Fans of The Young and the Restless know James Hyde for his role as bad boy Jeremy Stark, which he began playing on the CBS soap in 2022. But long before stepping into the world of Genoa City, Hyde had already made a name for himself in daytime television—on another network entirely. From 1999 until its final episode in 2008, Hyde starred as Sam Bennett on NBC’s Passions, a role that cemented his status as a soap opera favorite. The show’s final chapter aired on DirecTV’s The 101 Network, but the memories it left behind still live on for its devoted fans.
Just this past week, Hyde sent Passions viewers into a wave of nostalgia when he shared a special reunion photo. “Got to go and have lunch and collaborate with my two fellow Passions actors and friends,” Hyde wrote in his post, before teasing fans with the promise of something exciting ahead: “Stay tuned, more to come.”
In the snapshot, Hyde was joined by two beloved former castmates—Juliet Mills, who played the nearly immortal witch Tabitha Lenox, and Rodney Van Johnson, known for his long-running role as Harmony’s T.C. Russell. For longtime viewers, seeing these three together again was like stepping into a time machine back to the early 2000s.
The reaction from fans was nothing short of heartwarming. Social media lit up with comments filled with joy, memories, and plenty of calls for more. One fan, Dave Jordan, summed up the sentiment perfectly: “I love this! It’s 1999 all over again!” Another, Kirsten Hollenbeck, could hardly contain her excitement, writing, “This is everything! Please, please come back to us.”
While it’s unlikely that Passions will get the reboot so many viewers are hoping for, Hyde’s post has sparked curiosity about whether this reunion might lead to a new project featuring the trio. Soap fans know that reunions like this sometimes hint at special appearances, collaborations, or even creative ventures outside the world of daytime dramas.
Here’s a fun tidbit for Young and the Restless fans—Rodney Van Johnson actually has a surprising connection to Genoa City. Before his NBC Passions role, he appeared on Y&R as Trey Stark, the estranged husband of Malcolm’s fiancée, Callie. While his Trey character has no relation to Hyde’s Jeremy Stark, it’s still a fascinating bit of soap opera trivia.
Johnson’s career didn’t stop there. He also had a role on Port Charles and, more recently, popped up on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2023. There, he played Attorney Russell, who represented the infamous Sheila Carter—and interestingly enough—shared the same last name as his Passions character.
This unexpected reunion serves as a reminder of the special bond soap actors form over years of working together, and how much joy it brings fans to see their favorites reconnect. Whether or not this lunch leads to an on-screen project, the excitement it generated shows just how strong the Passions fan base remains—even over a decade after the show ended.
So, while we may not be booking a trip back to Harmony anytime soon, one thing’s for sure—soap fans will be keeping their eyes peeled for more “blast-from-the-past” moments like this one. Stay tuned, because as James Hyde hinted… there’s more to come.
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