After weeks of speculation and whispers on message boards, a spokesperson for As the World Turns has finally confirmed that Paul Leyden (Simon Frasier) will be returning to the show next month.
"It's going to be a great escape for me to go back and enjoy the culture of a real city," Leyden told the magazine.
Leyden joined the cast of As the World Turns in February 2000. He remained with the show through 2003, earning a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2002 for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He has returned twice to the show since leaving for short-term engagements.
Since leaving As the World Turns, Leyden has made numerous guest appearances on primetime shows, including Ghost Whisperer and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
While Leyden's first appearance since June 2004 will miss the May Sweeps period; the actor is set to return on June 16. The length of his return is not yet known, but a setside source hints that Leyden should remain in Oakdale through the end of the year.