Days of Our Lives is continuing to shake up its cast.
The fan-favorite soap opera TV show, which first premiered in 1965, is one of the longest-running scripted television series of all time, airing almost every day ever since.
The Peacock show centers around the lives, loves, trials and tribulations of the citizens of the fictional city of Salem.
In the past few months, there have been some major changes in the cast of the series, including a return of one character, a big recasting, and new stars joining the show that you might recognize from other soaps.
Emily O’Brien as Gwen – Returned
Gwen, played by Emily O’Brien, is back on Days of Our Lives as the mystery buyer of Julie Horton’s family necklace.
Her return surprised many since Gwen was last seen chasing Dimitri’s fortune. The actress shared that Gwen’s comeback was hinted when the character left Salem, saying, “Salem, you haven’t seen the last of me.”
She teased that Gwen’s storyline remains open and intriguing, involving Dimitri’s money. Emily admitted she kept her return a secret while finishing her Theresa arc.
“I kept quiet about that for a while,” she admitted. “[Days of Our Lives] had checked in with me a while back, because I had mentioned that I was thinking about maybe going to New York. I wanted to see if I could do theater and be on stage. They knew this, so they got in touch with me to see if I was still in town. Because if I’m leaving, they can’t write Gwen into the story.”
Gwen’s return promises drama, including Julie’s necklace and a kiss with Xander, showing a potentially new, wealthier side of her.
Conner Floyd as Chad DiMera – Replacing!
On June 23, it was announced that Conner Floyd is set to join Days of Our Lives as the new Chad DiMera following Billy Flynn‘s departure from the role after more than a decade.
However, fans are going to have to wait a long time before Conner officially hits TV screens.
The official Days Instagram account shared a photo of Conner standing outside of his new dressing room and announced that he won’t be making his debut on the show until April 2026.
Michael Roark – Joining!
Michael Roark is joining DOOL in an undisclosed role.
You may already know him as Travis Crawford from The Young & The Restless back in 2016, who became involved with Victoria while she was under the guise of Tori.
“When the owner of Hank’s Bar found out who she really was in a relationship, they carried on a romantic relationship — in fact, they were even engaged until Billy exposed Travis for having a one-night stand with his former lover,” Soaps.com recalls of the character.
Christie Clark as Carrie Brady – Returned
Christie Clark is back as Carrie Brady on Days of our Lives.
The actress stepped back into the role on the Peacock daytime soap on May 28 as part of the show’s goodbye to John Black (Drake Hogestyn) storyline.
The two began working together all the way back in 1986. Get all the details about her return after several years away from the series.
Marissa Reyes as Arianna – Joining
Running Point actress Marissa Reyes has signed on as Arianna Horton, Gabi’s daughter with Will.
She’ll arrive in May for a story arc that’s set to last several months, Soap Opera Digest reports.
She was named after her aunt (played at one time by Lindsay Hartley), who tragically died after being hit by a car.
When we last saw her in 2022, Gabi (played at the time by Camila Banus) was still with Li. Arianna, who was played then by Lane Rosa, was a lot younger. Stay tuned for her arrival.
Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady – Returned
Alison Sweeney is finally back as Sami Brady!
The news was first confirmed back in 2024, but her episodes only just starting airing in April.
“I was thrilled to be invited to return. I love playing Sami and I am always happy for the chance to come back. We always have to figure out scheduling and such, but if at all possible, I’m so glad to make it happen,” she told TV Insider.
She first made her daytime debut in 1993 as the teenage daughter of Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) and Roman Brady (now played by Josh Taylor), and stayed for over 21 years before leaving. Since then, she’s made multiple visits back to the soap since her exit 10 years ago – including this upcoming one! It’s been two years since she last appeared on the show.
Tamara Braun as Ava – Leaving
Tamara Braun shared on Instagram that she’s leaving the daytime soap opera on April 1.
Fans originally thought it could be an April Fool’s Joke, but she wrote in her caption that it’s not. Find out what she said about her departure as Ava.
AlexAnn Hopkins as Joy – Leaving
In March, Joy quit her new job at Titan, packed her bags and said goodbye, rather than admit she was pregnant with Alex’s child. She called her mom and told her she’d be coming home to New York.
TV Insider then confirmed that Joy actor AlexAnn Hopkins is truly leaving the show. Find out more about her departure!
Billy Flynn as Chad DiMera – Leaving
The actor, who played the role of Chad DiMera for a decade, confirmed he is leaving the series and joining The Young & The Restless in a still-unannounced role.
In a new interview, Billy addressed his decision to leave the role of Chad DiMera behind, and the real reason why he’s leaving.
Hank Northrop – Joining
The son of the late Wayne Northrop, who played Roman Brady, and Lynn Herring, who played General Hospital’s Lucy Coe, will be joining later in 2025!
He has already begun filming.
“I did the audition and I felt good about it, but my focus was on my father. So, it kind of took the back burner in my mind. And then I got a callback and didn’t hear for a little bit. And then the most magical thing happened on my birthday, January 9. I got the call saying, ‘Congratulations, you’ve booked Days of our Lives.’ And I just immediately broke down in tears,” he explained to TV Insider.
“It was so cosmic. It was almost like my dad had given me a birthday present, the first birthday after his passing, to help me through the trauma of dealing with his passing. You can’t script it. It gave me the ability to cope with it a little more. It was just such a beautiful full-circle moment and I thank [Executive Producer] Ken Corday, [Co-Executive Producer] Janet Spellman-Drucker, [Casting Director] Marnie Saitta, and the production team.”
His father played Roman Brady from 1981-94 and 1991-94, and Alex North from 2005-06. Wayne sadly passed in November of 2024.
Roslyn Gentle as Rachel Blake – Joining
The Woman In White has made her grand return!
Roslyn Gentle filled the role in scenes with the missing Rachel Black beginning on January 24. She teased her Salem debut on Instagram, writing, “Entering the [Days of Our Lives] world, but who am I? Watch and see… Coming January 24th.”
We first met Kristen and Peter’s mother, Rachel Blake, 30 years ago as the “Woman In White,” played at the time by Pat Delany.
Michael Dietz – Joining
The actor, who played Dr. Joe Scanlon on Port Charles from 1997 to 1000, will be joining for an arc, but his character has not been confirmed yet, Soap Opera Digest.
Soaps.com suspects he’ll play either Doug 2.0’s father, Dougie LeClaire, or Kristen’s brother Peter Blake, who’s been mising from Salem since 1998.
The actor previously appeared on Bold & Beautiful as the son of Clarke Garrison and Margo Maclaine and Guiding Light as a replacement Alan-Michael Spaulding. He’s also married to All My Children alum Paige Rowland. Stay tuned as we find out more!
Shi Ne Nielson as Sophia’s mother, Amy – Joined
Shi Ne Nielson joined as Amy right as the New Year began.
The actress appeared on the show back in 2005 as a nurse. In 2013, she had a several episode stint over on The Young and the Restless as Detective Sheryl Gordon.
She teased her arrival on Instagram, offering “a little taste of what it’s like behind closed doors of Sophia’s house. And let me tell you something, it’s not chill. But it is going to be a doozy, so let me know what you think!”
James Read – Leaving
James Read is leaving Days!
His character, Clyde Weston, was shot in the December 11 by newcomer to the series Catherina Greene (Susan Elena Matus), and now he’s in a coma. Find out what he said about his exit!
Susan Elena Matus – Joined
Actress Susan Elena Matus just joined the cast, teasing her role as Konstantin’s (John Kapleos) formerly dead daughter. And she made a strong first impression after shooting Clyde on the December 11 episode!
“Catherina, a survivor with complicated family secrets will protect her children at all cost,” she wrote on social media. Find out more about the mysterious role.
Peyton Meyer – Joined
The 26-year-old Girl Meets World alum will be joining the cast of Days of Our Lives on Tuesday, December 3 as a new character, Doug Williams III, the grandson of the late Doug Williams.
“It’s a little bit of a crazy story,” he told TV Insider of the debut. “I lived for about 10 years in L.A. and then right around COVID time, I left L.A. and moved to Nashville and spent about two-and-a-half years there. I took some time off and then said, ‘I want to start acting again. I’m ready to get back in it.’ I booked a room in a house with some of my buddies. Four days later I had moved my into stuff that new house, I booked Days of our Lives, so it worked out perfectly; the timing was unbelievable.” See what else he’s teasing about the role!
Serena Scott Thomas as Fiona – Left
The 63-year-old actress has wrapped up her time as Fiona Cook on Days of our Lives.
She made her soap opera debut on July 19, coming to Salem as Xander’s mother and causing plenty of drama. As she decided to skip town at the end of October, she sent Xander a letter to let him know of her decision.
Louise Sorel as Vivian – Returned
The 84-year-old actress brought Vivian back to Days of Our Lives starting on October 28!
“Whenever they call me, I show up,” she said.
“It’s so sweet. I cannot tell you, the people that we work with, the actors, everyone, really, are just… They’re working so hard, and they’re so open. It’s always unnerving to come back and hope that you can get through it, because it’s very fast and a lot of dialogue. They help out, because if I make a mistake, I can’t stand it. They never make you feel bad about that. It happens, but they’re lovely.”
Brandon Barash as Stefan – Left
His final episode as Stefan was on October 28.
“I knew exactly what was happening as soon as I was called up to [the boss’] office,” the actor said of his exit, which came as a surprise. “And she said, ‘Look, this is not my doing. I don’t like it. And this is no reflection on you or your abilities. You’re very talented. We know your work ethic is very high, but it’s just where we’re deciding to take the character.'”
He added he “was in the middle of a contract, and it was the writers’ decision” to have Stefan exit from Salem, calling it a “surprise” and a “gut punch” because he didn’t see this change in direction coming.
“Of course, the ego is like, ‘Oh, OK, that hurt.’ But I walked out of the office equal parts shocked and excited about what was around the corner.”
John-Paul Lavoisier as Philip – Returned
The 44-year-old actor brought Philip back to Days of Our Lives, beginning on October 25.
“This is my third trip back to Salem,” he told Soaps.com ahead of his return. “I realized that every single one of all three times that they’ve reached out to me, it’s all happened right around my birthday month, which is March.”
The first show reached out in late February, he revealed, “much like the last time a year and a half ago.” Find out what else he said about his return!
Julie Dove as Connie – Leaving
After being arrested, Connie is being sent off to Bayview as of September 2024.
As far as whether she’ll return, she said: “I don’t think we know if there’s redemption for Connie,” Dove said early in her murder spree. “I’d like to, I’d like to think at some point there is.”
“I made a joke once to [director] Noel Maxam. I said, ‘Only contract players get away with murder.’”
Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso – Returning
Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso‘s Bo and Hope are reuniting! We won’t see it play out on screen until May of 2025, unfortunately.
According to TVInsider, the two are both back shooting scenes for a special story arc. Kristian was previously back at Days of Our Lives to shoot the farewell to onscreen dad Doug. Those scenes are set for the show’s 15,000th episode in November. But now, Hope’s back once again!
“These episodes with Pete will not disappoint.” she teased, with Peter adding: “This ride is one we know the fans are really going to love. Stay tuned!”
Emily O’Brien as Gwen Rizczech – Leaving
In a new interview, the 39-year-old Emmy-nominated actress announced that she is leaving the long-running soap opera after four years and playing two different characters.
She first joined Days in 2020 as Gwen Rizczech until last October. That same day, she made her debut as a different character, Theresa Donovan, previously played by Jen Lilley.
Emily‘s last episode aired on August 8.
“This is the announcement I made, actually, when I left,” Emily recalled to Soap Opera Digest. “I was in tears, and I faced everyone on stage and I looked at the cameras. Then I just told everyone how incredibly lucky I am.”
“I wasn’t supposed to be on the show for as long as I was. I never thought that daytime would be something that was accessible to me again [after leaving The Young and the Restless in 2011]. And I not only got to play one amazing role, but I played two amazing roles.”
“I ended up falling in love with Theresa and who she is and the circle that she’s involved in. The fact that [the powers-that-be at DAYS] put their trust in me to play both of these roles. I just feel so grateful for that experience. It’s been a crazy, wild ride — just mind-blowing.” Find out what else she said.
Arianne Zucker as Nicole – Leaving!
Eric and Nicole have officially left Salem as of the end of July, as Arianne Zucker’s time on Days of Our Lives comes to a quick end.
After discovering the truth about Jude, Nicole left EJ and moved on with Eric, much to “Ericole” fans’ delight. They will start a new life as a family, but it won’t be taking place onscreen.
They went off to Paris as their friends and family threw a going away party.
Sources say this won’t be the last we’ll see of Eric, however.
Arianne Zucker is less likely to return, as she is currently involved in a lawsuit against Days of Our Lives producers and production companies claiming she was let go from the show in retaliation for speaking up about former executive producer Albert Alarr and his allegations.
“I loved my job. I my friends. I loved my co-workers, but most of all I love all of you. When someone says you are irreplaceable…maybe, but the heart of an individual is not. I gave all my heart and always will. I could never have had this job unless I had all of you. From the bottom of my heart and beyond, I can’t thank you enough for loving to hate Nicole and for loving her again as she changed in life with all of you. Thank you for being a part of my journey. This is an adventure that will live with me forever. Thank you for standing up for what is right. Thank you for standing up for what this industry so easily takes advantage of. she wrote on Instagram.
