Young and the Restless fans, brace yourselves for a shocking revelation—Ian Ward is not dead! That’s right, Ray Wise, the brilliant actor behind the notorious Ian, has officially confirmed that his character still has unfinished business in Genoa City.
Ian Ward has been one of the most unforgettable villains in Y&R history. From his first appearance in 2014 as the sinister cult leader who tormented Nikki and Paul, he left an undeniable mark on the show. Wise’s portrayal was so compelling that he won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Performance in 2015. Just when we thought we’d seen the last of him, Ian made a shocking comeback in November 2024, stirring up even more trouble.
This time, Ian wasn’t working alone—he joined forces with Jordan, another cunning troublemaker with a dark agenda. However, trust among villains is never foolproof, and their alliance crumbled quickly. Jordan took drastic measures, even going as far as poisoning herself to manipulate Claire, while Ian’s showdown with the Newman family appeared to end in his demise. Viewers watched in shock as Ian was shot in the chest, seemingly putting an end to his reign of terror.
But as with any great soap opera twist, Ian had one last trick up his sleeve. Just when it seemed like the end, his eyes suddenly opened while being transported in an ambulance. That moment proved he still had more fight left in him. “You can’t keep a good villain down,” Wise teased in a recent interview with Soap Opera Digest. He expressed his excitement that the door has been left open for Ian’s return in the future. 
While Ian survived the gunshot, Wise clarified that his character’s time in Genoa City might be on hold for now. “I didn’t want to leave—I was having so much fun. But after shooting Victor Newman, you’ve got to go somewhere,” he joked.
As for what’s next? Even Wise himself doesn’t know. Did Ian end up back in jail, the ICU, or did he somehow escape the ambulance? The actor even speculated that Ian might take a page from Hannibal Lecter’s book, disappearing into the woods only to resurface years later with a rugged new look.
One thing’s for sure—Wise had a blast stepping back into Ian’s shoes and would gladly do it again. “Josh knows I’d come back in a heartbeat if there were new plans for Ian,” he shared. He also hopes that Jordan’s story isn’t over yet, hinting that the duo had so much more in store before their plans fell apart.
So, what do you think? Would you love to see Ian and Jordan team up again? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Thanks for tuning in—don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Young and the Restless updates. Stay tuned for the next twist in Genoa City!
