this time they might not have enough room at the jail for everyone involved and the others being complicit just by knowing what really happened. When arrested I can just hear Victor saying, I just did what I did to protect my children. He is too much. He needs to retire,I’ve always been a big Victor fan, but this is too much, jeopardizing his whole family.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Troy Lennon Appel Makes His Debut as ‘Hudson’: Is He a New Love Interest for Josslyn? Baby Phoebe’s Bio-Dad?
Towards the conclusion of the Thursday, July 30 episode of General Hospital, Troy Lennon Appel made his debut asa “mysterious and shady businessman” going by the name of “Hudson.”
The person who first saw Hudson was none other than Ethan Lovett, who is now played by another soap newcomer Christian Howard, who replaced the exited Nathan Dean in the role.
From the looks of things, Ethan was not at all happy to see Hudson at the Metro Court Pool. It looks as though Ethan doesn’t even want Hudson to know he is in the same town. So, how do these two know each other? Is Hudson the father of baby Phoebe? Is Hudson possibly a Quartermaine? Like Dillon Quartermaine … or someone else from the Q clan? Stay tuned.
Photo: ABC
TROY LENNON APPEL JOINS KELLY KRUGER AS THE LATEST ARRIVALS ON-SCREEN TO GH
Meanwhile, for his premiere airdate, which also marked the first on-screen episode of Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin, Troy spoke to TV Insider and shared a bit about the character he’s playing and more.
Appel expressed, “Hudson is a shady businessman, and you’re not clear as to his motives, He goes one way, but then leans the other, and so he kind of keeps you on your toes. So far, what I’ve played, this guy is way cooler than I am, so it’s been so cool to play him. But he’s just been a force to be reckoned with so far, and I’m not even entirely sure as to all of his intentions in Port Charles. I’m excited to see where his journey goes, because I’m very lucky to be playing this character.”
As GH casting lore goes, Troy actually read for the role of Joe Fitzpatrick that went to Jonathan Bennett, but the producers were impressed by him that they created the role of Hudson with Appel specifically in mind. And stand by … according to Appel, he screen-tested with Daytime Emmy-winner, Eden McCoy (Josslyn).
So, is Hudson the new man for Josslyn? All Appel would say was, “I did a chemistry read with Eden much later when I kind of cemented that I was going to be playing another character, and it all just happened and I’m insanely grateful that it did.”
With Troy Lennon Appel, Kelly Kruger, Christian Howard, and Dean Geyer (whose character of Tristan was revealed to have ties with the WSB) all appearing on the latest episode of General Hospital, was it jarring for you, or are you excited for what’s to come? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez (ex-Spencer Cassadine, General Hospital) has his next role lined-up with the casting news that Chavez has joined the ensemble cast of Paramount’s remake of the 1981 thriller Possession.
The OG version of the feature film revolved around a woman who begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something much more sinister.
Deadline broke the casting news of Chavez boarding the remake in addition to Emory Cohen and Madeline Brewer. Possession stars Margaret Qualley, Callum Turner, Paul Dano and Diego Calva.
Courtesy/ABC
Since exiting General Hospital in 2024, Chavez played Lyle Menendez in Netflix’s Monster, appeared as Father Charlie Mayhew in the FX horror series Grotesquerie, and has had numerous modeling spots for brands such as Nike and appeared in the stage play Casino Real at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Currently on General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali), the former girlfriend of Spencer Cassadine, is being stalked by an unknown person with a short list of suspects. Spencer’s name came into the equation by some GH viewers on social media, since the character supposedly perished and went overboard along with Esme Prince (Avery Pohl).
As to if and when the character of Spencer resurfaces remains to be seen, and if General Hospital will recast the part.
Meanwhile, what are your thoughts on Nicholas Alexander Chavez’s latest film role? Do you want GH to recast the role of Spencer Cassadine? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
News
Erika Slezak to Celebrate 80th Birthday; How Fans Can Share a Special Memory and Message to the Soap Opera Icon
The one and only Erika Slezak, whose classic and moving portrayal of Victoria Lord on One Life to Live captured all of our hearts for decades and who thrilled us with her guest stint on General Hospital in 2025 as Ronnie Bard is about to turn 80-years-old on August 5.
To help celebrate and to make this birthday extra special for the six-time Daytime Emmy-winning icon and her fans, Walter Miller, Erika’s fan club president and website administrator, has revealed that you now have a chance to wish Erika happy birthday or a share a special memory of her from her time on One Life to Live, General Hospital or you’re own personal experience.
All of the messages will be compiled and shared with Erika. The first collection of messages will be presented to her on August 5, but Walter notes that he is accepting submissions through August 14 and will include those in a later collection to pass on to Erika.
Photo: ABC
AUGUST IS SPECIAL MONTH FOR ERIKA SLEZAK
Not only is August a special month with Erika’s birthday, but Erika and her longtime husband, Brian Davies will celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary on August 4.
To send your birthday greeting and message to Erika, click here For more on Erika, make sure to check out her official website erikaslezak.com
It was back in 1971 that soap opera fans first saw Erika in the role of Viki on One Life to Live, when she took over the part from Joanne Dorian who has replaced the original Viki, Gillian Spencer. Through many storylines, marriages, and of course, Viki’s battle with DID (Dissociative Identify Disorder), Erika got to portray an array of emotions and characters until One Life went off the air in 2012. She then appeared in the Prospect Park revival of the series in 2013.
While Erika continued making guest appearances in primetime in episodics such as The Resident and Blue Bloods, she returned last year to ABC daytime playing the sister of the late Monica Quartermaine (the late Leslie Charleson). The door was left open for the character of Ronnie to return one day.
So, make sure to send your birthday greetings to Erika through the link above and tell us below your messages honoring Erika on her upcoming 80th birthday via the comment section.
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Troy Lennon Appel Makes His Debut as ‘Hudson’: Is He a New Love Interest for Josslyn? Baby Phoebe’s Bio-Dad?
‘The Young and the Restless’ Eric Braeden Talks Daytime Emmy Nomination, State of Nikki and Victor’s Marriage, and His Co-Stars (Exclusive)
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
Erika Slezak to Celebrate 80th Birthday; How Fans Can Share a Special Memory and Message to the Soap Opera Icon
‘The Young and the Restless’ Names New Co-Head Writers: Jamey Giddens and Dan O’Connor
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie is Disowned By The Logan Sisters
‘General Hospital’ Writes Maxie Jones and Her Family Off The Show
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Alum Colin Cassidy to Appear in Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Shards’
‘Beyond the Gates’ Karla Mosley and B&B’s Lawrence Saint-Victor Share Their Thoughts on Being First-Time Daytime Emmy Nominees Together (Exclusive)
‘The Young and the Restless’ Eric Braeden Talks Daytime Emmy Nomination, State of Nikki and Victor’s Marriage, and His Co-Stars (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Drew and Willow Have Their Long-Awaited Showdown; Only She Gains the Upperhand and the End of Their Marriage
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Drew Emerges from Nina’s Murder Attempt Ready to Confront Willow
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: A Shocking Turn Events with Drew Could Spell Curtains for Nina and Willow!
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