 Following Kanan's departure, actor Billy Warlock was hired for the role of A.J., and he made his debut on June 13, 1997.In 2003, Warlock earned a pre-nomination for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of A.J.. Warlock departed from the series in December 2003, amongst rumors that he was fired after disputes with show executives; the network replied his exit was due to lack of storyline.In early 2005, the network's announcement of Warlock's return as A.J.