ABC Daytime has confirmed what Robin Strasser (Dorian Lord Hayes) originally announced a few weeks ago on her hotline. She will not be renewing her contract when it expires in February. Strasser left for California on December 17, but will be returning in January to wrap up Dorian's storyline.

According to the actress, "because [Executive Producer] Jill Farren Phelps asked me to put a nice spin on Dorian's leaving Llanview, I will come back to accommodate what she and the writers asked me to do. I thought I'd be working for December and January, but [I will return for] the middle of January... over a period of three weeks."

In a recent People article, Strasser described her departure as "the right one, but that doesn't make it easy." She's not shutting the door to returning to daytime someday, but currently wants to spend more time promoting health issues, especially menopause awareness. In fact, she has spent the past five years writing and producing a set of three videos called Menopause: S.O.S. Sharing Options & Support, which is a "comprehensive, educational and informational video encyclopedia focusing on the entire experience of menopause."

When asked about her departure from the show, Robert S. Woods (Bo) replied, "It takes the wind out of my sails. It really depresses me." Erika Slezak (Viki) addedd, "I think it is remarkably brave of her to go off. If I had the guts, I don't think I'd follow her today, but eventually I probably will."

According to ABC Daytime, there are currently no plans to recast the role of Dorian after Robin Strasser's departure. Since OLTL tapes approximately three weeks in advance, Strasser's last airdate will be sometime in February.