Days of Our LivesComings & Goings

Vanessa Williams is returning to Days of our Lives as Dr. Valerie Grant on Wednesday May 1. Williams left Days in November 2018 when Valerie took a chief of staff job at a hospital in Washington DC. Though there is no word on how long she’ll be back for, stay tuned to Soaps.com for updates.

– Dustin Cushman

Jordan’s (Chrishell Hartley) son David on Days of our Lives is being played by the Ellis twins, reported by Starkidz. Detailed in Soaps.com’s recap, they debuted in the role on Friday April 5 when Rafe (Galen Gering) returned from California with Jordan’s baby, David.

– Candace Young

January 29 Soaps.com shared that Days of our Lives actor Paul Telfer took to Twitter to alert followers that his latest stint as Xander has come to an end as the character will leave Salem. He teased, “Alrighty gang, Xander is off back to his Greek island for a bit of R&R. Hope you enjoyed his visit to Salem – I certainly did : ) Cheers!” The actor also shared a music video of Weezer’s Island in the Sun for fun, and attached is a scene with Xander telling Eve (Kassie DePaiva) that he’d be in touch once he found a use for her. Telfer last returned as Xander on January 3. We have already heard that he is back taping for another return. This means we will see him starting April 29.

Judith Chapman, who has been portraying Diana Colville since January 29, has revealed on her Facebook page that she’s leaving Days of our Lives. Soaps.com has the Facebook post below, which reads, “OHH, JOHN, DARLING….You can’t possibly suspect me…???” POOR DIANA….ADIOIS DIANA…” The actress didn’t share her last airdate, but considering Days of our Lives airs six months in advance, we could possibly still see her until September, unless her last airdate was the last time Diana was seen, which was Monday March 25 in scenes with Drake Hogestyn (John Black) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark/Matthew Cooper). The show has not yet revealed Diana and Ted Laurent’s (Gilles Marini) connection so there could be more scenes to come. Soaps.com will provide Chapman’s last airdate when we know more.

– Christine Fix

Soaps.com watched actress Robin Strasser, who played the indomitable Dorian Lord on One Life to Live, turn to Twitter to tease about an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. On February 7, we saw a photo of her in the hair and makeup room, getting made up at the Days of our Lives studio with her dog, means we’re seeing Strasser within six months unless she’s been taping for a while in which case she’ll be seen sooner. The actress will likely be a recast of Louise Sorel’s Vivian Alamain. In 2017, fans got their hopes up after Strasser seemed to leak a Days appearance, but that didn’t pan out and she instead shared the return of her friend, Louise Sorel, to Days as Vivian Alamain. Take a look at this tweet she created March 24, letting fans know that “#DOOL has been EYE-OPENING:) translation: #Salem has been so EXCITING you ain’t going to be taking any naps;-)”

Rocket & I are still in #TolucaLake We fly back to #NYC tomorrow-Rain is forecast there for a continuous 10 days-Well, nobody lives there because of the good weather-#DOOL has been EYE-OPENING:) translation: #Salem has been so EXCITING you ain’t going to be taking any naps;-)

— robin strasser (@robinstrasser) March 25, 2019

– Candace Young/Christine Fix

Soaps.com has news regarding the character Leo Stark on Days of our Lives. Greg Rikaart joined Days in March 2018 and has announced that he’s taped his last scenes. The actor posted a goodbye message on Twitter saying, “That’s a wrap on Leo. Thanks for all the love. Playing this role has been a gift. An absurdly fun and delicious gift.” His fellow actor Brandon Barash (Stefan DiMera) replied, “So much fun playing pretend w you, albeit briefly. Look forward to the next time!” Barash’s tweet indicates Leo’s exit may be open-ended. With the show taping six months in advance, Rikaart should air until around September and recently received a Daytime Emmy nomination for the character.

– Christine Fix

Originally posted November 27, 2018, Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady DiMera) posted an Instagram photo of herself on Tuesday November 27 on the set of Days of our Lives in Burbank, California to tout Giving Tuesday, a movement dedicated to giving back to the charity that one finds inspiring. Though the actress didn’t state that she had returned for taping, she has already finished taping her last visit with the show months back. There is talk that the show will have a memorial for Caroline Brady, since Peggy McCay passed away in October. Since the show tapes six months in advance, this could mean they will write Caroline out and hold a service for the matriarch which will include Sweeney and others.

Soaps.com speculated in November that Christie Clark would return to Days of our Lives as Carrie Brady Reed, since the actress posted on Instagram on December 3, 2018 about working on a script back in L.A. without her children, when she’s been on a trip around the world for several months. Clark posted another photo of herself with James Reynolds (Abe Carver) showing them on set together. Clark’s return could for a memorial for Caroline Brady since Peggy McCay passed away in October.

Soaps.com recently reported the rumor that Chloe Lane’s days were numbered, on January 25 and now the actress has confirmed she’s, in fact, leaving the NBC soap opera. Nadia Bjorlin, who returned to Days in March 2018 and has played the role since 1999, confirmed her departure on Instagram and stated, “Oh, I nearly made it as a master of soaps… #sandymeisner #19years #dool …….Thank you @nbcdays for the memories. #andthecurtainfalls #farewell.” Soaps.com will update readers on the actress’ final air date when it’s released.

 

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Oh, I nearly made it as a master of soaps… #sandymeisner #19years #dool …….Thank you @nbcdays for the memories. #andthecurtainfalls #farewell 🍸

A post shared by Nadia Bjorlin (@nadiabjorlin) on Jan 24, 2019 at 7:51pm PST

On November 29, 2018, Soaps.com shared the news that former General Hospital star, Brandon Barash who played Johnny Zacchara, has been recast in the role of Stefan O. DiMera on Days of our Lives permanently. Soaps.com can confirm that Christopher’s last airdate is March 20 and Barash’s first airdate is March 22, 2019. There is no confirmation on how long Barash will continue to portray Stefan. Tyler Christopher addressed fans on Wednesday March 20 in a tweet, thankful for all of the kind farewells.

Thank you all for the kind farewell’s. My time on @daysofourlives was notning short of pure fun. Such a great group of people to work for and be around every day. Please welcome @BrandonBarash into the roll. Such a solid actor and an even better person. #nbcdays #stefandimera

— Tyler Christopher (@Tyler2929) March 20, 2019

– Candace Young/Amy Mistretta/Christine Fix