According to Soap Opera Digest, Luke Kleintank will take over the role of The Young and the Restless' Noah Newman. As previously reported by Daytime Confidential last month, Kevin G. Schmidt announced via twitter he was no longer in the role. An online rumor speculated, but was quickly dashed, that former General Hospital star Drew Garrett would step in and take on the role.

With Y&R SORAS'ing the characters of Noah and Abby Newman (Marcy Rylan), will they follow suit with Kyle Abbott once Diane Jenkins, soon-to-be-played by Maura West, hits Genoa City? *HINT, HINT Maria!* Kleintank makes his debut on Sept 21.

Photo by PR Photos

Fans waiting for Kevin G. Schmidt (Noah) to return to The Young and the Restless are in for a letdown. The actor announced on Twitter,

Y&R FANS: I have not be asked to return as "Noah Newman". A huge thank you to the cast and crew! Onward and upwards!

This news probably won't come as much a shock for viewers, since Y&R recently SORAS'ed Noah's younger aunt, Abby Carlton Newman (Marcy Rylan). Last time viewers heard about Noah, he was attending high school in Paris with girlfriend Eden. Schmidt is currently starring in the Cartoon Network live action series Unnatural History.

The Young and the Restless stars Jeanne Cooper, Daniel Goddard, Eileen Davidson, Sean Kanan, Elizabeth Hendrickson, Billy Miller, Kate Linder, Kevin Schmidt, Clementine Ford and Lauralee Bell out, some with their families,  for the P.S. Arts "Express Yourself" 2009 on Sunday November 15 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The event, presented by Maria and Bill Bell, helps support thousands of children experience art and encourage self-expression. See more photos after the jump. READ MORE

Watch the final episode of The Young and the Restless' cat's meow, Mr. Kitty.

Let the speculation begin. On twitter, The Young and the Restless actor Kevin Schmidt (Noah) tweeted a cryptic message about an upcoming scene that has tongues wagging:

Another early morning at Y&R! Someone very close to me has died. On the soap that is...

Hmmm... Who could this person be?