Timothy Gibbs (Dash, Santa Barbara) was not all that surprised when he learned he's being written off the NBC soap, but he would have preferred being told in person. "I was surprised to receive a phone call and hear, 'Whoa, you're off the show.' It didn't surprise me in the scheme of things.

"You've got to understand that this is a blessing," he continues. "The nature of the business is that you approach a project and hopefully you're lucky enough that you get it. You give it your 100 percent. I don't want to play the same character for the rest of my life.

"When you're my age, 24, you have to go to what you aspire to. My ultimate goal was not to remain on Santa Barbara for an extended period of time in my career. My goal was to stay, hold on as long as I could in my role and do the very best job I could. I've met some extraordinary people – good friends – and I have been blessed with the opportunity to work. It's time to move on and conquer a new territory," he adds. "I feel like I am going out into the Hollywood arena with more artillery than I had before."

Dash's stay in SB will be remembered for his complicated rape storyline involving Julia (Nancy Grahn). Dash went full circle, originally denying that he had raped her and eventually issuing a public apology. Gibbs says of Grahn: "I felt really fortunate to be able to work with an actress of her caliber."

Gibbs tapes his last episode Jan. 12; he thinks Dash will just leave town.