For the Dukes of Hazzard actor, see Rick Hurst.
Rick Hearst
Birth dateJanuary 4, 1965 (age 61)
Birth placeHoward Beach, Queens, New York, U.S.
Birth nameRichard Charles Herbst
SpouseDonna Smoot (m. 1990)
Years active1988–present

Rick Hearst (born January 4, 1965) is an American actor. He is known for roles on Days of Our Lives as Scott "Scotty" Banning II, Guiding Light as Alan-Michael Spaulding, The Young and the Restless as Matt Clark, The Bold and the Beautiful as Whipple "Whip" Jones III, and General Hospital as Ric Lansing.

Career

His first film was Brain Damage, directed by Frank Henenlotter. He has appeared in Days of Our Lives (1989–1990) as Scott "Scotty" Banning II, Guiding Light (1990–1996) as Alan-Michael Spaulding and The Young and the Restless (2000–2001) as Matt Clark. In January 2002, it was announced Hearst had joined the cast of The Bold and the Beautiful as Whip Jones; he made his first appearance on February 13 of the same year.[1] In October of the same year, reports announced Hearst's exit from the role; that same month, it was announced Hearst was cast as Ric Lansing on ABC's General Hospital, making his first appearance on November 8, 2002.[2] In November 2005, he signed on for three additional years in the role.[3] In July 2008, following online speculation of his impending exit, Hearst assured fans it was his intention to continue his work in the role;[4] two months later, Hearst re-signed with the serial again to remain in the role "for the foreseeable future".[5] In April 2009, Hearst was demoted to recurring status;[6] he remained in the role until the following month, when it was announced he would return to The Bold and the Beautiful.[7] In May 2011, Hearst was dropped to recurring status and made his final appearance in the role June 17.[8]

In January 2014, it was announced Hearst would reprise the role of Ric on General Hospital, returning during the February 24 episode.[9] He exited the role in 2016. Following his exit, Hearst made episodic appearances on primetime soaps, such as Dynasty in 2018 and Ambitions in 2019.[10][11]

In July 2024, it was announced Hearst would again reprise the role of Ric on General Hospital.[12] His first day back on-set was July 29, with Ric's return airing on August 22, 2024.[13] He will serve as series announcer on the audio drama Montecito, beginning April 22, 2025.[14][15]

Hearst also had a recurring guest-star role on Beverly Hills, 90210, and has guest-starred on other TV series such as Jenny and Pacific Blue. In 2000, he starred as "Rocky" in the theater production of Aven'U Boys with Danica McKellar.

Hearst has been nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award seven times, winning for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series" in 2004 and 2007 for his General Hospital role, after previously winning "Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series" for Guiding Light in 1991. He has also been nominated for four Soap Opera Digest Awards, winning "Outstanding Villain" for The Young and the Restless in 2001. In 2005, Hearst filmed the lead role in Carpool Guy, directed by Corbin Bernsen.

Personal life

Hearst has been married to wife Donna Smoot since 1990. They share two sons, born in 1992 and 1995, respectively.[16]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleOther notes
1988Brain DamageBrian
1989Crossing the LineRick Kagan
Days of Our LivesScott "Scotty" Banning II #31989–90
1990Guiding LightAlan-Michael Spaulding #21990–96
1997Beverly Hills, 90210Alan Black3 episodes
Alright AlreadyFrame Designer1 episode
JennyZak1 episode
1998Maggie WintersLance Rubacky
Pacific BlueFrank Kovac2 episodes; 1998-90
2000CharmedTroxa1 episode
2001The Young and the RestlessMatt Clark2000-01
Dead SexyBellhopas Richard Hearst
2002General HospitalRic Lansing2002–09; 2014–16, 2024-present
The Bold and the BeautifulWhipple "Whip" Jones III2002; 2009–11
2003SoapTalkHimselfGuest appearance
The ViewHimselfGuest appearance
PyramidHimselfGuest appearance
20041 Day with...HimselfGuest appearance
The Oprah Winfrey ShowHimselfGuest appearance
The Wayne Brady ShowHimselfGuest appearance
The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy AwardsHimself
2005The 32nd Annual Daytime Emmy AwardsHimselfPresenter
Carpool GuyJoel
2010CastleDr. Elliot Lefcourt308: Murder Most Fowl
2017Daytime DivasTed Windsor4 episodes
2018DynastySenator Paul DanielsGuest appearance

References

  1. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 24, 2002). "Former Y&R Bad Guy Joining B&B". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  2. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (October 27, 2002). "Former CBS soap star to join ABC's GH". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  3. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (November 17, 2005). "Hearst Signs New Contract". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  4. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (August 19, 2008). "Hearst rumored out, but actor says he wants to remain with GH". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  5. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (September 19, 2008). "Rick Hearst signs a new GH contract". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  6. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (April 6, 2009). "Rick Hearst, Megan Ward first casualties of 'impending bloodbath'". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 24, 2009). "Rick Hearst is back at work on B&B". Soap Central. India: Absolute Sports. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (May 19, 2011). "Rick Hearst dropped to recurring on B&B". Soap Central. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  9. ^ SOD (January 24, 2014). "Exclusive! Rick Hearst Back to GH!". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Fairman, Michael (November 11, 2017). "Rick Hearst Lands Role On CW's Dynasty Reboot!". Michael Fairman TV. United States: The Michael Fairman Company. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Fairman, Michael (December 3, 2019). "TONIGHT: Rick Hearst Makes His Ambitions Debut". Michael Fairman TV. United States: The Michael Fairman Company. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
  12. ^ Sloane, Stephanie (July 25, 2024). "Rick Hearst Sets Long-Awaited General Hospital Return as Ric Lansing". TV Insider. United States: SHE Media. Archived July 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  13. ^ Levinsky, Mara (July 25, 2024). "Rick Hearst Returns to General Hospital as Ric Lansing!". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived July 25, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Daytime Confidential Staff (April 8, 2025). "Star-Studded Audio Soap Montecito to Launch April 22". Daytime Confidential. United States: Arena Group. Archived April 8, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  15. ^ Fairman, Michael (April 8, 2025). "EXCLUSIVE: Montecito a New Audio Soap Opera Featuring Daytime Favorites Set to Make Its Debut". Michael Fairman TV. United States: The Michael Fairman Company. Archived April 8, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  16. ^ "Rick Hearst Archives". Soap Opera Digest. United States: A360media. ISSN 0164-3584. Archived January 19, 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 18, 2025.