Running The Numbers: Jack was somewhat ill-defined when he arrived on the Salem canvas in 1987. As the well-bred, adopted son of Harper and Anjelica Deveraux, Jack came to town seeking treatment for Hodgkin's disease, fell for Kayla Brady, married and subsequently raped her. Joseph Adams and James Acheson didn't last for more than a few months each before Matthew Ashford stepped into the role. Ashford turned Jack into a lovable clown, whose affectionate bickering with Jennifer ensured them a spot in DAYS supercouple hall of fame. Ashford left in 1993, and was replaced the following year by Mark Valley. Gone was Jack's joie de vivre; he was suddenly serious. The role was watered down even more by the time Steve Wilder arrived in 1997. He didn't last a year.

Three's A Charm: Ashford returned to his old stomping grounds in February, 2001. Forget anything that happened during the time he was gone: Jack was back as his old, goofy self, still chasing that pot of gold. This time around, he's determined to win back his estranged ex, Jennifer.

What is your response to fans saying that the "real" Jack is back?
"I think it's very sweet. It's nice to see that so many people remember that character and what I did," says Ashford.

Do you know anything that happened to the character after you left?
"Not really. It's funny because I've had so many people come up to me and tell me who the character of Jack is, and I realized it's like snapshots in time. I kind of had to go through this character for six years playing him. He did a lot of different things in my estimation."

Did anyone fill you in?
"People said, 'Jack is this, and this is what you did, and this is what Jack and Jennifer did, and this is what you guys are all about.' I realized that's their snapshot of that time, and now we're back and where do you pick up? Where do you start?"

Has Jack changed?
"He thinks he's changed. That's his thing, 'Oh, yeah, I've grown, I've changed,' but he hasn't changed at all, as Jennifer often points out to him."