Rick Hearst and Sean Kanan Reunite!
Soap stars and old friends Rick Hearst and Sean Kanan haven’t seen each other in quite a while, but they were able to catch up when they reunited recently! “Rick and I first met in about 1988,” Kanan revealed on Instagram. “He was a waiter at a neighborhood restaurant I frequented and I was a yet-to-be-employed wannabe actor.”
In his own social media post on their reunion, Hearst confirmed that the pair have known each other for over three decades now. “Aside from looking like his older brother here,” he joked of his selfie with Kanan, “I think age has been kind to us. We met as aspiring actors when I was working in a restaurant on the Sunset Strip. Sean would come in after the lunch rush when it was quiet and we’d wax poetic about our dreams of making our mark in the entertainment industry.”
Hearst was the first to hit daytime with his role of Scotty Banning on DAYS OF OUR LIVES from 1989-90. He then went on to play Alan-Michael Spaulding on CBS sudser GUIDING LIGHT from 1990-96. From 2000-01, he could be seen on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS as Carter Mills, who was revealed to be the villainous Matt Clark with a new face. Kanan played Jude Cavanaugh on SUNSET BEACH in 1999 and then began stirring up trouble as Deacon Sharpe on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL in 2000. This is where the actors were finally able to work together, as Hearst joined the cast of B&B in 2002 as Whip Jones and the two characters fought over Brooke!
“We’ve run parallel careers with one another,” Hearst noted, “intersecting for what was one of the most effortless and fun experiences I’ve had on a show playing rivals at B&B.” The two actors both appeared on GENERAL HOSPITAL, but Hearst’s run as Ric Lansing did not overlap with Kanan’s portrayal of A.J. Quartermaine on the soap. “Who would have guessed that we would both go on to work on GH and B&B where we played rivals,” Kanan marveled.
“You’re a true warrior, K9,” Hearst declared. “So great seeing you today. Until we cross paths again, pal.” And Kanan returned the sentiment. “He has a heart of gold,” he said of his longtime pal, “and although we hadn’t seen one another in years, we picked up like old times. Old friends with tremendous shared history are a real gift in life.”
Hopefully, the next reunion between these longtime friends won’t be quite as far away. “So great seeing you today, my friend, albeit too short,” Hearst concluded. “Distance and time are fleeting and temporary. Friends last a lifetime. Next time, dinner at Nonna’s house!” Sounds like a plan!
