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Y&R Alum Jay Bontatibus Passes Away After Lengthy Battle With Cancer At 52

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/IMDB

Sad news to report this evening in the soap world. Soap Opera Digest divulged that former Y&R actor Jay Bontatibus passed away on February 12 in Los Angeles after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Bontatibus is best known for his portrayal of Tony Visacardi on the CBS sudser, a role he played from 1998-2000.  In story, Tony fell in love with Megan Dennison (Ashley Jones) and was eventually was run over killed by her sister, Trisha Dennison (Sabryn Genet).

Later in his daytime career, Jay had recurring roles on General Hospital and Port Charles  (ex-Andy, 2002-03) and was last seen on the soaps back in 2008 on Days of our Lives in the role of Rob.

Bontatibus was married to current Days of our Lives casting director and former Y&R casting director,Marnie Saitta from 2002 to 2005. Family and friends have supported Jay through his difficult and heartbreaking ordeal and have thanked the fans for their support.

Send your well-wishes and condolences to Jay’s family, and your remembrances of his soap opera career, in the comment section below.

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How very sad to read this news. Cancer can be so unexpected in a younger person and always family and friends are hopeful for a healthy outcome for their loved one. I’m certain he felt very loved during his illness by those who knew him well and his fans near and far. God Bless his soul. Condolences to his family and friends.

RIP Jay, my prayers are with his family & friends

Jay was great on the Y&R and will be greatly missed.

So sorry for their loss. Sending prayers for God’s healing Grace on them.

May he rest in peace. But he was Tony Viscardi #2. And he played the role from 1999-2000. Nick Scotti was Tony Viscardi #1.

very sad,,, to young to leave this world,,
i remember his storyline very well…r,i,p.

Rip and he was a wonderful actor. Prayers to the family
Way to young!!

I only knew him on GH and Port Charles. I always enjoyed his portrayal of Andy. So sorry to hear about his passing. Far too young. RIP.

So sorry for your loss

Jay was a wonderful man and a complete professional as well. He was terrific on General Hospital & Port Charles, and I am lucky enough to have gotten to know him personally as well.

I still remember him on Y&R. Awesome. Loved him and Megan together. Hated when Trisha set it up to kill him. Sad about his battle with cancer; but his acting is remembered by a lot of appreciative people 🙂

So sad! Such a talented actor! Prayers for r his family.

My condolences to your family.

This is so damn sad. He was a handsome and talented actor and some kind of inherent sweetness came through his performance.
He’s left this world way too young.

So sad, what a loss to the Daytime Community. Jay was a wonderful actor and I loved him on Y&R. May he RIP.

So for your loss.

How sad. I remember him form Y&R. He had that indefinable quality that lit up the screen. So very handsome and talented. Condolences to his family and loved ones.

So Sad…RIP Jay Bontatibus:( Gone Way too young. Prayers for his family and friends & for all the Y&R Cast who worked so closely with him. Y&R Fan here since the 80’s.

I remember when Jay took over the role of Tony on Y&R and immediately liked him. I was so sad when his character met his tragic end on the show. I was happy to see him on GH as Andy Cappelli and hoped that character would stick around longer than he did.

Jay was a beautiful talent and I’m so sorry to hear about his passing. My condolences and prayers to his family and friends. May he now be at peace.

Such sad news ! My thoughts are with Jay and his family.

Praying for the family. It breaks my heart hearing this news. I watched Jay on The Young and the Restless. Also praying for friends and people that worked with him on the soap operas.

Thank you for bringing your talent and love to so many in this world. YOU WILL BE MISSED GREATLY.. RIP.

what a wonderful and talented man I never missed anything he did on tv I will miss him . my prayers go out to his family . rip my friend!!

My condolences to Jay’s loved ones and his Y&R family. A great talent gone way too soon.

Wow so sad he was a great actor he will be missed Rest in peace…

I don.t rember him

God Bless Jay.
-SD, CHS class of ’85

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’ Head Writers Spill Some Summer Tea and Preview What’s Next for Jason, Anna, Cassius and Carly

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This summer, Port Charles is set to sizzle with major returns, the culmination (or is it?) of the Sidwell/Cullum cold fusion story, the introduction of “Z” and so much more.

General Hospital Daytime Emmy Award-winning co-head writers, Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten served up the tea in a preview of what’s to come in the next few months to Soap Opera Digest as they discussed the main characters and stories that have viewers tuning-in.

First, on everyone’s minds is the imminent returns of Daytime Emmy winners and enduring fan favorites, Steve Burton (Jason) and Finola Hughes (Anna). According to Korte and Van Etten, the Jason we see next has changed, but is it for the better? Jason left the canvas in early March after being taken into custody by the WSB for allegedly shooting director, Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), when he actually covered for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) .

Courtesy/ABC

JASON HAS A NEW OUTLOOK

What we do know is Steve Burton first returns on the upcoming July 13th episode which is the soap’s 16,000th episode. In the story, the co-head scribes elaborate, “His (Jason’s) imprisonment has had a profound effect on his outlook, and how he intends to conduct the rest of his life. His decision will have big implications for Danny (Asher Antonyzyn), Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), the Quartermaines, Anna and especially Sonny (Maurice Benard).

ANNA FACES THE EFFECTS OF BEING GASLIGHTED

When Finola Hughes is first seen and back in action as Anna Devane, it’s a slippery slope for her, because for months, she has been locked up (and off-camera) in some mental clinic in France, after being gaslighted and drugged by Sidwell/Cullum and company. However, she has the intel on Cassius (Ryan Paevey)!

According to Korte and Van Etten, “We’ll begin to see the long-term effects of her imprisonment and gaslighting at Cullum’s hands. Any happy reunions with friends and family are colored by counsel from a less-than-reliable source. We’ll see echoes of Anna’s earliest incarnation as she returns to Port Charles with deadly intentions.”

Courtesy/ABC

CASSIUS GIG AS ‘NATHAN’ EXPIRES

Speaking of Cassius, the truth of his duplicity will come to light after posing as his twin brother, “Nathan” for months. The GH head writers share, “Cassius risks a clean getaway to say goodbye. Cassius’s life as Nathan comes crashing down, and we’ll learn whether his masquerade has changed him for the better. But in the end, his legacy will not be determined so much by his own decisions but by the choice of someone he leaves behind.” Is this the end of the line for Cassius, for now?

Then, GH has began to tease that WSB director and double agent, Ross Cullum has a superior known as Z.  Who will play Z?  Could Z be just as despicable or even more so than Cullum? Carly (Laura Wright) is on her way to do battle with the higher-up, as her feelings for Valentin (James Patrick Stuart), who has to sacrifice himself and his freedom to save everyone else, has grown.

Courtesy/ABC

CARLY AND Z

According to Elizabeth and Chris, “Carly takes it upon herself to save Josslyn not only from Cullum, but from the WSB itself – which means going head-to-head with the formidable Z. Carly means to get revenge on Brennan (Chris McKenna) for luring Josslyn (Eden McCoy) into the WSB. Any future with Valentin is at the mercy of the WSB… as well as the multitude of people back in Port Charles who can’t stand Valentin… and one who can – Anna Devane.”

And from the sounds of it, Britt when back at Port Charles and at her job at GH, will cross paths with newcomer Dr. Tristan Roberts (the incoming Dean Geyer) who doesn’t seem to be so keen on her (or is he?). Korte and Van Etten add, “It’s when Britt finds a new low that she receives a kind look from a lost love.” Is that Jason?

So, from what we previewed above, what are you most looking forward to this summer on GH? The return of Jason? The return of Anna? Sidwell and Cassius getting their comeuppance? Carly coming face to face with Z? What happens with Britt or something else? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

Jequan Jackson and Robert Gossett Set for Return to ‘General Hospital’

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This summer will be a busy one in Port Charles with newcomers and longtime favorites returning to the canvas in July. According to Soap Opera Digest, now you can add two more names to that list when two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford) and Jequan Jackson (Quinn).

As GH viewers know, Jequan Jackson was introduced as Quinn back in November of 2024, who was Kai’s (Jens Austin Astrup) PCU football teammate. In real-life, Mark Teschner (casting director, GH) and the soap’s producers auditioned Jackson for the role of Kai, but then cast him as Quinn instead.

The last time anyone saw or heard from the character was back in February of 2025 after he went in on Trina (Tabyana Ali), blaming her for his football career-ending injury that he sustained. Quinn believed it was because of her, and Kai not being focused on just being the star football player that he was, which led to the injury.

Photo: ABC

CAN MARSHALL TALK SOME SENSE INTO CURTIS?

Robert Gossett will be heading back on-screen as Marshall just in time as his son, Curtis (Donnell Turner) is need of some council, anger management, and help. Portia (Brook Kerr) is set to give birth to Curtis’ child. Meanwhile, Curtis is in a whole heap of legal trouble for punching out Dr. Isaiah Gannon (Sawandi Wilson) and potentially ending his surgical career due to the damage to the bone and the tendons in his hands.

The veteran actor has already racked up two Daytime Emmy Awards for his role as Marshall in consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, and in 2022, Robert was nominated in the Guest Performer category as well.

The timing of Quinn returning to the show is interesting. Does something happen to Kai since Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) knows he and Trina have evidence that she shot Drew? Is Quinn back to cause trouble for Kai and Trina, or is something else about to play out in the romance department? Stay tuned!

So, intrigued by the upcoming returns of Jequon Jackson and Robert Gossett to Genera Hospital? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

Phillip Boyd Makes His Debut on ‘Beyond the Gates’ in Recurring Role of Dr. Miles Arnold

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A new face emerged on today’s episode of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when actor, Phillip Boyd made his debut in the recurring role of Dr. Miles Arnold.

In story, Dr Arnold is a doctor and surgeon and on the June 16 episode, Miles had to sadly deliver some disappointing new. Neither of Eva’s (Ambyr Michelle) parents, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) or Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is a donor match for the life-saving transplant surgery Eva desperately needs.

Eva, among others, was injured in the tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and its devastating aftermath. She sustained critical injuries during the storm and was trapped with her half-sister, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon).

Courtesy/CBS

Phillip Boyd recently appeared on The McCord List, where he talked about his career between working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and said about his latest acting gig, “Dr, Miles Arnold works in the hospital. There’s something that happens, a natural disaster and a lot of the characters on the show are at this event and something tragic happens and they’re rushed to the hospital.”

The actor is also appearing in the final season of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black where he shows up in 7 episodes. Boyd previously appeared in short term roles on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. In primetime, he also played the role of Mitch on 90210 and played Oscar in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots for five-seasons.

So, so you think Beyond the Gates might make Phillip Boyd’s role bigger over time on the soap? Will Kat be the match that Eva needs? If not, who? Many people were ruled out on today’s episode. Drop you thoughts and picks for the donor via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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