Cast for Days of Our Lives

Some actors on the cast for Days of Our Lives have been on the soap for decades.

Diedre Hall plays Dr. Marlena Evans-Black

Sometimes the cast list on soap opera is a revolving door. Actors will leave a role in order to pursue other projects to further their acting careers. For some actors, it pays off and they become bankable big screen movie stars. For others, it doesn't pan out the way they had hoped and they make the return to daytime television. Of course, there are always other issues such as contract negotiations, maternity and family leave time. The long running soap Days of Our Lives has had many cast changes over the decades, but long-time favorites remain on the show.

• Kristian Alfonso

Originally coming on the show in 1983 as Hope Williams, Kristian Alfonso left the role in 1987. She returned for a brief appearance in 1990 and came back permanently in 1994.

• Peter Reckell

Peter Reckell plays the role of Bo Brady (full name: Beauregard Aurelius Brady). Bo and Hope have a long running love affair and as of 2008 are married on the show. The couple is a long time fan favorite. Bo landed in Salem in 1983 and left in 1985. He returned to his role as Bo Brady in 1995.

• James Reynolds

Reynolds came onto Days in 1981 as Abe Carver. Reynolds is the only actor to play this role.

• Frances Reid

Frances Reid is one of the original cast members from the show's debut in 1965. She plays the role of Alice Horton.

• Deidre Hall

Considered one of the "queens" of daytime television, Deidre Hall plays the role of Dr. Marlena Evans-Black. Originally coming into the role in 1976, Hall left the show in 1987 and returned to her role as Dr. Marlena Evans in 1991.

• John Aniston

Aniston has been playing the role of ruthless drug lord/business mogul, Victor Kiriakis since 1985. Once a main character, Kiriakis remains on the show as a recurring character.

• Stephen Nichols

Nichols is a favorite among loyal Days fans and he plays the character of Steve "Patch" Johnson. Nichols joined the cast in 1985, leaving in 1990 (he did a stint on General Hospital as Nikolas Cassadine's uncle Stefan) but returned to his role on Days in 2006.

• Drake Hogestyn

Hogestyn plays the always dramatic John Black. His character has had many different aliases over the years such as: Forrest Alamain, The Pawn and Roman Brady.

• Brian Datillo

Datillo plays the role of Lucas Roberts (now Lucas Roberts Horton). He joined the cast in 1993 as a teenager.

• Lauren Koslow

Koslow joined Days in 1996 and plays the role of Kate Roberts. Actress Deborah Adair formerly played the role.

• Mary-Beth Evans

Evans was the original Kayla Brady, now Kayla Johnson as her character is married to Steve "Patch" Johnson. Evans left the show on and off over the years but returned to her role in 2006.

• Joseph Mascolo

Mascolo has played Salem's chief evil resident, Stefano DiMera since 1982.

• Allison Sweeney

Everybody loves to hate Sami Brady (Sami Brady Horton DiMera) and Allison Sweeney has played the role of Salem's resident trouble maker since 1992.

• James Scott

The very handsome James Scott has fit into the role of EJ Wells DiMera since 2006.

• Christopher Gerse

Will, the son of trouble-maker Sami and scheming Lucas is played by Christopher Gerse.

• Thaao Penghlis

Greek actor Thaao Penghlis plays the role of Tony DiMera.

• Shelley Hennig

Race car driver Stephanie Johnson is the daughter of Kayla and Steve "Patch" Johnson.

• Jay Kenneth Johnson

Johnson currently plays the role of Phillip Kiriakis. Though over the years, the actor has changed, the love triangle between Phillip, Sean-D and Belle has not.

• Arianne Zucker

If Sami Brady had a twin that was just as conniving as she was, Nicole Walker would be her. Zucker left the show in 2006 and returned to reprise her role in the spring of 2008.

• Blake Berris

In Salem, everyone has their roles and Blake Berris' role of Nick Fallon is resident geek.

• Darin Brooks

Brooks arrived in Salem in 2005 to fill the role of Max Brady.

• Tamara Braun

Braun plays the fairly new role of Ava Vitali.

There are, of course, other cast members of Days of Our Lives, but most of those are recurring roles that don't receive nearly as much screen time as the above mentioned cast members. Remember though, in soaps, things change as often as the story lines twist and turn.

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