Days of our Lives Casting Alert: Meet Claire’s New Love Interest… Maybe
Wednesday, August 5th, 2020
Well, we’d give him the part, anyway!
A Days of our Lives audition video posted to Vimeo may have just introduced us to Claire‘s next on-screen love interest — and if it has, he’s awesome!
In the scene, Johnny Lee, a relative newcomer whose credits include appearances on Zoe Valentine and Station 19, plays Oliver. When he accidentally spills coffee all over Claire’s laptop, he tries to apologize, but she doesn’t need “I’m sorrys,” she needs a new damn computer. Then he realizes who she is — his buddy Will’s infamous cousin. “To think, I actually wanted to meet you,” he remarks. By that point, despite her cuteness, he’s regretting that he has!
In short order, Oliver goes from defense to offense, shading Claire like nobody’s business, bringing up her checkered past and then joking that, having held so little back, he’d probably made her list. Her list? she asks. Sure, you know, “men you hate, men you love to hate, men you love to eviscerate,” he replied. “Hey, I rhymed.”
Not only that, but Lee is pretty terrific in the scene — mischievous, charismatic and natural. Heck, he even manages to strike up chemistry with a “Claire” that we never get to see! So, until the official casting notice goes out, we can only hope that he won the part. In the meantime, you might enjoy perusing the below photo gallery. It’s a Who’s Who of who is returning (or has recently returned) to Salem — because we can all agree there have been enough exits lately, right?
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>As spring got ready to be sprung in 2023, all dressed up with someplace to go — Salem — were the head turners who play Andrew and Paul.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
2/76
<p>Turned out, when Victoria Konefal came back as Ciara, her leading man was going to be pulling double duty as not only Alex but Ben. Wonder if <em>then</em> anyone will notice how much the characters resemble one another.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>At least some of March’s madness was destined to be inspired by the Emmy winner, who was set to reprise his role of Harris on the 20th.</p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
4/76
<p>That late-winter chill viewers felt as February brrreezed into March wasn’t only to do with the weather. Megan’s portrayer was back in action to bring the villainess’ chilling plot to fruition.</p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
5/76
<p>Like a bad penny, Nick turned back up in the hereafter and gave Marlena, Kate and Kayla — as well as viewers — a hell of a shock.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
6/76
<p>As Marlena, Kate and Kayla began their new lives — well, afterlives, anyway — headed there way was a blast from the past: Jordan. Something tells us it’s gonna take her more than a few Hail Marys to get past the pearly gates.</p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
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<p>Aw, hell! No sooner had Susan turned up in heaven than it was revealed that the character we were really seeing had more in common with devilish Kristen than her sister!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
8/76
<p>After pulling her life back together in New York with big brother Mike, Jennifer’s returning from rehab to spend the holidays with the Horton clan.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
9/76
<p>What would the holidays be without cute kids to dote on? Thankfully, Julie wouldn’t have to find out since grandson Eli is returning to Salem at the end of December to let her bask in the “Christmas presence” of his and Lani’s twins.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
10/76
<p>At the soap’s Day of <em>Days</em> event in the fall of 2022, Bo and Hope’s portrayers revealed that they were returning to their iconic roles. They weren’t the only comeback kids, either…</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
11/76
<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ winter preview gave us an early Christmas present: the news that Ciara would soon be among Salem’s lot again.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
12/76
<p>In November 2022, NBC disclosed that it had rehired the Emmy winner as Harris Michaels, the character he originated back in 1988 and played again in Chapter 2 of <em>Beyond Salem.</em></p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
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<p>After more than two decades away from Salem — not counting a quick visit in 2010 — the fan fave, who succeeded Michael T. Weiss as Mike, finally retraced his steps and headed home in the fall of 2022. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>With not only Kayla but Marlena and Kate ailing thanks to Orpheus, the need for Dr. Rex on the canvas was obvious as the summer came to an end.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>If Rex couldn’t save Steve’s “Sweetness,” maybe his son Tripp could. ’Cause yep, his portrayer was making a comeback, too. And he wasn’t alone.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>James Lastovic’s replacement, who made his debut in <em>Beyond Salem, Chapter 2</em>, was slated to bring Joey, aka Tripp’s half brother and Steve and Kayla’s son, to the mother ship in the fall.</p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
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<p>The soap newcomer — as well as the best thing to hit daytime in ages! — made such an impression as Li’s sister, Wendy, in <em>Beyond Salem, Chapter 2</em>, that she was brought back for the show’s permanent move to Peacock.</p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
18/76
<p>You’ve heard of a kiss before dying, right? Well, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ preview promo for the fall of 2022 included a kiss <em>after</em> dying for ill-fated Abigail, whose widower Chad was said to have figured out who killed her.</p>
Image: NBC screenshot
19/76
<p>Here, Sonny demonstrates the incredulous look that we’d have worn, if less handsomely, had hubby Will not made tracks back to Salem after his better half was stabbed in the back in a non-metaphorical way.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
20/76
<p>It was hardly the first time that Jan had “gone overboard.” But when she made a splash off the side of Ben and Ciara’s boat, we thought maybe she’d stay sunk. We thought wrong.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
21/76
<p>When opportunity <span style="text-decoration: line-through">knocked</span> phoned in the summer of 2022, the actor answered — and was revealed to be returning as Rex in especially creative fashion. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/640174/days-of-our-lives-kyle-lowder-returns-rex-stephen-nichols-video/" target="_blank">See how here.</a>)</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPi
22/76
<p>No shackles were needed to keep Ben’s portrayer in Salem. Not as far as we know, anyway! After “Cin” set sail, the actor simply dropped anchor and took on the new role of Alexander Kiriakis.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
23/76
<p>No, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> didn’t get a new leading man. That’s just the Emmy winner who originated the role of Kristen getting into another (chest) hairy situation as Susan’s brother, Thomas, in <em>Beyond Salem, Chapter 2.</em></p>
Image: Peacock screenshot
24/76
<p>Like a bad penny, he just keeps turning up. In Chapter 2 of <em>Beyond Salem</em>, ill-fated villain Larry Welch was given the power to once again meddle in Bo and Hope’s affairs.</p>
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<p>OK, so technically, the actor didn’t leave <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as Roman. But he did return via <em>Beyond Salem</em> as, confusingly, his original character on the show — Chris Kositchek.</p>
Image: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images
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<p>Apparently, Megan takes after Daddy Dearest Stefano. In Chapter 2 of <em>Beyond Salem</em>, viewers discovered that Hope’s onetime rival for Bo was alive and, well, as scheming as ever.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
27/76
<p>If there was one upside to Leo’s revenge plot, it was that it promised to reunite “WilSon” on screen. Now if only the show would let us keep them!</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC
28/76
<p>Through the revolving door the <em>Days of Our Lives</em> vet was set to pass once again over the summer of 2022. Could Sami, with whom Lucas left Salem, be far behind?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>If it had been April Fool’s Day, we wouldn’t have believed that the news was real. But since it was April 18, 2022, that <em>Days of Our Live</em>s announced that Hope and Bo’s portrayers were returning for <em>Beyond Salem: Chapter 2</em>, we simply cheered.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
30/76
<p>Eric fans prayers were answered in the spring of 2022 when it was revealed that only was he headed home to Salem but a major change of direction was in store for Nicole’s true love. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/627855/days-of-our-lives-greg-vaughan-previews-eric-brady-return-family-crisis/" target="_blank">Read all about it here.</a>)</p>
Image: NBC
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<p>Though the <em>Days of Our Lives</em> superstar has made it clear that she has no intention of returning full-time as Sami, a February 2022 Instastory hinted that she had <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/621771/days-of-our-lives-alison-sweeney-not-coming-back-as-sami-full-time/" target="_blank">at least been back on the set</a>, stirring the pot as her incorrigible character. We’re guessing about the “stirring the pot” part, but c’mon, when has the scheme queen not?</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>No way would Jack miss buddy Xander’s wedding to Gwen. So he and Jennifer, despite her history with the bride, made tracks back to Salem for a ceremony that was sure to leave people saying, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/628638/days-of-our-lives-preview-xander-gwen-craig-leo-break-up-double-wedding/" target="_blank">“I do… not believe this is really happening.”</a></p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>After making her <em>Days of Our Lives</em> debut on <em>Beyond Salem</em>, the onetime <em>RuPaul’s Drag Race</em> contestant — and ace impersonator of Lisa Rinna (Billie) — was invited to appear on the NBC soap itself in spring 2022.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>You don’t need the glasses, Jan, we already know you’re as “shady” as they come. And when the bad penny turned up anew, she wasn’t alone — she was carrying Shawn’s baby. D’oh!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Don’t look so glum. The <em>Young & Restless</em> alum (ex-Fen) made such a big impression as a recast Sonny on Peacock’s <em>Beyond Salem</em> that when Will’s handsome hubby was needed on the main show again, it knew just the actor to call.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em> didn’t just bring the actors back as Chloe’s parents in 2022, it brought them back for a polarizing storyline in which Craig was forced to break it to wife Nancy that he was gay. But wait, there was more!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>No sooner had Craig revealed that he was in love with the <em>Young & Restless</em> star’s scheming Leo than half the canvas — Chad included, obviously — began going to extremes to break them up.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Masks. Alternate personalities. Baby talk. Heavens to Brady, there was nothing that wasn’t thrown at the fan favorite when at last Sarah’s portrayer was returned to the playing field in 2022.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>What could be worse than being thrown behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit? Being thrown behind bars for a crime you didn’t commit with your own “killer” as your cellmate! So EJ was poised to learn when Clyde’s portrayer returned in winter 2022 to make the jailhouse rock.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p><em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ original Kristen had already returned for <em>Beyond Salem</em>, but that in no way, shape or form prepared us for the “What the hell?!?”-ness of the devil transforming into the old version of the character, not Stacy Haiduk’s, in order to tempt John during its 2021 reign of terror.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>More than a year after the soap mainstay left <em>Days of Our Lives</em> — bequeathing her long-running role of Jennifer to Cady McClain, who subsequently won a Daytime Emmy for her work — it was announced that she’d be <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/606494/days-of-our-lives-melissa-reeves-returning-jennifer-christmas/" target="_blank">home in Salem for the holidays</a>.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Trick or treat, indeed! Though it was Eileen Davidson who had played Kristen in <em>Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem</em>, it was <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/612191/days-of-our-lives-kristen-returns-visit-ej-victor-searches/" target="_blank">the troublemaker’s subsequent portrayer</a> — one of daytime’s most underrated actors, if you ask us — who’d be reprising the role as Halloween 2021 drew near. Hope the vixen remembered to pack her extensive mask collection!</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>As May 2021 drew to a close, viewers gasped at <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ latest promo, which revealed that the Emmy winner would be reprising his role of Eric — and just in time to learn that bride Nicole had already broken their wedding vows, too!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>The daytime vet (perhaps best known for her run as vixenish Lorie on <em>The Young and the Restless</em>) kicked off 2021 by announcing that she’d soon be back on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, where she’d last played Jennifer’s mom, Laura, in 2018.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>When the fan fave left <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as the “late” Ciara, she made it clear that <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/571461/days-of-our-lives-victoria-konefal-exit-ciara-brady/" target="_blank">she hoped to work again with her castmates</a> down the road. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that she’d be popping in at Christmastime in 2020 so that her character could offer “widower” Ben — and, in a way, all of us — a bit of holiday cheer.</p>
Image: NBC screenshot
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<p>That same promo — seriously, that thing was<em> jam-packed</em> with spoilers — previewed a return to Salem for the indefatigable scheme team of Tony and Anna, who seemed to know more about Gwen than the rest of us. At the very <em>least</em> more than Abby!</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>That same promo video teased a happy homecoming for the legacy character played by this three-time Emmy winner. But would Will be visiting Salem with better half Sonny? <em>That</em> question remained unanswered. Credit where credit is due: The show even builds cliffhangers into its ads!</p>
Image: NBC screenshot
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<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=921Tfv3oYGU" target="_blank"><em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ promo for winter 2020</a> revealed that Steve and Kayla’s son would be receiving a Get Out of Jail Free Card for Christmas: Since Ava wasn’t dead, Joey obviously hadn’t murdered her!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>In late October of 2020, the <em>Melrose Place</em> alum revealed via social media that she had returned to work at <em>Days of Our Lives — </em>and just in time for Valerie to be on hand for the birth of her grandbabies, too.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Just in time for Halloween, the veteran actor was slated to return the villainous Orpheus to the canvas (along with James Read as Clyde and William Utay as Rolf). Call us paranoid, but something tells us that Salem’s own Evil League of Evil isn’t getting together again to carve pumpkins and hand out candy.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>Only the good die young. So it was a safe bet that when this Emmy winner returned as manipulative Ava Vitali, as was announced in early September, the character was gonna have a pulse. And also an agenda. (She <em>is</em> manipulative!)</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>“Here comes trouble,” you can just hear all of Salem grumble whenever the veteran actor brings back mad scientist Dr. Rolf, as he was set to do in September. Then again, you can also hear <em>viewers</em> going, “This is gonna be fun!” </p>
Image: XJ Johnson/JPI
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<p>According to <em>Days of our Lives</em>’ fall-preview video, JJ Deveraux is getting out of Africa and returning home. Fingers crossed he forgets to pack the hangdog expression with which he’d stuck his handsome mug for so long!</p>
Image: XJ Johnson/JPI
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<p>All aboard the crazy train! After Lindell reprised her memorable role of loco-en-la-cabeza Jan Spears in <em>Days of our Lives</em>’ <em>Last Blast Reunion</em> digital series in early 2020, it was announced that she’d be bringing our favorite nut (other than cashew) back to Salem.</p>
Image: XJ Johnson/JPI
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<p>Thrilled as we were to hear that <em>Days of our Lives</em> was getting another visit from the actress, a favorite since her run as <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Patty and Emily, a part of us wanted to just say, “But… but can’t we <em>keep</em> her?” Whether Kristen’s gone off the deep end or is toeing the line, we’re crazy about her.</p>
Image: XJ Johnson/JPI
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<p>Who knew that Tripp’s full name was actually <em>Return</em> Tripp? We sure didn’t — not until it was announced that his portrayer was bringing Steve’s son back to Salem. The question then became… hmm, which gal was going to make his pulse race? <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/574857/days-of-our-lives-lucas-adams-tripp-allie-babydaddy/" target="_blank">(Read our educated guesses here.)</a></p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>After being off the <em>Days of our Lives</em> canvas for two months — wait, did it only <em>feel</em> like two years?!? — Brady’s portrayer was scheduled to make his return to Salem in late August. We, in turn, were scheduled to set our DVRs. Well, <em>double</em>-set them; we’d never miss an episode!</p>
Image: Image: NBC Universal Inc.
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<p>We’re always in favor of our soaps doing long-term planning — and even more so when that long-term planning involves a visit from an actress as beloved as Sami’s portrayer that’s going to extend through most of the following year! We predict that, by the time her mischief-making character is done, there won’t be a pot in Salem that hasn’t been stirred!</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
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<p>“Are we being punked?” We couldn’t help but ask when, right after it was announced that Camila Banus was returning before Gabi had even left Salem, the news broke that Rafe’s portrayer was <em>also</em> homeward bound. Oh, and to be clear, anytime a soap wants to punk us by bringing back actors that we’d miss if they left and stayed gone, that’s 100-percent fine by us!</p>
Image: XJ Johnson/JPI
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<p>Now <em>that’s</em> the kinda exit we can get behind! Even before the actress had aired for the last time as Gabi Hernandez, the news broke that when <em>Days of our Lives</em> resumed production in September, she’d be back on the set as if she’d never even left. Perfect.</p>
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