On this day in 1982, actress Renee Jones made her soap opera debut on Days of our Lives, playing the part of Nikki Wade. Jones played the role until 1983 and would return to the serial and play a different character in 1993, Lexie Carver. She played the part until 2012 and retired, saying she was unhappy with acting. Since leaving the show, she has lived a largely reclusive and private life, making no public appearances.
In 2009 - Thom Bierdz returned to the role of Phillip Chancellor on The Young and the Restless. Not only did his character return from the dead but, Phillip also revealed to his family that he is gay. In real life, Bierdz is an accomplished artist and travels the country painting live for various charities.
In 2013 - Actor Cory Monteith, star of the FOX television series, Glee (Finn Hudson), passed away in Vancouver. Monteith long battled substance abuse and had completed rehab just months earlier after the cast and crew of the show staged an intervention. He died of a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol in a hotel room at the age of 31.