Jere Burns Joins ‘Y&R’ for ‘Dear John’ Reunion Amid Diane’s Disappearance

Jere Burns will make his daytime debut on The Young and the Restless for a multi-episode arc beginning on Monday, June 15.

Burns, a prolific performer who has appeared in over 100 screen credits, is making his first appearance on a soap opera. His recent work includes the Hulu series, Death and Other Details, and a recurring role on CBS’ FBI.

He will play the newly created role of Dr. Laurence Markham and will share scenes with Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins). The pairing marks a reunion for the actors, who previously worked together on the NBC sitcom, Dear John, which aired from 1988-1992.

Paramount Television/courtesy Everett Collection

The new character’s introduction comes as Diane’s whereabouts remain one of the show’s biggest unanswered questions. She has been off-screen for weeks following a fallout with husband Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman). Their marriage hit a rough patch after Patty Williams (Stacy Haiduk) drugged Jack as part of Victor Newman’s (Eric Braeden) revenge scheme, leading Diane to find Jack in bed with his ex-wife. Although Jack later tried to repair the damage, Diane moved out of the Abbott mansion and has kept her distance ever since.

The last time viewers saw Diane in Genoa City was on May 14, when she left Jack a voicemail, “Hi, it’s me. I haven’t stopped feeling hurt or angry or confused, but Jack, I really wanna find a way to move forward…. I love you, Jack, and I know that you love me and I’m just really hoping that’s all that matters.” That voicemail marked Diane’s last known contact before she seemingly disappeared, whether voluntarily or became entangled in Patty’s latest scheme.

Howard Wise/jpistudios.com

Despite being missing on Y&R, Diane has appeared this week on Beyond the Gates as part of the crossover between the two shows. As a result of differing production timelines between the two series, Diane and Jack are attending a fundraiser together in Fairmont Crest, even as her disappearance remains unresolved in Genoa City. With Burns now entering the story, viewers should finally get answers about what happened to Diane — and who, if anyone, is responsible.

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When TV Insider visited the set for the crossover event, Walters hinted at the Abbott family drama while explaining Diane’s presence in Fairmont Crest. She’s there in support of Martin [Richardson, Brandon Claybon], and I don’t know — maybe she’s looking around since she and Jack are having marital problems,” she winked. “She’s got some options.”

As Diane’s storyline moves back to the forefront, Walters is happy to be sharing the screen again with a familiar face. “I loved working with Jere Burns on Dear John, so I was thrilled when I was told that we’d be working together again on Y&R,” Walters tells TV Insider exclusively. “He was a fantastic scene partner in this upcoming story arc.”

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