Steinmetz, Burkhardt Out
by Dan J Kroll
Posted Wednesday, September 13, 2006 12:18:29 PM

Brandi Burkhardt is out as Passions' Siren. What are your thoughts?  I'm glad. Having a mermaid as a central character is ridiculous.   87%   I liked Burkhardt's work, but I think Siren has run out of purpose.   6%   I'm disappointed. I thought Burkhardt was doing a fine as a mermaid.   3%   I actually would have rather seen the role recast to give it new direction.   2%   I have no opinion about the decision to return Siren to the sea.   2%   Other   0%     Poll Posted: September 13th, 2006

The Passions cast will soon shrink by several members as the show phases out some of its characters and drops some of its contract players to recurring status. The move may come as a response to a mandate issued to the NBC soap that it dramatically pare its budget.


Richard Steinmetz (Martin Fitzgerald) has been dropped from his contract and placed on recurring status. While the official word is that the actor could appear again in the future, Steinmetz seems resigned to the fact that his days with Passions are done.


"I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with some of the best [actresses] in the business," Steinmetz said of co-stars Leigh Taylor-Young (Katherine Crane) and Eva Tamargo (Pilar Lopez-Fitzgerald).


A final airdate for Steinmetz was not made available.


Meanwhile, newcomer Brandi Burkhardt (Siren) has been let go. The actress, who joined the Passions cast on April 21st, will exit later this month. The introduction of a mermaid to the supernatural-tilting soap was heralded as one of the most shocking plot lines in soap opera history. However, fans seemed to tire of the plot device and the writing team has decided to phase out the character.


Burkhardt last airs on September 25th. The role of Siren will not be recast.


In other exit news, temporary Chris fill-in Marsh Mokhtari will leave Passions this month. Mokhtari was called in to sub for Adrian Wilson (Chris Boothe) when the actor was briefly hospitalized for an undisclosed ailment. Wilson returns to the show on September 21st.

---

---

RELATED STORYPassions is renewed for another year, but at a cost.
Share this story with friends, family or the world.

SEND TO A FRIEND Email this article to a friend.
PRINTABLE VERSION View a printer friendly version of this article

---

Related Information
Daily Recaps: Miss an episode? Read seven year of our Daily Recaps -- for free! About the Actor: Learn more about Richard Steinmetz. Who's Who: Read a biography of Martin Fitzgerald. More Archived News: Review more past PS news headlines. News and More: Return to soapcentral.com's PS FrontPage.