Days of Our LivesComings & Goings

Soaps.com can report that Days of our Lives’ Daytime Emmy-winning headwriter, Ron Carlivati, has signed a new deal to extend his stay at the NBC soap opera. He confirmed the news and told Soap Opera Digest, “I am both thrilled and grateful to be staying put in Salem. From day one, [Executive Producer] Ken Corday, [Co-Executive Producer] Greg Meng, and the entire cast and crew at Days of our Lives welcomed me into their family with open arms. It is truly and honor and a privilege to write for these wonderful characters on this legendary show.” Carlivati replaced Dena Higley at Days in June 2017.

Soaps.com has learned that Griffin Kunitz may be returning to Days of our Lives as Johnny DiMera. The actor posted a selfie of himself on Instagram at the NBC studios tagging Days in it. Griffin and twin brother Aaron Kunitz departed Days in 2014, after their on-screen parents Alison Sweeney (Sami Brady DiMera) and James Scott (EJ DiMera) left. The twins went on to appear in other shows, including Cougar Town and Netflix’s Fuller House. Recently Galen Gering (Rafe) temporarily exited Days to visit Sami in Europe and help her deal with Johnny, who has been acting out.

Soaps.com has learned actress Robin Strasser, who played the indomitable Dorian Lord on One Life to Live, took to her Twitter to tease about an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. With a photo of her seen in the hair and makeup room, getting made up at the Days of our Lives studio with her dog, we’re likely going to see Strasser within six months, unless she’s been taping for a while in which case she’ll be seen sooner. We’re speculating that she could be a recast of Louise Sorel. 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. In her recent tweet, which she posted on Super Bowl Sunday, Strasser used a football analogy to explain she was “taking time out for a good reason” and didn’t want to “fumble or let the team down.”

Soaps.com will keep readers updated.

#SuperBowl fans-hope your team wins! I have to focus on an awesome OPP that’s been passed to me-Don’t want to fumble or let the team down #Gratitude‘s always a winning attitude! So THANKS!-I’m very GRATEFUL that you’ve always rooted for me! Taking time out for a good reason-TY:)

— robin strasser (@robinstrasser) February 2, 2019

Kate Mansi’s short reprisal of Abigail Deveraux is coming to an end. As Soaps.com previously reported, Mansi’s return to Days of our Lives was always meant to be a short stint. She stepped back into the role to wrap up the character’s arc on November 29, 2018 after Marci Miller ended her portrayal of the oft damsel in distress. Mansi and Abigail will last be seen in Salem on Thursday February 21, the same day her onscreen love interest Chad DiMera, played by Billy Flynn, also exits Days.

On the heels of rumored big Days of our Lives exits, Soaps.com can share that Olivia Rose Keegan is on her way out at DOOL as Claire Brady. Daytime Confidential is reporting that Keegan has been let go from the role she has played since 2015, which has seen her grow into the sweet, but manipulative, twenty-something daughter of Shawn Brady (Brandon Beemer) and Belle Brady (Martha Madison).

Keegan’s last episodes were taped in December 2019. Watch Soaps.com for updates on Keegan’s last airdate, which should be roughly around June 2019.

Soaps.com can share 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 could mean we see him within six months as the show tapes that far in advance.

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!#Xander #Dool https://t.co/WpprvUyqVG https://t.co/CMgKdvqLhu

— Paul Telfer (@PaulTelfer) January 28, 2019

Soaps.com recently reported the rumor that Chloe Lane’s days were numbered, 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

Rumors have been buzzing for months that Young and the Restless actress Judith Chapman (Gloria Bardwell) will be making her way back to Days of our Lives as Diana Cooper, a new character. Soaps.com can now confirm viewers will first see her on January 29, 2019. Diana Cooper is actually Diana Colville, who was previously played by Genie Francis.

Reported October 15, 2018, though Chapman played Anjelica Deveraux in 1990, Morgan Fairchild turned up in the role in 2017 with the character dying that same year of a heart attack. Chapman appeared as Anjelica Deveraux as the devil October 31.

Originally posted December 5, 2018, Brandon Beemer shared an Instagram story at the Burbank Studios at 7: 00 AM this the morning with his cup of coffee. It looks like Beemer is bringing Shawn Brady back to Salem once again. Soaps.com knows the show tapes five to six months in advance, which would mean his return to Days of our Lives would be in May of 2019. Once again, we speculate if the reason behind some of the more recent returns due for May is because of a possible memorial for Caroline Brady, if the show chooses to address Peggy McCay’s passing.

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.