James Read Exits ‘Days of Our Lives’ After a Fabulous Run!

James Read has exited the popular soap opera Days of Our Lives, marking the end of his character, Clyde Weston.

In a dramatic turn on the episode aired December 11, Clyde Weston met his demise when Catherina Greene (portrayed by Susan Elena Matus), retaliated against him for the turmoil he inflicted upon her family, ultimately shooting him dead.

Reflecting on his time with the show, Read shared with Deadline, “It’s been an incredible journey, and whether it continues or not is up to the whims of the soap opera deities! I’ve always thought of Days as more than just a workplace—it’s like a family. I’ve cherished every moment since I joined the cast a decade ago.”

Read first stepped into the role of Clyde Weston in 2014, a character crafted by writers Ken Corday, Greg Meng, and Lisa de Cazotte. Clyde is the distant father to Ben Rogers and the stepfather to Jordan Ridgeway. Over the years, Read has dipped in and out of this antagonistic role.

Prior to his tenure on the Peacock/NBC series, Read built a diverse acting portfolio on television, appearing in series like Cheers, Trapper John M.D., the North & South miniseries, Murder She Wrote, Profiler, and 7th Heaven. He is perhaps most familiar to the Generation X demographic for his role as Elle’s father in Legally Blonde.

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In a 2022 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Read expressed his initial thoughts on the longevity of his character Clyde, saying, “I didn’t think Clyde would stay in Salem for very long. I imagined it being a six-month stint, which I was fine with since I had never worked in daytime TV before and was unsure if it would suit me. It was an opportunity to dip my toes in and see if I enjoyed the environment.”