Days of Our LivesComings & Goings

Back on on July 23, we reported that Greg Vaughan was the latest Days of our Lives cast member to announce that he wouldn’t be returning when the show went back to production after its shutdown. The Daytime Emmy winner confirmed his exit in a podcast — and also teased a possible return down the line. A veteran of The Young and the Restless (as Diego) and General Hospital (as Lucky), Vaughan has been on the NBC soap opera since 2012. He’ll last air as Eric — at least for now — on September 23, according to Soap Opera Digest. Should the show opt to recast his role in his absence — you’ll recall that he wasn’t Days of our Lives’ first Eric — we might recommend any of these handsome daytime veterans.

– Lori Wilson/Amy Mistretta

As reported back in January, actor William Utay returned to Days of our Lives once again as the mad scientist, Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, who turned Hope into Princess Gina, and appeared on Thursday January 30. He last appeared on July 15 and will turn up again on September 24, first reported by Soap Opera Digest.

– Candace Young

Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) has found herself in yet another legal pickle and D.A Melinda Trask is heading back to Salem to handle it. Soaps.com can confirm, since Laura Kai Chen, last seen on Days in August 2019, wasn’t available, Tina Huang will take over in the recast role. Huang appeared on the NBC soap opera from 2008 to 2009 as Josie Jordan, as well as on Bold and the Beautiful (Dr. Campbell), General Hospital (Dr. Linda Chu) and Young and the Restless (prison guard). Look for the actress to first turn up during the week of September 21.

– Amy Mistretta

All My Children alum Cady McClain (Dixie) will temporarily take over the role of Days of our Lives’ Jennifer Horton, as reported by Soap Opera Digest. The actress who has played Jennifer since 1985, Melissa Reeves is leaving Days. Though McClain’s first air date has not been announced, she’s already taping at the NBC soap opera. Stay tuned for her first air date. (Meanwhile, you can check out how fans are reacting to the bombshell news here.)

– Amy Mistretta

Melissa Reeves will be leaving her Days role as Jennifer Horton Deveraux. Soap Opera Digest has confirmed that the actress, who’s played the NBC soap opera role since 1985, decided not to continue to keep commuting from Tennessee to Los Angeles after Days of our Lives resumed production due to the current health crisis. Stay tuned for Reeves’ last air date. All My Children actress (Dixie) Cady McClain will temporarily play Jennifer Horton and has already started taping scenes for the role.

– Amy Mistretta

Fans can expect to see a new face on Days of our Lives. Nzinga Blake has been cast in the role of Angie and will first appear on September 16. The character is Eric Brady’s (Greg Vaughan) friend from the Congo. The actress is a newcomer to daytime but has appeared as Condoleeza Rice in SuperNews! and ‘abcde’ in GodComplx.

– Amy Mistretta

As reported in our newsroom July 17, Kristian Alfonso is out at Days. Details, including her last airdate, can be found in the link, along with a statement from the actress herself. Alfonso who is a former figure skater and model started her career on Days of our Lives as Hope Brady in April 1983. She left in 1987 and returned in 1990 and left once more, only to return in 1994 where she has been a mainstay on the NBC soap opera. Alfonso also had the chance a few times to portray Princess Gina Von Amberg. She has won two Soap Opera Digest awards, and two Soap Opera Update awards. Alfonso has been a part of one of the biggest supercouples in soaps with her character marrying Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).

– Christine Fix

Though Galen Gering was set to leave Days in the weeks ahead, the actor has confirmed via his Instagram that he will be staying on the NBC soap opera and stated, “I’m back.” News came August 18 that Gering would remain at Days of our Lives as Rafe Hernandez – a role he created in 2008.

– Amy Mistretta

Days of our Lives executive producer Ken Corday confirmed that the actors who play Will Horton and Sonny Kiriakis will be returning to the NBC soap opera on and off in the future, as reported in the September 14 issue of Soap Opera Digest. Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey exited Days recently after having been fired back in February. Stay tuned for future return dates if and when they are available.

– Amy Mistretta

Actress Camila Banus is leaving as Salem’s Gabi Hernandez after a decade in the role. Banus’ exit from Days of our Lives was announced the week of July 27, her last airdate is Friday August 28. The actress will return within a few weeks to months.

– Candace Young