Days of our Lives’ Kate Mansi Sadly Reveals That ‘Our Wedding Is Officially Canceled’
Tuesday, August 11th, 2020
“It sucks,” says the actress.
A little more than a year after announcing her engagement to Blake Levin, Days of our Lives’ Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail) shared sad news on August 10: “Just weeks away, our wedding is officially canceled,” she Instagrammed. “I didn’t have the heart to discard our gorgeous… invitations, so my fiancé suggested we still send them, but with a giant ‘Canceled’ stamp.”
Mansi was not keen on the idea, at least not at first. “I (obviously) cringed at the suggestion originally,” she admitted, “but said we’d order the custom stamp ‘just to see.’
“Truthfully, when the package with the stamp arrived the next day, I didn’t even remember placing the urgent overnighted order with the first company that came up when I googled ‘custom rubber stamps,’” she continued. “It’s all a blur. But I had somehow followed through and ordered it, so I had to give it a try.”
What Mansi discovered was that stamping her beautiful invitations was cathartic. In fact, it “felt exceptionally good,” she marveled. “It felt real. I highly recommend it to any of you… brides facing a pivot [during this trying period].”
Now, the bride-to-be can even see a little silver lining among all of the dark clouds. “Our custom invitations that were designed with such thoughtfulness and detail… have now become our friends’/family’s favorite memento of this strange time we’re all in, thanks to my fiancé’s creative sense of humor.”
Before signing off, Mansi gave a special shout-out to the woman who took her rubber-stamp order. “Sorry about the tears, and thanks for the reminder that I’m ‘only human,’” she wrote. “You’re right — it sucks, and we all just have to keep doing our best.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kate Mansi (@katemansi) on
You can read Mansi’s post in full above, then click the photo gallery below to review all of the actors who, like her, have recently left and/or are leaving Days of our Lives. Get comfy, though; it’s a long list!
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1/44
<p>That’s right, buddy: Gabi is outta there. Her portrayer told <em>The Wrap</em> that when the soap moved to Peacock, “I kind of just saw that as a sign for me to start the next chapter in my life.”</p>
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2/44
<p>We were just as shocked to learn that <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/664569/days-of-our-lives-linsey-godfrey-exit-out-sarah-left-for-chicago/" target="_blank">Linsey Godfrey was truly exiting</a> as Sarah was to learn she was expecting Xander’s baby. But pregnancy or not, she still left for Chicago without a word to her soon-to-be-babydaddy! </p>
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3/44
<p>Here, the actors wear pretty much the same expression that we did upon learning that Jack and Jennifer’s loss of <em>The Spectator</em> meant that we’d be losing them. D’oh!</p>
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4/44
<p>Here, Chanel wears the same expression that we did when <a href="http://soapoperadigest.com" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> reported that Allie’s portrayer had finished taping as of February 2023. Needless to say, Chanel wears it better than we did.</p>
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5/44
<p>Why so glum? Maybe because “WilSon” was headed out of Salem again, <a href="http://soapoperadigest.com" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> revealed right before Valentine’s Day. At least Tinker had a new role on <em>Fire Country </em>with which he could keep heating up the screen.</p>
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6/44
<p>Only on a soap can a character leave this earth and their portrayer not actually leave the show. But such was the case shortly after New Year when Kayla kicked the bucket.</p>
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7/44
<p>Why is Rex checking for his own pulse? It should have been Kate that he was worried about, as she, too, left… at least this plane of existence.</p>
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8/44
<p>They say that bad things happen in threes, so we suppose we shouldn’t have been surprised when Marlena followed Kayla and Kate into the afterlife. On the plus side, all her portrayer really <em>left</em> was any and all wardrobe that wasn’t white.</p>
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9/44
<p>Thankfully, Kristen was still alive and kicking. But in early 2023, it appeared that her portrayer’s <em>other</em> character, kooky Susan, had met her maker. Operative word: <em>appeared</em>.</p>
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10/44
<p>It was going to be a blue Christmas for fans of the Emmy winner, who revealed only days before Santa loaded up his sleigh that her second stint as Ava was coming to an end. “Thanks,” she Instagrammed to her followers, “for all the love and support you continue to show me.”</p>
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11/44
<p>If only it had just been a slap. As Sami left Salem once more after learning — on her and Lucas’ wedding day, no less! — that she’d been kidnapped by her fiancé, she seemed to indicate that hell would freeze over before she returned. Her portrayer, of course, was more open to the idea of a short-term comeback.</p>
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12/44
<p>The doctor is out. Recurring as the DiMeras’ go-to mad scientist Rolf since 1997, the veteran actor was replaced in the summer of 2022 by Richard Wharton.</p>
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<p>Ciara later! <em>Days of Our Lives</em> <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/623232/days-of-our-lives-victoria-konefal-exits-ciara-sails-montreal-ben/" target="_blank">wanted to sign the fan favorite</a> to a contract; she wanted to spread her wings. So at least for a while, she’ll be MIA from Salem’s lot.</p>
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14/44
<p>Though the leading man passed through <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ revolving door as Ben in the summer of 2022, headwriter Ron Carlivati teased that we <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/623234/days-of-our-lives-robert-scott-wilson-exits-ben-ciara-boat-trip/" target="_blank">hadn’t seen the last of the actor</a> in Salem.</p>
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15/44
<p>After six years as Lani, the actress took her leave of Salem in the summer of 2022. And making her exit an even <em>bigger</em> blow to fans was the fact that just as she was exiting, so was…</p>
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16/44
<p>With the July departure of the <em>Young & Restless</em> vet, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> viewers didn’t just lose Eli and Lani, they also lost — sniffle — “Elani.”</p>
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17/44
<p>In June, the love story of Abigail and Chad was put to bed, so to speak, when her portrayer’s unavailability made her the unfortunate star of a murder mystery. (Here’s <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/633687/days-of-our-lives-marci-miller-leaving-abigail-murdered/" target="_blank">why the show didn’t bring back Kate Mansi</a>.)</p>
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18/44
<p>Color us… perplexed. <em>Days of Our Lives</em> let Tripp cheat death, only to reveal a few weeks later that it was shipping him out of Salem. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/633685/days-of-our-lives-lucas-adams-exits-tripp-leaves-salem-moves-seattle/" target="_blank">Get all the deets here.</a>)</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
19/44
<p>Ushered into Salem via a dead-end street, the <em>All My Children</em> vet was shown the way out as Lani’s biodad TR… well, pretty much the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/630630/days-of-our-lives-william-christian-exits-lani-kills-tr/" target="_blank">only way the villainous character could have been</a>.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
20/44
<p>The doctor is out. After Craig’s eyes were pried open about conniving fiancé Leo, Nancy’s heartbroken ex made tracks out of Salem, <em>Soap Opera Digest</em> reported in April 2022.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
21/44
<p>Although Sami’s kidnapping in August 2021 marked the end of the <em>Days of Our Lives</em> vet’s latest return engagement, her next one was already beginning. As she told<em> Soap Opera Digest</em> at the time, “I have other scenes that I’m doing right now” — our favorite way of turning “goodbye” into “See ya soon!”</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI Studios
22/44
<p>Fans were excited to learn that Nicole’s husband would be coming home for their anniversary. Unfortunately, even as Greg Vaughan and his handsome alter ego appeared on screen in mid-July of 2021 came news that Eric was only in town long enough for <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/604550/days-of-our-lives-greg-vaughan-exit-eric-leaves-nicole-again/" target="_blank">his marriage to be blown out of the water</a>. </p>
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23/44
<p>Just when we were getting used to the daytime newbie, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> went and, so to speak, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/601904/days-of-our-lives-chanel-recast-raven-bowens-replaces-precious-way/" target="_blank">changed the Chanel</a>. In June of 2021, it was revealed that Raven Bowens would be assuming the role of Paulina Price’s daughter from the up-and-comer who’d been cast in MC Lyte’s new sitcom.</p>
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24/44
<p>So much for a happy ending for “Xarah.” On March 16, Sarah Horton’s portrayer confirmed via Twitter that she was leaving behind her character — “and all 86 of her hairstyles.” Glad we saved the receipt on that toaster we’d gotten the couple.</p>
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25/44
<p>Hey, at least maybe we’ll get flashbacks for a few weeks until we find out whodunit. But for all practical purposes, Charlie Dale’s shooting on February 25 brought to an end his well-received portrayer’s run in the role of Ava’s son (bad) and Allie’s rapist (so… much… worse).</p>
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26/44
<p>Mirror, mirror, in her hand, sorry, we don’t understand… But in February of 2021, the news broke that the Daytime Emmy-winning soap-hopper had reached the end of her stint as Jennifer Horton. Maybe she’ll find her way back to a former <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/587060/all-my-children-primetime-series-pine-valley-in-development-abc/" target="_blank">show of hers that’s being rebooted</a>…</p>
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27/44
<p>What a way to go. No sooner had Laura Horton returned to Salem in February 2021 with a suitcase full of revelations to unpack than she was sent on a one-way trip to the hereafter. Ah well, we’ll always have The Meadows.</p>
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28/44
<p>If all good things must come to an end, we suppose so must all bat-guano-crazy bad ones. In November 2020, <em>Soap Opera Digest</em> reported that Heather Lindell had wrapped her return engagement as off-kilter Jan Spears.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
29/44
<p>Jaws dropped in mid-September when <em>Soap Opera Digest</em> reported that the veteran cast member was <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/578184/days-of-our-lives-melissa-reeves-leaving-recast-jennifer-horton/" target="_blank">leaving her long-running role</a> of Jennifer Horton — temporarily, it’s said — and being replaced by daytime MVP Cady McClain (most recently Kelly on <em>The Young and the Restless</em>).</p>
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30/44
<p>Few things say “Yeah, I won’t be around for all that long” like a character going so far around the bend that she kidnaps a beloved former serial killer and tries to mess with his mind to the point that he’d even <em>consider</em> making himself a widower. Better luck next time, Eve Donovan?</p>
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31/44
<p>“Oh!” we exclaimed upon hearing that the iconic <em>Santa Barbara</em> alum would be reprising his role of Eduardo Hernandez on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>. But that enthusiastic “Oh!” quickly got downgraded to a bummed-out “Oh” when we realized that the character was only being brought on for long enough to usher off the canvas his children.</p>
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32/44
<p>In late July, <em>Days of our Lives</em> fans were dealt yet another blow when it came out that Gabi’s portrayer was exiting stage right after a decade of pot-stirring. Thankfully, it was announced before she’d even left that she would be returning so fast, we’d hardly know she’d been gone.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
33/44
<p>Seemingly seconds after Konefal confirmed her exit, this Emmy winner admitted that he, too, was done at <em>Days of our Lives</em>. “It’s with <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/573258/days-of-our-lives-greg-vaughan-goodbye-message-to-fans/" target="_blank">love, laughter and tears of joy</a> I leave you,” wrote the actor, who’d played Eric Brady since 2012.</p>
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34/44
<p>In late July, Ciara Brady’s portrayer revealed that, although “I would love the opportunity to continue working with my castmates in the future… <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">I will not be returning</a> as a full-time cast member.” Insert shocked gasps here.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
35/44
<p>In July, after confirming that her 37th year as Hope Williams Brady would be her last, the <em>Days of our Lives</em> legend explained that a request to take four or five months off prompted her to walk. “It was,” she told <em>Entertainment Tonight</em>, “<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/572296/days-of-our-lives-kristian-alfonso-explains-exit/" target="_blank">the perfect moment</a> to make that decision.”</p>
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36/44
<p>Yeah, that was pretty much the same expression we wore when we learned this summer just how brief the fan favorites’ returns as Ivan Marais and his madam, Vivian Alamain, were going to be. At least the villainess’ death was as legit as every other one on <em>Days of Our Lives </em>— in other words, not at all — so we can anticipate a comeback at some point.</p>
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37/44
<p>It wasn’t just actors’ heads that were rolling; execs’ were being cut off, too. Just before Independence Day, we heard that Meng — a part of the Corday Productions family since 1989! — <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/570681/days-of-our-lives-greg-meng-fired/" target="_blank">had been canned</a>. Was it his refusal to use <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/570587/days-of-our-lives-return-production/" target="_blank">blowup dolls</a>?</p>
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38/44
<p>In June, just weeks before she became a Daytime Emmy winner, Keegan told <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/icymi-olivia-rose-keegan-on-days-comeback1/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> that her return as Claire Brady comprised “about two and a half months of shows.” She had a good time — “It was a blast” — but that good time wasn’t meant to last.</p>
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39/44
<p>After replacing her replacement, Marci Miller, as Abigail DiMera, Mansi left the show again in May. And if <em>that</em> didn’t make you dizzy in and of itself, get <em>this</em>: The show then tapped Miller to step back in as Abigail. No wonder the character has multiple personalities!</p>
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40/44
<p><em>Days of our Lives</em>’ Rafe Hernandez since 2008, Gering taped his last episode in February. Only it didn’t turn out to be his last episode at all; he quickly reached a new agreement with the show and went right back to work.</p>
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41/44
<p>In another <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/572974/days-of-our-lives-freddie-smith-interview-wilson-exit-exclusive/" target="_blank">exclusive interview</a> with Soaps.com, Massey’s leading man said that he didn’t like to think that he couldn’t come back someday as Sonny Kiriakis with Will in tow. Rather, “I like to look at it as they’re resting our characters.”</p>
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42/44
<p>After we found out that the Daytime Emmy winner — who’d previously been recast and “killed off” — had been axed as Will Horton, he told Soaps.com in an <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/567246/days-of-our-lives-chandler-massey-interview/" target="_blank">exclusive interview</a> that he was entertaining the idea of going back to school.</p>
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43/44
<p>Following a seven-year run as JJ Deveraux, the son of supercouple Jack and Jennifer, Moss called it a days — er, <em>day</em> — and left right after leading lady Megia. But at least he got a lovely parting gift: his real-life romance with castmate True O’Brien (ex-Paige).</p>
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44/44
<p>When <em>Days of our Lives</em> flashed forward by a year during November sweeps, Haley Chen didn’t flash-forward with it. We learned shortly after the time jump that Megia’s character — sadly, never exactly a hit with the audience — had been killed off.</p>
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