Days of our Lives simply stepped into 2026 and wrapped one other drama-filled 12 months in Salem. So, we’re going to speak concerning the many comings and goings in 2025.
Rafe Hernandez’s Evil Doppelganger and the Return of Nurse Whitley King
We’re going to take this by exit date as we glance again. In February 2025, we noticed Galen Gering finish his double responsibility as Rafe Hernandez‘s (Galen Gering) evil doppelganger, Arnold Feniger (Galen Gering), aka faux Rafe, who received busted. Arnold Feniger was taken down for impersonating his lookalike Rafe and wreaking havoc on his and Jada Hunter’s (Elia Cantu) lives.
Additionally in February 2025, we noticed killer loopy cat woman Nurse Whitley King (Kim Coles) again for a single episode. Kim Coles was out and in and at all times enjoyable. Then we had an enormous recast as Sophia Choi (Madelyn Kientz) left the position and was changed by Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd), who remains to be within the position. Sophia is continuous to play mute at Bayview whereas inflicting bother with little Rachel Black (Finley Rose Slater).
Theresa Donovan’s Exit and Emily O’Brien’s Return as Gwen Rizczech
In March 2025, we noticed Theresa Donovan (Emily O’Brien) return for a two-week stint earlier than she wrapped up Theresa’s storyline. She left Salem to go care for her sick mom. This additionally ended Emily O’Brien’s double responsibility. And now she’s solely enjoying Gwen Rizczech von Leuschner. Emily was off-screen from March till July 2025 when she got here again as Gwen.
In April 2025, we noticed the final of Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun). She went to Hong Kong to see her son Tripp Johnson (Lucas Adams) and his fiancée Wendy Shin (Victoria Grace). Since Ava took off proper after EJ DiMera’s (Dan Feuerriegel) taking pictures, she was a suspect for a scorching minute.
What’s actually weird about her exit is that Tamara Braun and Lucas Adams, who performed mom and son Ava and Tripp on Days, are actually enjoying age-gap lovers over on The Younger and the Stressed. It’s form of jarring in the event you watch each soaps.
Pleasure Wesley’s Secret Being pregnant and the Rachel Black Recast
Additionally in April, we noticed the final of Pleasure Wesley (AlexAnn Hopkins). She left Salem pregnant, headed to New York Metropolis to be with household. On her approach out of city, although, she lied to Alex Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson) and Stephanie Johnson (Abigail Klein) and stated she was not pregnant.
Pleasure was nonetheless undecided what to do concerning the being pregnant, so she determined to maintain it hidden from Alex. I count on we may get Pleasure again in Salem with Alex Kiriakis’s child sooner or later in 2026, particularly after he and Stephanie settle into marriage this winter sooner or later.
In April, we additionally had a younger character recast when Alice Holly changed Finley Rose Slater as Rachel Black. However with Alice’s new position on the Little Home on the Prairie reboot, we count on to see Rachel both exit the cleaning soap or be recast due to Alice Holly’s new mission.
Rachel proper now could be at “child Bayview” for an prolonged interval. The Peacock cleaning soap may maintain her off-screen for some time somewhat than do an instantaneous recast of the position. After all, there are many questions on whether or not they may age her up once they get a brand new actress.
Billy Flynn Exits Chad DiMera Function for Conner Floyd Recast
In Could, Days of our Lives casting information got here out that Billy Flynn had wrapped taping on the cleaning soap. Though he’s nonetheless showing as Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) on Days of our Lives, you can even see Billy Flynn over on Y&R enjoying a recast position.
That is doable as a result of they’ve a four-week tape-to-air delay there, whereas we’ve received an eight-to-nine-month tape-to-air delay over on Days of our Lives. So, we’re nonetheless seeing Billy portraying Chad DiMera proper now.
We’re going to see Billy Flynn’s alternative, recast actor Conner Floyd, making his Days of our Lives debut in April of 2026. It’s form of humorous as a result of he’s coming from Y&R the place Billy Flynn landed. There’s going to be a spot in episodes the place Chad is off-screen for a bit as they do the actor swap as a result of there was slightly delay there.
The Dying of John Black and Emotional Returns for Drake Hogestyn
In late Could and early June, we had a pile of quick returns for the loss of life and funeral of John Black (Drake Hogestyn). With the present’s superior taping schedule, that they had filmed John’s loss of life episodes utilizing a physique double whereas Drake was nonetheless alive. However too sick to movie. He knew they have been filming the loss of life scenes and had signed off on it.
John Black didn’t cross away till June 2nd, 2025, on Days of our Lives.
John’s loss of life story arc coincided with Bo Brady’s (Peter Reckell) miracle coma comeback. John died from accidents sustained whereas getting drugs to avoid wasting Bo’s life. That unhappy storyline gave us a quick comeback for Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) and Bo. However they left proper after John’s funeral.
His funeral additionally introduced again Carrie Brady (Christie Clark), Anna DiMera (Leann Hunley), Will Horton (Chandler Massey), Paul Narita (Christopher Sean), Andrew Donovan (Colton Little), and Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy). We additionally briefly noticed Victoria Konefal again as Bo and Hope’s daughter, Ciara Brady, for a handful of episodes final spring.
Sami Brady’s Shock Engagement and Javi Hernandez Casting Adjustments
In 2025, we additionally received Alison Sweeney again as Sami Brady a couple of occasions for very quick stints in April, August. And once more in November for the present’s sixtieth anniversary episodes. When Alison was out and in in November, Sami revealed she was engaged. Subsequent time she comes again, perhaps we’ll meet her thriller man, Dante Vitali, who has by no means been seen on display.
In July of 2025, Javi Hernandez (Al Calderon) wrapped taping. We all know they recast the position, however Al’s alternative hasn’t been revealed formally but. The actor landed a brand new position over on the primetime sequence Good Minds.
That’s why he left, however since Days of our Lives tapes eight to 9 months forward of air, we’re nonetheless seeing Al as Javi for now. That ought to proceed till about Could 2026 once we meet his recast.
Thomas DiMera SORAS Rumors and the sixtieth Anniversary Celebration
We additionally noticed Doug Williams III (Peyton Meyer) wrap up his stint in July, often known as Doug 3. Peyton debuted in November 2024 and wrapped his run in July 2025. Doug 3 redeemed himself on the best way out of Salem and left on good phrases with Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes) as a result of he returned her grandmother’s stolen necklace.
We additionally discovered in October of 2025 that Thomas DiMera (Christopher Cary) is leaving Days of our Lives. The actor landed 4 new tasks, together with two TV sequence, after enjoying Thomas for almost six years.
The position goes to be recast and the brand new younger actor goes to indicate up in Salem subsequent April alongside the brand new Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) actor. We may see an older Thomas, as there’s a rumor that Days might SORAS the position—which, after all, is Cleaning soap Opera Speedy Growing old Syndrome.
sixtieth Anniversary Returns
The final time we received a bunch of previous characters returning was for the sixtieth anniversary episodes and the dedication of the Thomas Horton (Macdonald Carey) Free Clinic. We noticed returns of Sami and her twin Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan), her son Will, and her ex Lucas Horton.
We additionally noticed comebacks for Jennifer Horton (Cady McClain) and Jack Deveraux (Matthew Ashford). Plus, we received Mike Horton (Roark Critchlow) and Marie Horton (Maree Cheatham), Eli Grant (Lamon Archey) and Lani Value (Sal Stowers), newlyweds Paul Narita and Andrew Donovan. And Julie’s brother Steven Olson (Robert Mailhouse). We count on tons extra comebacks in 2026 as a result of Days of our Lives is at all times a revolving door with frequent adjustments to the character canvas.
As a matter of truth, we’ve had Jeremy Horton (Trevor Donovan) return after which we received Lucas Horton again for Christmas. We’ll maintain you up with all of the ins and outs as 2026 rolls on.
