linda dano recast as vivian DAYS
Credit: Jennifer Graylock/JPI

Days of Our Lives’ Vivian Alamain is heading back to Salem for a short visit — this time in the form of soap legend Linda Dano beginning on February 3. Robin Strasser, who filled in for Louise Sorel as the villainess in 2019, took to Twitter to announce the casting news about her fellow One Life to Live alum.

“Beloved soap diva #LindaDano, who joined up with beloved #AlisonSweeney in 2018, will in 2021 be joining the cast of beloved long-running #DaysOfOurLives as the new Vivian,” wrote Dorian’s former portrayer. “Linda has timeless energy, pizzazz and marketing skills in addition to her acting sizzle.”

Sorel briefly returned to Days of Our Lives in June of 2020. As of yet, there has been no word as to why the NBC soap is recasting the popular role yet again. However, Dano is more than capable of stepping in to fill Sorel’s shoes. Not only did she play romance novelist Felicia Gallant on Another World from 1983-99, she crossed over her One Life to Live character of Rae “Don’t Call Me Gretel” Cummings to All My Children, Port Charles and General Hospital 20 years ago as daughter Skye Quartermaine sought to learn the identity of her biological father.

Fun fact: Sorel is also an alum of One Life to Live. Between stints as Augusta Lockridge on Santa Barbara, she moved to Llanview in 1986 as Judith Sanders. Bonus fun fact: Her husband on One Life to Live was played by Peter Brown, previously Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Greg Peters. But we digress…

Drama always follows whenever Vivian returns to Salem, so while we wait to see the new face of Vivian in 2021, take a look at our photo gallery, which includes Vivian’s crimes and memorable moments on Days of Our Lives.

– Amy Mistretta/Charlie Mason