Update 2/2012
Hi all those who still check this out. About a year ago I stopped updates on the list for a variety of personal reasons, and it was left incomplete. This has nagged at me for a while now, so I am now resolved to finish it up - post the write-ups for the top couples and for Alice in the number one slot, as well as make a few edits to the list (a few of the orders and inclusions don't sit quite right with me) as well as update the information to make it more current. Bear with me because this could take a while, but hopefully we'll be left with a better list!
Already most of the changes for the 100 Greatest Characters have been made. All the info has been updated about them, two names have been knocked out, two have been added and a whole bunch of names have been reshuffled (including two names in the top 10) as a result of both my own rethinking of things, and the fact that a year and a half of changes has gone by.
Already most of the changes for the 100 Greatest Characters have been made. All the info has been updated about them, two names have been knocked out, two have been added and a whole bunch of names have been reshuffled (including two names in the top 10) as a result of both my own rethinking of things, and the fact that a year and a half of changes has gone by.
50 Greatest Days of our Lives Couples
Because I'd say that the 100 Greatest Days Characters list was, all in all, a success I thought I'd give it another try with a list of the 50 Greatest Days Couples. Hopefully with their being half the amount in this list, I'll be able to get it done quicker and I may try to make the bios less involving (particularly in these earlier ones)
As before, this list is a combination of the couples who were the most significant and impactful to Days history with me being as objective as I can be - which, I realize, is perhaps not objective enough for many people's tastes. Obviously I'm one person, and I started watching in the 80s and am thus inherently biased. But oh well, it's for fun. Things such as longevity, impact, popularity, chemistry and characterization will all be taken into consideration. You won't always like these couples. Hell, some of these couples you may have flat-out hated, but all of them have played their role in making Days the show that it is.
In coming up with this list however I came up with more than 50 couples that I think were important, and thus I wanted to also include a list of Honorable Mentions- couples that didn't quite make the list but still deserve acknowledgment. Especially so their fans won't be hoping to see them come up only to be disappointed. So, without further ado...
As before, this list is a combination of the couples who were the most significant and impactful to Days history with me being as objective as I can be - which, I realize, is perhaps not objective enough for many people's tastes. Obviously I'm one person, and I started watching in the 80s and am thus inherently biased. But oh well, it's for fun. Things such as longevity, impact, popularity, chemistry and characterization will all be taken into consideration. You won't always like these couples. Hell, some of these couples you may have flat-out hated, but all of them have played their role in making Days the show that it is.
In coming up with this list however I came up with more than 50 couples that I think were important, and thus I wanted to also include a list of Honorable Mentions- couples that didn't quite make the list but still deserve acknowledgment. Especially so their fans won't be hoping to see them come up only to be disappointed. So, without further ado...
Honorable Mentions
Pete Jannings and Melissa Horton
Eric Brady and Greta von Amberg
David Banning and Trish Clayton
David Banning and Valerie Grant
Scott Banning and Julie Olson
Peter Blake and Jennifer Horton
Joshua Fallon and Jessica Blake
Alex Marshall and Marie Horton
Victor Kiriakis and Nicole Walker
Frankie Brady and Eve Donovan
Nick Fallon and Chelsea Benson Brady
Stefano DiMera and Lee DuMonde
Victor Kiriakis and Maggie Horton
And if I think of any more, I'll add them to the list!
50. Rex and Mimi
Names: Rex Brady and Miriam Elizabeth "Mimi" Lockhart
Portrayed By: Eric Winter and Farah Fath
Duration: 2002 - 2005
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: None, really - Jan Spears interfered but not in a romantic way
Children Together: None
Notes: Before Rex came along, Mimi had spent four years relegated to the role of Belle's mopey, unfortunate, not-as-hot sidekick. Though this worked for about a year, it quickly became readily apparent that Farah Fath was actually very attractive, and certainly no less than Kirsten Storms was, and this role was starting to not make sense. Still, they did little to acknowledge this other than giving Mimi token love interests like nerdy Kevin that they never did anything with. All that changed with the arrival of Rex DiMera/Brady. Although the origin of him and his sister is, admittedly, pretty stupid, he was a likable hunk who exploded onto the canvas in a big way after his... alien landing or whatever, and by the time of the Salem Stalker storyline had become as prominent as likes of Shawn and Brady. So it was nice to see the new hunk in town fall for the "loser" of the Salem High teen group, and they ultimately wound up as one of the prettiest couples Days has ever had. Also encouraging was their realistic and extremely healthy sex life. Though the rest of their crew were exchanging purity rings and remaining as chaste as it gets, these two had sex and had it often. All the sex scenes Bo and Hope have ever had over the years may not add up to how many Rex and Mimi had during their moment int he sun.
Portrayed By: Eric Winter and Farah Fath
Duration: 2002 - 2005
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: None, really - Jan Spears interfered but not in a romantic way
Children Together: None
Notes: Before Rex came along, Mimi had spent four years relegated to the role of Belle's mopey, unfortunate, not-as-hot sidekick. Though this worked for about a year, it quickly became readily apparent that Farah Fath was actually very attractive, and certainly no less than Kirsten Storms was, and this role was starting to not make sense. Still, they did little to acknowledge this other than giving Mimi token love interests like nerdy Kevin that they never did anything with. All that changed with the arrival of Rex DiMera/Brady. Although the origin of him and his sister is, admittedly, pretty stupid, he was a likable hunk who exploded onto the canvas in a big way after his... alien landing or whatever, and by the time of the Salem Stalker storyline had become as prominent as likes of Shawn and Brady. So it was nice to see the new hunk in town fall for the "loser" of the Salem High teen group, and they ultimately wound up as one of the prettiest couples Days has ever had. Also encouraging was their realistic and extremely healthy sex life. Though the rest of their crew were exchanging purity rings and remaining as chaste as it gets, these two had sex and had it often. All the sex scenes Bo and Hope have ever had over the years may not add up to how many Rex and Mimi had during their moment int he sun.
49. "Roman" and Diana
Names: John "Roman Brady" Black and Diana Colville
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn and Genie Francis
Duration: 1986-1988
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Victor Kiriakis, Cal Winters
Children Together: None
Notes: After Wayne Northrup's departure in 1984, the show held off for a couple years and then finally went through the exhaustive process of bringing Roman back via this whole complicated story with John and a new face and whatnot. And just when it was all finally settled... Deidre Hall up and quits. Days was now in an unenviable position of having a dead Marlena and a living Roman that no one really identified as Roman yet. It would have been all too easy for them to cut their losses with the recast and send Roman offscreen until they got Wayne Northrop and Deidre Hall were both available, but the show clearly saw something in Drake Hogestyn and brought in a new girl for him. And, though Diana won't go down in history as the most famous pairing John had during the period of Marlena's death, it worked. It helped that they nabbed Genie Francis, whose famous role as Laura on General Hospital made her one of the biggest names in daytime history both then and now, for the part. In no time the characters had cemented themselves among Steve and Kayla and Shane and Kimberly as one of the leading couples of the show.
And that's good, because no time's about all they had. Diana was gone almost as soon as she'd come, again leaving Drake's "Roman" high and dry just after a big pairing was really getting off the ground. Still, for such a short time on the show Diana actually left quite a mark - the newspaper The Salem Spectator ended up in more famous hands, and her ex-husband Cal Winters continued to be a factor for the next few years in the life of Kimberly Brady. As for RoJohn? It didn't take him too long to get back on his feet, and in a big way... but more on that later.
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn and Genie Francis
Duration: 1986-1988
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Victor Kiriakis, Cal Winters
Children Together: None
Notes: After Wayne Northrup's departure in 1984, the show held off for a couple years and then finally went through the exhaustive process of bringing Roman back via this whole complicated story with John and a new face and whatnot. And just when it was all finally settled... Deidre Hall up and quits. Days was now in an unenviable position of having a dead Marlena and a living Roman that no one really identified as Roman yet. It would have been all too easy for them to cut their losses with the recast and send Roman offscreen until they got Wayne Northrop and Deidre Hall were both available, but the show clearly saw something in Drake Hogestyn and brought in a new girl for him. And, though Diana won't go down in history as the most famous pairing John had during the period of Marlena's death, it worked. It helped that they nabbed Genie Francis, whose famous role as Laura on General Hospital made her one of the biggest names in daytime history both then and now, for the part. In no time the characters had cemented themselves among Steve and Kayla and Shane and Kimberly as one of the leading couples of the show.
And that's good, because no time's about all they had. Diana was gone almost as soon as she'd come, again leaving Drake's "Roman" high and dry just after a big pairing was really getting off the ground. Still, for such a short time on the show Diana actually left quite a mark - the newspaper The Salem Spectator ended up in more famous hands, and her ex-husband Cal Winters continued to be a factor for the next few years in the life of Kimberly Brady. As for RoJohn? It didn't take him too long to get back on his feet, and in a big way... but more on that later.
48. Victor and Vivian
Names: Victor Kiriakis and Vivian Alamain
Portrayed By: John Aniston and Louise Sorel
Duration: 1992-1998, 2010
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Kate Roberts, Maggie Horton
Children Together: None (though Vivian would tell you they had Philip)
Notes: Some couples you watch because you're so enamored by how in love they are. Others you watch because they're like a car accident and you can't ge look away. Guess which one Vivian and Victor are? Though their extremely contentious relationship (Victor just supported the burying of Vivian alive) might suggest otherwise, these two actually did have a very loving relationship at times in the 90s. They were never really the official rooting couple in that era, that was Victor and Kate, but Vivian certainly cared about Victor and did just about anything to have him. And most of what she tried was infinitely entertaining.
Nowadays the dynamic has shifted as Vivian has grown more and more insane and Victor less and less tolerant of their shenanigans. But they're still always fun to watch!
Portrayed By: John Aniston and Louise Sorel
Duration: 1992-1998, 2010
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Kate Roberts, Maggie Horton
Children Together: None (though Vivian would tell you they had Philip)
Notes: Some couples you watch because you're so enamored by how in love they are. Others you watch because they're like a car accident and you can't ge look away. Guess which one Vivian and Victor are? Though their extremely contentious relationship (Victor just supported the burying of Vivian alive) might suggest otherwise, these two actually did have a very loving relationship at times in the 90s. They were never really the official rooting couple in that era, that was Victor and Kate, but Vivian certainly cared about Victor and did just about anything to have him. And most of what she tried was infinitely entertaining.
Nowadays the dynamic has shifted as Vivian has grown more and more insane and Victor less and less tolerant of their shenanigans. But they're still always fun to watch!
47. Stefano and Celeste
Names: Stefano DiMera and Francesca "Celeste" Perrault
Portrayed By: Joseph Mascolo and Tanya Boyd
Duration: Mainly offscreen, though they were a duo throughout most of the 1990s
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: None, really - they were broken up before we met them
Children Together: Lexie Carver
Notes: Stefano and Celeste are the first of I think two couples on this list who we never really saw as a couple onscreen. The details of romantic tryst of these two lies in the backstory, but you could see it in the complex interactions these two have had. They've been everything to each other - lover, friends, partners in crime and mortal enemies. Though nowadays, especially since Celeste hasn't been seen in a few years, they're remembered chiefly as being Lexie's parents, in the 1990s we saw these two much more than their daughter as she was Stefano's chief henchperson before the likes of Rolf and Bart came on the screen. They're an unconventional pairing to be sure - an elderly Italian mobster and a middle-aged African psychic - but that's what made their dynamic so appealing. The DiMeras of late have suffered from the lack of a woman's touch that Celeste brought to the organization.
Portrayed By: Joseph Mascolo and Tanya Boyd
Duration: Mainly offscreen, though they were a duo throughout most of the 1990s
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: None, really - they were broken up before we met them
Children Together: Lexie Carver
Notes: Stefano and Celeste are the first of I think two couples on this list who we never really saw as a couple onscreen. The details of romantic tryst of these two lies in the backstory, but you could see it in the complex interactions these two have had. They've been everything to each other - lover, friends, partners in crime and mortal enemies. Though nowadays, especially since Celeste hasn't been seen in a few years, they're remembered chiefly as being Lexie's parents, in the 1990s we saw these two much more than their daughter as she was Stefano's chief henchperson before the likes of Rolf and Bart came on the screen. They're an unconventional pairing to be sure - an elderly Italian mobster and a middle-aged African psychic - but that's what made their dynamic so appealing. The DiMeras of late have suffered from the lack of a woman's touch that Celeste brought to the organization.
46. Craig and Nancy
Names: Craig Wesley and Nancy Miller Wesley
Portrayed By: Kevin Spirtas and Patrika Darbo
Duration: 1997-2003, 2005
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: None, really - have almost always been a happily married couple
Children Together: Chloe Lane and Joy Wesley
Notes: Originally introduced as a one-note villainous couple meant to antagonize Mike Horton and Carrie Brady, the original dynamic was that Craig had no affection for Nancy and was using her because her father was the hospital administrator and he wanted to get ahead at the hospital. Indeed, in his first very introduction he was introduced with a vastly more attractive girl on his arm whom he was apparently cheating on Nancy with. By the time they they left however, they were a loving and devoted couple, with two daughters and one of the most stable marriages on the show.
How did this change so wildly? Well, though the retcon of the reason for their marriage was a big catalyst for this change (the later story had them as high school sweethearts), we also got to see that under the surface-level issues of them not seeming like an obvious physical match, they were actually perfect together. They could be scheming, manipulative and spiteful and loving, supportive and friendly, but no matter what they always seemed to complement each other perfectly.
Portrayed By: Kevin Spirtas and Patrika Darbo
Duration: 1997-2003, 2005
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: None, really - have almost always been a happily married couple
Children Together: Chloe Lane and Joy Wesley
Notes: Originally introduced as a one-note villainous couple meant to antagonize Mike Horton and Carrie Brady, the original dynamic was that Craig had no affection for Nancy and was using her because her father was the hospital administrator and he wanted to get ahead at the hospital. Indeed, in his first very introduction he was introduced with a vastly more attractive girl on his arm whom he was apparently cheating on Nancy with. By the time they they left however, they were a loving and devoted couple, with two daughters and one of the most stable marriages on the show.
How did this change so wildly? Well, though the retcon of the reason for their marriage was a big catalyst for this change (the later story had them as high school sweethearts), we also got to see that under the surface-level issues of them not seeming like an obvious physical match, they were actually perfect together. They could be scheming, manipulative and spiteful and loving, supportive and friendly, but no matter what they always seemed to complement each other perfectly.
45. Mike and Margo
Names: Michael William "Mike" Horton Jr. and Margo Anderman
Portrayed By: Wesley Eure and Suzanne Zenor
Duration: 1977-1980
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Margo's death
Interlopers: None, really - their issues were more loan shark and leukemia related
Children Together: None
Notes: Though Mike Horton has had a wealth of love interests throughout his time on the show, he's only made it to the altar once - with Margo Anderman. Their tragic short-lived marriage is one of the more bittersweet tales in Days' history. Mike was just out of school and longed to be free of his parents upper-middle class lifestyle and so he got a job as an mechanic and hooked up with the comparatively lower class Margo. Though originally just slumming it, Mike eventually fell hard for the sweet, innocent girl, and when they discovered she had leukemia they got married. Their two years of marriage was rocky to say the least. They were plaqued by debts due to Margo's medical bills and Mike was forced to borrow money from a violent and dangerous loanshark which only served to make things worse. Though they were eventually free of the loan shark, Margo succumbed to her cancer not long after, leaving Mike broke and alone. It was Margo's death that prompted Mike to try his hand at medical school, wanting to save others since he couldn't save his wife.
Sadly, as time goes on, Mike's relationship with Margo has faded from memory from too many (as has Wesley Eure's Mike in general) and he's primarily remembered for later relationships of his. But it was this relationship Mike had with Margo when he was very young that set the character off into the direction he would continue - as a romantic and passionate doctor.
Portrayed By: Wesley Eure and Suzanne Zenor
Duration: 1977-1980
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Margo's death
Interlopers: None, really - their issues were more loan shark and leukemia related
Children Together: None
Notes: Though Mike Horton has had a wealth of love interests throughout his time on the show, he's only made it to the altar once - with Margo Anderman. Their tragic short-lived marriage is one of the more bittersweet tales in Days' history. Mike was just out of school and longed to be free of his parents upper-middle class lifestyle and so he got a job as an mechanic and hooked up with the comparatively lower class Margo. Though originally just slumming it, Mike eventually fell hard for the sweet, innocent girl, and when they discovered she had leukemia they got married. Their two years of marriage was rocky to say the least. They were plaqued by debts due to Margo's medical bills and Mike was forced to borrow money from a violent and dangerous loanshark which only served to make things worse. Though they were eventually free of the loan shark, Margo succumbed to her cancer not long after, leaving Mike broke and alone. It was Margo's death that prompted Mike to try his hand at medical school, wanting to save others since he couldn't save his wife.
Sadly, as time goes on, Mike's relationship with Margo has faded from memory from too many (as has Wesley Eure's Mike in general) and he's primarily remembered for later relationships of his. But it was this relationship Mike had with Margo when he was very young that set the character off into the direction he would continue - as a romantic and passionate doctor.
44. Eric and Nicole
Names: Eric Roman Brady II and Nicole Walker
Portrayed By: Jensen Ackles and Arianne Zucker
Duration: 1998-2000
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Greta von Amberg, Lucas Roberts, Taylor Raines
Children Together: None
Notes: Though Nicole has had many many men on her time in the show, Eric was her first love interest and will always be one of her best remembered. In some ways he was her perfect opposite - a through and through honorable guy without much grey in him at all, and when we saw what a despicable person Nicole could be while being with a guy so incredibly sweet, it helped set up just what kind of person she was. Though audiences were fairly split between wanting Eric with Nicole or good girl Greta, Eric himself always seemed to favor Nicole, no matter how much she lied to him or even when she married Lucas for money. But at the same time, compared to what she became, Nicole was practically the girl-next-door in this era. The loss of Eric, who left town in disgust with her, heavily shaped the girl she became.
In many ways, Brady has become Eric's successor in terms of the knight in shining armor paired with this black widow, and as the show has spent much more time on Brady and Nicole it's easy for their relationship to take precedence - but Eric's armor was always a little more polished than Brady's and he was a little less tolerant of her antics. Perhaps this makes Brady a better candidate for Nicole in the long run, but the spectre of this near-perfect guy she lost, loomed in Nicole's mind years after Eric's departure. Though Eric's been gone for years, rumors of him returning surface every few years (and we're currently in the midst of one cycle of that) and, if he does, it will definitely bring back an interesting side of Nicole.
Portrayed By: Jensen Ackles and Arianne Zucker
Duration: 1998-2000
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Greta von Amberg, Lucas Roberts, Taylor Raines
Children Together: None
Notes: Though Nicole has had many many men on her time in the show, Eric was her first love interest and will always be one of her best remembered. In some ways he was her perfect opposite - a through and through honorable guy without much grey in him at all, and when we saw what a despicable person Nicole could be while being with a guy so incredibly sweet, it helped set up just what kind of person she was. Though audiences were fairly split between wanting Eric with Nicole or good girl Greta, Eric himself always seemed to favor Nicole, no matter how much she lied to him or even when she married Lucas for money. But at the same time, compared to what she became, Nicole was practically the girl-next-door in this era. The loss of Eric, who left town in disgust with her, heavily shaped the girl she became.
In many ways, Brady has become Eric's successor in terms of the knight in shining armor paired with this black widow, and as the show has spent much more time on Brady and Nicole it's easy for their relationship to take precedence - but Eric's armor was always a little more polished than Brady's and he was a little less tolerant of her antics. Perhaps this makes Brady a better candidate for Nicole in the long run, but the spectre of this near-perfect guy she lost, loomed in Nicole's mind years after Eric's departure. Though Eric's been gone for years, rumors of him returning surface every few years (and we're currently in the midst of one cycle of that) and, if he does, it will definitely bring back an interesting side of Nicole.
43. Nick and Eve
Names: Nicholas "Nick" Corelli and Eve Baron Donovan
Portrayed By: George Jenesky and Charlotte Ross
Duration: 1987-1990
Current Status: Broken up at the time of Nick's death
Interlopers: April Ramirez
Children Together: None
Notes: The pairing of a prostitute and her pimp is hardly the stuff of fairy tales, but the incredibly offbeat relationship of Nick and Eve was actually sweet in a bizarre way. With pretty much everyone else Nick was a despicable, loathsome human being but he genuinely cared for Eve, looking out for her, protecting her, even going around as a masked vigilante to save her. Ultimately his otherwise horrible nature got the better of him, and he was taken out by Jo Johnson for his role in Steve's "death" but even in death he showed his love for Eve by leaving his fortune and restaurant Wings to her and allowing her to start over fresh.
The unseemly nature of their relationship probably kept them from achieving the supercouple status that many of their contemporaries did, but they were nevertheless one of the more interesting couples of the late 80s - and considering how many great couples this era had, that's something.
Portrayed By: George Jenesky and Charlotte Ross
Duration: 1987-1990
Current Status: Broken up at the time of Nick's death
Interlopers: April Ramirez
Children Together: None
Notes: The pairing of a prostitute and her pimp is hardly the stuff of fairy tales, but the incredibly offbeat relationship of Nick and Eve was actually sweet in a bizarre way. With pretty much everyone else Nick was a despicable, loathsome human being but he genuinely cared for Eve, looking out for her, protecting her, even going around as a masked vigilante to save her. Ultimately his otherwise horrible nature got the better of him, and he was taken out by Jo Johnson for his role in Steve's "death" but even in death he showed his love for Eve by leaving his fortune and restaurant Wings to her and allowing her to start over fresh.
The unseemly nature of their relationship probably kept them from achieving the supercouple status that many of their contemporaries did, but they were nevertheless one of the more interesting couples of the late 80s - and considering how many great couples this era had, that's something.
42. Brandon and Sami
Names: Brandon Walker and Samantha Gene "Sami" Brady
Portrayed By: Matt Cedeno and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 1999 - 2003, 2005
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Lexie Carver, Jennifer Horton, Austin Reed, Angela Moroni
Children Together: None
Notes: Nowadays it seems like everyone and their brother is fighting over Sami Brady in Days of our Lives, so it's almost hard to believe that in the '90s absolutely no one wanted her, her major love interests of the era (Austin and Lucas) all being more interested in her sister Carrie. With the arrival of Brandon all that changed, for the first time there was someone for whom Sami was always the biggest priority. Even when she lusted after Austin, Brandon's biggest priority was always Samantha (E.J.'s schtick of calling her by her full name was Brandon's first). He was steadfastly devoted to her, and had tremendous amounts of faith in her, always believeing she could turn over a new leaf, become a good person and change her life.
Unfortunately, in that time period, Sami absolutely could not turn over a new leaf, become a good person and change her life and, after suffering heartbreak after heartbreak, Brandon was eventually forced to see that and he skipped town shortly after their marriage, which was annulled. Sami moved onto another guy (and another after him and another after him) but it was Brandon that first established her as someone who could be desired all on her own and didn't need to be a second choice, and that bit of characterization persists 'til this day.
Portrayed By: Matt Cedeno and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 1999 - 2003, 2005
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Lexie Carver, Jennifer Horton, Austin Reed, Angela Moroni
Children Together: None
Notes: Nowadays it seems like everyone and their brother is fighting over Sami Brady in Days of our Lives, so it's almost hard to believe that in the '90s absolutely no one wanted her, her major love interests of the era (Austin and Lucas) all being more interested in her sister Carrie. With the arrival of Brandon all that changed, for the first time there was someone for whom Sami was always the biggest priority. Even when she lusted after Austin, Brandon's biggest priority was always Samantha (E.J.'s schtick of calling her by her full name was Brandon's first). He was steadfastly devoted to her, and had tremendous amounts of faith in her, always believeing she could turn over a new leaf, become a good person and change her life.
Unfortunately, in that time period, Sami absolutely could not turn over a new leaf, become a good person and change her life and, after suffering heartbreak after heartbreak, Brandon was eventually forced to see that and he skipped town shortly after their marriage, which was annulled. Sami moved onto another guy (and another after him and another after him) but it was Brandon that first established her as someone who could be desired all on her own and didn't need to be a second choice, and that bit of characterization persists 'til this day.
41. Tony and Renee
Names: Count Antony "Tony" DiMera and Renee DuMonde
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis and Philece Sampler
Duration: 1981-1983
Current Status: Broken up at the time of Renee's death
Interlopers: David Banning, Anna Fredericks
Children Together: None
Notes: Although Tony's relationship with Anna ultimately eclipsed it, in his first two years in Salem Tony was all about Renee. There's was a tumultuous relationship, particularly due to the back and forth on whether or not they were brother and sister. First Tony was Stefano's child and Renee wasn't. Then they were both his children. Then only Renee was. And even since her death, they've still gone back and forth on whether Tony is Stefano's kid. So, yeah. They might be incest or they might not, but all that aside, their dual DiMera heritage lead them to be a couple often as dark and tragic as their family name suggests - much of the time they were suffering or causing others to suffer and no matter how much they cared for each other they never really got to spend all that much time together and ultimately Renee's sudden and unexpected murder cut short what may have been one of the many great supercouples of the '80s. But perhaps Tony's own death twenty-five years later reunited them in the great beyond.
(Apologies for the picture quality, there's really not a lot of Tony/Renee pics out there - if you know of better ones send them my way)
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis and Philece Sampler
Duration: 1981-1983
Current Status: Broken up at the time of Renee's death
Interlopers: David Banning, Anna Fredericks
Children Together: None
Notes: Although Tony's relationship with Anna ultimately eclipsed it, in his first two years in Salem Tony was all about Renee. There's was a tumultuous relationship, particularly due to the back and forth on whether or not they were brother and sister. First Tony was Stefano's child and Renee wasn't. Then they were both his children. Then only Renee was. And even since her death, they've still gone back and forth on whether Tony is Stefano's kid. So, yeah. They might be incest or they might not, but all that aside, their dual DiMera heritage lead them to be a couple often as dark and tragic as their family name suggests - much of the time they were suffering or causing others to suffer and no matter how much they cared for each other they never really got to spend all that much time together and ultimately Renee's sudden and unexpected murder cut short what may have been one of the many great supercouples of the '80s. But perhaps Tony's own death twenty-five years later reunited them in the great beyond.
(Apologies for the picture quality, there's really not a lot of Tony/Renee pics out there - if you know of better ones send them my way)
40. John and Kristen
Names: John Black and Kristen Blake DiMera
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn and Eileen Davidson
Duration: 1993-1998
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Andre DiMera, Marlena Evans
Children Together: None
Notes: It's really a shame what happened to John and Kristen. Following Isabella's death, and with the show not quite ready to stick a fork in Roman and Marlena with all they went through to get Wayne Northrop back alongside Deidre Hall, at first John's relationship with Kristen seemed like an honest-to-god attempt to move John on from his past relationships and give him something new. When Wayne Northrop left however, putting John and Marlena back together was a given. They could've chosen to write Kristen off gracefully then, or else had her simply move on to someone else - perhaps find real love in her relationship with "Tony". But no. "Tony" was "killed off" and Kristen was turned into the kind of batshit crazy, completely off-the-wall and despicable villain that the mid-90s Reilly regime was known for. The earnest and multi-dimensional characterization that she'd had before was stripped away and we were left with a lunatic, and about fifty indentical clones of her turning the whole thing into an absolute farce.
But nonetheless... Kristen was fun and so was her relaitonship with John. She livened up a character who can sometimes be on the stiff side, and was responsible for a good degree of the juice that the mid-90s provided. Ultimately John and Kristen won't go down in history as one of the most romantic love stories Days have ever had, but they sure were entertaining.
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn and Eileen Davidson
Duration: 1993-1998
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Andre DiMera, Marlena Evans
Children Together: None
Notes: It's really a shame what happened to John and Kristen. Following Isabella's death, and with the show not quite ready to stick a fork in Roman and Marlena with all they went through to get Wayne Northrop back alongside Deidre Hall, at first John's relationship with Kristen seemed like an honest-to-god attempt to move John on from his past relationships and give him something new. When Wayne Northrop left however, putting John and Marlena back together was a given. They could've chosen to write Kristen off gracefully then, or else had her simply move on to someone else - perhaps find real love in her relationship with "Tony". But no. "Tony" was "killed off" and Kristen was turned into the kind of batshit crazy, completely off-the-wall and despicable villain that the mid-90s Reilly regime was known for. The earnest and multi-dimensional characterization that she'd had before was stripped away and we were left with a lunatic, and about fifty indentical clones of her turning the whole thing into an absolute farce.
But nonetheless... Kristen was fun and so was her relaitonship with John. She livened up a character who can sometimes be on the stiff side, and was responsible for a good degree of the juice that the mid-90s provided. Ultimately John and Kristen won't go down in history as one of the most romantic love stories Days have ever had, but they sure were entertaining.
39. Lawrence and Carly
Names: Lawrence James Alamain and Katerina "Carly Manning" von Leuschner
Portrayed By: Michael Sabatino and Crystal Chappell
Duration: 1990-1993, very very briefly in 2009.
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Lawrence's death
Interlopers: Bo Brady
Children Together: Nicholas Alamain
Notes: I mentioned that Tony and Renee had a dark and tragic relationship, but compared to Lawrence and Carly they were like two fluffy bunnies. You don't get much darker than Lawrence and Carly - the only couple on this list where one half killed the other (although for other couples that wasn't for lack of trying). Lawrence was an evil, evil man. In his three year crime spree through Salem he raped Carly's best friend, manipulated the "death" of Steve Johnson and all sorts of other misdeeds and yet... Carly loved him anyway. And not in a naive kind of way where she denied or remained ignorant of his crimes, Carly certainly knew better and for many years chose the heroic Bo Brady over him, but Lawrence was her first love, the father of her son, had medically-verified psychological issues that sort of forgave some of his worst crimes and no matter what he did... it was clear he did genuinely love Carly. He wasn't necessarily redeemed by her love like some other villains were, but he definitely did love her.
Perhaps prompted by the real-life romance of their performers, there was just a magnetism and chemistry between these two that the logic of it being horrible that a popular heroine would be with someone so undeniably bad just couldn't overtake them. No matter how horrible Lawrence was, he was also suave and smooth and he understood Carly like no one else did. Ultimately Lawrence and Carly were endgame, and after he saved her from being buried alive by his crazy Aunt Vivian, they walked off into the sunset together.
Of course, flashforward 16 years later and Carly's plunging a knife through Lawrence's chest. Perhaps a fitting coda to the fairy tale ending this couple got. No matter how great and loving he could occasionally try to be, Lawrence's demons got the better of him. He was truly just a deeply disturbed monster and rose-colored glasses could only hide it for so long.
Portrayed By: Michael Sabatino and Crystal Chappell
Duration: 1990-1993, very very briefly in 2009.
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Lawrence's death
Interlopers: Bo Brady
Children Together: Nicholas Alamain
Notes: I mentioned that Tony and Renee had a dark and tragic relationship, but compared to Lawrence and Carly they were like two fluffy bunnies. You don't get much darker than Lawrence and Carly - the only couple on this list where one half killed the other (although for other couples that wasn't for lack of trying). Lawrence was an evil, evil man. In his three year crime spree through Salem he raped Carly's best friend, manipulated the "death" of Steve Johnson and all sorts of other misdeeds and yet... Carly loved him anyway. And not in a naive kind of way where she denied or remained ignorant of his crimes, Carly certainly knew better and for many years chose the heroic Bo Brady over him, but Lawrence was her first love, the father of her son, had medically-verified psychological issues that sort of forgave some of his worst crimes and no matter what he did... it was clear he did genuinely love Carly. He wasn't necessarily redeemed by her love like some other villains were, but he definitely did love her.
Perhaps prompted by the real-life romance of their performers, there was just a magnetism and chemistry between these two that the logic of it being horrible that a popular heroine would be with someone so undeniably bad just couldn't overtake them. No matter how horrible Lawrence was, he was also suave and smooth and he understood Carly like no one else did. Ultimately Lawrence and Carly were endgame, and after he saved her from being buried alive by his crazy Aunt Vivian, they walked off into the sunset together.
Of course, flashforward 16 years later and Carly's plunging a knife through Lawrence's chest. Perhaps a fitting coda to the fairy tale ending this couple got. No matter how great and loving he could occasionally try to be, Lawrence's demons got the better of him. He was truly just a deeply disturbed monster and rose-colored glasses could only hide it for so long.
38. Roman and Kate
Names: Roman Augustus Brady and Katherine Elizabeth "Kate" Roberts
Portrayed By: Josh Taylor and Lauren Koslow
Duration: 2002-2005
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: John Black, Marlena Evans
Children Together: Rex and Cassie Brady
Notes: There was a lot about Roman and Kate that was simply bizarre. After all the horrible things Kate had done to Sami over the years, it seemed strange that Roman would consent to be with her. And the less said about the ridiculousness of Rex and Cassie suddenly being their children the better - it certainly ranks among Days' dumbest storylines.
But all of that aside, there was a degree to which it made so much sense to pair Roman and Kate together that it's a wonder it took them so long to go there. Since Sami had been with two of Kate's sons, it seemed only natural that they'd escalate the rivalry further by pairing Kate with her father. And they'd both spent much time fighting for relationships where ultimately the other person just didn't want them and them alone. For Roman, his pairing with Kate offered him his first chance in years to be the true leading man he was originally envisioned as, rather than the eternal odd man out in the neverending John/Marlena/Roman saga. With Kate, there was finally someone who could just be for him. And for Kate, her pairing with Roman offered her first chance ever to be a true heroine type. Her past pairings had always been with rich old crimelords, or married men, or hunks young enough to be her children - none of which really served the character well in terms of respectability. With Roman, she was paired with a true good guy, a core Days hero, and someone actually her own age.
Obviously, it didn't last. Perhaps ultimately Kate was too much of a villainess for good guy Roman to stay with her longterm. Perhaps they got together too late, as they both became supporting characters not long after this time period and Roman in particular doesn't seem to be allowed to be in romance stories anymore. But for whatever reason, though Roman and Kate remain on the show, they rarely if ever share a scene together, and the show seems to want us to forget their children even exist. But for a few years, the pairing of Roman and Kate allowed the characters to almost reach a potential they'll likely never get a chance to again.
Portrayed By: Josh Taylor and Lauren Koslow
Duration: 2002-2005
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: John Black, Marlena Evans
Children Together: Rex and Cassie Brady
Notes: There was a lot about Roman and Kate that was simply bizarre. After all the horrible things Kate had done to Sami over the years, it seemed strange that Roman would consent to be with her. And the less said about the ridiculousness of Rex and Cassie suddenly being their children the better - it certainly ranks among Days' dumbest storylines.
But all of that aside, there was a degree to which it made so much sense to pair Roman and Kate together that it's a wonder it took them so long to go there. Since Sami had been with two of Kate's sons, it seemed only natural that they'd escalate the rivalry further by pairing Kate with her father. And they'd both spent much time fighting for relationships where ultimately the other person just didn't want them and them alone. For Roman, his pairing with Kate offered him his first chance in years to be the true leading man he was originally envisioned as, rather than the eternal odd man out in the neverending John/Marlena/Roman saga. With Kate, there was finally someone who could just be for him. And for Kate, her pairing with Roman offered her first chance ever to be a true heroine type. Her past pairings had always been with rich old crimelords, or married men, or hunks young enough to be her children - none of which really served the character well in terms of respectability. With Roman, she was paired with a true good guy, a core Days hero, and someone actually her own age.
Obviously, it didn't last. Perhaps ultimately Kate was too much of a villainess for good guy Roman to stay with her longterm. Perhaps they got together too late, as they both became supporting characters not long after this time period and Roman in particular doesn't seem to be allowed to be in romance stories anymore. But for whatever reason, though Roman and Kate remain on the show, they rarely if ever share a scene together, and the show seems to want us to forget their children even exist. But for a few years, the pairing of Roman and Kate allowed the characters to almost reach a potential they'll likely never get a chance to again.
37. Frankie and Jennifer
Names: Francois "Frankie Brady" von Leuschner and Jennifer Rose Horton
Portrayed By: Billy Warlock and Melissa Reeves
Duration: 1986-1988, 1990, 2005-2006
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Eve Donovan, Paula Carson, Jack Deveraux
Children Together: None
Notes: Though the influx of teen pairings in the late 90s and early 00s changed this, for many years Frankie and Jennifer were probably the most clear-cut example of teen couples on Days of our Lives. They were virginal, sweet and (comparatively) drama free. Since they were too young to be expected to carry the show, their storylines often involved drama about summer school and who's asking who to the dance. Though occasionally they'd foray into more serious stuff - often involving them foiling some sort of drug and prostitution ring that was running rampant through the halls of Salem High - it was mainly lighthearted fluff offering a refreshingly sweet contrast to the heavier more dramatic couples of the day.
Like most teen couples, it ultimately didn't work out. Frankie had an affair with his professor and he and Jennifer ultimately called it quits and he left town. Though he'd show up from time to time, still holding a torch for Jennifer, it was usually just used in the context of being an impediment for Jack and Jennifer and didn't usually last too long. So, while they don't necessarily number among Days' most complex and multi-faceted couples, there's really no reason why they should. There were other couples for that, sometimes it's just nice to show a sweet and happy young couple generally unsullied with the soapy sex and drama of the adults.
Portrayed By: Billy Warlock and Melissa Reeves
Duration: 1986-1988, 1990, 2005-2006
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Eve Donovan, Paula Carson, Jack Deveraux
Children Together: None
Notes: Though the influx of teen pairings in the late 90s and early 00s changed this, for many years Frankie and Jennifer were probably the most clear-cut example of teen couples on Days of our Lives. They were virginal, sweet and (comparatively) drama free. Since they were too young to be expected to carry the show, their storylines often involved drama about summer school and who's asking who to the dance. Though occasionally they'd foray into more serious stuff - often involving them foiling some sort of drug and prostitution ring that was running rampant through the halls of Salem High - it was mainly lighthearted fluff offering a refreshingly sweet contrast to the heavier more dramatic couples of the day.
Like most teen couples, it ultimately didn't work out. Frankie had an affair with his professor and he and Jennifer ultimately called it quits and he left town. Though he'd show up from time to time, still holding a torch for Jennifer, it was usually just used in the context of being an impediment for Jack and Jennifer and didn't usually last too long. So, while they don't necessarily number among Days' most complex and multi-faceted couples, there's really no reason why they should. There were other couples for that, sometimes it's just nice to show a sweet and happy young couple generally unsullied with the soapy sex and drama of the adults.
36. Brady and Nicole
Names: Brady Victor Black and Nicole Walker
Most Notable Portrayers: Eric Martsolf and Arianne Zucker
Also Portrayed By: Kyle Lowder and Arianne Zucker
Duration: 2003-2005, 2008-2011
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Chloe Lane, E.J. DiMera, Arianna Hernandez
Children Together: None
Notes: In some ways there are really two version of Brady and Nicole, differentiated by the actors who played Brady at the time. The first time around, Brady dated Nicole despite still being very much in love with Chloe. Nicole had to scheme (and worse, like putting flesh-eating bacteria on Chloe's face) to keep Brady and they were definitely not a rooting couple. Still, they managed to have a lot of fans who felt Brady and Chloe were a little too schmaltzy and sweet together and that Nicole brought out an interesting fire in Brady that he'd had previously but had lost. The behind the scenes relationship and later marriage of Kyle Lowder and Arianne Zucker likely helped that along. Still, ultimately Brady ended up with Chloe and the two left town in wedded bliss.
When Brady came back to town in 2008, he and Chloe had gotten divorced offscreen following Chloe's return to the canvas a year earlier, and suddenly Brady could give two shits about the former love of his life and was suddenly all about Nicole. While this was admittedly a 180, it also felt like a fresh start for Brady, who was now being played by a new actor, and gave him an opportunity to carve out a new identity. And it worked. Brady and Nicole very quickly became among the more popular parts of the show in its current incarnation - both in their good boy/bad girl dynamic and with the edge that Nicole is bringing back out of him. In a show that's currently groaning under the weight of a certain other triangle, Brady and Nicole's wacky hijinks of burying people alive and switching babies keep things lively and fun. And no matter how miserable they sometimes seem to make each other, it slowly becomes more and more clear that they're bizarrely perfect for each other.
Most Notable Portrayers: Eric Martsolf and Arianne Zucker
Also Portrayed By: Kyle Lowder and Arianne Zucker
Duration: 2003-2005, 2008-2011
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Chloe Lane, E.J. DiMera, Arianna Hernandez
Children Together: None
Notes: In some ways there are really two version of Brady and Nicole, differentiated by the actors who played Brady at the time. The first time around, Brady dated Nicole despite still being very much in love with Chloe. Nicole had to scheme (and worse, like putting flesh-eating bacteria on Chloe's face) to keep Brady and they were definitely not a rooting couple. Still, they managed to have a lot of fans who felt Brady and Chloe were a little too schmaltzy and sweet together and that Nicole brought out an interesting fire in Brady that he'd had previously but had lost. The behind the scenes relationship and later marriage of Kyle Lowder and Arianne Zucker likely helped that along. Still, ultimately Brady ended up with Chloe and the two left town in wedded bliss.
When Brady came back to town in 2008, he and Chloe had gotten divorced offscreen following Chloe's return to the canvas a year earlier, and suddenly Brady could give two shits about the former love of his life and was suddenly all about Nicole. While this was admittedly a 180, it also felt like a fresh start for Brady, who was now being played by a new actor, and gave him an opportunity to carve out a new identity. And it worked. Brady and Nicole very quickly became among the more popular parts of the show in its current incarnation - both in their good boy/bad girl dynamic and with the edge that Nicole is bringing back out of him. In a show that's currently groaning under the weight of a certain other triangle, Brady and Nicole's wacky hijinks of burying people alive and switching babies keep things lively and fun. And no matter how miserable they sometimes seem to make each other, it slowly becomes more and more clear that they're bizarrely perfect for each other.
35. Shawn Sr. and Caroline
Names: Shawn and Caroline Brady
Most Notable Portrayers: Frank Parker and Peggy McCay
Also Portrayed By: Frank Parker and Jody Carter, Frank Parker and Barbara Beckley, Lew Brown and Barbara Beckley, Lew Brown and Peggy McCay, Frank MacLean and Peggy McCay
Duration: 1983-2008
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Shawn's death
Interlopers: Victor Kiriakis
Children Together: Roman, Kimberly and Kayla Brady (biological); Bo, Frankie and Max Brady (legal/adopted)
Notes: Not really too much to say here, is there? This show has a selection of a few key old married couples whose drama is few and far between and are generally just around to dispense advice and serve food. Most of these couples achieve this status as sort of an emeritus position, but Shawn and Caroline have essentially been this from day one. As the Brady family patriarch and matriarch they're sort of a Tom and Alice Lite only with a more dramatic backstory in Caroline's affair with Victor. Still so torrid was that backstory that it managed to become a central part of who they were for the almost the entirety of their 25 year run.
So, while Shawn and Caroline's lack of any moments on the frontburner, don't get to hang with the other big deal older couples like Doug and Julie or Mickey and Maggie, their roles as the head of Salem's second family does get them this far.
Most Notable Portrayers: Frank Parker and Peggy McCay
Also Portrayed By: Frank Parker and Jody Carter, Frank Parker and Barbara Beckley, Lew Brown and Barbara Beckley, Lew Brown and Peggy McCay, Frank MacLean and Peggy McCay
Duration: 1983-2008
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Shawn's death
Interlopers: Victor Kiriakis
Children Together: Roman, Kimberly and Kayla Brady (biological); Bo, Frankie and Max Brady (legal/adopted)
Notes: Not really too much to say here, is there? This show has a selection of a few key old married couples whose drama is few and far between and are generally just around to dispense advice and serve food. Most of these couples achieve this status as sort of an emeritus position, but Shawn and Caroline have essentially been this from day one. As the Brady family patriarch and matriarch they're sort of a Tom and Alice Lite only with a more dramatic backstory in Caroline's affair with Victor. Still so torrid was that backstory that it managed to become a central part of who they were for the almost the entirety of their 25 year run.
So, while Shawn and Caroline's lack of any moments on the frontburner, don't get to hang with the other big deal older couples like Doug and Julie or Mickey and Maggie, their roles as the head of Salem's second family does get them this far.
34. E.J. and Sami
Names: Elvis Aron "E.J." DiMera and Samantha Gene "Sami" Brady
Portrayed By: James Scott and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 2006-present
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Lucas Horton, Nicole Walker, Rafe Hernandez
Children Together: Johnny and Sydney DiMera
Notes: Chances are, if you ask a fan of Days what they think about E.J. and Sami they'll tell you they're either the best thing to happen to Days in the past ten years or the worst thing to happen to Days in the past ten years. No matter how you feel about the extremely polarizing pairing of this suave British sociopath and his rape victim, E.J. and Sami took Days of our Lives by storm the last few years and now hold it hostage in their iron grip. Since the moment thing list was announced I've been flooded with comments that read along the lines of one or two things "E.J. and Sami better not make the list!!! They've never even been a couple!!!! They SUCK!" or "Ejami better be in the top 5! They're so haaaaaawttt!!" My own personal predilictions aside, I have to admit that honestly a mixture of both those two extremes have put them here. True enough, they never have been a real couple in the truest sense of the word (they've only had sex twice, only once by mutual consent, and yet both those times resulted in pregnancy), but they've obviously been in each other's romantic orbit and the chemistry (and there is chemistry) and drama has been enough to make them perhaps synonymous with Days of our Lives in its current format. The pairing has also changed the Sami Brady character perhaps irreparably turning her from a fiery vixen to a weepy martyr almost instantaneously. But nontheless they're a big deal, a huge deal, and they certainly deserve their placement on this list. But they don't really deserve to be much higher.
Portrayed By: James Scott and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 2006-present
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Lucas Horton, Nicole Walker, Rafe Hernandez
Children Together: Johnny and Sydney DiMera
Notes: Chances are, if you ask a fan of Days what they think about E.J. and Sami they'll tell you they're either the best thing to happen to Days in the past ten years or the worst thing to happen to Days in the past ten years. No matter how you feel about the extremely polarizing pairing of this suave British sociopath and his rape victim, E.J. and Sami took Days of our Lives by storm the last few years and now hold it hostage in their iron grip. Since the moment thing list was announced I've been flooded with comments that read along the lines of one or two things "E.J. and Sami better not make the list!!! They've never even been a couple!!!! They SUCK!" or "Ejami better be in the top 5! They're so haaaaaawttt!!" My own personal predilictions aside, I have to admit that honestly a mixture of both those two extremes have put them here. True enough, they never have been a real couple in the truest sense of the word (they've only had sex twice, only once by mutual consent, and yet both those times resulted in pregnancy), but they've obviously been in each other's romantic orbit and the chemistry (and there is chemistry) and drama has been enough to make them perhaps synonymous with Days of our Lives in its current format. The pairing has also changed the Sami Brady character perhaps irreparably turning her from a fiery vixen to a weepy martyr almost instantaneously. But nontheless they're a big deal, a huge deal, and they certainly deserve their placement on this list. But they don't really deserve to be much higher.
33. Max and Chelsea
Names: Maxwell "Max' Brady and Chelsea Benson Brady
Portrayed By: Darin Brooks and Rachel Melvin
Duration: 2005-2007, 2008-2009
Current Status: Dating
Interlopers: Stephanie Johnson
Children Together: None
Notes: Though they are the youngest couple on this list, and the only ones of their generation represented, Max and Chelsea managed to quickly establish themselves as a unique and rootable couple, largely through the strengths of their performers. Though Days is notorious for its lack of recognition at the Emmys, for both wins and nominations, Max and Chelsea manage to be the pairing of an Emmy-winner and a multiple Emmy nominee. At first their pairing seemed to be typical teen fare, if a little on the raunchy side (Chelsea performed oral sex on Max just hours after meeting him) , with the maturation of Chelsea into less of a vixen and more of a quirky, offbeat heroine and Max from a racecar-driving badboy to a salt-of-the-earth bartender the pairing ultimately wound up as the most stable pairings up here, which is saying something considering their youth. Watch any scene from their final year on the show and it's hard not to be taken by the funny fresh rapport the two have.
Though the were both each other's first and each other's final pairing, they both had an extended period of time when they were with others (namely Nick and Daniel for Chelsea and Stephanie and Mimi for Max) so the fact that their romance fell so easily back into place is a credit to the chemistry of the performers. Both Rachel Melvin and Darin Brooks have now gone onto moderately successful primetime careers, and it's not hard to see why.
Portrayed By: Darin Brooks and Rachel Melvin
Duration: 2005-2007, 2008-2009
Current Status: Dating
Interlopers: Stephanie Johnson
Children Together: None
Notes: Though they are the youngest couple on this list, and the only ones of their generation represented, Max and Chelsea managed to quickly establish themselves as a unique and rootable couple, largely through the strengths of their performers. Though Days is notorious for its lack of recognition at the Emmys, for both wins and nominations, Max and Chelsea manage to be the pairing of an Emmy-winner and a multiple Emmy nominee. At first their pairing seemed to be typical teen fare, if a little on the raunchy side (Chelsea performed oral sex on Max just hours after meeting him) , with the maturation of Chelsea into less of a vixen and more of a quirky, offbeat heroine and Max from a racecar-driving badboy to a salt-of-the-earth bartender the pairing ultimately wound up as the most stable pairings up here, which is saying something considering their youth. Watch any scene from their final year on the show and it's hard not to be taken by the funny fresh rapport the two have.
Though the were both each other's first and each other's final pairing, they both had an extended period of time when they were with others (namely Nick and Daniel for Chelsea and Stephanie and Mimi for Max) so the fact that their romance fell so easily back into place is a credit to the chemistry of the performers. Both Rachel Melvin and Darin Brooks have now gone onto moderately successful primetime careers, and it's not hard to see why.
32. Philip and Belle
Names: Philip Robert Kiriakis and Isabella "Belle" Black
Most Notable Portrayers: Jay Johnson and Martha Madison
Also Portrayed By: Kyle Brandt and Kirsten Storms, Kyle Brandt and Charity Rahmer, Kyle Brandt and Martha Madison
Duration: 2003-2008
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Shawn D. Brady, Chloe Lane
Children Together: None (though Claire Brady was originally raised as theirs)
Notes: Originally there was no reason at all to like Philip and Belle. They were the quintessential non-rooting couple. Belle already had an incredibly established pairing with Shawn and Philip,though popular under his original performer Jay Johnson, had just been recast with a decidedly less popular actor. This new Philip was a much more wooden variety without any of the former actor's charisma, and thus he clearly wasn't there to create a new popular pairing with Belle, just to get in the way. But things change. First Kirsten Storms left, thus undercutting the import of significance of Shelle making them a less holy and untouchable character with Martha Madison in the Belle role. Though Shelle remained the rooting couple, they felt more freedom to try them out with others and see what happened. Once Jason Cook left two years later, it seemed like a final nail had been put in Shelle as a sacred couple. Thus when Jay Johnson returned to the role - bringing his popularity and charisma with him - all bets were all off.
Almost overnight fans who had once decried Phelle as an abomination were suddenly torn. Few would deny that Martha Madison shared much more chemistry with Jay Johnson than Brandon Beemer, but many fans still held loyalty to the idea of Shawn and Belle, even if they felt little affection for them in their current status. Under their final portrayors, Philip and Belle shared red-hot chemistry and being paired with Philip offered an interesting look into the character of Belle and gave her a chance to evolve. Instead of being the teenage cheerleader in puppy love with the captain of the team, she was now a full-grown woman who was forced to consider whether she'd not outgrown both Shawn and her love for him and wanted more of an alpha male like Philip than a sweetheart boy-next-door type like Shawn. She ultimately began having a highly-controversial affair with Philip and all signs began pointing to Philip and Belle actually becoming the rooting couple (in fact, for a few months they flat-out were).
But Days, in its infinite Daysness, ultimately doesn't stray from the tried and true very often. After a changing of the guard in early 2008 which saw a new regime in place at Days it seemed people started to get squeamish about the idea of ditching Shelle for good. Since it seemed that Jay Johnson was the most popular part of the triangle and that Beemer and Madison's Shelle was only hurting the goodwill fans felt for the couple, Shawn and Belle were hurriedly reunited and shoved offscreen while Philip was moved on to other things. In all likeliehood, Shelle will be tabled until they can get their original popular performers back and thus Phelle's moment in the sun is over. But they deserve mad props from turning a pairing that was never supposed to be anything but a pit-stop for the real couple into something worth watching all on its own.
Most Notable Portrayers: Jay Johnson and Martha Madison
Also Portrayed By: Kyle Brandt and Kirsten Storms, Kyle Brandt and Charity Rahmer, Kyle Brandt and Martha Madison
Duration: 2003-2008
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Shawn D. Brady, Chloe Lane
Children Together: None (though Claire Brady was originally raised as theirs)
Notes: Originally there was no reason at all to like Philip and Belle. They were the quintessential non-rooting couple. Belle already had an incredibly established pairing with Shawn and Philip,though popular under his original performer Jay Johnson, had just been recast with a decidedly less popular actor. This new Philip was a much more wooden variety without any of the former actor's charisma, and thus he clearly wasn't there to create a new popular pairing with Belle, just to get in the way. But things change. First Kirsten Storms left, thus undercutting the import of significance of Shelle making them a less holy and untouchable character with Martha Madison in the Belle role. Though Shelle remained the rooting couple, they felt more freedom to try them out with others and see what happened. Once Jason Cook left two years later, it seemed like a final nail had been put in Shelle as a sacred couple. Thus when Jay Johnson returned to the role - bringing his popularity and charisma with him - all bets were all off.
Almost overnight fans who had once decried Phelle as an abomination were suddenly torn. Few would deny that Martha Madison shared much more chemistry with Jay Johnson than Brandon Beemer, but many fans still held loyalty to the idea of Shawn and Belle, even if they felt little affection for them in their current status. Under their final portrayors, Philip and Belle shared red-hot chemistry and being paired with Philip offered an interesting look into the character of Belle and gave her a chance to evolve. Instead of being the teenage cheerleader in puppy love with the captain of the team, she was now a full-grown woman who was forced to consider whether she'd not outgrown both Shawn and her love for him and wanted more of an alpha male like Philip than a sweetheart boy-next-door type like Shawn. She ultimately began having a highly-controversial affair with Philip and all signs began pointing to Philip and Belle actually becoming the rooting couple (in fact, for a few months they flat-out were).
But Days, in its infinite Daysness, ultimately doesn't stray from the tried and true very often. After a changing of the guard in early 2008 which saw a new regime in place at Days it seemed people started to get squeamish about the idea of ditching Shelle for good. Since it seemed that Jay Johnson was the most popular part of the triangle and that Beemer and Madison's Shelle was only hurting the goodwill fans felt for the couple, Shawn and Belle were hurriedly reunited and shoved offscreen while Philip was moved on to other things. In all likeliehood, Shelle will be tabled until they can get their original popular performers back and thus Phelle's moment in the sun is over. But they deserve mad props from turning a pairing that was never supposed to be anything but a pit-stop for the real couple into something worth watching all on its own.
31. Austin and Sami
Names: Austin Reed and Samantha Gene "Sami" Brady
Most Notable Portrayers: Austin Peck and Alison Sweeney
Also Portrayed By: Patrick Muldoon and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 1993-2002, 2005-2006
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Carrie Brady, Lucas Horton, Brandon Walker, Greta von Amberg
Children Together: None
Notes: I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that you're probably not a fan of Austin and Sami. Maybe you don't like them because you're a fan of Austin and Carrie and don't like Sami's machinations to get him. Maybe you don't like them because you think Austin's dull and that Sami's better off with someone else. But whatever your reason, you probably don't like them. And that's totally fine. Neither do I. Some couples are important without being likable, and Austin and Sami are one of them. Though they were never a couple you were supposed to think had any hope of making it in the long run, they are nonetheless immensely significant.
It is possibly her relationship with Austin - not Lucas, not E.J., not Rafe - that best defines Sami Brady. At least the Sami Brady that she's spent the most time being. For pretty much the first half of her entire time on the show, Sami's single-minded pursuit of Austin Reed was her driving storyline and this pursuit is what introduced us to this obsessive, manipulative, scheming young vixen in the first place and where her popularity stemmed from. Chances are if you watched any episode of this show from 1993 through the rest of the decade you saw Sami in the middle of one of about a million schemes to finally nab this kindhearted himbo from her older sister Carrie. Occasionally she would do so successfully, but she'd always lose him again. Even when Austin finally had enough and left town, Sami's interactions with men for years to come would seem to be some version of her relationship with Austin. Eventually the relationship with Lucas would finally allow her to cease her desperate scheming and with E.J. it eventually became that other people were scheming to nab her. But for many of us, Sami Brady is always going to be that manipulative scheming teenager and her best remembered storyline is always going to be her decade-long quest for Austin Reed's affections.
Most Notable Portrayers: Austin Peck and Alison Sweeney
Also Portrayed By: Patrick Muldoon and Alison Sweeney
Duration: 1993-2002, 2005-2006
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Carrie Brady, Lucas Horton, Brandon Walker, Greta von Amberg
Children Together: None
Notes: I'm going to take a shot in the dark and guess that you're probably not a fan of Austin and Sami. Maybe you don't like them because you're a fan of Austin and Carrie and don't like Sami's machinations to get him. Maybe you don't like them because you think Austin's dull and that Sami's better off with someone else. But whatever your reason, you probably don't like them. And that's totally fine. Neither do I. Some couples are important without being likable, and Austin and Sami are one of them. Though they were never a couple you were supposed to think had any hope of making it in the long run, they are nonetheless immensely significant.
It is possibly her relationship with Austin - not Lucas, not E.J., not Rafe - that best defines Sami Brady. At least the Sami Brady that she's spent the most time being. For pretty much the first half of her entire time on the show, Sami's single-minded pursuit of Austin Reed was her driving storyline and this pursuit is what introduced us to this obsessive, manipulative, scheming young vixen in the first place and where her popularity stemmed from. Chances are if you watched any episode of this show from 1993 through the rest of the decade you saw Sami in the middle of one of about a million schemes to finally nab this kindhearted himbo from her older sister Carrie. Occasionally she would do so successfully, but she'd always lose him again. Even when Austin finally had enough and left town, Sami's interactions with men for years to come would seem to be some version of her relationship with Austin. Eventually the relationship with Lucas would finally allow her to cease her desperate scheming and with E.J. it eventually became that other people were scheming to nab her. But for many of us, Sami Brady is always going to be that manipulative scheming teenager and her best remembered storyline is always going to be her decade-long quest for Austin Reed's affections.
30. Mike and Robin
Names: Michael William "Mike" Horton Jr. and Robin Jacobs
Portrayed By: Michael T. Weiss and Derya Ruggles
Duration: 1985-1987, 1989
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Mitch Kauffman, April Ramirez
Children Together: Jeremy Horton
Notes: Very little is said about Mike and Robin nowadays. Hell, if Robin has been mentioned at all in the past twenty years it was likely only in the context of being the usually offscreen Jeremy's mother. But Mike and Robin were one of the more interesting and soulful couples of the 80s. It was an era of supercouples, of big grand adventures and dastardly villains and long-lost first wives and exotic adventures and yet Mike and Robin's story was comparatively small in scale. Their conflict was not any of those big dramatic soapy things - but something as everyday as their religion.
Robin was a devout Jew, from an even more devout family, and her own personal faith mixed with with her overbearing father caused her to be unable to marry or share a life with Mike because he was a shegetz. This simple conflict of faith proved to be enough to drive their story when others needed vats of acid and mystical prisms. Ultimately Mike's love for Robin proved so strong that he was willing to convert to Judaism so he could spend his life with her. Unfortunately, no long after Robin was shot and when she awoke she found Mike praying in the hospital's chapel for her to recover. Robin was forced to realize that Mike would never truly be able to give up the faith in his heart and it was unfair for her to ask him to and she left town (pregnant, unbeknownst to her) to live in Israel where she remains to this day. It didn't have the grand finality that a lot of the other supercouples of the era did (almost all of which involved one or both being fake killed off) but it was a bittersweet ending nonetheless. Though Mike would ultimately move to Israel to live with be close to Robin and their son Jeremy, their differences in faith meant they never got back together and likely never will.
Portrayed By: Michael T. Weiss and Derya Ruggles
Duration: 1985-1987, 1989
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Mitch Kauffman, April Ramirez
Children Together: Jeremy Horton
Notes: Very little is said about Mike and Robin nowadays. Hell, if Robin has been mentioned at all in the past twenty years it was likely only in the context of being the usually offscreen Jeremy's mother. But Mike and Robin were one of the more interesting and soulful couples of the 80s. It was an era of supercouples, of big grand adventures and dastardly villains and long-lost first wives and exotic adventures and yet Mike and Robin's story was comparatively small in scale. Their conflict was not any of those big dramatic soapy things - but something as everyday as their religion.
Robin was a devout Jew, from an even more devout family, and her own personal faith mixed with with her overbearing father caused her to be unable to marry or share a life with Mike because he was a shegetz. This simple conflict of faith proved to be enough to drive their story when others needed vats of acid and mystical prisms. Ultimately Mike's love for Robin proved so strong that he was willing to convert to Judaism so he could spend his life with her. Unfortunately, no long after Robin was shot and when she awoke she found Mike praying in the hospital's chapel for her to recover. Robin was forced to realize that Mike would never truly be able to give up the faith in his heart and it was unfair for her to ask him to and she left town (pregnant, unbeknownst to her) to live in Israel where she remains to this day. It didn't have the grand finality that a lot of the other supercouples of the era did (almost all of which involved one or both being fake killed off) but it was a bittersweet ending nonetheless. Though Mike would ultimately move to Israel to live with be close to Robin and their son Jeremy, their differences in faith meant they never got back together and likely never will.
29. Victor and Kate
Names: Victor Kiriakis and Katherine Elizabeth "Kate" Roberts
Most Notable Portrayers: John Aniston and Lauren Koslow
Also Portrayed By: John Aniston and Deborah Adair
Duration: 1993-2000
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Vivian Alamain, Nicole Walker, Nicholas Alamain
Children Together: Philip Kiriakis
Notes: Though they seldom interact anymore except in their capacity as Philip's parents, most of these two character's stories in the 1990s revolved around each other. They were not necessarily ever the most romantic and heartwarming of couples (although, they were practically Tom and Alice in comparison to their rival couple of Victor and Vivian) but there's often been the sense that these two were sort of made for each other. Both these two characters strike that delicate balance of being evil but not too evil and while they often seek the love and companionship of partners who are "better" than they are (Roman, John and sort-of Bill for Kate; Caroline and newly Maggie for Victor) or are just plain too young for them (Nicholas, E.J. and sort-of Daniel for Kate; Carly and Nicole for Victor) it seems like in each other they've really found kindred spirits.
In every scene they've shared even after the contentious ending of their romance, there's always been this quick and immediate familiarity. There's likely no one that knows Kate better than Victor does and vice-versa, and it's nice to see these two, who so often have to put on airs as these really nice and earnest people when they're around the other people they wish to be with, just be able to be themselves and get eachother. Kate has recaptured a little of this with Stefano, but they don't have the sense of history that Kate and Victor do and, honestly, Stefano's always been a little too evil for me to personally buy in romance. Victor's new pairing with Maggie, meanwhile, is proving both popular and immensely charming. It may be that we never see a reunion for these two, alas.
Most Notable Portrayers: John Aniston and Lauren Koslow
Also Portrayed By: John Aniston and Deborah Adair
Duration: 1993-2000
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Vivian Alamain, Nicole Walker, Nicholas Alamain
Children Together: Philip Kiriakis
Notes: Though they seldom interact anymore except in their capacity as Philip's parents, most of these two character's stories in the 1990s revolved around each other. They were not necessarily ever the most romantic and heartwarming of couples (although, they were practically Tom and Alice in comparison to their rival couple of Victor and Vivian) but there's often been the sense that these two were sort of made for each other. Both these two characters strike that delicate balance of being evil but not too evil and while they often seek the love and companionship of partners who are "better" than they are (Roman, John and sort-of Bill for Kate; Caroline and newly Maggie for Victor) or are just plain too young for them (Nicholas, E.J. and sort-of Daniel for Kate; Carly and Nicole for Victor) it seems like in each other they've really found kindred spirits.
In every scene they've shared even after the contentious ending of their romance, there's always been this quick and immediate familiarity. There's likely no one that knows Kate better than Victor does and vice-versa, and it's nice to see these two, who so often have to put on airs as these really nice and earnest people when they're around the other people they wish to be with, just be able to be themselves and get eachother. Kate has recaptured a little of this with Stefano, but they don't have the sense of history that Kate and Victor do and, honestly, Stefano's always been a little too evil for me to personally buy in romance. Victor's new pairing with Maggie, meanwhile, is proving both popular and immensely charming. It may be that we never see a reunion for these two, alas.
28. Doug and Addie
Names: Doug Williams and Adelaide "Addie" Horton
Portrayed By: Bill Hayes and Patricia Barry
Duration: 1971-1974
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Addie's death
Interlopers: Julie Olson
Children Together: Hope Williams
Notes: There was no reason in the world for Doug and Addie to be a couple of much note or significance. Doug and Julie, though in their early stages, were well on their way to being the show's first supercouple. And Addie was Julie's mother, trying to take her boyfriend in the a kind of soapy shtick that winds up making every character involved look bad and kind of gross. But rather than play up that soapiness and turn Addie into a typical vixen they allowed her to be a sympathetic character in her own right and let the Doug/Addie relationship to actually be sort of sweet. To some degree they were the pairing that made the most sense. Doug was closer in age to Addie than he is to Julie and after Doug and Addie had their daughter Hope they made the more nuclear family.
But ultimately, Doug and Julie were too powerful a force to be stopped. Though an exit for them seem all mapped out with Addie's terminal cancer, Addie wound up making a miraculous recovery. Though she died shortly after, throwing herself in front of a car to save an infant Hope, this allowed her to go out a hero and ultimately be remembered positively. Doug and Julie got together, as they remain now, thus setting up three decades of raised eyebrows when people learn that Hope's step-mother is also her sister. And though Addie's been gone for such a long time, it is ultimately her romance with Doug, as well as her being the mother of premiere Days heroine Hope, that has allowed her to be a character that is still frequently mentioned today.
Portrayed By: Bill Hayes and Patricia Barry
Duration: 1971-1974
Current Status: Marriage dissolved by Addie's death
Interlopers: Julie Olson
Children Together: Hope Williams
Notes: There was no reason in the world for Doug and Addie to be a couple of much note or significance. Doug and Julie, though in their early stages, were well on their way to being the show's first supercouple. And Addie was Julie's mother, trying to take her boyfriend in the a kind of soapy shtick that winds up making every character involved look bad and kind of gross. But rather than play up that soapiness and turn Addie into a typical vixen they allowed her to be a sympathetic character in her own right and let the Doug/Addie relationship to actually be sort of sweet. To some degree they were the pairing that made the most sense. Doug was closer in age to Addie than he is to Julie and after Doug and Addie had their daughter Hope they made the more nuclear family.
But ultimately, Doug and Julie were too powerful a force to be stopped. Though an exit for them seem all mapped out with Addie's terminal cancer, Addie wound up making a miraculous recovery. Though she died shortly after, throwing herself in front of a car to save an infant Hope, this allowed her to go out a hero and ultimately be remembered positively. Doug and Julie got together, as they remain now, thus setting up three decades of raised eyebrows when people learn that Hope's step-mother is also her sister. And though Addie's been gone for such a long time, it is ultimately her romance with Doug, as well as her being the mother of premiere Days heroine Hope, that has allowed her to be a character that is still frequently mentioned today.
27. Mickey and Laura
Names: Michael "Mickey" Horton and Laura Spencer
Portrayed By: John Clarke and Susan Flannery
Duration: 1967-1974
Current Status: Divorced at the time of Mickey's death
Interlopers: Bill Horton, Linda Patterson
Children Together: Mike Horton (raised as theirs)
Notes: When most people think of Mickey Horton the image of the perfectly domesticated generally drama-free supercouple Mickey and Maggie initially comes to mind. Though they had some drama once every ten years or so, Mickey and Maggie tended to be a remarkably docile and even-keel couple, perhaps leading one to assume that this is basically just how Mickey was and not lump him into the same category as guys who are part of self-destructive, dramatic, angst-ridden pairings. Well, if you are one of those who think that way, you'd be wrong. Mickey and Laura were a mess that partly drove this show for over seven years. Between Laura being in love with Mickey's brother, to her being raped and conceiving a child with him only to pass that kid off as Mickey's, to Mickey's own affairs with his psychotic secretary, and eventually to the drama of the relationship becoming so severe that Mickey lost his mind and tried to murder Laura and even Marlena just for looking vaguely like Laura. Mickey and Laura could give a lot of couples a run for the money on the drama scale and then some.
Like Doug and Addie, you weren't really supposed to be rooting for Mickey and Laura. For Laura, Bill was the big pairing and for Mickey it obviously eventually became Maggie. But their highly dramatic pairing was certainly a huge one. And even despite all their drama, they actually managed to raise Mike to his teenage years in there together - and if you think Days has paternity storylines that take too long... we knew Bill was the father from the moment Mike was born, but Mickey and Mike didn't discover this until he was a teenager. Obviously the magic of SORAS helped that along but... still.
Bizarrely, and basically with the aid of a recast, Mickey and Laura managed to have a civil relationship post-divorce up until Mickey's death last January. Mickey eventually grew to forgive Laura for lying about Mike and loving his brother, and Laura was able to forgive Mickey for... strangling other people he imagined were her and they became family, and remained loving parents to Mike, who always thought of Mickey as his true father.
P.S. No, I have no idea what Mickey is wearing in this picture nor why. It appears like maybe a basketball jersey?
Portrayed By: John Clarke and Susan Flannery
Duration: 1967-1974
Current Status: Divorced at the time of Mickey's death
Interlopers: Bill Horton, Linda Patterson
Children Together: Mike Horton (raised as theirs)
Notes: When most people think of Mickey Horton the image of the perfectly domesticated generally drama-free supercouple Mickey and Maggie initially comes to mind. Though they had some drama once every ten years or so, Mickey and Maggie tended to be a remarkably docile and even-keel couple, perhaps leading one to assume that this is basically just how Mickey was and not lump him into the same category as guys who are part of self-destructive, dramatic, angst-ridden pairings. Well, if you are one of those who think that way, you'd be wrong. Mickey and Laura were a mess that partly drove this show for over seven years. Between Laura being in love with Mickey's brother, to her being raped and conceiving a child with him only to pass that kid off as Mickey's, to Mickey's own affairs with his psychotic secretary, and eventually to the drama of the relationship becoming so severe that Mickey lost his mind and tried to murder Laura and even Marlena just for looking vaguely like Laura. Mickey and Laura could give a lot of couples a run for the money on the drama scale and then some.
Like Doug and Addie, you weren't really supposed to be rooting for Mickey and Laura. For Laura, Bill was the big pairing and for Mickey it obviously eventually became Maggie. But their highly dramatic pairing was certainly a huge one. And even despite all their drama, they actually managed to raise Mike to his teenage years in there together - and if you think Days has paternity storylines that take too long... we knew Bill was the father from the moment Mike was born, but Mickey and Mike didn't discover this until he was a teenager. Obviously the magic of SORAS helped that along but... still.
Bizarrely, and basically with the aid of a recast, Mickey and Laura managed to have a civil relationship post-divorce up until Mickey's death last January. Mickey eventually grew to forgive Laura for lying about Mike and loving his brother, and Laura was able to forgive Mickey for... strangling other people he imagined were her and they became family, and remained loving parents to Mike, who always thought of Mickey as his true father.
P.S. No, I have no idea what Mickey is wearing in this picture nor why. It appears like maybe a basketball jersey?
26. Don and Marlena
Names: Don Craig and Marlena Evans
Portrayed By: Jed Allan and Deidre Hall
Duration: 1976-1981
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Samantha Evans, Lorraine Temple, Liz Chandler
Children Together: D.J. Craig (deceased)
Notes: The outrageous popularity that both Roman and Marlena and John and Marlena have endured, have largely pushed her first significant pairing, with Don Craig, out of the public consciousness. To many newer fans, Marlena might as well not have existed before meeting Roman because that's as far back as her history is ever touched upon. But long before the Bradys even existed, Marlena was with Don - and it is with him that some of her more interesting storylines took place, such as the dramatic story of her losing her first child to SIDS and, more famously, her interactions with her evil twin sister Samantha. Though I admit the two were before my time and I don't know too much about them (an information and videos of 70s couples are scarce if they're not D/J, M/M or B/L), I know enough that they played a predominant role in the latter part of the 1970s, to the point where they were almost on par with Doug and Julie and Mickey and Maggie. They served to put Marlena on the map allowing her to be a central focal point on the show that she remained for thirty years after - since she really had no pairings before being paired with the more veteran Don and had really only served in her capacity as a psychiatrist before that.
Sadly, Don hasn't been seen or heard from in twenty-five years (he's still out at that mailbox) and I think we can all assume with some confidence that if Marlena ever returns to the canvas it won't be to explore her old relationship with Don Craig. But they nevertheless played their part in the earlier years of Days.
Portrayed By: Jed Allan and Deidre Hall
Duration: 1976-1981
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Samantha Evans, Lorraine Temple, Liz Chandler
Children Together: D.J. Craig (deceased)
Notes: The outrageous popularity that both Roman and Marlena and John and Marlena have endured, have largely pushed her first significant pairing, with Don Craig, out of the public consciousness. To many newer fans, Marlena might as well not have existed before meeting Roman because that's as far back as her history is ever touched upon. But long before the Bradys even existed, Marlena was with Don - and it is with him that some of her more interesting storylines took place, such as the dramatic story of her losing her first child to SIDS and, more famously, her interactions with her evil twin sister Samantha. Though I admit the two were before my time and I don't know too much about them (an information and videos of 70s couples are scarce if they're not D/J, M/M or B/L), I know enough that they played a predominant role in the latter part of the 1970s, to the point where they were almost on par with Doug and Julie and Mickey and Maggie. They served to put Marlena on the map allowing her to be a central focal point on the show that she remained for thirty years after - since she really had no pairings before being paired with the more veteran Don and had really only served in her capacity as a psychiatrist before that.
Sadly, Don hasn't been seen or heard from in twenty-five years (he's still out at that mailbox) and I think we can all assume with some confidence that if Marlena ever returns to the canvas it won't be to explore her old relationship with Don Craig. But they nevertheless played their part in the earlier years of Days.
25. Eugene and Calliope
Names: Eugene Bradford and Calliope Jones
Portrayed By: John de Lancie and Arleen Sorkin
Duration: 1984-1986, 1989
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: None, really
Children Together: None
Notes: Though the zaniness of Eugene and Calliope individually lasted throughout the '80s there was actually only a couple years where the two coincided. The majority of Eugene's time on the show was before Calliope showed up, and the majority of Calliope's time on the show was after Eugene left. I say this not to disparage the couple (although it ultimately does have something to do with them not being any higher than they are) but actually to praise them. Most big couples where each of their halfs are eternally entwined in people's minds are that way because of the years and years and years they spent in each other's orbit. For Eugene and Calliope to have such a short time together and still be thought of as an eternal duo speaks volumes of just how awesome they were together.
There were funny couples both before and after Eugene and Calliope, but almost none that were pure and complete comedy in the way the two of them were. Heavy emotional trauma was left to the other many great couples of the mid-1980s, when Eugene and Calliope showed up in a scene you knew you were going to laugh. They were the ultimate odd couple, Eugene a helplessly neurotic uber-nerd and Calliope glamorous and zany fashion designer with an absurd style even for the 1980s. Though their storylines occasionally ventured on the absurd , even for Days standards - with robots and time machines and the likes - you were never really asked to take it seriously like you were some of Days other ridiculousness and so it worked. Despite not having the airtime or storylines that the other supercouples of the 1980s had, Eugene and Calliope were frequently mentioned in the same breath as them - illustrious company to complete and a total testament to what a pure joy they were. We're not quite sure where they ended up (Did they get arrested after Calliope was working with Rafe? Never resolved!) but when and if we see them again, we'll be ready to laugh.
Portrayed By: John de Lancie and Arleen Sorkin
Duration: 1984-1986, 1989
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: None, really
Children Together: None
Notes: Though the zaniness of Eugene and Calliope individually lasted throughout the '80s there was actually only a couple years where the two coincided. The majority of Eugene's time on the show was before Calliope showed up, and the majority of Calliope's time on the show was after Eugene left. I say this not to disparage the couple (although it ultimately does have something to do with them not being any higher than they are) but actually to praise them. Most big couples where each of their halfs are eternally entwined in people's minds are that way because of the years and years and years they spent in each other's orbit. For Eugene and Calliope to have such a short time together and still be thought of as an eternal duo speaks volumes of just how awesome they were together.
There were funny couples both before and after Eugene and Calliope, but almost none that were pure and complete comedy in the way the two of them were. Heavy emotional trauma was left to the other many great couples of the mid-1980s, when Eugene and Calliope showed up in a scene you knew you were going to laugh. They were the ultimate odd couple, Eugene a helplessly neurotic uber-nerd and Calliope glamorous and zany fashion designer with an absurd style even for the 1980s. Though their storylines occasionally ventured on the absurd , even for Days standards - with robots and time machines and the likes - you were never really asked to take it seriously like you were some of Days other ridiculousness and so it worked. Despite not having the airtime or storylines that the other supercouples of the 1980s had, Eugene and Calliope were frequently mentioned in the same breath as them - illustrious company to complete and a total testament to what a pure joy they were. We're not quite sure where they ended up (Did they get arrested after Calliope was working with Rafe? Never resolved!) but when and if we see them again, we'll be ready to laugh.
24. Brady and Chloe
Names: Brady Victor Black and Chloe Lane
Portrayed By: Kyle Lowder and Nadia Bjorlin
Duration: 2000-2003, 2005, brief hints in 2011
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Philip Kiriakis, Nicole Walker
Children Together: None
Notes: The late 90s/early 2000s was a very sweet, innocent time in Days. There was a lot of focus on young characters and almost all of those relationships were chaste and pure rather than edgy and angsty like perhaps more modern Days couples are. While purity-ring-crazy Shawn and Belle are perhaps the obvious example of this, I actually think Broe represent it more. In any other era, Broe could have been a very dark, edgy coupling. Brady was this brooding loner in black while Chloe was this... well, brooding loner in black. They weren't popular or cool like many of the other Salem High kids, and so one could expect they'd be edgy loners together, or at least be somewhat dark compared to the rest.
Well, not so much.
Instead... Brady and Chloe were about as sweet and innocent as it got. They burst into song at little-to-no provocation and had fairly maudlin storylines where their love cured cancer and/or facial scars. So sweet were they, that their edgy personalities seemed to be brushed aside fairly quickly and they became as sweet and emotional as the best of them. The black clothes went away, and with it the rest of whatever darkness they had. This was partly due to the fact that Chloe's relationship with Brady was meant as a contrast to hers with Philip. Theirs was already the angsty/dark relationship (at least, angsty and dark for that time period) and thus Brady had to represent the light so as to juxtapose him more greatly. It did make for an interesting dynamic - Chloe had the sweet, less complicated relationship with the brooding and introverted loner and the more tortured, angsty relationship with the popular and extroverted Big-Man-on-Campus, an interesting switch from the norm and one that made it so it was a triangle with no obvious winner (a rarity in soaps) which helped make Broe vs. Phloe arguably one of the most interesting triangles Days has had, and certainly one of the most heated. Both of them were incredibly popular pairings,and there was a lot of reason to be invested because how it would end up was anyone's guess. Broe's victory, however, became inevitable once Jay Johnson left the show, and after some drama with Nicole, Broe left town on a wave of wedded bliss and teeny-bopper popularity.
But strangely... that was it for them. Though they weren't offscreen for very long and have both been back on the show for over two years the two characters are now divorced and barely interact. In fact, if you started watching in the last year, you'd quite possibly have no idea Brady and Chloe were ever even an item, let alone married and in love. There are probably a lot of reasons for this,not the least of which is that the original Brady, Kyle Lowder, has since been recast with Eric Martsolf... but even that doesn't really explain it because in the few interactions Eric and Nadia have had, their chemistry's been good,and many Broe fans have shown a willingness to accept the new iteration. Personally, I'm left with the conclusion that the very sweetness that the couple embodied back in the day is the very thing that's keeping them apart now. Instead they've moved Brady back with Nicole, juxtaposing his heroic nature with her vixendom, which is actually turning him back to the dark guy he was pre-Chloe. Likewise, Chloe (who also has become much darker than with Brady) just had Philip's baby indicating a shift towards the darker of Chloe's two main relationships. In general, there's fewer true blue pure-as-snow romances as there were ten years ago, and, for better or worse, you don't get much more pure-as-snow than Brady and Chloe.
Portrayed By: Kyle Lowder and Nadia Bjorlin
Duration: 2000-2003, 2005, brief hints in 2011
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Philip Kiriakis, Nicole Walker
Children Together: None
Notes: The late 90s/early 2000s was a very sweet, innocent time in Days. There was a lot of focus on young characters and almost all of those relationships were chaste and pure rather than edgy and angsty like perhaps more modern Days couples are. While purity-ring-crazy Shawn and Belle are perhaps the obvious example of this, I actually think Broe represent it more. In any other era, Broe could have been a very dark, edgy coupling. Brady was this brooding loner in black while Chloe was this... well, brooding loner in black. They weren't popular or cool like many of the other Salem High kids, and so one could expect they'd be edgy loners together, or at least be somewhat dark compared to the rest.
Well, not so much.
Instead... Brady and Chloe were about as sweet and innocent as it got. They burst into song at little-to-no provocation and had fairly maudlin storylines where their love cured cancer and/or facial scars. So sweet were they, that their edgy personalities seemed to be brushed aside fairly quickly and they became as sweet and emotional as the best of them. The black clothes went away, and with it the rest of whatever darkness they had. This was partly due to the fact that Chloe's relationship with Brady was meant as a contrast to hers with Philip. Theirs was already the angsty/dark relationship (at least, angsty and dark for that time period) and thus Brady had to represent the light so as to juxtapose him more greatly. It did make for an interesting dynamic - Chloe had the sweet, less complicated relationship with the brooding and introverted loner and the more tortured, angsty relationship with the popular and extroverted Big-Man-on-Campus, an interesting switch from the norm and one that made it so it was a triangle with no obvious winner (a rarity in soaps) which helped make Broe vs. Phloe arguably one of the most interesting triangles Days has had, and certainly one of the most heated. Both of them were incredibly popular pairings,and there was a lot of reason to be invested because how it would end up was anyone's guess. Broe's victory, however, became inevitable once Jay Johnson left the show, and after some drama with Nicole, Broe left town on a wave of wedded bliss and teeny-bopper popularity.
But strangely... that was it for them. Though they weren't offscreen for very long and have both been back on the show for over two years the two characters are now divorced and barely interact. In fact, if you started watching in the last year, you'd quite possibly have no idea Brady and Chloe were ever even an item, let alone married and in love. There are probably a lot of reasons for this,not the least of which is that the original Brady, Kyle Lowder, has since been recast with Eric Martsolf... but even that doesn't really explain it because in the few interactions Eric and Nadia have had, their chemistry's been good,and many Broe fans have shown a willingness to accept the new iteration. Personally, I'm left with the conclusion that the very sweetness that the couple embodied back in the day is the very thing that's keeping them apart now. Instead they've moved Brady back with Nicole, juxtaposing his heroic nature with her vixendom, which is actually turning him back to the dark guy he was pre-Chloe. Likewise, Chloe (who also has become much darker than with Brady) just had Philip's baby indicating a shift towards the darker of Chloe's two main relationships. In general, there's fewer true blue pure-as-snow romances as there were ten years ago, and, for better or worse, you don't get much more pure-as-snow than Brady and Chloe.
23. Victor and Caroline
Names: Victor Kiriakis and Caroline Brady
Portrayed By: John Aniston and Peggy McCay
Duration: Mainly in backstory, but there've been little moments throughout the past 25 years, most notably from 2004-2005.
Current Status: Broken Up
Interlopers: Shawn Brady Sr., Maggie Horton
Children Together: Bo Brady
Notes: The most interesting thing about Victor and Caroline is how much their star-crossed lovers love story has always been almost entirely offscreen. Absent a few moments when they were both killed off during the Salem Stalker storyline and thus were stuck together on both island and castle, the two have never really been openly romantic. Theirs was a relationship built almost entirely on memories and meaningful glances, and it's a testament to both John Aniston and Peggy McCay that they were able to imbue their character's relationship with a sense of history even though they never actually played out any of this history. It's equally interesting that they manage to make this past liason such a crucial part of who the characters are for this long. We've felt it in every interaction the two ever had for 25 years and we still feel it now. It probably helps that during the vast majority of this time the show's main male protagonist just happened to be their son but nevertheless.
After Shawn's death in 2008, many thought the way had finally been paved for Victor and Caroline to get back together after all these years but with the new focus on the Maggie and Victor relationship added with Caroline's increasing irrevelance and little screen time, it doesn't seem like this will be. But even if they never do get together (and I think it's perhaps more fitting to the relationship that they don't) they will still remain one of Days' epic love stories.
Portrayed By: John Aniston and Peggy McCay
Duration: Mainly in backstory, but there've been little moments throughout the past 25 years, most notably from 2004-2005.
Current Status: Broken Up
Interlopers: Shawn Brady Sr., Maggie Horton
Children Together: Bo Brady
Notes: The most interesting thing about Victor and Caroline is how much their star-crossed lovers love story has always been almost entirely offscreen. Absent a few moments when they were both killed off during the Salem Stalker storyline and thus were stuck together on both island and castle, the two have never really been openly romantic. Theirs was a relationship built almost entirely on memories and meaningful glances, and it's a testament to both John Aniston and Peggy McCay that they were able to imbue their character's relationship with a sense of history even though they never actually played out any of this history. It's equally interesting that they manage to make this past liason such a crucial part of who the characters are for this long. We've felt it in every interaction the two ever had for 25 years and we still feel it now. It probably helps that during the vast majority of this time the show's main male protagonist just happened to be their son but nevertheless.
After Shawn's death in 2008, many thought the way had finally been paved for Victor and Caroline to get back together after all these years but with the new focus on the Maggie and Victor relationship added with Caroline's increasing irrevelance and little screen time, it doesn't seem like this will be. But even if they never do get together (and I think it's perhaps more fitting to the relationship that they don't) they will still remain one of Days' epic love stories.
22. Neil and Liz
Names: Neil Curtis and Liz Chandler
Portrayed By: Joseph Gallison and Gloria Loring
Duration: 1980-1986
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Don Craig, Tony DiMera, Marie Horton, Carlos Forenza
Children Together: Noelle Curtis
Notes: Taking a wild stab in the dark, I'm going to probably guess that out of every 10 people reading this, at least 5 or 6 have never seen any of Neil and Liz, and of those 5 or 6, 2 or 3 haven't even heard of them. It's a sad fact of soap operas that for every epic character with a role on the show that spans decades there are way more characters that get lost in the shuffle over time. Sadly, even Neil and Liz, who played a substantial role in the early 80s along with the longer-lasting couples of Roman/Marlena, Bo/Hope and Shane/Kimberly are not immune. Perhaps mainly due to the bad luck of neither of them being part of any core families, in addition to them unfortunately getting to that age where soaps tend to decide you're disposable a little earlier than their peers, when the characters disappeared in '91 and '86 respectively, they disappeared for good.
But before that happened, they sure had a wild ride. Sure a lot of it was the typical soapy stuff that future iconic couples were doing alongside them at the same time and more famously, but they put their own spin on it. Between the two of them they both married like half-a-dozen people while trying to marry each other and when they finally did get to the aisle... they had to do it while Liz was in prison for shooting Marie Horton (long story) and couldn't go through with the ceremony because of a prison riot. They had to deal extensively with the DiMeras, they had to deal with amnesia, they had to deal with Liz getting shot (a lot), you name the fantastic soapy staple and Neil and Liz did it and did it well... but then sadly didn't get as much credit for it as pretty much everyone else from their era did.
Though ultimately both characters ended up apart and now exist squandered in obscurity, it was still for the best for both characters that they found each other at they did. Liz came on the show with about a dozen other new characters in mid-1980, and she was the only on who lasted over a year. If it hadn't been her connection with a core character like Neil, she may not have made it as far as she did, surviving well into the Bradymania era of Days. She'd also probably be chiefly remembered as that one woman who was always singing (and she really was always singing - remember how I mentioned Brady and Chloe sang a lot? They were positively mute compared to Liz). Meanwhile Neil, despite sticking around Days for an impressive 18 years, tended to sort of blow from story to story and pairing to pairing, never really finding one that stuck. His pairing with Liz, despite only taking up a third of his time and not even happening until he was half-way into his run, will forever be what Neil is best remembered for.
Portrayed By: Joseph Gallison and Gloria Loring
Duration: 1980-1986
Current Status: Divorced
Interlopers: Don Craig, Tony DiMera, Marie Horton, Carlos Forenza
Children Together: Noelle Curtis
Notes: Taking a wild stab in the dark, I'm going to probably guess that out of every 10 people reading this, at least 5 or 6 have never seen any of Neil and Liz, and of those 5 or 6, 2 or 3 haven't even heard of them. It's a sad fact of soap operas that for every epic character with a role on the show that spans decades there are way more characters that get lost in the shuffle over time. Sadly, even Neil and Liz, who played a substantial role in the early 80s along with the longer-lasting couples of Roman/Marlena, Bo/Hope and Shane/Kimberly are not immune. Perhaps mainly due to the bad luck of neither of them being part of any core families, in addition to them unfortunately getting to that age where soaps tend to decide you're disposable a little earlier than their peers, when the characters disappeared in '91 and '86 respectively, they disappeared for good.
But before that happened, they sure had a wild ride. Sure a lot of it was the typical soapy stuff that future iconic couples were doing alongside them at the same time and more famously, but they put their own spin on it. Between the two of them they both married like half-a-dozen people while trying to marry each other and when they finally did get to the aisle... they had to do it while Liz was in prison for shooting Marie Horton (long story) and couldn't go through with the ceremony because of a prison riot. They had to deal extensively with the DiMeras, they had to deal with amnesia, they had to deal with Liz getting shot (a lot), you name the fantastic soapy staple and Neil and Liz did it and did it well... but then sadly didn't get as much credit for it as pretty much everyone else from their era did.
Though ultimately both characters ended up apart and now exist squandered in obscurity, it was still for the best for both characters that they found each other at they did. Liz came on the show with about a dozen other new characters in mid-1980, and she was the only on who lasted over a year. If it hadn't been her connection with a core character like Neil, she may not have made it as far as she did, surviving well into the Bradymania era of Days. She'd also probably be chiefly remembered as that one woman who was always singing (and she really was always singing - remember how I mentioned Brady and Chloe sang a lot? They were positively mute compared to Liz). Meanwhile Neil, despite sticking around Days for an impressive 18 years, tended to sort of blow from story to story and pairing to pairing, never really finding one that stuck. His pairing with Liz, despite only taking up a third of his time and not even happening until he was half-way into his run, will forever be what Neil is best remembered for.
21. Mike and Carrie
Names: Michael William "Mike" Horton Jr. and Caroline Anna "Carrie" Brady
Portrayed By: Roark Critchlow and Christie Clark
Duration: 1996-1999
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Austin Reed, Ali McIntyre
Children Together: None
Notes: If I had known I was going to do a Top 50 Couples List back when I did Top 100 Characters, I would probably not have used so much of what I'd say about Mike and Carrie in Carrie's character listing like I did. So feel free to refer to that, but I'll repeat myself. There are a few things that make Mike and Carrie such a big deal, despite their comparatively minor amount of screentime. For starters the suddenness and outrageousness of their popularity is pretty much unparallelled in post-supercouple era Days. For those of you who were on the internet in around 1997 and 1998, it was absolutely insane how quickly and immediately these two became huge. And because they were the first couple to hit it big in the internet era, for the first handful of years that the internet was big (those happy bygone days of AOL, Geocities and Angelfire) probably a full third of all Days websites out there were Mike and Carrie fanpages (tons of which still remain, I discovered, in my search for a decent Mike and Carrie picture, most of which haven't been updated since 2000) which is a pretty big deal, considering the likes of Bo and Hope and John and Marlena were also big at the time. So huge was their popularity that it would not be entirely inappropriate to claim they were approaching supercouple status and might have had they lasted longer, and I'm one of those that doesn't throw that term around loosely.
But it was more than their rampant popularity that makes them significant, at least to me. I've always seen Mike and Carrie as an interesting step away from the more predictable fairytale days of the 80s supercouples, where you always knew who to root for and to root against, and you always knew who'd end up with who. Days has a few written-in-stone Official Pairings and Austin and Carrie were one of them. They were also very popular and though they were much less so by the time Mike and Carrie became an item, the time that they were popular was a more popular time for Days in general. And by the time Mike entered the picture, they certainly appeared to be one of those unbreakable true love endgame couples that Days is so fond of. The previous threats to their love had just been people like Lucas and Sami, manipulative schemers that no one was expected to be rooting for.
But Mike changed all that. Instead of putting another plot device in the way of Austin and Carrie, they instead had Carrie begin getting close to another good guy, someone who wasn't scheming for her attentions, and was no lower or higher on the morality scale than Austin was. Days very rarely did this. There was the good guy and the bad guy, and you rooted for the good guy. But Austin and Mike were both good guys (which is the way triangles tend to work in real life, very rarely is a woman caught between Prince Charming and a mustache-twirling villain) and thus the story had to become more nuanced in order to explore Carrie's feelings for both these men, and what Mike provided for her than Austin was lacking. Ultimately, Carrie just seemed to connect on a deeper level with the more soulful, sensitive Mike, and she ultimately split with Austin. This didn't make Austin a bad guy, and they didn't need to all of a sudden portray him as such to justify Carrie's choosing Mike over him. It is to Day's everlasting credit that they took this risk and split a popular couple like that (even if, thanks to Reilly, they didn't stick), and I think it set the stage for more riskier, less predictable pairings in the decade that followed. If it wasn't for just how incredibly short-lived the pairing was, they'd probably be even higher.
Portrayed By: Roark Critchlow and Christie Clark
Duration: 1996-1999
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Austin Reed, Ali McIntyre
Children Together: None
Notes: If I had known I was going to do a Top 50 Couples List back when I did Top 100 Characters, I would probably not have used so much of what I'd say about Mike and Carrie in Carrie's character listing like I did. So feel free to refer to that, but I'll repeat myself. There are a few things that make Mike and Carrie such a big deal, despite their comparatively minor amount of screentime. For starters the suddenness and outrageousness of their popularity is pretty much unparallelled in post-supercouple era Days. For those of you who were on the internet in around 1997 and 1998, it was absolutely insane how quickly and immediately these two became huge. And because they were the first couple to hit it big in the internet era, for the first handful of years that the internet was big (those happy bygone days of AOL, Geocities and Angelfire) probably a full third of all Days websites out there were Mike and Carrie fanpages (tons of which still remain, I discovered, in my search for a decent Mike and Carrie picture, most of which haven't been updated since 2000) which is a pretty big deal, considering the likes of Bo and Hope and John and Marlena were also big at the time. So huge was their popularity that it would not be entirely inappropriate to claim they were approaching supercouple status and might have had they lasted longer, and I'm one of those that doesn't throw that term around loosely.
But it was more than their rampant popularity that makes them significant, at least to me. I've always seen Mike and Carrie as an interesting step away from the more predictable fairytale days of the 80s supercouples, where you always knew who to root for and to root against, and you always knew who'd end up with who. Days has a few written-in-stone Official Pairings and Austin and Carrie were one of them. They were also very popular and though they were much less so by the time Mike and Carrie became an item, the time that they were popular was a more popular time for Days in general. And by the time Mike entered the picture, they certainly appeared to be one of those unbreakable true love endgame couples that Days is so fond of. The previous threats to their love had just been people like Lucas and Sami, manipulative schemers that no one was expected to be rooting for.
But Mike changed all that. Instead of putting another plot device in the way of Austin and Carrie, they instead had Carrie begin getting close to another good guy, someone who wasn't scheming for her attentions, and was no lower or higher on the morality scale than Austin was. Days very rarely did this. There was the good guy and the bad guy, and you rooted for the good guy. But Austin and Mike were both good guys (which is the way triangles tend to work in real life, very rarely is a woman caught between Prince Charming and a mustache-twirling villain) and thus the story had to become more nuanced in order to explore Carrie's feelings for both these men, and what Mike provided for her than Austin was lacking. Ultimately, Carrie just seemed to connect on a deeper level with the more soulful, sensitive Mike, and she ultimately split with Austin. This didn't make Austin a bad guy, and they didn't need to all of a sudden portray him as such to justify Carrie's choosing Mike over him. It is to Day's everlasting credit that they took this risk and split a popular couple like that (even if, thanks to Reilly, they didn't stick), and I think it set the stage for more riskier, less predictable pairings in the decade that followed. If it wasn't for just how incredibly short-lived the pairing was, they'd probably be even higher.
20. Justin and Adrienne
Names: Justin Alexander Kiriakis and Adrienne Johnson
Portrayed By: Wally Kurth and Judi Evans
Duration: 1987-1991, 2010-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Anjelica Deveraux, Emilio Ramirez, Hope Brady
Children Together: Joseph and Victor Kiriakis (adopted sons), Jackson "Sonny" Kiriakis (biological son)
Notes: Being a Days couple from the '80s is sort of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, almost any couple that they spent even a slight amount of time with wound up becoming very very popular because it was just a popular time for the show in general. However, because the show was so chock-full of popular couples at the time, you needed to be absolutely over-the-top fantastic to really stand-out and only so many couples can be that. Case-in-point is Justin and Adrienne (though they are hardly the only example). Like every other sizable couple that popped up during their era, these two are popular and fondly remembered, and for good reason. But they're also significantly less popular and fondly remembered than many of their contemporaries, some of whom were full-on supercouples like Shane and Kimberly, Steve and Kayla and Jack and Jennifer. That's not meant as a slight against Justin and Adrienne, but it nonetheless puts them in a strange position. It's hard to be from the era of the supercouples, and not be a supercouple yourself. During their fairly short time frame, they were never really more than the fourth or so most prominent or significant couple at any given time, and they were often sort of standing in the shadow of those aforementioned big couples. So the time period they hail from is alternately an advantage and a detriment and 20th place is unfortunately the best I can do for them.
One thing that has always appealed to me about Justin and Adrienne is the lack of glamor the couple had - fancy Greek wedding aside. While other Days heroines like Hope and Jennifer might as well have been fashion models, Adrienne was refreshingly normal looking. Still pretty, but in a more realistic way. And, while many of the other heroines were these rich, successful women, Adrienne was from the wrong-side of the tracks and had suffered physical, sexual and mental abuse from her father, not exactly the typical background for a soap heroine at that time (though between Billie, Nicole and Melanie, it's become a lot more popular in recent days). Likewise Justin, despite being a Kiriakis, never really felt quite as slick and polished as the rest of them. His boyish good looks made him cuter than he was studly, he was more sensitive than badass like Steve, John, Shane and Jack, and his background in construction was a lot less "cool" of a job than the spies, cops and politicians of the era. All of this helped make Justin and Adrienne one of the more approachable couples of the era, if a little less mesmerizing than their more glamorous contemporaries.
Recently, Justin and Adrienne returned to the canvas after a long absence. Though they're only on recurring and are hardly ever seen, one hopes these underdogs will finally be given the chance to establish their role as the top-tier couple they've probably always deserved to be.
Portrayed By: Wally Kurth and Judi Evans
Duration: 1987-1991, 2010-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Anjelica Deveraux, Emilio Ramirez, Hope Brady
Children Together: Joseph and Victor Kiriakis (adopted sons), Jackson "Sonny" Kiriakis (biological son)
Notes: Being a Days couple from the '80s is sort of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, almost any couple that they spent even a slight amount of time with wound up becoming very very popular because it was just a popular time for the show in general. However, because the show was so chock-full of popular couples at the time, you needed to be absolutely over-the-top fantastic to really stand-out and only so many couples can be that. Case-in-point is Justin and Adrienne (though they are hardly the only example). Like every other sizable couple that popped up during their era, these two are popular and fondly remembered, and for good reason. But they're also significantly less popular and fondly remembered than many of their contemporaries, some of whom were full-on supercouples like Shane and Kimberly, Steve and Kayla and Jack and Jennifer. That's not meant as a slight against Justin and Adrienne, but it nonetheless puts them in a strange position. It's hard to be from the era of the supercouples, and not be a supercouple yourself. During their fairly short time frame, they were never really more than the fourth or so most prominent or significant couple at any given time, and they were often sort of standing in the shadow of those aforementioned big couples. So the time period they hail from is alternately an advantage and a detriment and 20th place is unfortunately the best I can do for them.
One thing that has always appealed to me about Justin and Adrienne is the lack of glamor the couple had - fancy Greek wedding aside. While other Days heroines like Hope and Jennifer might as well have been fashion models, Adrienne was refreshingly normal looking. Still pretty, but in a more realistic way. And, while many of the other heroines were these rich, successful women, Adrienne was from the wrong-side of the tracks and had suffered physical, sexual and mental abuse from her father, not exactly the typical background for a soap heroine at that time (though between Billie, Nicole and Melanie, it's become a lot more popular in recent days). Likewise Justin, despite being a Kiriakis, never really felt quite as slick and polished as the rest of them. His boyish good looks made him cuter than he was studly, he was more sensitive than badass like Steve, John, Shane and Jack, and his background in construction was a lot less "cool" of a job than the spies, cops and politicians of the era. All of this helped make Justin and Adrienne one of the more approachable couples of the era, if a little less mesmerizing than their more glamorous contemporaries.
Recently, Justin and Adrienne returned to the canvas after a long absence. Though they're only on recurring and are hardly ever seen, one hopes these underdogs will finally be given the chance to establish their role as the top-tier couple they've probably always deserved to be.
19. Bo and Carly
Names: Beauregard Aurelius "Bo" Brady and Katerina "Carly Manning" von Leuschner
Most Notable Portrayers: Peter Reckell and Crystal Chappell
Also Portrayed By: Robert Kelker-Kelly and Crystal Chappell
Duration: 1990-1993, 2009-2011
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Lawrence Alamain, Billie Reed, Hope Brady
Children Together: None
Notes: When you kill one half of a supercouple, pairing the surviving half is often exceeding difficult and frequently unsuccessful (Shane and Kayla anyone?). In fact, so unsuccessful is it usually, that nine times out of ten the dead member will have to simply return to life in a few years simply because the writers seem unable or unwilling to put the character in a pairing that compares to the former one. But there are exceptions, and though rare, they tend to be fairly spectacular. Case in point, Bo and Carly.
Bo and Hope was a huge huge deal, a Days supercouple juggernaut the likes of which few other pairings have rivaled... and Bo and Hope's 1990 return was met with a large degree of fanfare. So when Hope died just a few months later, fans were, quite justifiably, pretty pissed off. The rug had been yanked out from under them, and they would have every reason in the world to hate Bo's next pairing on principle. Particularly when the fact that she was a pretty brunette from a higher social standing than rough-and-tumble Bo Brady made her sound a tad bit familiar. But very very quickly Carly established herself as her own person, and her relationship with Bo as her own thing and fans took to her. Bo and Hope, for all intents and purposes, had been a pretty light-hearted couple. Sure, they had their drama like everyone else, but they were both dyed-in-the-wool good guys and most of their issues were external rather than internal (at least, at this point). Carly was a far darker character than Hope. Not that she wasn't a heroine, she was, but whereas Hope had been a naive, spoiled teenager when Bo met her, Carly had already been around the block a few times, and her constant pull to her ex,arch-villain Lawrence Alamain, made her a significantly more screwed-up character than Hope was, and thus made Bo's relationship with her significantly more screwed-up as well. In their three years as one of the big couples in Days in the early 90s, Carly caused a lot of drama for Bo. She married his father, hid the fact that she had a son, and all the while kept wavering between him and some evil, murdering psychopath, whom she eventually chose over him. But you could never really hate Carly for all that - at least I couldn't - because Crystal Chappell gave her such humanity and vulnerability that you never doubted she meant well. And as Bo suffers from Chronic Hero Syndrome, having such a fucked-up damsel in distress is probably right up his alley.
It didn't last, of course. And all indications suggest that the present-day redux of the relationship isn't going to last either. Because at the end of the day, for or better or worse (and I think it's a little of both) Days tends to go back to the supercouple. And no matter how great, hot and fascinating Bo and Carly were... they just weren't the supercouple.
Most Notable Portrayers: Peter Reckell and Crystal Chappell
Also Portrayed By: Robert Kelker-Kelly and Crystal Chappell
Duration: 1990-1993, 2009-2011
Current Status: Broken up
Interlopers: Lawrence Alamain, Billie Reed, Hope Brady
Children Together: None
Notes: When you kill one half of a supercouple, pairing the surviving half is often exceeding difficult and frequently unsuccessful (Shane and Kayla anyone?). In fact, so unsuccessful is it usually, that nine times out of ten the dead member will have to simply return to life in a few years simply because the writers seem unable or unwilling to put the character in a pairing that compares to the former one. But there are exceptions, and though rare, they tend to be fairly spectacular. Case in point, Bo and Carly.
Bo and Hope was a huge huge deal, a Days supercouple juggernaut the likes of which few other pairings have rivaled... and Bo and Hope's 1990 return was met with a large degree of fanfare. So when Hope died just a few months later, fans were, quite justifiably, pretty pissed off. The rug had been yanked out from under them, and they would have every reason in the world to hate Bo's next pairing on principle. Particularly when the fact that she was a pretty brunette from a higher social standing than rough-and-tumble Bo Brady made her sound a tad bit familiar. But very very quickly Carly established herself as her own person, and her relationship with Bo as her own thing and fans took to her. Bo and Hope, for all intents and purposes, had been a pretty light-hearted couple. Sure, they had their drama like everyone else, but they were both dyed-in-the-wool good guys and most of their issues were external rather than internal (at least, at this point). Carly was a far darker character than Hope. Not that she wasn't a heroine, she was, but whereas Hope had been a naive, spoiled teenager when Bo met her, Carly had already been around the block a few times, and her constant pull to her ex,arch-villain Lawrence Alamain, made her a significantly more screwed-up character than Hope was, and thus made Bo's relationship with her significantly more screwed-up as well. In their three years as one of the big couples in Days in the early 90s, Carly caused a lot of drama for Bo. She married his father, hid the fact that she had a son, and all the while kept wavering between him and some evil, murdering psychopath, whom she eventually chose over him. But you could never really hate Carly for all that - at least I couldn't - because Crystal Chappell gave her such humanity and vulnerability that you never doubted she meant well. And as Bo suffers from Chronic Hero Syndrome, having such a fucked-up damsel in distress is probably right up his alley.
It didn't last, of course. And all indications suggest that the present-day redux of the relationship isn't going to last either. Because at the end of the day, for or better or worse (and I think it's a little of both) Days tends to go back to the supercouple. And no matter how great, hot and fascinating Bo and Carly were... they just weren't the supercouple.
18. Philip and Chloe
Names: Philip Robert Kiriakis and Chloe Lane
Portrayed By: Jay Johnson and Nadia Bjorlin
Duration: 1999-2002, 2007-2008, 2010-2011
Current Status: Broken up (but both living in Chicago with Parker so who knows?)
Interlopers: Brady Black, Cynthia Austin, Belle Black, Morgan Hollingsworth, Stephanie Johnson
Children Together: Parker Kiriakis
Notes: Though it has not, to my knowledge, ever been formally admitted to the way TPTB have copped to John Black being a Jason Bourne clone, no one who's seen so much as a trailer for the 1999 teen romantic comedy, She's All That, can miss that the first few months of Philip and Chloe's relationship basically played as an extended cut of that movie. Rich cocky jerk is forced to take the weirdest ugliest girl in school to the prom, but oh look! Gasp! When she takes off her glasses and her unflattering clothing, she's a knock-out!
Even at that early point Philip and Chloe were fairly popular (and, I'll admit, it's pretty hard to hate the classic ugly duckling story) but it was really when tha storyline finished that Philip and Chloe's true relationship and dynamic was allowed to unfold. I talked about them a bit in the Broe entry, so you should already know (if you didn't already) that whereas Brady was the introverted, sensitive kindred spirit half of the triangle, Philip was the extroverted, cocky opposites-attract half. If Brady and Chloe were both ice, then Philip was fire. As is the case with just about every member of the Kiriakis clan for everything there was to like about Philip, there was something to dislike. He was confident, but he was spoiled. He was charming, but he was manipulative. He was passionate, but he was unstable. Rather than sing impromptu duets together a la Brady and Chloe, Phloe was much more inclined to argue and insult each other. It wasn't that they didn't love each other, but they were just so diametrically opposed and from such vastly different worlds that there was very little common ground they could find. Though their flame burnt hotly (In 2000 and 2001, Phloe and Shelle was, basically, all this show was about) eventually Philip's increasingly unstable behavior ended the relationship. And for a few years, that was it.
What I've always found interesting is that the common thought might be that if Phloe were to ever have had a second shot it would require that Philip change his ways a little bit and become a little bit more like Chloe. Interestingly... the opposite happened. Philip's basically stayed exactly the same (okay, maybe he's a little more mature) but Chloe has managed to become a lot more like him. Rather than the cold, shy ghoul girl of old, Chloe is now much more fiery, sexual and even a little deceitful, allowing Philip and Chloe to now be frequent fuckbuddies and very close friends. Hell, the formerly horridless dressed Chloe has even picked up Philip's habit of being dressed in formalwear at pretty much all times. Though they're both now married to other people (the father and daughter act of Daniel and Melanie) they remain as close as ever... in fact, a little too close, as a recent one-night stand caused Chloe to give birth to Philip's son - a fact neither of them are aware of - which has now tied this tumultuous duo together forever. Had this list been made 5 years ago, Philip and Chloe would undoubtedly have ranked lower on the list than Brady and Chloe did. But with the new Phloe baby cementing them together, with them now so much alike and yet still such screwed-up people that an interesting dynamic remains, with the fact that Broe appears to have had no more than ten conversations to each other in the past two years - and the fact that, frankly, they've always seemed more interesting to me - I'm declaring a winner in the Phloe vs. Broe triangle.*
* Though if it were up to me, the triangle would still be going strong. 'Cause it rocked. Seriously, why don't Brady and Chloe even talk anymore? That's messed up.
Portrayed By: Jay Johnson and Nadia Bjorlin
Duration: 1999-2002, 2007-2008, 2010-2011
Current Status: Broken up (but both living in Chicago with Parker so who knows?)
Interlopers: Brady Black, Cynthia Austin, Belle Black, Morgan Hollingsworth, Stephanie Johnson
Children Together: Parker Kiriakis
Notes: Though it has not, to my knowledge, ever been formally admitted to the way TPTB have copped to John Black being a Jason Bourne clone, no one who's seen so much as a trailer for the 1999 teen romantic comedy, She's All That, can miss that the first few months of Philip and Chloe's relationship basically played as an extended cut of that movie. Rich cocky jerk is forced to take the weirdest ugliest girl in school to the prom, but oh look! Gasp! When she takes off her glasses and her unflattering clothing, she's a knock-out!
Even at that early point Philip and Chloe were fairly popular (and, I'll admit, it's pretty hard to hate the classic ugly duckling story) but it was really when tha storyline finished that Philip and Chloe's true relationship and dynamic was allowed to unfold. I talked about them a bit in the Broe entry, so you should already know (if you didn't already) that whereas Brady was the introverted, sensitive kindred spirit half of the triangle, Philip was the extroverted, cocky opposites-attract half. If Brady and Chloe were both ice, then Philip was fire. As is the case with just about every member of the Kiriakis clan for everything there was to like about Philip, there was something to dislike. He was confident, but he was spoiled. He was charming, but he was manipulative. He was passionate, but he was unstable. Rather than sing impromptu duets together a la Brady and Chloe, Phloe was much more inclined to argue and insult each other. It wasn't that they didn't love each other, but they were just so diametrically opposed and from such vastly different worlds that there was very little common ground they could find. Though their flame burnt hotly (In 2000 and 2001, Phloe and Shelle was, basically, all this show was about) eventually Philip's increasingly unstable behavior ended the relationship. And for a few years, that was it.
What I've always found interesting is that the common thought might be that if Phloe were to ever have had a second shot it would require that Philip change his ways a little bit and become a little bit more like Chloe. Interestingly... the opposite happened. Philip's basically stayed exactly the same (okay, maybe he's a little more mature) but Chloe has managed to become a lot more like him. Rather than the cold, shy ghoul girl of old, Chloe is now much more fiery, sexual and even a little deceitful, allowing Philip and Chloe to now be frequent fuckbuddies and very close friends. Hell, the formerly horridless dressed Chloe has even picked up Philip's habit of being dressed in formalwear at pretty much all times. Though they're both now married to other people (the father and daughter act of Daniel and Melanie) they remain as close as ever... in fact, a little too close, as a recent one-night stand caused Chloe to give birth to Philip's son - a fact neither of them are aware of - which has now tied this tumultuous duo together forever. Had this list been made 5 years ago, Philip and Chloe would undoubtedly have ranked lower on the list than Brady and Chloe did. But with the new Phloe baby cementing them together, with them now so much alike and yet still such screwed-up people that an interesting dynamic remains, with the fact that Broe appears to have had no more than ten conversations to each other in the past two years - and the fact that, frankly, they've always seemed more interesting to me - I'm declaring a winner in the Phloe vs. Broe triangle.*
* Though if it were up to me, the triangle would still be going strong. 'Cause it rocked. Seriously, why don't Brady and Chloe even talk anymore? That's messed up.
17. Abe and Lexie
Names: Abraham Washington "Abe" Carver and Alexandra "Lexie" Brooks
Most Notable Portrayers: James Reynolds and Renee Jones
Also Portrayed By: James Reynolds and Sheila Willis, James Reynolds and Cyndi James Gossette, James Reynolds and Angelique Francis, James Reynolds and Shellye Broughton
Duration: 1988-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Jonah Carver, Brandon Walker, Fay Walker, TEK Kramer
Children Together: Theo Carver
Notes: There are couples on this listthat are significant because for a short amount of time they were hugely important and rocked the show - burning quick but burning bright.Then thereare couples like Abe and Lexie, only rarely at the center of attention but chugging along steadily for a long long time. There are very very few couples on this list that have the same longevity that Abe and Lexie do. Like five. And even less that have the same pretty much unbroken longevity. Other couples come and go, but Abe and Lexie have pretty much been here to stay and have helped provide a solid backbone for decades. And the fact that this solid backbone has been provided by the longest-running African-American couple in television history makes it all the better.
In some ways, they're one of the most realistic examples of marriage that this show's ever had. Most people don't go through ten marriages in a lifetime, with each of them lasting about a year and a half like most of Salem. Nor are most long-term marriages perfect problem-free bliss like Tom and Alice's. Abe and Lexie have had far less drama than some of their friends and loved ones, but they've also had their fair share of it - mainly stemming from Lexie's infidelity. And rather than cut and run like most couples in Salem, they've stuck it out and stayed together and have now been married for over 20 years.
Don't get me wrong, the pairing of Abe and Lexie has some big flaws, and I don't mean the parties' character flaws. There's a degree of tokenism in Abe and Lexie. More often than not, they're the only black characters on the show (and if they're not, the other black characters are almost assuredly relatives). For this reason, one could make the unfortunate argument that perhaps the reason the characters have ultimately stayed together is because of the show's antipathy to really explore their two black characters with any of the more prominent white characters. More often than not (particularly in the last few years) Abe and Lexie have been on the show to fulfill the role of Police Commissioner (now Mayor) and Doctor.
But this wasn't always the case, and ultimately I believe the positives to Abe and Lexie's role on the show outweighs the negatives. There have been plenty of moments in the show's history where Abe and Lexie were at the very center of story - the revelation that Lexie was arch-villain Stefano's daughter, the storyline with Brandon and Fay, and, most notably, the whole Zack/J.T. switcheroo. In the present Days climate, where even characters like Bo and Hope are not exactly the main characters they once were, it's unlikely we'll ever see Abe and Lexie in roles much bigger than they are now but Abe and Lexie have ultimately made their mark on the show. There's significance may have come from them being slow and steady tortoises rather than quick and flashy hares, but I'd have difficulty imagining the show without them.
Most Notable Portrayers: James Reynolds and Renee Jones
Also Portrayed By: James Reynolds and Sheila Willis, James Reynolds and Cyndi James Gossette, James Reynolds and Angelique Francis, James Reynolds and Shellye Broughton
Duration: 1988-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Jonah Carver, Brandon Walker, Fay Walker, TEK Kramer
Children Together: Theo Carver
Notes: There are couples on this listthat are significant because for a short amount of time they were hugely important and rocked the show - burning quick but burning bright.Then thereare couples like Abe and Lexie, only rarely at the center of attention but chugging along steadily for a long long time. There are very very few couples on this list that have the same longevity that Abe and Lexie do. Like five. And even less that have the same pretty much unbroken longevity. Other couples come and go, but Abe and Lexie have pretty much been here to stay and have helped provide a solid backbone for decades. And the fact that this solid backbone has been provided by the longest-running African-American couple in television history makes it all the better.
In some ways, they're one of the most realistic examples of marriage that this show's ever had. Most people don't go through ten marriages in a lifetime, with each of them lasting about a year and a half like most of Salem. Nor are most long-term marriages perfect problem-free bliss like Tom and Alice's. Abe and Lexie have had far less drama than some of their friends and loved ones, but they've also had their fair share of it - mainly stemming from Lexie's infidelity. And rather than cut and run like most couples in Salem, they've stuck it out and stayed together and have now been married for over 20 years.
Don't get me wrong, the pairing of Abe and Lexie has some big flaws, and I don't mean the parties' character flaws. There's a degree of tokenism in Abe and Lexie. More often than not, they're the only black characters on the show (and if they're not, the other black characters are almost assuredly relatives). For this reason, one could make the unfortunate argument that perhaps the reason the characters have ultimately stayed together is because of the show's antipathy to really explore their two black characters with any of the more prominent white characters. More often than not (particularly in the last few years) Abe and Lexie have been on the show to fulfill the role of Police Commissioner (now Mayor) and Doctor.
But this wasn't always the case, and ultimately I believe the positives to Abe and Lexie's role on the show outweighs the negatives. There have been plenty of moments in the show's history where Abe and Lexie were at the very center of story - the revelation that Lexie was arch-villain Stefano's daughter, the storyline with Brandon and Fay, and, most notably, the whole Zack/J.T. switcheroo. In the present Days climate, where even characters like Bo and Hope are not exactly the main characters they once were, it's unlikely we'll ever see Abe and Lexie in roles much bigger than they are now but Abe and Lexie have ultimately made their mark on the show. There's significance may have come from them being slow and steady tortoises rather than quick and flashy hares, but I'd have difficulty imagining the show without them.
16. Austin and Carrie
Names: Austin Reed and Caroline Anna "Carrie" Brady
Most Notable Portrayers: Austin Peck and Christie Clark
Also Portrayed By: Patrick Muldoon and Tracy Middendorf, Patrick Muldoon and Christie Clark
Duration: 1992-1999, 2005-2006, 2011-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Sami Brady, Lucas Horton, Mike Horton, Rafe Hernandez, Abigail Deveraux
Children Together: None
Notes: So, I'm going to level with you guys. I've never been a fan of Austin and Carrie. There are other couples (including ones on this list) that I dislike more, but there are few I so thoroughly don't understand the appeal of than these two. To me, the issue has always been that they always appeared to me to be the least dynamic characters in their storylines. Usually the stories weren't even about them, it was about the people trying to break them up. Who that might be might change - Sami, Lucas and Mike all had their own turns with varying amounts of success - but no matter who it was, the story tended to be about the interloper's struggles to win one of them over, rather than being about Austin and Carrie struggling to stay together. Often, and particularly in the case of Austin, they were relegated to being trophies.
But rather than just write them off and half-ass their entry, I decided to take a serious look about what it was about them that made them so popular in the '90s (because they certainly were popular. Very popular, almost supercouple-y popular) and also what has made them a lot less popular now. I touched on this in their character articles, I believe, but I think Austin and Carrie are more representive of a much simpler time on Days. They were two pure, fundamentally good people and though they struggled with external adversity, in their glory days their love for each other never wavered no matter what was thrown at them. And there's something nice about that. Days has its fair-share of screwed-up complicated couples, it's not necessarily a bad thing that they also have a few (and Austin and Carrie are certainly not the only ones) that are just nice and in love and have no problems other than what the big bad soap world throws at them.
Our world's become a lot more cynical nowadays, even in soap operas, and I think the sort of backlash that Austin and Carrie have received after the fact is a representation of that. It's hard to justify the huge amount of popularity Austin and Carrie once had, with the punchline the relationship has sort of become, without looking to some sort of change in the audience mentality. Popular couples of today are dysfunctional ones like Sami with Lucas or E.J. or Brady with Nicole, and so when Austin and Carrie returned briefly in 2005 it was clear that soap opera storytelling had sort of past the duo by, and their kind of love struggles to find a place on a modern canvas. Though perhaps both characters (particularly Carrie, who had another popular pairing in Mike) might have potential with other people who might strike a contrast with their pure-as-driven-snow personalities or else bring out something a little less perfect in them, Days' inability to take much risk with established couples keeps them together... but offscreen.
Most Notable Portrayers: Austin Peck and Christie Clark
Also Portrayed By: Patrick Muldoon and Tracy Middendorf, Patrick Muldoon and Christie Clark
Duration: 1992-1999, 2005-2006, 2011-present
Current Status: Married
Interlopers: Sami Brady, Lucas Horton, Mike Horton, Rafe Hernandez, Abigail Deveraux
Children Together: None
Notes: So, I'm going to level with you guys. I've never been a fan of Austin and Carrie. There are other couples (including ones on this list) that I dislike more, but there are few I so thoroughly don't understand the appeal of than these two. To me, the issue has always been that they always appeared to me to be the least dynamic characters in their storylines. Usually the stories weren't even about them, it was about the people trying to break them up. Who that might be might change - Sami, Lucas and Mike all had their own turns with varying amounts of success - but no matter who it was, the story tended to be about the interloper's struggles to win one of them over, rather than being about Austin and Carrie struggling to stay together. Often, and particularly in the case of Austin, they were relegated to being trophies.
But rather than just write them off and half-ass their entry, I decided to take a serious look about what it was about them that made them so popular in the '90s (because they certainly were popular. Very popular, almost supercouple-y popular) and also what has made them a lot less popular now. I touched on this in their character articles, I believe, but I think Austin and Carrie are more representive of a much simpler time on Days. They were two pure, fundamentally good people and though they struggled with external adversity, in their glory days their love for each other never wavered no matter what was thrown at them. And there's something nice about that. Days has its fair-share of screwed-up complicated couples, it's not necessarily a bad thing that they also have a few (and Austin and Carrie are certainly not the only ones) that are just nice and in love and have no problems other than what the big bad soap world throws at them.
Our world's become a lot more cynical nowadays, even in soap operas, and I think the sort of backlash that Austin and Carrie have received after the fact is a representation of that. It's hard to justify the huge amount of popularity Austin and Carrie once had, with the punchline the relationship has sort of become, without looking to some sort of change in the audience mentality. Popular couples of today are dysfunctional ones like Sami with Lucas or E.J. or Brady with Nicole, and so when Austin and Carrie returned briefly in 2005 it was clear that soap opera storytelling had sort of past the duo by, and their kind of love struggles to find a place on a modern canvas. Though perhaps both characters (particularly Carrie, who had another popular pairing in Mike) might have potential with other people who might strike a contrast with their pure-as-driven-snow personalities or else bring out something a little less perfect in them, Days' inability to take much risk with established couples keeps them together... but offscreen.
Sorry, everyone...
Hey everybody, I probably should have come on there and post something about this weeks ago but things have been crazy with the holidays. Sorry for vanishing and leaving this unfinished, but for personal reasons I just no longer have any interest in continuing this. Without getting too heavy into it, I'm going through a pretty painful break-up and I just have no desire to write about epic love stories and supercouples right now. Definitely not where my head's at.
I probably wasn't going to update this at all except that I got so many messages wondering what happened that I eventually started to feel kind of bad. I could say I'd pick it up again in a few months, but who'd care at that point? So, in the interest in not leaving you hanging and offering some sort of finale, here's the remainder of the list:
15. John and Isabella
14. Tony and Anna
13. Bo and Billie
12. Shawn and Belle
11. Shane and Kimberly
10. Roman and Marlena
9. Bill and Laura
8. Lucas and Sami
7. Steve and Kayla
6. Mickey and Maggie
5. Jack and Jennifer
4. John and Marlena
3. Tom and Alice
2. Doug and Julie
1. Bo and Hope
It does break my heart a little bit that I spent all this time talking about the other couples and didn't even get to offer my thoughts on the top 15. Hopefully these ones are big enough that they speak for themselves. Thanks everyone for your comments you've sent through the duration of both of these lists. Some of you got very worked up and passionate about this!
I probably wasn't going to update this at all except that I got so many messages wondering what happened that I eventually started to feel kind of bad. I could say I'd pick it up again in a few months, but who'd care at that point? So, in the interest in not leaving you hanging and offering some sort of finale, here's the remainder of the list:
15. John and Isabella
14. Tony and Anna
13. Bo and Billie
12. Shawn and Belle
11. Shane and Kimberly
10. Roman and Marlena
9. Bill and Laura
8. Lucas and Sami
7. Steve and Kayla
6. Mickey and Maggie
5. Jack and Jennifer
4. John and Marlena
3. Tom and Alice
2. Doug and Julie
1. Bo and Hope
It does break my heart a little bit that I spent all this time talking about the other couples and didn't even get to offer my thoughts on the top 15. Hopefully these ones are big enough that they speak for themselves. Thanks everyone for your comments you've sent through the duration of both of these lists. Some of you got very worked up and passionate about this!
Like sands through the hourglass...
In it's 45 years, Days has had thousands of characters, but I've picked out the 100 greatest. This list is OBJECTIVE. Which means, this is not a list of my favorite characters, and in fact, some of these character I downright loathe. But this is a list of what I believe to be the 100 most major and significant Days characters. The list isn't perfect, though the 60s and 70s are definitely represented, I'm sure there's a tendency to include more 80s-00s characters because I'm simply more fmailiar with them. But I did my best, and I apologize if there's any I forgot.
This list will be updated gradually, probably in ten character chunks. But maybe more gradually. Without further ado... let's begin!
100. Nick Fallon
Portrayed By: Blake Berris (2006-2009)
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Billie Reed, Chelsea Benson-Brady, Melanie Layton,
Occupation: College Professor
Children: Artemis (former step-son), DeMarquette (former step-son)
Family: Joshua Fallon (father)
Jessica Blake (mother)
John Talbot (grandfather)
Sunny Chisholm (grandmother, deceased)
Alex Marshall (grandfather)
Marie Horton (grandmother)
Tod Chandler (uncle, deceased)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Nick wasn't on the show very long, and even when he was, we didn't see him all that much. Still, he was part of the show's attempt to revitalize the Hortons, and that's always appreciated. His nerdy personality also made him a contrast to the usual soap men, which was a refreshing change of pace. If the show hadn't already had Eugene Bradford set the stage for that kind of role over twenty years prior, Nick might've been higher.
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Billie Reed, Chelsea Benson-Brady, Melanie Layton,
Occupation: College Professor
Children: Artemis (former step-son), DeMarquette (former step-son)
Family: Joshua Fallon (father)
Jessica Blake (mother)
John Talbot (grandfather)
Sunny Chisholm (grandmother, deceased)
Alex Marshall (grandfather)
Marie Horton (grandmother)
Tod Chandler (uncle, deceased)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Nick wasn't on the show very long, and even when he was, we didn't see him all that much. Still, he was part of the show's attempt to revitalize the Hortons, and that's always appreciated. His nerdy personality also made him a contrast to the usual soap men, which was a refreshing change of pace. If the show hadn't already had Eugene Bradford set the stage for that kind of role over twenty years prior, Nick might've been higher.
99. Colin Murphy
Portrayed By: Robert Cuthill (2001), Justin Melvey (2001-2003, 2004)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton, Nicole Walker, Elizabeth Cox
Occupation: Doctor/DiMera flunky
Children: None
Family: ???? Murphy (father)
Molly Brady (mother)
Colleen Brady (aunt, decrased)
Shawn Brady Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle, deceased)
John Black (cousin)
Roman Brady (cousin)
Kimberly Brady (cousin)
Kayla Brady (cousin)
Notes: The jury's still out on what exactly became of Colin Murphy, but what we do is that this sleezy Irish-Aussie doctor served as the major villain of the year 2002 and the mystery of his "murder" was a significant Days Whodunnit for months.
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton, Nicole Walker, Elizabeth Cox
Occupation: Doctor/DiMera flunky
Children: None
Family: ???? Murphy (father)
Molly Brady (mother)
Colleen Brady (aunt, decrased)
Shawn Brady Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle, deceased)
John Black (cousin)
Roman Brady (cousin)
Kimberly Brady (cousin)
Kayla Brady (cousin)
Notes: The jury's still out on what exactly became of Colin Murphy, but what we do is that this sleezy Irish-Aussie doctor served as the major villain of the year 2002 and the mystery of his "murder" was a significant Days Whodunnit for months.
98. Rex Brady
AKA: Rex DiMera
Portrayed By: Eric Winter (2002-2005)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Chicago when last mentioned/may no longer exist)
Main Love Interests: Mimi Lockhart
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (twin sister)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece/cousin)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joseph Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Rex (and his sister Cassie, who didn't make the cut) had a ridiculous and convoluted backstory as the Gemini Twins that we won't even touch and since he wasn't around long and has probably been excised from history, it would be easy to write him off of this list. But, he is Roman and Kate's son, and that tied him to two very significant Days families, and he probably remains Mimi Lockhart's most significant relationship. That at least gives him 97th.
Portrayed By: Eric Winter (2002-2005)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Chicago when last mentioned/may no longer exist)
Main Love Interests: Mimi Lockhart
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (twin sister)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece/cousin)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joseph Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Rex (and his sister Cassie, who didn't make the cut) had a ridiculous and convoluted backstory as the Gemini Twins that we won't even touch and since he wasn't around long and has probably been excised from history, it would be easy to write him off of this list. But, he is Roman and Kate's son, and that tied him to two very significant Days families, and he probably remains Mimi Lockhart's most significant relationship. That at least gives him 97th.
97. Bart Biederbicke
Portrayed By: Steve Blackwood (1997-2005, 2007)
Current Status: Deceased (2007)
Occupation: DiMera flunky
Children: None
Family: None
Notes: The list so far has been made up of characters who weren't around long, but who's stars burned fairly bright when they were. On the other hand we have Bart, who appeared off and on as the dim-witted DiMera henchman for ten years, but never really did anything beyond that. Bart was fun and funny, and was able to add levity to some otherwise dark stuff... but he was still a cartoonish fluff character who never really was a factor in anything.
Current Status: Deceased (2007)
Occupation: DiMera flunky
Children: None
Family: None
Notes: The list so far has been made up of characters who weren't around long, but who's stars burned fairly bright when they were. On the other hand we have Bart, who appeared off and on as the dim-witted DiMera henchman for ten years, but never really did anything beyond that. Bart was fun and funny, and was able to add levity to some otherwise dark stuff... but he was still a cartoonish fluff character who never really was a factor in anything.
96. Emilio Ramirez
Portrayed By: Billy Hufsey (1988 - 1990)
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Adrienne Johnson, Jennifer Horton, Melissa Horton
Occupation: Singer
Children: None
Family: Monty Dolan (father)
Rosa Ramirez (mother, deceased)
April Ramirez (sister)
Raul Ramirez (brother, deceased)
Julio Ramirez (brother)
Notes: If ever a character was a relic of his time, it's Emilio Ramirez. Just looking at him, you can tell he was totally '80s, and it was very telling that he was killed on New Year's Eve 1990, because he just wouldn't have survived in the new decade. Like his sister he was one of the first major hispanic characters Days ever had, and he was actually a fairly big part of the show, being paired with Adrienne, Jennifer and Melissa, all three of whom are major characters who appeared on Days as recently as this week.
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Adrienne Johnson, Jennifer Horton, Melissa Horton
Occupation: Singer
Children: None
Family: Monty Dolan (father)
Rosa Ramirez (mother, deceased)
April Ramirez (sister)
Raul Ramirez (brother, deceased)
Julio Ramirez (brother)
Notes: If ever a character was a relic of his time, it's Emilio Ramirez. Just looking at him, you can tell he was totally '80s, and it was very telling that he was killed on New Year's Eve 1990, because he just wouldn't have survived in the new decade. Like his sister he was one of the first major hispanic characters Days ever had, and he was actually a fairly big part of the show, being paired with Adrienne, Jennifer and Melissa, all three of whom are major characters who appeared on Days as recently as this week.
95. Franco Kelly
Portrayed By: Victor Alfieri (1996-1998)
Current Status: Deceased (1998)
Main Love Interests: Hope Williams, Sami Brady
Occupation: Model/Con man
Children: None
Family: Unknown
Notes: Franco was scum personified, and he wasn't around a full two years before his ass was killed by Lucas for his scummy behavior, but like Patrick, before he was gone he left a wake of destruction. In his case, the aftermath of his murder went on for a long time with Sami ultimately being wrongfully put on death row for it. That situation and storyline alone, which some say is when Alison Sweeney's Sami went from rascally supporting character to fullblown leading lady, gives him his place on the list.
Current Status: Deceased (1998)
Main Love Interests: Hope Williams, Sami Brady
Occupation: Model/Con man
Children: None
Family: Unknown
Notes: Franco was scum personified, and he wasn't around a full two years before his ass was killed by Lucas for his scummy behavior, but like Patrick, before he was gone he left a wake of destruction. In his case, the aftermath of his murder went on for a long time with Sami ultimately being wrongfully put on death row for it. That situation and storyline alone, which some say is when Alison Sweeney's Sami went from rascally supporting character to fullblown leading lady, gives him his place on the list.
94. Diana Colville
Portrayed By: Genie Francis (1987-1989)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Cal Winters, John "Roman Brady" Black
Occupation: Journalist
Children: None
Family: Philip Colville (father, deceased)
Serena Colville (mother)
Notes: Diana's been largely forgotten nowadays. Her portrayer is vastly more famous for her role on another soap, her love interest John (then believed to be Roman) wound up with much more long-lasting relationships, and anytime her name has been brought up in the last ten years or more it's been in conjunction with Jack stealing the Spectator from her. But, although she wasn't around very long, Diana was an extremely major part of the show for the time she was. She was given lots of big dramatic action-adventure stuff to do, and the RoJohn/Diana pairing (RoJohn's first since Marlena) was the first chance John had to stretch his own wings as his own character, not tied to the Roman-relationship of the past.
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Cal Winters, John "Roman Brady" Black
Occupation: Journalist
Children: None
Family: Philip Colville (father, deceased)
Serena Colville (mother)
Notes: Diana's been largely forgotten nowadays. Her portrayer is vastly more famous for her role on another soap, her love interest John (then believed to be Roman) wound up with much more long-lasting relationships, and anytime her name has been brought up in the last ten years or more it's been in conjunction with Jack stealing the Spectator from her. But, although she wasn't around very long, Diana was an extremely major part of the show for the time she was. She was given lots of big dramatic action-adventure stuff to do, and the RoJohn/Diana pairing (RoJohn's first since Marlena) was the first chance John had to stretch his own wings as his own character, not tied to the Roman-relationship of the past.
93. Pete Jannings
Portrayed By: Michael Leon (1983-1986)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Melissa Horton, Ivy Selejko
Occupation: Bartender/Stripper
Children: Charlie Jannings (son, with Ivy)
Family: Barney Jannings (father)
Tess Jannings (mother)
Notes: I'm the first to admit that I don't know much about Pete, but I do know that he and Melissa were one of those quasi-supercouples that popped up in the 80s, alongside couples like Justin and Adrienne or Eugene and Calliope. Unlike the people in those couples though, as well as his better half, Pete has shown no staying power, is never mentioned, and wasn't even given the honor of being Nathan's father.
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Melissa Horton, Ivy Selejko
Occupation: Bartender/Stripper
Children: Charlie Jannings (son, with Ivy)
Family: Barney Jannings (father)
Tess Jannings (mother)
Notes: I'm the first to admit that I don't know much about Pete, but I do know that he and Melissa were one of those quasi-supercouples that popped up in the 80s, alongside couples like Justin and Adrienne or Eugene and Calliope. Unlike the people in those couples though, as well as his better half, Pete has shown no staying power, is never mentioned, and wasn't even given the honor of being Nathan's father.
92. Rafe Hernandez
AKA: Rafael Hernandez (full name)
Portrayed By: Galen Gering (2008 - present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Carrie Brady
Occupation: Private Detective, former FBI Agent
Children: None
Family: Arianna Hernandez (sister, deceased)
Dario Hernandez (brother)
Gabriela Hernandez (sister)
Notes: Rafe's still very new, and he's still on the show, so it's hard to say exactly what will become of him and what his Days legacy will be. But he very quickly became one of the show's leading men, being paired with its leading lady, Sami Brady, and his no-nonsense law enforcement persona makes him seem like he might be this century's answer to Roman Brady. Your mileage may vary on whether you find him romantic or just-plain dull, but either way he doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Portrayed By: Galen Gering (2008 - present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Carrie Brady
Occupation: Private Detective, former FBI Agent
Children: None
Family: Arianna Hernandez (sister, deceased)
Dario Hernandez (brother)
Gabriela Hernandez (sister)
Notes: Rafe's still very new, and he's still on the show, so it's hard to say exactly what will become of him and what his Days legacy will be. But he very quickly became one of the show's leading men, being paired with its leading lady, Sami Brady, and his no-nonsense law enforcement persona makes him seem like he might be this century's answer to Roman Brady. Your mileage may vary on whether you find him romantic or just-plain dull, but either way he doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
91. Marcus Hunter
Portrayed By: Richard Biggs (1987-1992)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Faith Taylor, Gail Carson, Desiree McCall
Occupation: Doctor (Plastic Surgeon)
Children: None
Family: Samuel Hunter (father, deceased
Eleanor Hunter (mother, deceased)
Lizzie Putnam (aunt)
Notes: Marcus (played by the late Richard Biggs) was one of a long line of great supporting characters. Like many doctor characters they never really gave him much to do on his own other than just be a doctor, and his romances never went very far, but Marcus's relationship with his best friend Steve was very well-developed, as was his later friendships with Kayla and Jack. He was a great guy to have around, and it was a shame when he just up and vanished, like many doctor characters before and after him.
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Faith Taylor, Gail Carson, Desiree McCall
Occupation: Doctor (Plastic Surgeon)
Children: None
Family: Samuel Hunter (father, deceased
Eleanor Hunter (mother, deceased)
Lizzie Putnam (aunt)
Notes: Marcus (played by the late Richard Biggs) was one of a long line of great supporting characters. Like many doctor characters they never really gave him much to do on his own other than just be a doctor, and his romances never went very far, but Marcus's relationship with his best friend Steve was very well-developed, as was his later friendships with Kayla and Jack. He was a great guy to have around, and it was a shame when he just up and vanished, like many doctor characters before and after him.
90. Ivan Marais
Portrayed By: Ivan G'Vera (1992-2000, 2011)
Current Status: Living in India
Occupation: Bollywood Film Producer, former henchman of Vivian's
Main Love Interests: Vivian Alamain
Children: None
Family: None
Notes: Ivan is one of two characters who is being added to the list (for those curious the two that got bumped off are April Ramirez and Patrick Lockhart) that were not previously on it before. I'll be honest, when I was watching the '90s I didn't take Ivan that seriously as a character, and equated him of equal importance to the likes of other powerful people's sidekicks - Rolf, Bart, Henderson, etc. And as he was the sidekick of Vivian, who was considerably less longstanding a villain than the likes of Stefano and Victor, I think I subconsciously put him beneath some of those others, which is why Bart and Rolf made the list and Ivan didn't (obviously the far less distinctive Henderson never really had a shot)
But there was a bit of an outcry when Ivan didn't show up on this list. I confess it surprised me, and so I did a bit more research. I was surprised to discover Ivan G'Vera had been in over a hundred more episodes than Will Utay (Rolf) and over three hundred more episodes than Steve Blackwood (Bart) While there's plenty of the nineties I missed since it was pre-DVR, how could I have missed how important Ivan was?
When Vivian returned in 2009 with a new lackee named Gus in tow, a lot of people were furious at Ivan's replacement too. I thought it was weird he was gone too but I'd never taken Ivan super seriously so I didn't think it was a big deal. But it didn't take long before I realized the dynamics of Vivian's antics didn't feel the same anymore. Eventually I discovered that Gus was part of the reason. He was not a strong enough character to balance Vivian, there was no sense of history, trust and love there, where you could understand why this man would serve Vivian so faithfully and why Vivian needed him to save her from herself so dearly. While Ivan's character is completely pointless without Vivian, the fact is that she needed him to be Vivian. He tempers her, humanizes her and keeps her from coming off like merely some crazy old lady (which she often did during this most recent run), which makes him much more important to her character than Rolf and Bart were to Stefano and Andre and Henderson is to Victor. Those people help flesh their bosses out, but their bosses certainly don't need them to be who they are. While I still think Dr. Rolf's indispensable role in carrying out Stefano's most fantastic and diabolical schemes makes him the most important minion of Days, there's no question that Ivan is the minion with the most heart, and the minion who's played the biggest role in their master's life. His brief return to usher Vivian off camera may have been too little/too late to save what many admit was a fairly underwhelming run, it at least hopefully taught the powers that be a lesson if they ever bring Vivian back. Make sure Ivan is with her.
Current Status: Living in India
Occupation: Bollywood Film Producer, former henchman of Vivian's
Main Love Interests: Vivian Alamain
Children: None
Family: None
Notes: Ivan is one of two characters who is being added to the list (for those curious the two that got bumped off are April Ramirez and Patrick Lockhart) that were not previously on it before. I'll be honest, when I was watching the '90s I didn't take Ivan that seriously as a character, and equated him of equal importance to the likes of other powerful people's sidekicks - Rolf, Bart, Henderson, etc. And as he was the sidekick of Vivian, who was considerably less longstanding a villain than the likes of Stefano and Victor, I think I subconsciously put him beneath some of those others, which is why Bart and Rolf made the list and Ivan didn't (obviously the far less distinctive Henderson never really had a shot)
But there was a bit of an outcry when Ivan didn't show up on this list. I confess it surprised me, and so I did a bit more research. I was surprised to discover Ivan G'Vera had been in over a hundred more episodes than Will Utay (Rolf) and over three hundred more episodes than Steve Blackwood (Bart) While there's plenty of the nineties I missed since it was pre-DVR, how could I have missed how important Ivan was?
When Vivian returned in 2009 with a new lackee named Gus in tow, a lot of people were furious at Ivan's replacement too. I thought it was weird he was gone too but I'd never taken Ivan super seriously so I didn't think it was a big deal. But it didn't take long before I realized the dynamics of Vivian's antics didn't feel the same anymore. Eventually I discovered that Gus was part of the reason. He was not a strong enough character to balance Vivian, there was no sense of history, trust and love there, where you could understand why this man would serve Vivian so faithfully and why Vivian needed him to save her from herself so dearly. While Ivan's character is completely pointless without Vivian, the fact is that she needed him to be Vivian. He tempers her, humanizes her and keeps her from coming off like merely some crazy old lady (which she often did during this most recent run), which makes him much more important to her character than Rolf and Bart were to Stefano and Andre and Henderson is to Victor. Those people help flesh their bosses out, but their bosses certainly don't need them to be who they are. While I still think Dr. Rolf's indispensable role in carrying out Stefano's most fantastic and diabolical schemes makes him the most important minion of Days, there's no question that Ivan is the minion with the most heart, and the minion who's played the biggest role in their master's life. His brief return to usher Vivian off camera may have been too little/too late to save what many admit was a fairly underwhelming run, it at least hopefully taught the powers that be a lesson if they ever bring Vivian back. Make sure Ivan is with her.
89. Tommy Horton
AKA: Thomas Horton Jr. (full name), Mark Brooks (amnesia name)
Portrayed By: John Lupton (1967-1972, 1975-1980)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Hawaii when last mentioned/may no longer exist)
Main Love Interests: Kitty Horton, Marie Horton, Linda Patterson
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Sandy Horton (daughter, with Kitty)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Addie Horton (twin sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Notes: Oh, Tommy. The forgotten son. Tommy's infamy as the character who went upstairs and never came back down has far outshined the actual role he played on this show. He's only remembered now for being forgotten. And don't let those portrayal years fuel you, more years that not he only appeared in a handful of episodes, and his total episode count is probably less than the most prominent characters get in a single year. Still, he's Tom and Alice's first born, and that's got to count for something, right?
Portrayed By: John Lupton (1967-1972, 1975-1980)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Hawaii when last mentioned/may no longer exist)
Main Love Interests: Kitty Horton, Marie Horton, Linda Patterson
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Sandy Horton (daughter, with Kitty)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Addie Horton (twin sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Notes: Oh, Tommy. The forgotten son. Tommy's infamy as the character who went upstairs and never came back down has far outshined the actual role he played on this show. He's only remembered now for being forgotten. And don't let those portrayal years fuel you, more years that not he only appeared in a handful of episodes, and his total episode count is probably less than the most prominent characters get in a single year. Still, he's Tom and Alice's first born, and that's got to count for something, right?
88. Nancy Wesley
AKA: Nancy Miller (maiden name)
Portrayed By: Patrika Darbo (1998-2003, 2004-2005)
Current Status: Living in New York
Main Love Interests: Craig Wesley
Occupation: Hospital administrator
Children: Chloe Lane (daughter, with Craig)
Joy Wesley (daughter, with Craig)
Family: Albert Miller (father)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Notes: It's not often that soaps feature plus-sized people in any sort of significant capacity, but Nancy was one of the rare exceptions. Though she came on the show as a one-trick pony - to be the shrill, fat wife of Mike's rival Craig, she ultimately became a character with a lot of heart, especially when her long-lost daughter came on to the show and became an A-Lister. Nancy definitely owes the much more prominent Chloe and the slightly more prominent Craig for the healthy run she had on the show, but she became an endearing character in her own right.
Portrayed By: Patrika Darbo (1998-2003, 2004-2005)
Current Status: Living in New York
Main Love Interests: Craig Wesley
Occupation: Hospital administrator
Children: Chloe Lane (daughter, with Craig)
Joy Wesley (daughter, with Craig)
Family: Albert Miller (father)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Notes: It's not often that soaps feature plus-sized people in any sort of significant capacity, but Nancy was one of the rare exceptions. Though she came on the show as a one-trick pony - to be the shrill, fat wife of Mike's rival Craig, she ultimately became a character with a lot of heart, especially when her long-lost daughter came on to the show and became an A-Lister. Nancy definitely owes the much more prominent Chloe and the slightly more prominent Craig for the healthy run she had on the show, but she became an endearing character in her own right.
87. Gina von Amberg
AKA: Hope Williams (assumed name)
Portrayed By: Kristian Alfonso (1998-2001)
Current Status: Deceased (2000)
Main Love Interests: Phillip von Amberg, John Black, Stefano DiMera, Bo Brady
Occupation: Princess/Art Thief
Children: Greta von Amberg (daughter, with ?????)
Family: Unknown
Notes: Two characters played by the same actor is a soap staple, with all the Parent Trap-style wacky hijinks that can ensue when one poses as the other. Though Days has a more significant example in the case of two characters played by the same actor where it's become confusing to decide who we were actually watching at any given point (more on that later), Gina was a much more straight-forward example and provided all sorts of villainous fun for the few years she was on. She was still a little confusing in her own right (sometimes it was Gina as her own person, sometimes it was Hope brainwashed into believing she was Gina, etc.) but her for sheer soapiniess, the duplicitous Gina has earned her place on this list.
The repercussions of Gina last to this day, as there are some who believe the current dual identity Hope is somehow connected to Gina.
Portrayed By: Kristian Alfonso (1998-2001)
Current Status: Deceased (2000)
Main Love Interests: Phillip von Amberg, John Black, Stefano DiMera, Bo Brady
Occupation: Princess/Art Thief
Children: Greta von Amberg (daughter, with ?????)
Family: Unknown
Notes: Two characters played by the same actor is a soap staple, with all the Parent Trap-style wacky hijinks that can ensue when one poses as the other. Though Days has a more significant example in the case of two characters played by the same actor where it's become confusing to decide who we were actually watching at any given point (more on that later), Gina was a much more straight-forward example and provided all sorts of villainous fun for the few years she was on. She was still a little confusing in her own right (sometimes it was Gina as her own person, sometimes it was Hope brainwashed into believing she was Gina, etc.) but her for sheer soapiniess, the duplicitous Gina has earned her place on this list.
The repercussions of Gina last to this day, as there are some who believe the current dual identity Hope is somehow connected to Gina.
86. Larry Welch
Portrayed By: Andrew Masset (1983-1985, 2002-2003)
Current Status: Deceased (2003)
Main Love Interests: Hope Williams, Gwen Davies
Occupation: Former District Attorney
Children: None
Family: Victor Chorvat (father)
Jim Welch (adoptive father)
Geraldine Welch (adoptive mother)
Ben Welch (adoptive brother)
Notes: Larry Welch is more a soap archetype than an actual character. Days (and soaps in general) are filled with Larry Welches. You know the type. Rich, arrogant douchebags who are engaged to the heroine and are demeaning to the hero, a bad boy with a heart of gold, who's from the wrong side of the tracks. Though they claim love, they're usually more interested in money and power and desire the heroine either as a trophy wife or as some stepping stone to power. They are almost exclusively found in suits, in contrast to the hero's leather.
Though they're not quite as everpresent now as they were back in the day, soaps are filled with these guys who are around as an initial complication for a big couple before they're exposed, dumped and sent packing (though there's one notable exception on Days of a Larry Welch who went on to become a more prominent character than the couple he was a complication for, more on him later) but Larry himself is probably Days's most famous. Partly because it was Bo and Hope who he broke up, partly because he returned twenty years later, which is unusual for a Welch, and partly because of the sheer over-the-top nature of his evilness. He wasn't just a rich arrogant jerk, he was a crazy power-hungry murderer with absolutely no soul. Rest in peace, Larry Welch. There will always be another one to take your place.
Current Status: Deceased (2003)
Main Love Interests: Hope Williams, Gwen Davies
Occupation: Former District Attorney
Children: None
Family: Victor Chorvat (father)
Jim Welch (adoptive father)
Geraldine Welch (adoptive mother)
Ben Welch (adoptive brother)
Notes: Larry Welch is more a soap archetype than an actual character. Days (and soaps in general) are filled with Larry Welches. You know the type. Rich, arrogant douchebags who are engaged to the heroine and are demeaning to the hero, a bad boy with a heart of gold, who's from the wrong side of the tracks. Though they claim love, they're usually more interested in money and power and desire the heroine either as a trophy wife or as some stepping stone to power. They are almost exclusively found in suits, in contrast to the hero's leather.
Though they're not quite as everpresent now as they were back in the day, soaps are filled with these guys who are around as an initial complication for a big couple before they're exposed, dumped and sent packing (though there's one notable exception on Days of a Larry Welch who went on to become a more prominent character than the couple he was a complication for, more on him later) but Larry himself is probably Days's most famous. Partly because it was Bo and Hope who he broke up, partly because he returned twenty years later, which is unusual for a Welch, and partly because of the sheer over-the-top nature of his evilness. He wasn't just a rich arrogant jerk, he was a crazy power-hungry murderer with absolutely no soul. Rest in peace, Larry Welch. There will always be another one to take your place.
85. Nick Corelli
Portrayed By: George Jenesky (1981, 1984, 1986-1990)
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Eve Donovan, April Ramirez
Occupation: Pimp, other shady activities
Children: None
Family: Johnny Corelli (brother)
Notes: Nick is one of the legions of Days villains who ended up becoming more of a romantic anti-hero solely because of his actor's talent. There's no reason at all why Nick Corelli should've been likable, let alone paired with young ingenues like April and Eve. The guy's a pimp and a scumbag. Yet George Jenesky managed to imbue him with an oily charm that made him both repugnant and appealing at the same time. He was the kind of character who couldn't last forever, and eventually he got his ass smoked by Jo Johnson of all people, but for a period in the 80s Nick managed to carve a niche for himself as the show's resident l0w-level sleazeball, and he was entertaining doing it.
Apologies for the bad photo, it was one of the only ones I could find.
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Eve Donovan, April Ramirez
Occupation: Pimp, other shady activities
Children: None
Family: Johnny Corelli (brother)
Notes: Nick is one of the legions of Days villains who ended up becoming more of a romantic anti-hero solely because of his actor's talent. There's no reason at all why Nick Corelli should've been likable, let alone paired with young ingenues like April and Eve. The guy's a pimp and a scumbag. Yet George Jenesky managed to imbue him with an oily charm that made him both repugnant and appealing at the same time. He was the kind of character who couldn't last forever, and eventually he got his ass smoked by Jo Johnson of all people, but for a period in the 80s Nick managed to carve a niche for himself as the show's resident l0w-level sleazeball, and he was entertaining doing it.
Apologies for the bad photo, it was one of the only ones I could find.
84. Craig Wesley
Portrayed By: Kevin Spirtas (1997-2003, 2005, 2009)
Current Status: Living in New York
Main Love Interests: Nancy Wesley
Occupation: Doctor (Surgeon)
Children: Chloe Lane (daughter, with Nancy)
Joy Wesley (daughter, with Nancy)
Family: Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Notes: It's always fun when a character who was brought in for one small one-off purpose ends up with a sizable substantial role, and that's Craig all over. Initially he was designed as a rival for Mike Horton, and not even a permanent one. Craig was Mike's med school classmate who was always one-upping him. When Mike and Carrie went to a medical conference out of Salem, they bumped into Craig and played up their romance in order to make the single Mike look successful. And that was supposed to be it. But clearly the powers that be saw something in Craig and brought him to Salem to be a permanent scheming rival for Mike.
When Mike left, the smart money would be on Craig leaving too... but he didn't! Instead Days found a whole new role for him as first a foster parent to Chloe and then (as it turned out) her biological father. Craig's evil scheming ways were left behind, and for a few years he was Chief of Staff and a pillar of the Salem community. Craig last appeared in Salem last summer, a full twelve years after that initial guest stint that brought him to Days.
Current Status: Living in New York
Main Love Interests: Nancy Wesley
Occupation: Doctor (Surgeon)
Children: Chloe Lane (daughter, with Nancy)
Joy Wesley (daughter, with Nancy)
Family: Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Notes: It's always fun when a character who was brought in for one small one-off purpose ends up with a sizable substantial role, and that's Craig all over. Initially he was designed as a rival for Mike Horton, and not even a permanent one. Craig was Mike's med school classmate who was always one-upping him. When Mike and Carrie went to a medical conference out of Salem, they bumped into Craig and played up their romance in order to make the single Mike look successful. And that was supposed to be it. But clearly the powers that be saw something in Craig and brought him to Salem to be a permanent scheming rival for Mike.
When Mike left, the smart money would be on Craig leaving too... but he didn't! Instead Days found a whole new role for him as first a foster parent to Chloe and then (as it turned out) her biological father. Craig's evil scheming ways were left behind, and for a few years he was Chief of Staff and a pillar of the Salem community. Craig last appeared in Salem last summer, a full twelve years after that initial guest stint that brought him to Days.
83. Jan Spears
AKA: Jan Britney Spears (full name)
Portrayed By: Heather Lauren Olsen (1999-2002, 2003-2004)
Heather Lindell (2004-2005)
Current Status: Comatose
Main Love Interests: Jason Welles, Shawn D. Brady
Occupation: Socialite
Children: None
Family: Mr. Spears (deceased)
Mrs. Spears (deceased)
Notes: There's really two Jan Spears, and I'm not just talking about the two actresses who played her. From 1999 to 2002, Jan was just a bitchy Mean Girls-esque teenager. She wasn't anymore evil than, say, Sami and the storyline of her rape actually provided the character with some heart and depth, though not enough to make her that significant or likable in most people's eyes.
Upon her return in 2003, and following her quick recasting with Heather Lindell, Jan became flat-out full-blown psychopath. A deliciously evil over-the-top villainness who built cages and kept people locked up in them and all sorts of craziness. One would think such a change would constitute a decrease in popularity, yet it's that incarnation of Jan the average person will tell you they enjoyed more because of Lindell's hilarious crazed performance.
Sadly such a character couldn't last, and Jan was left in a coma - but the fact that they never killed her suggests that she may one day rise again for more mayhem.
Sadly such a character couldn't last, and Jan was left in a coma - but the fact that they never killed her suggests that she may one day rise again for more mayhem.
82. Wilhelm Rolf
Portrayed By: Will Utay (1997-2003, 2007-2008)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Hattie Adams
Occupation: Scientist/Stefano’s right-hand man
Children: None
Family: Marlo Ungerschterner (niece, deceased)
J.T. Reiber (grand-nephew)
Notes: Every criminal mastermind needs their trusty number two, and for Stefano DiMera that's Dr. Rolf. Stefano's the big picture kind of guy while Rolf handles the details by tinkering away in his laboratory -- if Stefano wants a mind control device, Rolf can whip that up for him no problem! Odds are he was also the guy who handled the details of constructing Melaswen for Andre.
Dr. Rolf was usually played for laughs, and occasionally served as the straight man in interactions with Bart, but he was also invaluable in the many zany schemes the DiMeras cooked up that required any sort of scientific know-how.
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Hattie Adams
Occupation: Scientist/Stefano’s right-hand man
Children: None
Family: Marlo Ungerschterner (niece, deceased)
J.T. Reiber (grand-nephew)
Notes: Every criminal mastermind needs their trusty number two, and for Stefano DiMera that's Dr. Rolf. Stefano's the big picture kind of guy while Rolf handles the details by tinkering away in his laboratory -- if Stefano wants a mind control device, Rolf can whip that up for him no problem! Odds are he was also the guy who handled the details of constructing Melaswen for Andre.
Dr. Rolf was usually played for laughs, and occasionally served as the straight man in interactions with Bart, but he was also invaluable in the many zany schemes the DiMeras cooked up that required any sort of scientific know-how.
81. Melanie Jonas
AKA: Melanie Layton (original name), Melanie Kiriakis (married name)
Portrayed By: Molly Burnett (2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Nick Fallon, Philip Kiriakis, Nathan Horton, Dario Hernandez, Chad DiMera
Occupation: Nurse, Employee at Intensity Spa
Children: None
Family: Daniel Jonas (father)
Carly Manning (mother)
Trent Robbins (adoptive father, deceased)
Nicholas Alamain (half-brother)
Max Brady (adoptive half-brother)
Frankie Brady (uncle)
Maggie Horton (grandmother)
Notes: We've now come to the second present-day character on the list. Melanie hasn't been around more than a few months longer than Rafe, but (like her or hate her, and plenty feel both) she's made a bigger splash and has already become the show's primary ingenue, perhaps hastened by the revelation that she's Carly's daughter. Melanie can be kind of annoying and over-the-top, and few are a fan of her pairing with the much older-seeming Philip, but she does have a liveliness that few her age possess on soaps (most of them tending towards wooden, instead) , she seems to be a pet favorite of the current headwriters, so I'd imagine we'll still be seeing a lot of her in the days and months to come.
2012 Update: A year and a half later, Melanie's position as the show's leading twentysomething ingenue is even more secure and I felt forced to raise her higher as there was no way I could justify to myself her being below such comparatively short-term characters as Jan, Gina and Larry. Plenty of people still dislike Melanie (although I get the sense she's more popular now than she was a year or two ago) for taking focus off someone else they feel more deserving, and I have issues with it myself, but her role as a significant part of Days of our Lives has become increasingly hard to argue with.
Portrayed By: Molly Burnett (2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Nick Fallon, Philip Kiriakis, Nathan Horton, Dario Hernandez, Chad DiMera
Occupation: Nurse, Employee at Intensity Spa
Children: None
Family: Daniel Jonas (father)
Carly Manning (mother)
Trent Robbins (adoptive father, deceased)
Nicholas Alamain (half-brother)
Max Brady (adoptive half-brother)
Frankie Brady (uncle)
Maggie Horton (grandmother)
Notes: We've now come to the second present-day character on the list. Melanie hasn't been around more than a few months longer than Rafe, but (like her or hate her, and plenty feel both) she's made a bigger splash and has already become the show's primary ingenue, perhaps hastened by the revelation that she's Carly's daughter. Melanie can be kind of annoying and over-the-top, and few are a fan of her pairing with the much older-seeming Philip, but she does have a liveliness that few her age possess on soaps (most of them tending towards wooden, instead) , she seems to be a pet favorite of the current headwriters, so I'd imagine we'll still be seeing a lot of her in the days and months to come.
2012 Update: A year and a half later, Melanie's position as the show's leading twentysomething ingenue is even more secure and I felt forced to raise her higher as there was no way I could justify to myself her being below such comparatively short-term characters as Jan, Gina and Larry. Plenty of people still dislike Melanie (although I get the sense she's more popular now than she was a year or two ago) for taking focus off someone else they feel more deserving, and I have issues with it myself, but her role as a significant part of Days of our Lives has become increasingly hard to argue with.
80. Harper Deveraux
Portrayed By: Joseph Campanella (1987-1988, 1990, 1991-1992)
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Anjelica Deveraux
Occupation: U.S. Senator
Children: Jack Deveraux (adopted son)
Notes: For all the fame and notoriety that the Salem Stalker storyline of 2003-2004 gets, not everyone remembers that there were three other notable Salem serial killers: The Salem Strangler and Salem Slasher of the early '80s and the Riverfront Knifer of the late '80s. The Salem Strangler (Jake Kositchek) sadly didn't make this list because being the Salem Strangler is basically all that character had going for him. On the other hand, Harper, the Riverfront Knifer, had a lot going on. He came to town as Jack's Senator father, and had a healthy run as a powerful tycoon type, with every indication that despite being a little shady, he was anything but a loving father and husband....
Until it was revealed, that he was such a loving father that he was murdering women across town because they reminded him of Kayla, who'd betrayed and cheated on his son. Despite what an insane sociopath Harper turned out to be, his actions were bizarrely in support of his adopted son. He broke out of prison on Steve and Kayla's wedding day with the intention of gunning them both down for what they did to Jack, and Jack was forced to stop him, ultimately causing his father's death.
One would think that would be the end of Harper, but it wasn't. He recurred for a few years afterwards as a regular figament in Jack's imagination, reminding him of the horrible stock he'd come from.
We'll get to the Salem Slasher later.
Current Status: Deceased (1990)
Main Love Interests: Anjelica Deveraux
Occupation: U.S. Senator
Children: Jack Deveraux (adopted son)
Notes: For all the fame and notoriety that the Salem Stalker storyline of 2003-2004 gets, not everyone remembers that there were three other notable Salem serial killers: The Salem Strangler and Salem Slasher of the early '80s and the Riverfront Knifer of the late '80s. The Salem Strangler (Jake Kositchek) sadly didn't make this list because being the Salem Strangler is basically all that character had going for him. On the other hand, Harper, the Riverfront Knifer, had a lot going on. He came to town as Jack's Senator father, and had a healthy run as a powerful tycoon type, with every indication that despite being a little shady, he was anything but a loving father and husband....
Until it was revealed, that he was such a loving father that he was murdering women across town because they reminded him of Kayla, who'd betrayed and cheated on his son. Despite what an insane sociopath Harper turned out to be, his actions were bizarrely in support of his adopted son. He broke out of prison on Steve and Kayla's wedding day with the intention of gunning them both down for what they did to Jack, and Jack was forced to stop him, ultimately causing his father's death.
One would think that would be the end of Harper, but it wasn't. He recurred for a few years afterwards as a regular figament in Jack's imagination, reminding him of the horrible stock he'd come from.
We'll get to the Salem Slasher later.
79. Robin Jacobs
Portrayed By: Derya Ruggles (1985-1987, 1989)
Current Status: Living in Israel
Main Love Interests: Mike Horton, Mitch Kaufman
Occupation: Doctor (Surgeon)
Children: Jeremy Horton (son, with Mike)
Family: Eli Jacobs (father)
Robin Jacobs (aunt)
Robert LeClair (uncle)
Notes: Although the 80s will forever be remembered as the glory Days, with the creation of all the classic supercouples, it could also be accused of being a fairly predictable era. Most supercouples followed the same formula at the time, and had the same typical soap dramas - evil interfering suitors, long-lost spouses returned from the dead, and many of them had to deal with DiMeras. This fact, is what made the relationship of Mike Horton and Robin Jacobs so unique... there relationship was grounded firmly in reality and it was their religious differences, more than anything else, that kept them apart. Mike was a Christian and Robin was devoutly Jewish, and had promised her father she wouldn't marry outside her faith. There were other complications too, of course, but that's what it essentially came down to. Though Mike was willing to convert to Judaism for her, Robin realized it wasn't fair to ask him to do that as it would be for all the wrong reasons, and she left town - pregnant with his child, Jeremy... who, sadly, went on to become Stephanie's douchebag boyfriend who almost drowned her.
Current Status: Living in Israel
Main Love Interests: Mike Horton, Mitch Kaufman
Occupation: Doctor (Surgeon)
Children: Jeremy Horton (son, with Mike)
Family: Eli Jacobs (father)
Robin Jacobs (aunt)
Robert LeClair (uncle)
Notes: Although the 80s will forever be remembered as the glory Days, with the creation of all the classic supercouples, it could also be accused of being a fairly predictable era. Most supercouples followed the same formula at the time, and had the same typical soap dramas - evil interfering suitors, long-lost spouses returned from the dead, and many of them had to deal with DiMeras. This fact, is what made the relationship of Mike Horton and Robin Jacobs so unique... there relationship was grounded firmly in reality and it was their religious differences, more than anything else, that kept them apart. Mike was a Christian and Robin was devoutly Jewish, and had promised her father she wouldn't marry outside her faith. There were other complications too, of course, but that's what it essentially came down to. Though Mike was willing to convert to Judaism for her, Robin realized it wasn't fair to ask him to do that as it would be for all the wrong reasons, and she left town - pregnant with his child, Jeremy... who, sadly, went on to become Stephanie's douchebag boyfriend who almost drowned her.
78. Stephanie Johnson
AKA: Stephanie Kay Johnson (full name)
Portrayed By: Amanda and Jessica Gunnarson (1990-1992
Shayna Rose (2006-2007)
Shelley Hennig (2007-2011)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Jeremy Horton, Philip Kiriakis, Nathan Horton
Occupation: Former Hospital Administrator
Children: None
Family: Steve Johnson (father)
Kayla Johnson (mother)
Joey Johnson (brother)
Duke Johnson (grandfather, deceased)
Jo Johnson (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Jack Deveraux (uncle)
Adrienne Johnson (aunt)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Abigail Deveraux (cousin)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (cousin)
Joseph Kiriakis (cousin, adopted)
Victor Kiriakis II (cousin, adopted)
Jackson Kiriakis (cousin)
Carrie Brady (cousin)
Sami Brady (cousin)
Eric Brady (cousin)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Stephanie is the first child of a supercouple on our list, and despite the advantage this can give a character in terms of prominence, often it comes with a responsibility to try to make the character a big leading star in their own right. In Stephanie's case, this lead to a few false starts. First Stephanie was a fair-skinned redheaded racecar driver dating (Uncle) Max Brady... then she was an olive-skinned brunette valley girl dating douchebag Jeremy Horton... too wildly different paths the character took in a manner of months, and neither seemed to resonate with anyone. Eventually the character seemed to find her niche after she became involved Philip, and she seemed to be settling into her role as the show's leading ingenue, until Melanie came to town and effectively took that role from her.
So it's been hard for Stephanie Johnson and it's perhaps not a great sign for Stephanie's future that after being on the show less than four years her star is already beginning to wane, and she's been relegated to the pitiful girl that people are with when they'd rather be with someone else. Either way Stephanie's four years of prominence have taken her this far, even if the current direction of the story seems content to not take her much further.
2012 Update: Indeed, not long after writing that, Stephanie was off the show without any onscreen fanfare with the role of Melanie's rival/counter-part being taken over by a recast Abby, ironically the character Stephanie replaced as Chelsea's counterpart.
Portrayed By: Amanda and Jessica Gunnarson (1990-1992
Shayna Rose (2006-2007)
Shelley Hennig (2007-2011)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Jeremy Horton, Philip Kiriakis, Nathan Horton
Occupation: Former Hospital Administrator
Children: None
Family: Steve Johnson (father)
Kayla Johnson (mother)
Joey Johnson (brother)
Duke Johnson (grandfather, deceased)
Jo Johnson (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Jack Deveraux (uncle)
Adrienne Johnson (aunt)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Abigail Deveraux (cousin)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (cousin)
Joseph Kiriakis (cousin, adopted)
Victor Kiriakis II (cousin, adopted)
Jackson Kiriakis (cousin)
Carrie Brady (cousin)
Sami Brady (cousin)
Eric Brady (cousin)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Stephanie is the first child of a supercouple on our list, and despite the advantage this can give a character in terms of prominence, often it comes with a responsibility to try to make the character a big leading star in their own right. In Stephanie's case, this lead to a few false starts. First Stephanie was a fair-skinned redheaded racecar driver dating (Uncle) Max Brady... then she was an olive-skinned brunette valley girl dating douchebag Jeremy Horton... too wildly different paths the character took in a manner of months, and neither seemed to resonate with anyone. Eventually the character seemed to find her niche after she became involved Philip, and she seemed to be settling into her role as the show's leading ingenue, until Melanie came to town and effectively took that role from her.
So it's been hard for Stephanie Johnson and it's perhaps not a great sign for Stephanie's future that after being on the show less than four years her star is already beginning to wane, and she's been relegated to the pitiful girl that people are with when they'd rather be with someone else. Either way Stephanie's four years of prominence have taken her this far, even if the current direction of the story seems content to not take her much further.
2012 Update: Indeed, not long after writing that, Stephanie was off the show without any onscreen fanfare with the role of Melanie's rival/counter-part being taken over by a recast Abby, ironically the character Stephanie replaced as Chelsea's counterpart.
77. Jo Johnson
AKA: Josephine Scofield (married name)
Portrayed By: Joy Garrett (1987-1993)
Marilyn McIntyre (1993, 2002-2003, 2006)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Salem when last mentioned)
Main Love Interests: Duke Johnson, Neil Curtis, Vern Scofield
Occupation: Housekeeper
Children: Steve Johnson (son, with Duke)
Jack Deveraux (son, with Duke)
Adrienne Johnson (daughter, with Duke)
Family: Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted grandson)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted grandson)
Jackson Kiriakis (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Notes: There are characters on this show that just play the roles of Mom and Dad to lead characters because the show has decided they're really too old to have their own story, then there are characters like Jo, specifically brought on the show to be the mom. With the majority of her personal drama simply backstory (though she did kill Nick Corelli and get locked up for it) Jo was one of the more prominent examples of moms (perhaps third only to the Horton and Brady matriarchs) who were there just to be moms - to give her kids advice, to let them know she loved them. But with her tragic backstory of decades-long abuse by her husband, and her brave decision to let her sons be adopted with the hopes that it would give them a better life than she got (in some ways it did, but in some ways it didn't), this mom was given a lot of heart and soul, and had an irreplaceable effect on the redemption of both those sons who (perhaps due to an absence of a mother's love) came to town as complete assholes. The late Joy Garrett imbued the characters with such down-to-earth warmth that she could almost feel like your own mom - you may roll your eyes at her at times, but through it all you know she loves you.
Portrayed By: Joy Garrett (1987-1993)
Marilyn McIntyre (1993, 2002-2003, 2006)
Current Status: Unknown (Living in Salem when last mentioned)
Main Love Interests: Duke Johnson, Neil Curtis, Vern Scofield
Occupation: Housekeeper
Children: Steve Johnson (son, with Duke)
Jack Deveraux (son, with Duke)
Adrienne Johnson (daughter, with Duke)
Family: Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted grandson)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted grandson)
Jackson Kiriakis (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Notes: There are characters on this show that just play the roles of Mom and Dad to lead characters because the show has decided they're really too old to have their own story, then there are characters like Jo, specifically brought on the show to be the mom. With the majority of her personal drama simply backstory (though she did kill Nick Corelli and get locked up for it) Jo was one of the more prominent examples of moms (perhaps third only to the Horton and Brady matriarchs) who were there just to be moms - to give her kids advice, to let them know she loved them. But with her tragic backstory of decades-long abuse by her husband, and her brave decision to let her sons be adopted with the hopes that it would give them a better life than she got (in some ways it did, but in some ways it didn't), this mom was given a lot of heart and soul, and had an irreplaceable effect on the redemption of both those sons who (perhaps due to an absence of a mother's love) came to town as complete assholes. The late Joy Garrett imbued the characters with such down-to-earth warmth that she could almost feel like your own mom - you may roll your eyes at her at times, but through it all you know she loves you.
76. Anjelica Deveraux
AKA: Anjelica Curtis (married name)
Portrayed By: Jane Elliot (1987-1989)
Shelley Taylor Morgan (1989)
Judith Chapman (1989-1990, 1991)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Harper Deveraux, Justin Kiriakis, Victor Kiriakis, Neil Curtis
Occupation: Socialite
Children: Alexander Kiriakis (son, with Justin)
Jack Deveraux (adopted son, with Harper)
Portrayed By: Jane Elliot (1987-1989)
Shelley Taylor Morgan (1989)
Judith Chapman (1989-1990, 1991)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Harper Deveraux, Justin Kiriakis, Victor Kiriakis, Neil Curtis
Occupation: Socialite
Children: Alexander Kiriakis (son, with Justin)
Jack Deveraux (adopted son, with Harper)
Notes: Before there was Kate Roberts, there was Anjelica Deveraux. In many way, Anjelica was the proto-Kate. She had the same rich bitch cougar attitude and persona, and played much the same role in the show. Hopping from rich guy to rich guy, and bedding Salem's young men. Though most of her time in the show saw her as a spoiler for Justin and Adrienne, Anjelica managed to tangle with just about every powerful person in Salem during her four-year reign of vixenish mayhem, that including trying to blow Adrienne up with a bomb and faking her own death and the death of her son, to keep Justin from getting his hands on him. Though Kate has long since taken Anjelica's place as Day's resident rich bitch, Jane Elliot and Judith Chapman went on to long-lasting roles on two other soaps where they each remain to this day a testament to their fine work as Anjelica.
75. Liz Chandler
Portrayed By: Gloria Loring (1980-1986)
Current Status: Living in Hollywood
Main Love Interests: Don Craig, Neil Curtis, Tony DiMera
Occupation: Singer
Children: Noelle Curtis (daughter, with Neil)
Family: Kellam Chandler (father)
Todd Chandler (half-brother, deceased)
Notes: As the '80s dawned, Days was in need of some revitalization. The cast was aging, with the vast majority of the main characters well over 40, and some new blood was needed. Days took a rather rash approach to correcting this, and at the end of April 1980, over the course of a week and a half, seven new characters were added on contract, while a variety of older ones (most notably Bill and Mike Horton) were sent packing. As you can imagine, this was a rather jarring, unpopular change, and within a year or two (when the show had another influx of new blood in the form of the Brady and DiMera families) only one of these characters remained. That character was Liz Chandler.
Liz was a singer, and although that doesn't differentiate her too greatly from a variety of other Days characters from the '80s, Liz was really all about the singing. It wasn't a special talent that she had that she'd bust out every now and then like Doug or Justin, she sung a lot. Like once a week. She did some other stuff too, including being raped by Tony, shooting Marie Horton and then getting married to Neil in jail in the middle of a prison riot... but it was mainly the singing that she's remembered for.
Current Status: Living in Hollywood
Main Love Interests: Don Craig, Neil Curtis, Tony DiMera
Occupation: Singer
Children: Noelle Curtis (daughter, with Neil)
Family: Kellam Chandler (father)
Todd Chandler (half-brother, deceased)
Notes: As the '80s dawned, Days was in need of some revitalization. The cast was aging, with the vast majority of the main characters well over 40, and some new blood was needed. Days took a rather rash approach to correcting this, and at the end of April 1980, over the course of a week and a half, seven new characters were added on contract, while a variety of older ones (most notably Bill and Mike Horton) were sent packing. As you can imagine, this was a rather jarring, unpopular change, and within a year or two (when the show had another influx of new blood in the form of the Brady and DiMera families) only one of these characters remained. That character was Liz Chandler.
Liz was a singer, and although that doesn't differentiate her too greatly from a variety of other Days characters from the '80s, Liz was really all about the singing. It wasn't a special talent that she had that she'd bust out every now and then like Doug or Justin, she sung a lot. Like once a week. She did some other stuff too, including being raped by Tony, shooting Marie Horton and then getting married to Neil in jail in the middle of a prison riot... but it was mainly the singing that she's remembered for.
74. Chris Kositchek
Portrayed By: Josh Taylor (1977-1981, 1982-1987)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mary Anderson, Kayla Brady, Savannah Wilder
Occupation: Attorney, former bartender
Children: None
Family: Stan Kositchek (father)
Jake Kositchek (brother, deceased)
Amy Kositchek (sister)
Notes: Almost everyone knows that before Josh Taylor took over as Roman Brady he played a character in the '70s and '80s by the name of Chris Kositchek. In fact, that's become Chris's biggest legacy to Days of our Lives - being the guy who Roman used to be. Unfortunately, since he was before many people's time, not everyone knows much about Chris beyond that.
But you can see Chris's effect on the Roman of today. The fact that he's more of a ladies man, hooking up with the likes of Billie and Nicole - that's Chris. The fact that he walks around with more of a near constant smirk and swagger than a serious no-nonsense attitude, despite the character still being hard-nosed cop, that's Chris too. Kositchek was a ladies man, a carefree playboy who was often bouncing around in a blazer with the sleeves rolled up in true 80s style. Chris was usually a fun supporting character, who's storylines weren't always of major consequence, but he still had some memorable moments, including taking Kayla Brady's virginity (the character would later become his little sister, though played by a different actress) and his romance with Savanah Wilder (played by future soft-core queen Shannon Tweed)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mary Anderson, Kayla Brady, Savannah Wilder
Occupation: Attorney, former bartender
Children: None
Family: Stan Kositchek (father)
Jake Kositchek (brother, deceased)
Amy Kositchek (sister)
Notes: Almost everyone knows that before Josh Taylor took over as Roman Brady he played a character in the '70s and '80s by the name of Chris Kositchek. In fact, that's become Chris's biggest legacy to Days of our Lives - being the guy who Roman used to be. Unfortunately, since he was before many people's time, not everyone knows much about Chris beyond that.
But you can see Chris's effect on the Roman of today. The fact that he's more of a ladies man, hooking up with the likes of Billie and Nicole - that's Chris. The fact that he walks around with more of a near constant smirk and swagger than a serious no-nonsense attitude, despite the character still being hard-nosed cop, that's Chris too. Kositchek was a ladies man, a carefree playboy who was often bouncing around in a blazer with the sleeves rolled up in true 80s style. Chris was usually a fun supporting character, who's storylines weren't always of major consequence, but he still had some memorable moments, including taking Kayla Brady's virginity (the character would later become his little sister, though played by a different actress) and his romance with Savanah Wilder (played by future soft-core queen Shannon Tweed)
73. Abigail Deveraux
AKA: Abigail Johanna Deveraux (full name)
Portrayed By: Meghan and Michael Nelson (1992-1994)
Paige and Ryanne Kettner (1994-1998, 2000
Megan Corletto (2001-2003)
Jillian Clare (2003-2004)
Ashley Benson (2004-2007)
Kate Mansi (2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Chad DiMera, Austin Reed
Occupation: Student at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Jack Deveraux (father)
Jennifer Deveraux (mother)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (brother)
Duke Johnson (grandfather, deceased)
Jo Johnson (grandmother)
Portrayed By: Meghan and Michael Nelson (1992-1994)
Paige and Ryanne Kettner (1994-1998, 2000
Megan Corletto (2001-2003)
Jillian Clare (2003-2004)
Ashley Benson (2004-2007)
Kate Mansi (2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Chad DiMera, Austin Reed
Occupation: Student at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Jack Deveraux (father)
Jennifer Deveraux (mother)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (brother)
Duke Johnson (grandfather, deceased)
Jo Johnson (grandmother)
Bill Horton (grandfather)
Laura Horton (grandmother)
Steve Johnson (uncle)
Adrienne Johnson (aunt)
Mike Horton (uncle)
Lucas Horton (uncle)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Joseph Kiriakis (cousin, adopted)
Victor Kiriakis II (cousin, adopted
Jackson Kiriakis (cousin)
Jeremy Horton (cousin)
Will Horton (cousin)
Allie Horton (cousin)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Almost as soon as they are born, soap children become a nuisance. They're always upstairs, or away at boarding school, or staying with Grandma Caroline, because it's usually inconvenient for anyone to have love in the afternoon if all their children are hanging around. For this reason, soap children are aged to teenagers as quickly as possible so they can go off and have their own storylines and leave their parents alone.
But on some rare occasions, the soap actually takes the time to turn the soap child into a little person. Rather than age them super quickly they allow them to stay kids for years, and have that kid actually factor into their parent's storylines. Abigail Deveraux was one such character. Abby's mother Jennifer was in her early 20s when she was born, and thus Abby couldn't be aged more than a few years because it would have looked awkward and unrealistic. For this reason, Abby was given an ample time (over ten years) to just exist as a baby, then toddler, then child, then pre-teen. She didn't have a particularly complicated role as a child - she mainly wanted her parents to get back together and asked her mother why her oft-wayward father wasn't coming home but it was still enough that by the time Abby was turned into a full-blown teen, we felt like we knew her and that she really was apart of the Deveraux family, rather than some contemporaries who just show up from boarding school or whatever, suddenly 15 years old, and it's awkward to pretend they've just existed like that the whole time. Unfortunately Abby left the canvas only a few years after becoming a teen and was only granted one significant romance and so there are better examples of the seamless transition from child--to-teen to come, so it is mainly her role as a child, for which she is remembered.
Laura Horton (grandmother)
Steve Johnson (uncle)
Adrienne Johnson (aunt)
Mike Horton (uncle)
Lucas Horton (uncle)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Joseph Kiriakis (cousin, adopted)
Victor Kiriakis II (cousin, adopted
Jackson Kiriakis (cousin)
Jeremy Horton (cousin)
Will Horton (cousin)
Allie Horton (cousin)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Almost as soon as they are born, soap children become a nuisance. They're always upstairs, or away at boarding school, or staying with Grandma Caroline, because it's usually inconvenient for anyone to have love in the afternoon if all their children are hanging around. For this reason, soap children are aged to teenagers as quickly as possible so they can go off and have their own storylines and leave their parents alone.
But on some rare occasions, the soap actually takes the time to turn the soap child into a little person. Rather than age them super quickly they allow them to stay kids for years, and have that kid actually factor into their parent's storylines. Abigail Deveraux was one such character. Abby's mother Jennifer was in her early 20s when she was born, and thus Abby couldn't be aged more than a few years because it would have looked awkward and unrealistic. For this reason, Abby was given an ample time (over ten years) to just exist as a baby, then toddler, then child, then pre-teen. She didn't have a particularly complicated role as a child - she mainly wanted her parents to get back together and asked her mother why her oft-wayward father wasn't coming home but it was still enough that by the time Abby was turned into a full-blown teen, we felt like we knew her and that she really was apart of the Deveraux family, rather than some contemporaries who just show up from boarding school or whatever, suddenly 15 years old, and it's awkward to pretend they've just existed like that the whole time. Unfortunately Abby left the canvas only a few years after becoming a teen and was only granted one significant romance and so there are better examples of the seamless transition from child--to-teen to come, so it is mainly her role as a child, for which she is remembered.
72. Greta von Amberg
AKA: Swamp Girl
Portrayed By: Jamie Taylor (1998)
Julianne Morris (1998-2002)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Eric Brady, Austin Reed, Jack Deveraux
Occupation: Princess
Children: None
Family: Gina von Amberg (mother, deceased)
Phillip von Amberg (legal father, deceased)
John Black (father?)
Brady Black (half-brother?)
Belle Black (half-sister?)
Notes: One of Days's great unsolved mystery is if John actually has a long-lost daughter in Greta von Amberg - and before she left town they never really settled that for certain. What we do know, is that the fetching Princess von Amberg had a hand in a lot of the most over-the-top and ridiculous storylines in Days history. From her origins as the little girl Ernesto Toscano quickly swapped for Hope before throwing her in the vat of acid onboard the Cruise of Deception, to her entry storyline as the bizarre and repulsive Swamp Girl, to her bizarre journey through Virtual Eden with Austin (and, really, the less said about that the better) to her bloodbath coronation, Greta's four years in Salem were certainly action-packed.
Luckily the character was grounded by her relationships,including her pseudo-father/daughter relationship with John, her sweet romance with Eric, her being Nicole Walker's original arch-rival, and finally her friendship and unrequited crush on Jack that resulted in him pretending to be gay just to avoid hurting her feelings while continuing to use her to make Jennifer jealous. Greta often seemed to have more potential than her material allowed her, but you can't say that material wasn't memorable.
Portrayed By: Jamie Taylor (1998)
Julianne Morris (1998-2002)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Eric Brady, Austin Reed, Jack Deveraux
Occupation: Princess
Children: None
Family: Gina von Amberg (mother, deceased)
Phillip von Amberg (legal father, deceased)
John Black (father?)
Brady Black (half-brother?)
Belle Black (half-sister?)
Notes: One of Days's great unsolved mystery is if John actually has a long-lost daughter in Greta von Amberg - and before she left town they never really settled that for certain. What we do know, is that the fetching Princess von Amberg had a hand in a lot of the most over-the-top and ridiculous storylines in Days history. From her origins as the little girl Ernesto Toscano quickly swapped for Hope before throwing her in the vat of acid onboard the Cruise of Deception, to her entry storyline as the bizarre and repulsive Swamp Girl, to her bizarre journey through Virtual Eden with Austin (and, really, the less said about that the better) to her bloodbath coronation, Greta's four years in Salem were certainly action-packed.
Luckily the character was grounded by her relationships,including her pseudo-father/daughter relationship with John, her sweet romance with Eric, her being Nicole Walker's original arch-rival, and finally her friendship and unrequited crush on Jack that resulted in him pretending to be gay just to avoid hurting her feelings while continuing to use her to make Jennifer jealous. Greta often seemed to have more potential than her material allowed her, but you can't say that material wasn't memorable.
71. Susan Hunter
AKA: Susan Martin (married name), Susan Peters (married name)
Portrayed By: Denise Alexander (1966-1973)
Bennye Gatteys (1973-1976)
Current Status: Living in California
Main Love Interests: David Martin, Bill Horton, Scott Banning, Greg Peters, Eric Peters
Occupation: Medical Clinic Administrator
Children: Richard Martin (son, with David, deceased)
Annie Peters (daughter, with Eric)
Notes: Most people watching the show probably don't remember Susan, and honestly she was long before my time as well. But the character was Days's original drama queen. In the ten years she was on the show she managed to have an affair with Julie's boyfriend, get pregnant by and marry him, murder him after their baby died, get shot by her mother-in-law, get raped and then impregnated by a stranger in the park, only to learn that the stranger was her boyfriend's brother and ultimately fall in love with her rapist. That's a lot of drama in such a short amount of time. Susan set the stage for other tragedy magnets like Marlena, Hope, Carly and Chloe, and though she's been long forgotten, she deserves her spot here if only for being the one who brought Doug into Julie's life.
Portrayed By: Denise Alexander (1966-1973)
Bennye Gatteys (1973-1976)
Current Status: Living in California
Main Love Interests: David Martin, Bill Horton, Scott Banning, Greg Peters, Eric Peters
Occupation: Medical Clinic Administrator
Children: Richard Martin (son, with David, deceased)
Annie Peters (daughter, with Eric)
Notes: Most people watching the show probably don't remember Susan, and honestly she was long before my time as well. But the character was Days's original drama queen. In the ten years she was on the show she managed to have an affair with Julie's boyfriend, get pregnant by and marry him, murder him after their baby died, get shot by her mother-in-law, get raped and then impregnated by a stranger in the park, only to learn that the stranger was her boyfriend's brother and ultimately fall in love with her rapist. That's a lot of drama in such a short amount of time. Susan set the stage for other tragedy magnets like Marlena, Hope, Carly and Chloe, and though she's been long forgotten, she deserves her spot here if only for being the one who brought Doug into Julie's life.
70. TBA
Portrayed By: ???
Current Status: ???
Main Love Interests: ???
Children: ???
Family: ???
Notes: I don't have the time to write up this person's bio right now, but it's coming.
Current Status: ???
Main Love Interests: ???
Children: ???
Family: ???
Notes: I don't have the time to write up this person's bio right now, but it's coming.
69. Renee DuMonde
AKA: Renee DiMera (just a name she gets refered to as by fans sometimes)
Portrayed By: Philece Sampler (1980-1983)
Current Status: Deceased (1983)
Main Love Interests: Tony DiMera, David Banning, Alex Marshall
Occupation: Socialite
Children: None
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Lee DuMonde (mother)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Few people remember that Renee was actually the first DiMera - onscreen a year before Tony and two years before Stefano. Of course, she wasn't aware of her DiMera heritage at first. Because Renee was also the first of a long line of DiMeras who didn't grow up knowing they were DiMeras. For someone as obsessed with his own bloodline as Stefano is, he sure didn't keep very good track of how many children he had floating around out there, did he?
I haven't seen too much Renee, as she was a little before my time, but her short time period in the show was enough to establish herself as an extremely viable alternative to the quasi-supercouple Tony and Anna, to the point that to this day, over twenty years since she was last seen, there are still some who prefer the Tony and Renee pairing (possible incest implications and all.) Renee was also the first of many DiMera children to die (though Stefano had six children, only two remain in the forms of Lexie and E.J., though there's always the possibility of more turning up), the first of many to fall victim to the sad DiMera tragedy that though the Phoenix himself may always rise from the ashes, other DiMeras are not always so lucky.
Portrayed By: Philece Sampler (1980-1983)
Current Status: Deceased (1983)
Main Love Interests: Tony DiMera, David Banning, Alex Marshall
Occupation: Socialite
Children: None
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Lee DuMonde (mother)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Few people remember that Renee was actually the first DiMera - onscreen a year before Tony and two years before Stefano. Of course, she wasn't aware of her DiMera heritage at first. Because Renee was also the first of a long line of DiMeras who didn't grow up knowing they were DiMeras. For someone as obsessed with his own bloodline as Stefano is, he sure didn't keep very good track of how many children he had floating around out there, did he?
I haven't seen too much Renee, as she was a little before my time, but her short time period in the show was enough to establish herself as an extremely viable alternative to the quasi-supercouple Tony and Anna, to the point that to this day, over twenty years since she was last seen, there are still some who prefer the Tony and Renee pairing (possible incest implications and all.) Renee was also the first of many DiMera children to die (though Stefano had six children, only two remain in the forms of Lexie and E.J., though there's always the possibility of more turning up), the first of many to fall victim to the sad DiMera tragedy that though the Phoenix himself may always rise from the ashes, other DiMeras are not always so lucky.
68. Linda Patterson
AKA: Linda Anderson (married name)
Portrayed By: Nadyne Turney (1970)
Margaret Mason (1970-1971, 1975-1980, 1982)
Elaine Princi (1984-1985)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Bill Horton, Tommy Horton, Jim Philips, Bob Anderson, Neil Curtis
Occupation: Legal Secretary
Children: Melissa Horton (daughter, with Jim; adopted by Mickey and Maggie)
Family: Nathan Horton (grandson)
Notes: Much like Susan Hunter was Days's original drama magnet, Linda Patterson was Days's original crazy stalker-y psychobitch. In her years-long obsession with winning Mickey she did everything she could to nab him (including, bizarrely, sleeping with both of his brothers and his "son" Mike) What many don't remember about Melissa, Linda's daughter and Mickey's adopted daughter, is that Melissa was originally believe to be Mickey's biologically, as she was born during an affair Mickey was having with Linda when things were strained with him and Laura. Eventually Linda was forced to admit that Melissa's father was someone else, but when Mickey got amnesia a few years later, as he was getting involved with Maggie, she again tried to trick him into believing he was Melissa's father.
Eventually Linda's psycho behavior became so much that, following the death of Melissa's more honorable step-father Bob Anderson, Mickey and Maggie fought for custody of little Melissa and won. Linda would continue to return sporadically into Melissa's teenage years - but once Melissa found out what kind of person her biological mother was, she wanted nothing to do with her and Linda hasn't been seen since. But her desperate stalkerific behavior paved the way for contemporary characters like Kristen Blake, Jan Spears, Nicole Walker and even Sami Brady.
Portrayed By: Nadyne Turney (1970)
Margaret Mason (1970-1971, 1975-1980, 1982)
Elaine Princi (1984-1985)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Bill Horton, Tommy Horton, Jim Philips, Bob Anderson, Neil Curtis
Occupation: Legal Secretary
Children: Melissa Horton (daughter, with Jim; adopted by Mickey and Maggie)
Family: Nathan Horton (grandson)
Notes: Much like Susan Hunter was Days's original drama magnet, Linda Patterson was Days's original crazy stalker-y psychobitch. In her years-long obsession with winning Mickey she did everything she could to nab him (including, bizarrely, sleeping with both of his brothers and his "son" Mike) What many don't remember about Melissa, Linda's daughter and Mickey's adopted daughter, is that Melissa was originally believe to be Mickey's biologically, as she was born during an affair Mickey was having with Linda when things were strained with him and Laura. Eventually Linda was forced to admit that Melissa's father was someone else, but when Mickey got amnesia a few years later, as he was getting involved with Maggie, she again tried to trick him into believing he was Melissa's father.
Eventually Linda's psycho behavior became so much that, following the death of Melissa's more honorable step-father Bob Anderson, Mickey and Maggie fought for custody of little Melissa and won. Linda would continue to return sporadically into Melissa's teenage years - but once Melissa found out what kind of person her biological mother was, she wanted nothing to do with her and Linda hasn't been seen since. But her desperate stalkerific behavior paved the way for contemporary characters like Kristen Blake, Jan Spears, Nicole Walker and even Sami Brady.
67. Eugene Bradford
Portrayed By: John de Lancie (1982-1986, 1989)
Current Status: Living in New York (or possibly arrested by the IRS?)
Main Love Interests: Calliope Jones, Trista Evans
Occupation: Inventor
Children: None
Family: Vanessa van Kessler (mother)
Reginald Bradford (great-grandfather, deceased)
Letitia Bradford (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Eugene is the complete anti-thesis of the typical soap opera leading man. He's nerdy, awkward, neurotic, not particularly handsome, and totally ill-at-ease with himself, his body, and the world around him. It is this refreshing change of pace that made Eugene such a fun, beloved character and made his pairing with Calliope (despite always being a second-tier romance) so enduring, and still remembered amongst Days's best loved pairings, to the point that despite not being seen in over twenty years he was just mentioned last month. Eugene also set the stage for a lot of Days's loonier plotlines - as he himself regularly built things like robots and working time machines. Future Days romantic leading nerds, such as Nick Fallon and Mimi's first boyfriend Kevin Lambert, likely owe Eugene for making them possible.
Current Status: Living in New York (or possibly arrested by the IRS?)
Main Love Interests: Calliope Jones, Trista Evans
Occupation: Inventor
Children: None
Family: Vanessa van Kessler (mother)
Reginald Bradford (great-grandfather, deceased)
Letitia Bradford (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Eugene is the complete anti-thesis of the typical soap opera leading man. He's nerdy, awkward, neurotic, not particularly handsome, and totally ill-at-ease with himself, his body, and the world around him. It is this refreshing change of pace that made Eugene such a fun, beloved character and made his pairing with Calliope (despite always being a second-tier romance) so enduring, and still remembered amongst Days's best loved pairings, to the point that despite not being seen in over twenty years he was just mentioned last month. Eugene also set the stage for a lot of Days's loonier plotlines - as he himself regularly built things like robots and working time machines. Future Days romantic leading nerds, such as Nick Fallon and Mimi's first boyfriend Kevin Lambert, likely owe Eugene for making them possible.
66. Eric Brady
AKA: Eric Roman Brady II (birth name)
Portrayed By: Rory Beauregard (1984)
Jesse Davis (1985-1986)
Edward Palma (1986)
Bradley Hallock (1986-1992)
Jensen Ackles (1997-2000)
Current Status: Living in Colorado
Main Love Interests: Nicole Walker, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Photographer
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Sami Brady (twin sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Claire Brady (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Martha Evans (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: It's truly mind-boggling how absent Eric Brady has been in this series. He's Roman and Marlena's son, he's Sami's twin brother, and when he was on he was extremely popular, especially in his pairing with a character who remains on the show. And yet, Eric hasn't been seen in ten years. While this is understandable in as much as his portrayor Jensen Ackles has gone on to primetime success, Ackles was on the show as Eric so briefly and so long ago, that there's almost no one wouldn't accept a recast. And yet, Eric remains eternally in Colorado. My instinct was to rank him higher than he was, just by virtue of him being Eric Brady, but as I thought more and more about it, Eric kept getting shifted lower and lower down the list, because it's hard to justify a character that's been so seldom seen being so high, even one that's a core part of a core family.
If you ever come back Eric you might get higher, but until then... this is honestly all you deserve. Your list of family members is far longer than the amount of things one could even come up with to say about you. If you hadn't been so popular, you'd likely be lower than this.
Portrayed By: Rory Beauregard (1984)
Jesse Davis (1985-1986)
Edward Palma (1986)
Bradley Hallock (1986-1992)
Jensen Ackles (1997-2000)
Current Status: Living in Colorado
Main Love Interests: Nicole Walker, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Photographer
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Sami Brady (twin sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Claire Brady (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Martha Evans (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: It's truly mind-boggling how absent Eric Brady has been in this series. He's Roman and Marlena's son, he's Sami's twin brother, and when he was on he was extremely popular, especially in his pairing with a character who remains on the show. And yet, Eric hasn't been seen in ten years. While this is understandable in as much as his portrayor Jensen Ackles has gone on to primetime success, Ackles was on the show as Eric so briefly and so long ago, that there's almost no one wouldn't accept a recast. And yet, Eric remains eternally in Colorado. My instinct was to rank him higher than he was, just by virtue of him being Eric Brady, but as I thought more and more about it, Eric kept getting shifted lower and lower down the list, because it's hard to justify a character that's been so seldom seen being so high, even one that's a core part of a core family.
If you ever come back Eric you might get higher, but until then... this is honestly all you deserve. Your list of family members is far longer than the amount of things one could even come up with to say about you. If you hadn't been so popular, you'd likely be lower than this.
65. Max Brady
AKA: Maxwell Becker (birth name)
Portrayed By: Michael Rhoton (1986-1987)
Adrian Arnold (1987)
Ryan Brennan (1987-1992)
Darin Brooks (2005-2009, 2010)
Current Status: Living in London
Main Love Interests: Chelsea Benson Brady, Stephanie Johnson, Mimi Lockhart, Abby Deveraux
Occupation: Medical student (former racecar driver, mechanic and bartender)
Children: None
Family: Trent Robbins (biological father)
Shawn Brady Sr. (adoptive father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (adoptive mother)
Roman Brady (adoptive brother)
Kimberly Brady (adoptive sister)
Kayla Johnson (adoptive sister)
Bo Brady (adoptive brother)
Frankie Brady (adoptive brother)
Melanie Layton (adopted sister)
Carrie Brady (adoptive niece)
Sami Brady (adoptive niece)
Eric Brady (adoptive nephew)
Rex Brady (adoptive nephew)
Cassie DiMera (adoptive niece)
Andrew Donovan (adoptive nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (adoptive niece)
Stephanie Johnson (adoptive niece)
Joey Johnson (adoptive nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (adoptive nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (adoptive niece)
Zack Brady (adoptive nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (adoptive niece)
Notes: Max will, perhaps, be forever marred by his relationship with his nieces (though the Chelsea relationship is far more justifiable, considering she didn't grow up as a Brady and they were together before they knew she was one) but, that aside, Max was an all-around good guy. Like Bo, the fact that he didn't have Brady blood running through his veins, didn't keep him from being the quintessential Brady man: stubborn, hot-tempered and not afraid to get his hands dirty. The devotion to which he showed the Bradys who took him on off the streets was always sweet and endearing, as was the fact that all of his brothers and sisters considered him no different from the rest. The heart with which Darin Brooks imbued Max likely ultimately factored into his Daytime Emmy win. Though his romantic relationships were murky and plentiful, his most significant one with first-love Chelsea, with whom he ultimately ended up, raised the level of typical teen romances by virtue of the strong performances by both their actors.
Portrayed By: Michael Rhoton (1986-1987)
Adrian Arnold (1987)
Ryan Brennan (1987-1992)
Darin Brooks (2005-2009, 2010)
Current Status: Living in London
Main Love Interests: Chelsea Benson Brady, Stephanie Johnson, Mimi Lockhart, Abby Deveraux
Occupation: Medical student (former racecar driver, mechanic and bartender)
Children: None
Family: Trent Robbins (biological father)
Shawn Brady Sr. (adoptive father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (adoptive mother)
Roman Brady (adoptive brother)
Kimberly Brady (adoptive sister)
Kayla Johnson (adoptive sister)
Bo Brady (adoptive brother)
Frankie Brady (adoptive brother)
Melanie Layton (adopted sister)
Carrie Brady (adoptive niece)
Sami Brady (adoptive niece)
Eric Brady (adoptive nephew)
Rex Brady (adoptive nephew)
Cassie DiMera (adoptive niece)
Andrew Donovan (adoptive nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (adoptive niece)
Stephanie Johnson (adoptive niece)
Joey Johnson (adoptive nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (adoptive nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (adoptive niece)
Zack Brady (adoptive nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (adoptive niece)
Notes: Max will, perhaps, be forever marred by his relationship with his nieces (though the Chelsea relationship is far more justifiable, considering she didn't grow up as a Brady and they were together before they knew she was one) but, that aside, Max was an all-around good guy. Like Bo, the fact that he didn't have Brady blood running through his veins, didn't keep him from being the quintessential Brady man: stubborn, hot-tempered and not afraid to get his hands dirty. The devotion to which he showed the Bradys who took him on off the streets was always sweet and endearing, as was the fact that all of his brothers and sisters considered him no different from the rest. The heart with which Darin Brooks imbued Max likely ultimately factored into his Daytime Emmy win. Though his romantic relationships were murky and plentiful, his most significant one with first-love Chelsea, with whom he ultimately ended up, raised the level of typical teen romances by virtue of the strong performances by both their actors.
64. Eve Donovan
AKA: Eve Baron
Portrayed By: Charlotte Ross (1987-1991)
Current Status: Unknown (moved to Africa with Frankie, but as Frankie's no longer there, she might not be too)
Main Love Interests: Nick Corelli, Scott Banning, Jack Deveraux, Frankie Brady
Occupation: Singer, former prostitute
Children: None
Family: Shane Donovan (father)
Gabrielle Pascal (mother)
Andrew Donovan IV (half-brother)
Jeannie Donovan (half-sister)
Andrew Donovan Jr. (grandfather)
Margaret Donovan (grandmother)
Andrew Donovan III (uncle)
Notes: It should be telling that Charlotte Ross was nominated for a Daytime Emmy almost every year she was on this show, indicative both of her successful primetime career and the sheer awesomeness that was Eve Donovan, Shane's erstwhile eldest child. She was a rambunctious bundle of energy, and very likely a proto-type for the kind of character Sami was. Always her own worst enemy, always causing trouble there wasn't any to begin with. Though she often served as a foil for good girls, most notably her romantic rival Jennifer Horton, she was nonetheless a girl with a lot of heart who'd simply been dealt a rotten hand. Though her initial relationships were fraught with unhealthiness, from her relationship with her pimp Nick Corelli to her ill-fated marriage to Jack Deveraux, it was ultimately in the arms boy-scout Frankie Brady that Eve finally found someone who raised her up rather than pull her down. We haven't seen her in almost twenty years, but she's sorely missed.
Portrayed By: Charlotte Ross (1987-1991)
Current Status: Unknown (moved to Africa with Frankie, but as Frankie's no longer there, she might not be too)
Main Love Interests: Nick Corelli, Scott Banning, Jack Deveraux, Frankie Brady
Occupation: Singer, former prostitute
Children: None
Family: Shane Donovan (father)
Gabrielle Pascal (mother)
Andrew Donovan IV (half-brother)
Jeannie Donovan (half-sister)
Andrew Donovan Jr. (grandfather)
Margaret Donovan (grandmother)
Andrew Donovan III (uncle)
Notes: It should be telling that Charlotte Ross was nominated for a Daytime Emmy almost every year she was on this show, indicative both of her successful primetime career and the sheer awesomeness that was Eve Donovan, Shane's erstwhile eldest child. She was a rambunctious bundle of energy, and very likely a proto-type for the kind of character Sami was. Always her own worst enemy, always causing trouble there wasn't any to begin with. Though she often served as a foil for good girls, most notably her romantic rival Jennifer Horton, she was nonetheless a girl with a lot of heart who'd simply been dealt a rotten hand. Though her initial relationships were fraught with unhealthiness, from her relationship with her pimp Nick Corelli to her ill-fated marriage to Jack Deveraux, it was ultimately in the arms boy-scout Frankie Brady that Eve finally found someone who raised her up rather than pull her down. We haven't seen her in almost twenty years, but she's sorely missed.
63. Brandon Walker
AKA: Brandon Mendez (birth name)
Portrayed By: Matt Cedeno (1999-2003, 2004-2005)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Angela Moroni, Jennifer Horton, Lexie Carver
Occupation: Youth Counselor
Children: None
Family: Abe Carver (father)
Fay Walker (mother, deceased)
Paul Mendez (legal father, deceased)
Nicole Walker (half-sister)
Taylor Walker (half-sister)
Theo Carver II (half-brother)
Benjamin Carver (grandfather, deceased)
Rita Carver (grandmother, deceased)
Theo Carver I (uncle, deceased)
Karen Carver (aunt)
Jonah Carver (uncle)
Jett Carver (cousin)
Notes: Brandon Walker was essentially a good guy, it was just his bad luck that just about every woman in his life was trouble. There was his big sister Nicole, who was constantly roping her little brother into her schemes. There was Sami, the girl he loved,who was... also constantly roping Brandon into her schemes. And lastly there was Lexie, the other woman he loved... who was also constantly roping Brandon into her schemes. Brandon meant well, but he really couldn't catch a break. He tried to break the pattern by dating good girl Jennifer, but she was essentially using him to make Jack and Colin jealous... thereby indirectly roping Brandon into her schemes. Whenever anyone would point to Brandon that he was surrounding himself with scheming women who would only serve to bring him down, he would quickly rush to protect their honor... but, alas, they'd always be right.
Eventually Brandon got sick of it and skipped town - and despite his father, sister and two exes all being in town, giving him ample story, it's clear Brandon doesn't want anywhere near Salem. Hell, the guy even came back for a quick visit in late '04/early '05 and he wound up roped into Kate's scheme! Who can blame the guy for staying away, after all the women who duped him? Brandon wasn't the first guy to suffer at the hands of Sami Brady, and he wouldn't be the last, but he remains an enigma by being the only man to end his relationship with Sami and toss her aside... and actually mean it.
Portrayed By: Matt Cedeno (1999-2003, 2004-2005)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Angela Moroni, Jennifer Horton, Lexie Carver
Occupation: Youth Counselor
Children: None
Family: Abe Carver (father)
Fay Walker (mother, deceased)
Paul Mendez (legal father, deceased)
Nicole Walker (half-sister)
Taylor Walker (half-sister)
Theo Carver II (half-brother)
Benjamin Carver (grandfather, deceased)
Rita Carver (grandmother, deceased)
Theo Carver I (uncle, deceased)
Karen Carver (aunt)
Jonah Carver (uncle)
Jett Carver (cousin)
Notes: Brandon Walker was essentially a good guy, it was just his bad luck that just about every woman in his life was trouble. There was his big sister Nicole, who was constantly roping her little brother into her schemes. There was Sami, the girl he loved,who was... also constantly roping Brandon into her schemes. And lastly there was Lexie, the other woman he loved... who was also constantly roping Brandon into her schemes. Brandon meant well, but he really couldn't catch a break. He tried to break the pattern by dating good girl Jennifer, but she was essentially using him to make Jack and Colin jealous... thereby indirectly roping Brandon into her schemes. Whenever anyone would point to Brandon that he was surrounding himself with scheming women who would only serve to bring him down, he would quickly rush to protect their honor... but, alas, they'd always be right.
Eventually Brandon got sick of it and skipped town - and despite his father, sister and two exes all being in town, giving him ample story, it's clear Brandon doesn't want anywhere near Salem. Hell, the guy even came back for a quick visit in late '04/early '05 and he wound up roped into Kate's scheme! Who can blame the guy for staying away, after all the women who duped him? Brandon wasn't the first guy to suffer at the hands of Sami Brady, and he wouldn't be the last, but he remains an enigma by being the only man to end his relationship with Sami and toss her aside... and actually mean it.
62. Peter Blake
AKA: Peter DiMera (adopted name)
Portrayed By: Jason Brooks (1993-1996, 1997-1998)
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton
Occupation: Attorney for the DiMera family
Children: None
Family: Rachel Blake (mother, deceased)
Kristen Blake (sister)
Stefano DiMera (adoptive father)
Tony DiMera (adoptive brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (adoptive sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (adoptive sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (adoptive sister)
Benjy Hawk (adoptive brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (adoptive brother)
Andre DiMera (adoptive cousin, deceased)
Notes: Peter Blake is a preeminent example of a classic lazy soap move. A classic couple breaks up and one party moves on with another guy. This guy is, for all intents and purposes, perfectly nice with no sign of mental illness, anger issues or soulessness. Then the first guy comes back and, of course, the person in the middle will need to eventually get back together with him. The solution? Turn the second guy into a soulless evil villain who was merely pretending to be nice and normal but is really batshit insane. Everything good about the second couple is rendered moot, and the first couple can get back together guilt-free.
As a supercouple interloper Peter doesn't exactly have legions of fans, and no one's going to pretend this is a great injustice, but when he was brought onto the show he was a perfectly nice guy. Yes, he had DiMera connections, but he (and his sister) were supposed to be the exceptions to the DiMera rule, and he showed every indication of having been capable of being a loving man to Jennifer and loving step-father to Abby, after Jack ran out on them. But then Jack returned, and it was like "Nope. Nevermind. Peter's been pure evil all along!" By the end of his run, this perfectly nice normal had become a crazy raving lunatic who burst into a church with a gun during a funeral preparing to kill everyone until he was tricked by Jennifer (lamely pretending to be her own angel) telling him to knock it off. Everything there was to likable was thoroughly removed from him, and it is highly highly unlikely that we ever see him again. So it goes.
Still, Peter was a significant part of the Days landscape in the '90s, and because of the sheer length of time spent on it, Jack/Jennifer/Peter is up there with Hope/Bo/Billie and Carrie/Austin/Sami in terms of major Days triangles. For this reason, Peter's place on this list is secure.
Portrayed By: Jason Brooks (1993-1996, 1997-1998)
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton
Occupation: Attorney for the DiMera family
Children: None
Family: Rachel Blake (mother, deceased)
Kristen Blake (sister)
Stefano DiMera (adoptive father)
Tony DiMera (adoptive brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (adoptive sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (adoptive sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (adoptive sister)
Benjy Hawk (adoptive brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (adoptive brother)
Andre DiMera (adoptive cousin, deceased)
Notes: Peter Blake is a preeminent example of a classic lazy soap move. A classic couple breaks up and one party moves on with another guy. This guy is, for all intents and purposes, perfectly nice with no sign of mental illness, anger issues or soulessness. Then the first guy comes back and, of course, the person in the middle will need to eventually get back together with him. The solution? Turn the second guy into a soulless evil villain who was merely pretending to be nice and normal but is really batshit insane. Everything good about the second couple is rendered moot, and the first couple can get back together guilt-free.
As a supercouple interloper Peter doesn't exactly have legions of fans, and no one's going to pretend this is a great injustice, but when he was brought onto the show he was a perfectly nice guy. Yes, he had DiMera connections, but he (and his sister) were supposed to be the exceptions to the DiMera rule, and he showed every indication of having been capable of being a loving man to Jennifer and loving step-father to Abby, after Jack ran out on them. But then Jack returned, and it was like "Nope. Nevermind. Peter's been pure evil all along!" By the end of his run, this perfectly nice normal had become a crazy raving lunatic who burst into a church with a gun during a funeral preparing to kill everyone until he was tricked by Jennifer (lamely pretending to be her own angel) telling him to knock it off. Everything there was to likable was thoroughly removed from him, and it is highly highly unlikely that we ever see him again. So it goes.
Still, Peter was a significant part of the Days landscape in the '90s, and because of the sheer length of time spent on it, Jack/Jennifer/Peter is up there with Hope/Bo/Billie and Carrie/Austin/Sami in terms of major Days triangles. For this reason, Peter's place on this list is secure.
61. Calliope Jones
AKA: Calliope Bradford (married name)
Portrayed By: Arleen Sorkin (1984-1990, 1992, 2006, 2010)
Current Status: Unknown (she appeared to be arrested by the IRS, but that seemed like a bluff to get Anna to talk)
Main Love Interests: Eugene Bradford, Drew Donovan, Trevor Lodge, Ethan Reilly
Occupation: Fashion Designer/Wedding Planner, (former Talk Show host)
Children: None
Family: Unknown
Notes: Calliope is the quintessential comic Days character. There's other Days characters who are well-known for being funny, notably people like Jack, Kristen and Vivian, but those are actual characters whose humor is part of a larger character with larger pathos and depth. Not Calliope. Calliope's just straight up comic, and she set the stage for future characters like Bonnie (although she got some depth at the end) and Bart, who were also around just to be funny. And with her goofy voice and outrageous clothing and mannerisms.
Originally, and most famously, created as Eugene's love interest, Calliope wound up outlasting his character by several years and ultimately spent more time on the show without him than with him. As soon as he was gone (and her bff Anna quickly followed), we started seeing less of her, but she remained around for years as a secondary character always around to bring her own unique spin on any situation. And the fact that she's popped up so frequently since (each time for a different random purpose - in '92 it was to host a talkshow with Jennifer, in '06 it was to plan Shawn and Mimi's wedding and this year it was to help bust Anna) has ensured that her zany legacy will not be forgotten.
Portrayed By: Arleen Sorkin (1984-1990, 1992, 2006, 2010)
Current Status: Unknown (she appeared to be arrested by the IRS, but that seemed like a bluff to get Anna to talk)
Main Love Interests: Eugene Bradford, Drew Donovan, Trevor Lodge, Ethan Reilly
Occupation: Fashion Designer/Wedding Planner, (former Talk Show host)
Children: None
Family: Unknown
Notes: Calliope is the quintessential comic Days character. There's other Days characters who are well-known for being funny, notably people like Jack, Kristen and Vivian, but those are actual characters whose humor is part of a larger character with larger pathos and depth. Not Calliope. Calliope's just straight up comic, and she set the stage for future characters like Bonnie (although she got some depth at the end) and Bart, who were also around just to be funny. And with her goofy voice and outrageous clothing and mannerisms.
Originally, and most famously, created as Eugene's love interest, Calliope wound up outlasting his character by several years and ultimately spent more time on the show without him than with him. As soon as he was gone (and her bff Anna quickly followed), we started seeing less of her, but she remained around for years as a secondary character always around to bring her own unique spin on any situation. And the fact that she's popped up so frequently since (each time for a different random purpose - in '92 it was to host a talkshow with Jennifer, in '06 it was to plan Shawn and Mimi's wedding and this year it was to help bust Anna) has ensured that her zany legacy will not be forgotten.
60. Will Horton
AKA: William Reed Horton (full name), Will Roberts (pre-name change), William Robert Reed (birth name)
Portrayed By: Shawn and Taylor Carpenter (1995-2002)
Darian Weiss (2002-2003)
Christopher Gerse (2003-2008)
Dylan Patton (2009-2010)
Chandler Massey (2010-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Mia McCormick, Gabi Hernandez
Occupation: Student at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Lucas Horton (father)
Sami Brady (mother)
Allie Horton (sister)
Johnny DiMera (half-brother)
Sydney DiMera (half-sister)
Bill Horton (grandfather)
Kate Roberts (grandmother)
Roman Brady (grandfather)
Portrayed By: Shawn and Taylor Carpenter (1995-2002)
Darian Weiss (2002-2003)
Christopher Gerse (2003-2008)
Dylan Patton (2009-2010)
Chandler Massey (2010-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Mia McCormick, Gabi Hernandez
Occupation: Student at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Lucas Horton (father)
Sami Brady (mother)
Allie Horton (sister)
Johnny DiMera (half-brother)
Sydney DiMera (half-sister)
Bill Horton (grandfather)
Kate Roberts (grandmother)
Roman Brady (grandfather)
Marlena Evans (grandmother)
Mike Horton (uncle)
Jennifer Horton (aunt)
Austin Reed (uncle)
Billie Reed (aunt)
Rex Brady (uncle)
Cassie DiMera (aunt)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Jeremy Horton (cousin)
Abby Deveraux (cousin)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Will is a true phenomenon on Days, the boy who simply can't be aged. It was a perfect storm of circumstances for the young man. He's the child of teenage parents, so just naturally his folks look too young to be the parents of someone as old as him, thus aging would just be utterly preposterous. The only way it could have worked is if his parents were offscreen, where you could kind of forget how old they were (this is how Brady Black, for instance, gets away with being played by someone six years younger than his mother) but because Will's parents (particularly his mother) are so ever-present that this never happens, and thus Will remains unaged. As it stands now, the 16-year-old Will is a mere one year older than he should be.
Will has had a lot of prominence for someone so young. It took a few years for the mystery of his paternity to be fully sorted out, and then there was the years-long custody battles. Like with Abby, this forced time as a child afford him the ability to become a fairly-fleshed out character before he was even a teen. In his case, far from devotedly hoping for his parents to get back together, he was second only to Kate in being the most ardent supporter of them staying apart. Will's always had his head screwed on a little straighter than his mom and dad, and was continuously exasperated by his mother's schemes and lies and his father's tendency to take her back. This portion of his personality was so firmly established that when he stopped being an absurdly gangly pre-teen and became a full-on teen, the transition was the most graceful Days has ever had, and rather than seem like an aging, it just came off as a regular recast.
So while his mother's current love interest was born two years after him, and yet is now in his 30s, Will plugs along as the only kid in Salem who never took growth hormones.
2012 Update: Will has jumped up quite a bit in the list since last time and there's a lot of reasons for this. Within the last months Will has grown to be one of the more complicated characters in recent memory as he struggles with his identity, his sexuality and his family. All at once, the 15 years of history Will's had as a child on the show, watching his parents (particularly Sami) get into the shenanigans they got into, finally revealed the effect they've had on him turning him into an angsty bitter young man afraid to trust, love or be true to himself. If Will keeps it up, he could easily reach even higher.
Mike Horton (uncle)
Jennifer Horton (aunt)
Austin Reed (uncle)
Billie Reed (aunt)
Rex Brady (uncle)
Cassie DiMera (aunt)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Jeremy Horton (cousin)
Abby Deveraux (cousin)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Tom Horton (great-grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (great-grandmother, deceased)
Notes: Will is a true phenomenon on Days, the boy who simply can't be aged. It was a perfect storm of circumstances for the young man. He's the child of teenage parents, so just naturally his folks look too young to be the parents of someone as old as him, thus aging would just be utterly preposterous. The only way it could have worked is if his parents were offscreen, where you could kind of forget how old they were (this is how Brady Black, for instance, gets away with being played by someone six years younger than his mother) but because Will's parents (particularly his mother) are so ever-present that this never happens, and thus Will remains unaged. As it stands now, the 16-year-old Will is a mere one year older than he should be.
Will has had a lot of prominence for someone so young. It took a few years for the mystery of his paternity to be fully sorted out, and then there was the years-long custody battles. Like with Abby, this forced time as a child afford him the ability to become a fairly-fleshed out character before he was even a teen. In his case, far from devotedly hoping for his parents to get back together, he was second only to Kate in being the most ardent supporter of them staying apart. Will's always had his head screwed on a little straighter than his mom and dad, and was continuously exasperated by his mother's schemes and lies and his father's tendency to take her back. This portion of his personality was so firmly established that when he stopped being an absurdly gangly pre-teen and became a full-on teen, the transition was the most graceful Days has ever had, and rather than seem like an aging, it just came off as a regular recast.
So while his mother's current love interest was born two years after him, and yet is now in his 30s, Will plugs along as the only kid in Salem who never took growth hormones.
2012 Update: Will has jumped up quite a bit in the list since last time and there's a lot of reasons for this. Within the last months Will has grown to be one of the more complicated characters in recent memory as he struggles with his identity, his sexuality and his family. All at once, the 15 years of history Will's had as a child on the show, watching his parents (particularly Sami) get into the shenanigans they got into, finally revealed the effect they've had on him turning him into an angsty bitter young man afraid to trust, love or be true to himself. If Will keeps it up, he could easily reach even higher.
59. Frankie Brady
AKA: Francois von Leuschner (birth name), Frankie Donner (assumed name)
Portrayed By: Billy Warlock (1986-1988, 1990-1991, 2005-2006)
Current Status: Living in Washington D.C.
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton, Eve Donovan
Occupation: Attorney
Children: None
Family: Henri von Leuschner (father, deceased)
Shawn Brady Sr. (adoptive father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (adoptive mother)
Carly Manning (sister)
Roman Brady (adoptive brother)
Kimberly Brady (adoptive sister)
Kayla Johnson (adoptive sister)
Bo Brady (adoptive brother)
Max Brady (adoptive brother)
Nicholas Alamain (nephew)
Melanie Layton (niece)
Carrie Brady (adoptive niece)
Sami Brady (adoptive niece)
Eric Brady (adoptive nephew)
Rex Brady (adoptive nephew)
Cassie DiMera (adoptive niece)
Andrew Donovan (adoptive nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (adoptive niece)
Stephanie Johnson (adoptive niece)
Joey Johnson (adoptive nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (adoptive nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (adoptive niece)
Zack Brady (adoptive nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (adoptive niece)
Notes: Frankie's time on the show can be divided into three distinct section (The late 80s, the early 90s, and the mid-00s) not just because they were all seperated by times he wasn't on the show, but because we saw three very seperate characterizations for Frankie in those times:
1. In the late 80s, he was a homeless teenage runaway by the name of Frankie Donner who was growing up on the streets with his little adopted brother Max.
2. In the early 90s he was revealed to actually be Francois von Leuschner - and far from being a homeless runaway turned college student, he was actually a disposed European noble, who'd been sent to Salem explicitly by his older sister so he could seek solace with Jennifer Horton, the only person Carly knew she could trust.
3. And in the 00s, he was just Frankie Brady, successful attorney who'd, apparently, been living and perpetual single-dom because he couldn't get over his highschool sweetheart he hadn't seen in 15 years.
Your mileage varies on which characterization of Frankie's you prefer (I'm more a fan of 1 and 2 than 3 myself) but either way, each of these different backstories for Frankie, all so different, still felt unified by Billy Warlock's naturalistic (and Emmy-winning) performance and the one singular thread that united them all, Frankie's (ultimately unrequited) love for Jennifer. It's hard to take such wildly different approaches to a character and yet unite and ground them, but Warlock found a way to make it work.
Portrayed By: Billy Warlock (1986-1988, 1990-1991, 2005-2006)
Current Status: Living in Washington D.C.
Main Love Interests: Jennifer Horton, Eve Donovan
Occupation: Attorney
Children: None
Family: Henri von Leuschner (father, deceased)
Shawn Brady Sr. (adoptive father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (adoptive mother)
Carly Manning (sister)
Roman Brady (adoptive brother)
Kimberly Brady (adoptive sister)
Kayla Johnson (adoptive sister)
Bo Brady (adoptive brother)
Max Brady (adoptive brother)
Nicholas Alamain (nephew)
Melanie Layton (niece)
Carrie Brady (adoptive niece)
Sami Brady (adoptive niece)
Eric Brady (adoptive nephew)
Rex Brady (adoptive nephew)
Cassie DiMera (adoptive niece)
Andrew Donovan (adoptive nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (adoptive niece)
Stephanie Johnson (adoptive niece)
Joey Johnson (adoptive nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (adoptive nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (adoptive niece)
Zack Brady (adoptive nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (adoptive niece)
Notes: Frankie's time on the show can be divided into three distinct section (The late 80s, the early 90s, and the mid-00s) not just because they were all seperated by times he wasn't on the show, but because we saw three very seperate characterizations for Frankie in those times:
1. In the late 80s, he was a homeless teenage runaway by the name of Frankie Donner who was growing up on the streets with his little adopted brother Max.
2. In the early 90s he was revealed to actually be Francois von Leuschner - and far from being a homeless runaway turned college student, he was actually a disposed European noble, who'd been sent to Salem explicitly by his older sister so he could seek solace with Jennifer Horton, the only person Carly knew she could trust.
3. And in the 00s, he was just Frankie Brady, successful attorney who'd, apparently, been living and perpetual single-dom because he couldn't get over his highschool sweetheart he hadn't seen in 15 years.
Your mileage varies on which characterization of Frankie's you prefer (I'm more a fan of 1 and 2 than 3 myself) but either way, each of these different backstories for Frankie, all so different, still felt unified by Billy Warlock's naturalistic (and Emmy-winning) performance and the one singular thread that united them all, Frankie's (ultimately unrequited) love for Jennifer. It's hard to take such wildly different approaches to a character and yet unite and ground them, but Warlock found a way to make it work.
58. Alex Marshall
Portrayed By: Quinn Redeker (1979-1987)
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Marie Horton, Mary Anderson, Renee DuMonde, Emma Donovan
Occupation: Conman
Children: Jessica Blake (daughter, with Marie)
Family: Harley Marshall (brother, deceased)
Nick Fallon (grandson)
Notes: The lovable rogue is an enduring soap archetypes, and usually responsible for some of the most beloved soap characters. Slick, polished conmen types who've always got a trick up their sleeve - it's hard not to find that appealing. And Alex Marshall embodies this trope. He wasn't necessarily Days's first enduring rogue (that would be Doug Williams), nor it's longest-lasting (Jack Deveraux) but where Alex gets points that other rogues don't is his sheer unwillingness to be whitewashed. Guys like Doug and Jack did their best to hold onto their most roguish qualities well into their glory days, but there's no denying that where they once were dark grey within a few years they became more of an off-white. It's hard to blame them, once they became romantic leads what else were they supposed to do?
But Alex had no such issues and thus he was allowed eight straight years of charismatic mayhem. His status as a villain could be unquestioned and some of the things he did were downright despicable (Hell, the guy even tried to kill Alice Horton! You just don't do that!) and yet it was hard to hate the guy fully because with his charming grin and smooth voice, he's just so damn likable!
Current Status: Incarcerated
Main Love Interests: Marie Horton, Mary Anderson, Renee DuMonde, Emma Donovan
Occupation: Conman
Children: Jessica Blake (daughter, with Marie)
Family: Harley Marshall (brother, deceased)
Nick Fallon (grandson)
Notes: The lovable rogue is an enduring soap archetypes, and usually responsible for some of the most beloved soap characters. Slick, polished conmen types who've always got a trick up their sleeve - it's hard not to find that appealing. And Alex Marshall embodies this trope. He wasn't necessarily Days's first enduring rogue (that would be Doug Williams), nor it's longest-lasting (Jack Deveraux) but where Alex gets points that other rogues don't is his sheer unwillingness to be whitewashed. Guys like Doug and Jack did their best to hold onto their most roguish qualities well into their glory days, but there's no denying that where they once were dark grey within a few years they became more of an off-white. It's hard to blame them, once they became romantic leads what else were they supposed to do?
But Alex had no such issues and thus he was allowed eight straight years of charismatic mayhem. His status as a villain could be unquestioned and some of the things he did were downright despicable (Hell, the guy even tried to kill Alice Horton! You just don't do that!) and yet it was hard to hate the guy fully because with his charming grin and smooth voice, he's just so damn likable!
57. Justin Kiriakis
AKA: Justin Alexander Kiriakis (full name)
Portrayed By: Wally Kurth (1987-1991, 2009-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Adrienne Johnson, Anjelica Deveraux,
Occupation: Attorney, former owner of A.J. Construction
Children: Alexander Kiriakis (son, with Anjelica)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted son, with Adrienne)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted son, with Adrienne)
Sonny Kiriakis (son, with Adrienne)
Family: Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (father, deceased)
Christina Kiriakis (mother, deceased)
Yurgos Kiriakis (grandfather, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (grandmother, deceased)
Victor Kiriakis (uncle)
Isabella Toscano (cousin, deceased)
Bo Brady (cousin)
Philip Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: There was always a certain interesting incongruity in Justin's character that I think owed a lot to his portrayor Wally Kurth. Justin was originally kind of an arrogant playboy and not very likable, and yet Wally brought a sense of innocence and sweetness so the character switched, and rather than the be the typical cocky devious rich kid he almost seemed more like a sensitive young man who felt like that was a role he had to play to fit in as a Kiriakis and please his uncle Victor. His first arrival into Salem saw him flirting with a variety of young women in Salem, but even though he did it, it didn't seem to be something Justin even felt comfortable with. Then he met Adrienne and things seemed to click with him. She wasn't exotic or seductive or sophisticated or anything like the type of girl one would think a Kiriakis man would want, instead she was just a simple, insecure, sweet girl who wanted nothing more from Justin than to simply be loved, and in doing so Justin seemed to find his niche, and could leave his insincere past a slick playboy behind, since it never really felt right anyway.
You can still see this since Justin's return. He's a Kiriakis but (besides Bo obviously) he's the least Kiriakis-y one there, since rather than be concerned with the business or money and power he remains more of a romantic at heart. And so his money and power and newly divorced status ensures that he could go after any woman he wanted, he instead remains chastely and patiently devoted to Hope. This is hardly the first time where an actor's own nature helps inform a character, and it wouldn't be the last, but it's noteworthy nonetheless.
Portrayed By: Wally Kurth (1987-1991, 2009-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Adrienne Johnson, Anjelica Deveraux,
Occupation: Attorney, former owner of A.J. Construction
Children: Alexander Kiriakis (son, with Anjelica)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted son, with Adrienne)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted son, with Adrienne)
Sonny Kiriakis (son, with Adrienne)
Family: Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (father, deceased)
Christina Kiriakis (mother, deceased)
Yurgos Kiriakis (grandfather, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (grandmother, deceased)
Victor Kiriakis (uncle)
Isabella Toscano (cousin, deceased)
Bo Brady (cousin)
Philip Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: There was always a certain interesting incongruity in Justin's character that I think owed a lot to his portrayor Wally Kurth. Justin was originally kind of an arrogant playboy and not very likable, and yet Wally brought a sense of innocence and sweetness so the character switched, and rather than the be the typical cocky devious rich kid he almost seemed more like a sensitive young man who felt like that was a role he had to play to fit in as a Kiriakis and please his uncle Victor. His first arrival into Salem saw him flirting with a variety of young women in Salem, but even though he did it, it didn't seem to be something Justin even felt comfortable with. Then he met Adrienne and things seemed to click with him. She wasn't exotic or seductive or sophisticated or anything like the type of girl one would think a Kiriakis man would want, instead she was just a simple, insecure, sweet girl who wanted nothing more from Justin than to simply be loved, and in doing so Justin seemed to find his niche, and could leave his insincere past a slick playboy behind, since it never really felt right anyway.
You can still see this since Justin's return. He's a Kiriakis but (besides Bo obviously) he's the least Kiriakis-y one there, since rather than be concerned with the business or money and power he remains more of a romantic at heart. And so his money and power and newly divorced status ensures that he could go after any woman he wanted, he instead remains chastely and patiently devoted to Hope. This is hardly the first time where an actor's own nature helps inform a character, and it wouldn't be the last, but it's noteworthy nonetheless.
56. Don Craig
Portrayed By: Jed Allan (1971-1985)
Current Status: At the Mailbox
Main Love Interests: Julie Olson, Lorraine Temple, Marlena Evans, Liz Chandler, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Attorney, former politician
Children: Donna Craig (daughter, with Lorainne)
Betsy Craig (daughter, with Barbara, deceased)
D.J. Craig (son, with Marlena, deceased)
Family: Amelia Craig (mother)
Paolo Craig (brother)
Angela Craig (sister)
Notes: People still battle it out about who is Marlena's most significant love interest - Roman or John, but before either of them there was Don Craig. Though he'd been on the show a few years when Marlena arrived, it had mainly been in a minor supporting capacity (Julie dating Don when she really wanted Doug, that kinda thing), but when his pairing with Marlena took off, so did he, and Don enjoyed a brief spurt in the late '70s and very early '80s where Don was one of the top dogs on the show, third only to Doug and Mickey. Sadly for Don, like many characters on the show, things changed for him in 1981 with the arrival of the Brady family. Roman Brady was the new top dog in town, Marlena became his love interest instead and Don, like Doug and Mickey, was shuffled back to a more secondary role. Unfortunately though, unlike Doug and Mickey, Don had no Horton ties to keep him relevant. He left town in 1985 (he went to mail a letter and never returned) and has scarcely been mentioned since, but Don had a run no one can sneeze at and while people may still disagree over whether Roman or John is Marlena's major love interest, Don can at least rest easy as a strong third-place finisher.
Current Status: At the Mailbox
Main Love Interests: Julie Olson, Lorraine Temple, Marlena Evans, Liz Chandler, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Attorney, former politician
Children: Donna Craig (daughter, with Lorainne)
Betsy Craig (daughter, with Barbara, deceased)
D.J. Craig (son, with Marlena, deceased)
Family: Amelia Craig (mother)
Paolo Craig (brother)
Angela Craig (sister)
Notes: People still battle it out about who is Marlena's most significant love interest - Roman or John, but before either of them there was Don Craig. Though he'd been on the show a few years when Marlena arrived, it had mainly been in a minor supporting capacity (Julie dating Don when she really wanted Doug, that kinda thing), but when his pairing with Marlena took off, so did he, and Don enjoyed a brief spurt in the late '70s and very early '80s where Don was one of the top dogs on the show, third only to Doug and Mickey. Sadly for Don, like many characters on the show, things changed for him in 1981 with the arrival of the Brady family. Roman Brady was the new top dog in town, Marlena became his love interest instead and Don, like Doug and Mickey, was shuffled back to a more secondary role. Unfortunately though, unlike Doug and Mickey, Don had no Horton ties to keep him relevant. He left town in 1985 (he went to mail a letter and never returned) and has scarcely been mentioned since, but Don had a run no one can sneeze at and while people may still disagree over whether Roman or John is Marlena's major love interest, Don can at least rest easy as a strong third-place finisher.
55. Adrienne Johnson
Portrayed By: Judi Evans (1986-1991, 2007-2008, 2010-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Justin Kiriakis, Emilio Ramirez
Occupation: Unknown (former owner of The Cheating Heart)
Children: Joseph Kiriakis (adopted son, with Justin)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted son, with Justin)
Sonny Kiriakis (son, with Justin)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Steve Johnson (brother)
Jack Deveraux (brother)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Notes: The early days of soaps were all about glamor and starring characters who were, in all likelihood, far more rich, elegant and sophisticated than the people actually watching the show. In that way they served as wish fulfillment. The fact that Salem's first family, the Hortons, are a wealthy family composed with an unearthly amount of doctors, is proof enough of that. Eventually though, some decidedly less than perfect or glamorous heroes and heroiness were allowed to have prominence and Adrienne Johnson was a shining example of that. Though cute, she wasn't exactly the typical modelesque soap actress, and far from being a rich, beautiful ingenue she came from a broken abusive home with a father who raped her. This gave her a vulnerability that not enough soap characters possessed at that time, and Adrienne's backstory eventually grew to be a common on Days (later young women who's father's either raped them, put them in porn, pimped them out, or otherwise inappropriately sexualized them include Billie Reed, Nicole Walker and Melanie Layton) She's long overcome her humble origins, however, and the Adrienne we see on the show at present is a far more stable, happy character than the one we first met.
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Justin Kiriakis, Emilio Ramirez
Occupation: Unknown (former owner of The Cheating Heart)
Children: Joseph Kiriakis (adopted son, with Justin)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted son, with Justin)
Sonny Kiriakis (son, with Justin)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Steve Johnson (brother)
Jack Deveraux (brother)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Notes: The early days of soaps were all about glamor and starring characters who were, in all likelihood, far more rich, elegant and sophisticated than the people actually watching the show. In that way they served as wish fulfillment. The fact that Salem's first family, the Hortons, are a wealthy family composed with an unearthly amount of doctors, is proof enough of that. Eventually though, some decidedly less than perfect or glamorous heroes and heroiness were allowed to have prominence and Adrienne Johnson was a shining example of that. Though cute, she wasn't exactly the typical modelesque soap actress, and far from being a rich, beautiful ingenue she came from a broken abusive home with a father who raped her. This gave her a vulnerability that not enough soap characters possessed at that time, and Adrienne's backstory eventually grew to be a common on Days (later young women who's father's either raped them, put them in porn, pimped them out, or otherwise inappropriately sexualized them include Billie Reed, Nicole Walker and Melanie Layton) She's long overcome her humble origins, however, and the Adrienne we see on the show at present is a far more stable, happy character than the one we first met.
54. Chelsea Benson Brady
AKA: Georgia Reed (birth name)
Portrayed By: Mandy Musgrave (2004-2005)
Rachel Melvin (2005-2009)
Current Status: Living in London
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Nick Fallon, Jett Carver, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Medical Student
Children: None
Family: Bo Brady (father)
Billie Reed (mother)
Shawn D. Brady (half-brother)
Zack Brady (half-brother, deceased)
Ciara Brady (half-sister)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (legal grandfather, deceased)
Curtis Reed (grandfather, deceased)
Kate Roberts (grandmother)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Isabella Toscano (aunt, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Austin Reed (uncle)
Lucas Horton (uncle)
Rex Brady (uncle/cousin)
Cassie DiMera (aunt/cousin)
Carrie Brady (cousin)
Sami Brady (cousin)
Eric Brady (cousin)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Brady Black (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Will Horton (cousin)
Notes: In 2006 there was few characters as downright loathed and despised as Chelsea Benson. She'd thoughtlessly mowed down her brother and then complained when she was given community service to do, she worked to break up Bo and Hope for no other reason than just to be a bitch, she regularly used and abused her successful and devoted boyfriend Max (who she infamously gave oral sex to within minutes of meeting him) for no inexplicable reason whatsoever.
By 2009, Chelsea Brady was a funny, fresh lovable character whose down-to-earth personality and lovable sense of whimsy endeared her to many fans of the show, and the negative effect of her departure of the show was mentioned in the same breath as the departures of Drake Hogestyn, Deidre Hall, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans.
How did this happen so quickly? It's mainly owed to Rachel Melvin's multi-Emmy nominated performance. Chelsea, as played by her brief, original portrayor was an abrasive, obnoxious slut, and thus when Rachel Melvin t0ok over the storyline was already headed in that direction and she had little choice but to go with it. Within a year or so, however (a year which even included Chelsea's most dastardly crimes) the powers that be had appeared to notice that Rachel didn't really work as a bitchy, vindictive slut and instead transitioned her into a more earthy, soulful type, which fit the actress's strengths anyway. Thus, by the time she left (alongside Max, in a relationship that had transitioned from awful and unhealthy to sweet and fun) she'd made it up to many whom she'd wronged, both to the characters on the show and the audience.
Portrayed By: Mandy Musgrave (2004-2005)
Rachel Melvin (2005-2009)
Current Status: Living in London
Main Love Interests: Max Brady, Nick Fallon, Jett Carver, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Medical Student
Children: None
Family: Bo Brady (father)
Billie Reed (mother)
Shawn D. Brady (half-brother)
Zack Brady (half-brother, deceased)
Ciara Brady (half-sister)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (legal grandfather, deceased)
Curtis Reed (grandfather, deceased)
Kate Roberts (grandmother)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Isabella Toscano (aunt, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Austin Reed (uncle)
Lucas Horton (uncle)
Rex Brady (uncle/cousin)
Cassie DiMera (aunt/cousin)
Carrie Brady (cousin)
Sami Brady (cousin)
Eric Brady (cousin)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Brady Black (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Will Horton (cousin)
Notes: In 2006 there was few characters as downright loathed and despised as Chelsea Benson. She'd thoughtlessly mowed down her brother and then complained when she was given community service to do, she worked to break up Bo and Hope for no other reason than just to be a bitch, she regularly used and abused her successful and devoted boyfriend Max (who she infamously gave oral sex to within minutes of meeting him) for no inexplicable reason whatsoever.
By 2009, Chelsea Brady was a funny, fresh lovable character whose down-to-earth personality and lovable sense of whimsy endeared her to many fans of the show, and the negative effect of her departure of the show was mentioned in the same breath as the departures of Drake Hogestyn, Deidre Hall, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans.
How did this happen so quickly? It's mainly owed to Rachel Melvin's multi-Emmy nominated performance. Chelsea, as played by her brief, original portrayor was an abrasive, obnoxious slut, and thus when Rachel Melvin t0ok over the storyline was already headed in that direction and she had little choice but to go with it. Within a year or so, however (a year which even included Chelsea's most dastardly crimes) the powers that be had appeared to notice that Rachel didn't really work as a bitchy, vindictive slut and instead transitioned her into a more earthy, soulful type, which fit the actress's strengths anyway. Thus, by the time she left (alongside Max, in a relationship that had transitioned from awful and unhealthy to sweet and fun) she'd made it up to many whom she'd wronged, both to the characters on the show and the audience.
53. Marie Horton
Portrayed By: Maree Cheatham (1965-1968, 1970-1973, 1994, 1996, 2010)
Kate Woodville (1977)
Lanna Saunders (1979-1985)
Current Status: Unknown (Recently visited Salem)
Main Love Interests: Craig Merritt, Tony Merritt, Tommy Horton, Alex Marshall, Neil Curtis,
Occupation: Nurse, former nun
Children: Jessica Blake (daughter, with Alex)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Nick Fallon (grandson)
Sandy Horton (niece)
Kate Woodville (1977)
Lanna Saunders (1979-1985)
Current Status: Unknown (Recently visited Salem)
Main Love Interests: Craig Merritt, Tony Merritt, Tommy Horton, Alex Marshall, Neil Curtis,
Occupation: Nurse, former nun
Children: Jessica Blake (daughter, with Alex)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Nick Fallon (grandson)
Sandy Horton (niece)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Notes: Though certainly much more frequently mentioned than her brother Tommy, who may have been erased from existence, Marie has always had some difficulty staying relevant. She wasn't like Addie and Bill, both of whom had multiple children of major import that remained relevant even now, nor was she long-running like Mickey. Things have improved for her lately, as her grandson Nick was recently on the show and she herself returned for Alice's funeral, but it's a shame that some of Marie's major contribution (including being one of daytime's original "Oops! It's incest!" pairings) have been largely forgotten due to her twenty-five year absence from the canvas, minus brief returns. As one of Alice's last living children (and her last living child who has flashbacks that can be utilized) one hopes that someday Marie will take her rightful place as a Horton Elder, alongside Maggie, Doug and Julie.
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Notes: Though certainly much more frequently mentioned than her brother Tommy, who may have been erased from existence, Marie has always had some difficulty staying relevant. She wasn't like Addie and Bill, both of whom had multiple children of major import that remained relevant even now, nor was she long-running like Mickey. Things have improved for her lately, as her grandson Nick was recently on the show and she herself returned for Alice's funeral, but it's a shame that some of Marie's major contribution (including being one of daytime's original "Oops! It's incest!" pairings) have been largely forgotten due to her twenty-five year absence from the canvas, minus brief returns. As one of Alice's last living children (and her last living child who has flashbacks that can be utilized) one hopes that someday Marie will take her rightful place as a Horton Elder, alongside Maggie, Doug and Julie.
52. Mimi Lockhart
AKA: Miriam Elizabeth Lockhart (full name)
Portrayed By: Doren Fein (1999)
Farah Fath (1999-2007)
Current Status: Living in Arizona
Main Love Interests: Kevin Lambert, Rex Brady, Shawn D. Brady, Max Brady
Children: Tyler Kiriakis (son, with Philip)
Family: David Lockhart (father, deceased)
Bonnie Lockhart (mother)
Patrick Lockhart (brother)
Connor Lockhart (brother)
Notes: Although Mimi began her run on the show as Belle's plucky slightly chubby best friend - on the same level prominence-wise as Jan and that douchebag Jason, and a definite notch below the fab foursome of Shawn, Belle, Philip and Chloe, it only took a few years (and Farah Fath slimming down a little) for the powers to be to notice that there was something to Mimi afterall, rather than be an ugly duckling everyone felt sorry for, she was pretty damn sexy in her own right, and without the self-righteous sense of entitlement some of the more privileged Salem High set had. Her pairing with Rex (in which basically all they did was have sex) set the stage for her to become the full-blown sex bomb she'd become, and by the time she and Shawn got together, Mimi had become an A-Lister, where she'd remain until she left the show in 2007.
Still, leading lady status aside, it's probably her time as Belle's sidekick that she'll be best remembered for - especially as it provided her with some of her most heartfelt material, most notably her embarassment and shame at her family's homelessness and her attempts to hide it from her friends.
The Lockhart family wasn't always the most popular one in the world, and now, just three years after they've all left town, they may seem a distant memory, but for eight years Mimi carved herself a substantial place in Days history (a place the show certainly never originally intended) and she makes it to the Top 50 because of it.
2012 Update: Except... no she doesn't. Through no fault of Mimi's own (besides being off camera for too long) someone else's ascension has meant Mimi is now in the bottom 50, and rethinking things I've even lowered her below Addie too.
Portrayed By: Doren Fein (1999)
Farah Fath (1999-2007)
Current Status: Living in Arizona
Main Love Interests: Kevin Lambert, Rex Brady, Shawn D. Brady, Max Brady
Children: Tyler Kiriakis (son, with Philip)
Family: David Lockhart (father, deceased)
Bonnie Lockhart (mother)
Patrick Lockhart (brother)
Connor Lockhart (brother)
Notes: Although Mimi began her run on the show as Belle's plucky slightly chubby best friend - on the same level prominence-wise as Jan and that douchebag Jason, and a definite notch below the fab foursome of Shawn, Belle, Philip and Chloe, it only took a few years (and Farah Fath slimming down a little) for the powers to be to notice that there was something to Mimi afterall, rather than be an ugly duckling everyone felt sorry for, she was pretty damn sexy in her own right, and without the self-righteous sense of entitlement some of the more privileged Salem High set had. Her pairing with Rex (in which basically all they did was have sex) set the stage for her to become the full-blown sex bomb she'd become, and by the time she and Shawn got together, Mimi had become an A-Lister, where she'd remain until she left the show in 2007.
Still, leading lady status aside, it's probably her time as Belle's sidekick that she'll be best remembered for - especially as it provided her with some of her most heartfelt material, most notably her embarassment and shame at her family's homelessness and her attempts to hide it from her friends.
The Lockhart family wasn't always the most popular one in the world, and now, just three years after they've all left town, they may seem a distant memory, but for eight years Mimi carved herself a substantial place in Days history (a place the show certainly never originally intended) and she makes it to the Top 50 because of it.
2012 Update: Except... no she doesn't. Through no fault of Mimi's own (besides being off camera for too long) someone else's ascension has meant Mimi is now in the bottom 50, and rethinking things I've even lowered her below Addie too.
51. Addie Horton
AKA: Adelaide Horton (birth name), Addie Olson, Addie Williams (married names)
Portrayed By: Patricia Huston (1965-1966)
Patricia Barry (1971-1974)
Current Status: Deceased (1974)
Main Love Interests: Ben Olson, Doug Williams
Children: Julie Olson (daughter, with Ben)
Steven Olson (son, with Ben)
Hope Williams (daughter, with Doug)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (twin brother)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
David Banning (grandson)
Spencer Olson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (grandson)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Scott Banning (great-grandson)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Sandy Horton (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Notes: Addie died when Days was only nine years old, and of those nine years she'd only appeared in five of them, and yet, a full thirty-six years later, Addie's legacy remains and she's still one of the most oft-mentioned deceased characters. As the only child of Tom and Alice's that died young, Addie was always an inherently emotional subject. Every Christmas at the Horton ornament hanging you could count on a tender moment where someone, usually one of her kids, would hang up Addie's ornament wistfully. Even while other long-gone members of the Horton clan get pruned off the family tree (Steven, David, Scotty, even Tommy) Addie remains a central part of it.
The reason, of course, is an obvious one. Though the effect Addie herself had on the show is minimal, both of her daughters were such rampantly important characters that Addie's place in Days history could never be anything but significant. For the first twenty years this show essentially belonged to Julie, and for the next twenty years it belonged to Hope. And because Julie and Hope are so important, everyone that's important to them is also important - and that's Addie.
Portrayed By: Patricia Huston (1965-1966)
Patricia Barry (1971-1974)
Current Status: Deceased (1974)
Main Love Interests: Ben Olson, Doug Williams
Children: Julie Olson (daughter, with Ben)
Steven Olson (son, with Ben)
Hope Williams (daughter, with Doug)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (twin brother)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
David Banning (grandson)
Spencer Olson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (grandson)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Scott Banning (great-grandson)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Sandy Horton (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Mike Horton (nephew)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Notes: Addie died when Days was only nine years old, and of those nine years she'd only appeared in five of them, and yet, a full thirty-six years later, Addie's legacy remains and she's still one of the most oft-mentioned deceased characters. As the only child of Tom and Alice's that died young, Addie was always an inherently emotional subject. Every Christmas at the Horton ornament hanging you could count on a tender moment where someone, usually one of her kids, would hang up Addie's ornament wistfully. Even while other long-gone members of the Horton clan get pruned off the family tree (Steven, David, Scotty, even Tommy) Addie remains a central part of it.
The reason, of course, is an obvious one. Though the effect Addie herself had on the show is minimal, both of her daughters were such rampantly important characters that Addie's place in Days history could never be anything but significant. For the first twenty years this show essentially belonged to Julie, and for the next twenty years it belonged to Hope. And because Julie and Hope are so important, everyone that's important to them is also important - and that's Addie.
50. Lawrence Alamain
AKA: Lawrence James Alamain (full name), James (name Carly knew him as back in the day)
Portrayed By: Michael Sabatino (1990-1993, 2009-2011)
Current Status: Deceased (2009)
Main Love Interests: Carly Manning, Kimberly Brady, Carrie Brady
Occupation: President of Alamain International and JenCon Oil
Children: Nicholas Alamain (son, with Carly)
Family: Leopold Alamain (father, deceased)
Philomena Alamain (mother, deceased)
John Black (adopted brother)
Vivian Alamain (aunt)
Daphne DiMera (aunt, deceased)
Tony DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Quinn Hudson (cousin)
Notes: The best Days villains make it so that even if there can be no question of their villainy, you can also see something likable and attractive in them. That was Lawrence Alamain all over. For three years, he served as this show's main antagonist - committing attrocities including, but not limited to, having Steve Johnson "killed", raping Jennifer Horton and kidnapping Alice Horton. And yet... somehow he wasn't all bad. Somehow when he told Carly how much he loved her, we believed him... and Carly believed him to. He certainly did some heroic deeds (he was the one who rescued Carly from being buried alive after all) but above all he spoke to Carly with such a sincerity and dark passion that it was hard not to believe there was humanity beneath that cold, snake-like exterior. And when he left town with wife and son in tow, it seemed like the humanity of Lawrence Alamain had ultimately won out.
Sadly, this would prove not to be the case and in the years offscreen before his onscreen death last year, Lawrence's mental state (already established as precarious) finally snapped and he turned into an abusive lunatic who had been keeping Carly as his prisoner as a result of her affair with Daniel Jonas and bearing his child. And as he continued to haunt both Carly (and Vivian) from beyond the grave, it was clear that when all was said and done, all the humanity had been wrung out of poor Lawrence Alamain, and he died just as he began, a cold, heartless monster.
By and large on Days, villains don't last long unless their last names are DiMera or Kiriakis and while Lawrence was no exception, he was able to take advantage of a DiMera-less portion of Days history by cementing both him and his family, the Alamains, as another significant player on the Evil-Rich-European-Crime-Family stage. The fact that he's mentioned in the same breath of ultimate Days villainy with the likes of Stefano and Victor, both of whom have been around far longer, says something about the significance of Lawrence.
Portrayed By: Michael Sabatino (1990-1993, 2009-2011)
Current Status: Deceased (2009)
Main Love Interests: Carly Manning, Kimberly Brady, Carrie Brady
Occupation: President of Alamain International and JenCon Oil
Children: Nicholas Alamain (son, with Carly)
Family: Leopold Alamain (father, deceased)
Philomena Alamain (mother, deceased)
John Black (adopted brother)
Vivian Alamain (aunt)
Daphne DiMera (aunt, deceased)
Tony DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Quinn Hudson (cousin)
Notes: The best Days villains make it so that even if there can be no question of their villainy, you can also see something likable and attractive in them. That was Lawrence Alamain all over. For three years, he served as this show's main antagonist - committing attrocities including, but not limited to, having Steve Johnson "killed", raping Jennifer Horton and kidnapping Alice Horton. And yet... somehow he wasn't all bad. Somehow when he told Carly how much he loved her, we believed him... and Carly believed him to. He certainly did some heroic deeds (he was the one who rescued Carly from being buried alive after all) but above all he spoke to Carly with such a sincerity and dark passion that it was hard not to believe there was humanity beneath that cold, snake-like exterior. And when he left town with wife and son in tow, it seemed like the humanity of Lawrence Alamain had ultimately won out.
Sadly, this would prove not to be the case and in the years offscreen before his onscreen death last year, Lawrence's mental state (already established as precarious) finally snapped and he turned into an abusive lunatic who had been keeping Carly as his prisoner as a result of her affair with Daniel Jonas and bearing his child. And as he continued to haunt both Carly (and Vivian) from beyond the grave, it was clear that when all was said and done, all the humanity had been wrung out of poor Lawrence Alamain, and he died just as he began, a cold, heartless monster.
By and large on Days, villains don't last long unless their last names are DiMera or Kiriakis and while Lawrence was no exception, he was able to take advantage of a DiMera-less portion of Days history by cementing both him and his family, the Alamains, as another significant player on the Evil-Rich-European-Crime-Family stage. The fact that he's mentioned in the same breath of ultimate Days villainy with the likes of Stefano and Victor, both of whom have been around far longer, says something about the significance of Lawrence.
49. E.J. DiMera
AKA: Elvis Aron Banks (birth name), E.J. Wells (assumed name)
Portrayed By: Dillon, Vincent and Avalone Ragone (1997-1998)
James Scott (2006-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Kate Roberts, Nicole Walker, Taylor Walker
Occupation: Mayoral Candidate
Children: Johnny DiMera (son, with Sami)
Sydney DiMera (daughter, with Sami)
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Susan Banks (mother)
Tony DiMera (adopted half-brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (half-sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Mary Moira Banks (aunt)
Penelope Kent (aunt, deceased)
Thomas Banks (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: Though E.J. has only been on the show four years, he's already established himself as one of the most divisive characters in the soap's history. To some he's the most beautiful, charming, amazing thing to ever happen to this show, to others he's an annoying, preening creep and the worst thing to ever happen to this show. Either way, E.J. quickly positioned himself as one of Days's leading men, and he's the most successful attempt to transition the aging DiMeras into the next generation.
One thing is certain, E.J. overcame a lot of odds to be in the position he is today. He's the most egregious and eye-rolling example of aging this show's ever had, having been born 1997 and then aged roughly twenty years. He came on the scene in the midst of what essentially amounted to Salem Grand Prix where every new character was federally mandated to be a racecar driver, a role that clearly never fit him. And within his first year on the show he raped Sami Brady and then preceded to woo her - a fact that could have easily turned him into the kind of temporary villain this show shuffles through constantly, and did indeed lose him half the fanbase. But, largely through the charisma of his portrayor James Scott, E.J. endured to become one Days's many (perhaps too many) redeemed rapists. At this point there seems to be no stopping Elvis Junior's meteoric rise to the top.
2012 update: If I'm being honest, I think I let my own distaste with the character of E.J. cloud my judgment on this one. Though his time on the show has been comparatively short, he's been a leading male and the primary villain for all of it. He's definitely top 50 material, and his jump of ten slots was well deserved.
Portrayed By: Dillon, Vincent and Avalone Ragone (1997-1998)
James Scott (2006-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Kate Roberts, Nicole Walker, Taylor Walker
Occupation: Mayoral Candidate
Children: Johnny DiMera (son, with Sami)
Sydney DiMera (daughter, with Sami)
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Susan Banks (mother)
Tony DiMera (adopted half-brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (half-sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Mary Moira Banks (aunt)
Penelope Kent (aunt, deceased)
Thomas Banks (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: Though E.J. has only been on the show four years, he's already established himself as one of the most divisive characters in the soap's history. To some he's the most beautiful, charming, amazing thing to ever happen to this show, to others he's an annoying, preening creep and the worst thing to ever happen to this show. Either way, E.J. quickly positioned himself as one of Days's leading men, and he's the most successful attempt to transition the aging DiMeras into the next generation.
One thing is certain, E.J. overcame a lot of odds to be in the position he is today. He's the most egregious and eye-rolling example of aging this show's ever had, having been born 1997 and then aged roughly twenty years. He came on the scene in the midst of what essentially amounted to Salem Grand Prix where every new character was federally mandated to be a racecar driver, a role that clearly never fit him. And within his first year on the show he raped Sami Brady and then preceded to woo her - a fact that could have easily turned him into the kind of temporary villain this show shuffles through constantly, and did indeed lose him half the fanbase. But, largely through the charisma of his portrayor James Scott, E.J. endured to become one Days's many (perhaps too many) redeemed rapists. At this point there seems to be no stopping Elvis Junior's meteoric rise to the top.
2012 update: If I'm being honest, I think I let my own distaste with the character of E.J. cloud my judgment on this one. Though his time on the show has been comparatively short, he's been a leading male and the primary villain for all of it. He's definitely top 50 material, and his jump of ten slots was well deserved.
48. Celeste Perrault
AKA: Francesca "Frankie" Perrault (birth name)
Portrayed By: Tanya Boyd (1994-2007), Beverly Todd (2012)
Current Status: Unknown (soon returning to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Stefano DiMera,
Occupation: Psychic, Former DiMera henchwoman
Children: Lexie Carver (daughter, with Stefano)
Family: Grace Perrault Brooks (sister, deceased)
Theo Carver (grandson)
Notes: For a person introduced simply as an exotic henchperson of Stefano's (and he's had a bunch of those), Celeste definitely carved a niche for herself. The revelation that she was Lexie's real mom (though Celeste's older sister Grace Brooks raised her with her husband) and that Lexie's real father was Stefano, gave Celeste a permanent tie to both the DiMera and Carver families.
In the very DiMera-centric '90s mid-and-late 90s there was always plenty for Celeste to do, and she played a major role in the big DiMera storylines like Maison Blanche and Aremid. When all of that stuff died down, however, Celeste was able to find a new role for herself - that of the town's psychic. Her frequent visions and ominous warnings of doom lead to all sorts of gothic soapiness that kept her useful into the next decade, most notably during the Salem Stalker saga. Sadly, this delightfully kooky characters (who always refers to everyone by their full name and calls them "dahling") hasn't been seen since 2007 when she teamed up with Sami to try to kill E.J., which is really too bad considering she would have been a natural person for Bo to seek for advice about those psychic powers he had himself not too long back.
Portrayed By: Tanya Boyd (1994-2007), Beverly Todd (2012)
Current Status: Unknown (soon returning to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Stefano DiMera,
Occupation: Psychic, Former DiMera henchwoman
Children: Lexie Carver (daughter, with Stefano)
Family: Grace Perrault Brooks (sister, deceased)
Theo Carver (grandson)
Notes: For a person introduced simply as an exotic henchperson of Stefano's (and he's had a bunch of those), Celeste definitely carved a niche for herself. The revelation that she was Lexie's real mom (though Celeste's older sister Grace Brooks raised her with her husband) and that Lexie's real father was Stefano, gave Celeste a permanent tie to both the DiMera and Carver families.
In the very DiMera-centric '90s mid-and-late 90s there was always plenty for Celeste to do, and she played a major role in the big DiMera storylines like Maison Blanche and Aremid. When all of that stuff died down, however, Celeste was able to find a new role for herself - that of the town's psychic. Her frequent visions and ominous warnings of doom lead to all sorts of gothic soapiness that kept her useful into the next decade, most notably during the Salem Stalker saga. Sadly, this delightfully kooky characters (who always refers to everyone by their full name and calls them "dahling") hasn't been seen since 2007 when she teamed up with Sami to try to kill E.J., which is really too bad considering she would have been a natural person for Bo to seek for advice about those psychic powers he had himself not too long back.
47. Kristen Blake
AKA: Kristen DiMera (adopted name/married name)
Portrayed By: Eileen Davidson (1993-1998)
Current Status: Part of a harem on some island
Main Love Interests: Andre DiMera, John Black
Occupation: Social Worker
Children: None
Family: Rachel Blake (mother, deceased)
Peter Blake (sister)
Stefano DiMera (adoptive father)
Tony DiMera (adoptive brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (adoptive sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (adoptive sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (adoptive sister)
Benjy Hawk (adoptive brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (adoptive brother)
Andre DiMera (adoptive cousin, deceased)
Notes: If one could pick any singular character that best represents the Reilly era of Days of our Lives - it's Kristen Blake. Both her and her altar egos Susan, Mary Moira, etc. (Spoiler Alert: None of the rest of them make the list) were outlandish, campy, over-the-top and completely ridiculous. And yet, like all good train wrecks, it was hard to look away. Eileen Davidson, whose longstanding work on The Young and the Restless proves she's got serious chops, totally committed to the ridiculous and comical side of Kristen and all her identical counterparts, and that made the character work.
Like her brother Peter, Kristen started out as a completely normal rootable character. Isabella had died not long ago and as the show seemed to still be leaning towards Roman and Marlena as endgame, John needed someone new. Kristen initially appeared, like Peter, as an adopted DiMera with a conscience, who was not damned towards evil like Stefano himself was but had a chance of redemption, through Stefano's hated rival, John. Eventually, however, the show decided John and Marlena was the way to go, Wayne Northrop left, and there was no place for Kristen other than as the villainous interloper. To watch Kristen in 1993 and then watch her and 1997 the characters are night and day - and it is certainly the pure soapy later incarnation of herself that Kristen Blake will forever be remembered for.
Portrayed By: Eileen Davidson (1993-1998)
Current Status: Part of a harem on some island
Main Love Interests: Andre DiMera, John Black
Occupation: Social Worker
Children: None
Family: Rachel Blake (mother, deceased)
Peter Blake (sister)
Stefano DiMera (adoptive father)
Tony DiMera (adoptive brother, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (adoptive sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (adoptive sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (adoptive sister)
Benjy Hawk (adoptive brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (adoptive brother)
Andre DiMera (adoptive cousin, deceased)
Notes: If one could pick any singular character that best represents the Reilly era of Days of our Lives - it's Kristen Blake. Both her and her altar egos Susan, Mary Moira, etc. (Spoiler Alert: None of the rest of them make the list) were outlandish, campy, over-the-top and completely ridiculous. And yet, like all good train wrecks, it was hard to look away. Eileen Davidson, whose longstanding work on The Young and the Restless proves she's got serious chops, totally committed to the ridiculous and comical side of Kristen and all her identical counterparts, and that made the character work.
Like her brother Peter, Kristen started out as a completely normal rootable character. Isabella had died not long ago and as the show seemed to still be leaning towards Roman and Marlena as endgame, John needed someone new. Kristen initially appeared, like Peter, as an adopted DiMera with a conscience, who was not damned towards evil like Stefano himself was but had a chance of redemption, through Stefano's hated rival, John. Eventually, however, the show decided John and Marlena was the way to go, Wayne Northrop left, and there was no place for Kristen other than as the villainous interloper. To watch Kristen in 1993 and then watch her and 1997 the characters are night and day - and it is certainly the pure soapy later incarnation of herself that Kristen Blake will forever be remembered for.
46. Tony DiMera
AKA: Count Antony DiMera (full name and title)
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis (1981-1985, 2007-2009)
Current Status: Deceased (2009)
Main Love Interests: Liz Chandler, Renee DuMonde, Anna DiMera
Occupation: Count, Owner of DiMera Advertising
Children: None
Family*: Stefano DiMera (legal father)
Daphne DiMera (mother, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Philomena Alamain (aunt, deceased)
Lawrence Alamain (cousin, deceased)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
*Tony's the gardner's son, so he's actually not related to any of these people except for the ones through Daphne, but as he's also the only child of Stefano's that was raised by him from birth, he considers them all siblings.
Notes: If this list had been compiled in, say, Spring of 2007 than Tony undoubtedly would have been in the top 20 or 25. He'd have been an extremely important significant character in Days history, a leading man slowly turned into a despicable villain, a tragic example of the corrupting influence of the DiMera family. Unfortunately, with the 2007 rewrite that revealed Tony had been locked up on an island for twenty years, the character of Tony DiMera was effectively split in two. Everything that had happened in the 80s was still Tony, but everything that had happened int he 90s and 00s was instead Tony's cousin Andre, a character once regarded as a long-dead gimmicky secondary villain of little consequence.
This had the unfortunate effect of diluting Tony, negating the vast majority of the storylines and character traits that had once been attributed to him and turning him into a character much less defined. This might have been okay, and a good way to negate his evil actions if that was the route they wanted to go, if they had simply done something with him after revealing this. But they didn't. Tony hung around for less than two more years and did absolutely nothing. He randomly started an advertising agency (with the ridiculous story that Tony's company was all high-tech and using the newest technologies while Anna was stuck in the stone age with just drawings on paper, nevermind the fact that Tony had been on an island for twenty years and should be startled and confused by cell phones let alone the internet), they also did not show that twenty years imprisoned on a deserted island with nothing but the natives to keep him company had done anything to jar his psyche. He returned to Salem like he hadn't just lost a third of his life, and rather than driven insane with rage towards Stefano who had imprisoned him, he instead deigned to move into the mansion with him and just sort of hang out making snarky comments at his expense. So when Tony was killed in 2009, it wasn't the long-standing character with decades of history under his belt, but a poorly defined character we barely knew.
The only reason Tony's on this list at all, therefore, let alone this high up, is because of the role he played in the early-mid 80s. For those years he was everything E.J. is and more, a young DiMera (a rapist himself, many forget) desperate to get out of his father's shadow and make changes to his life to become a decent, honorable person. His relationship with Anna brought him to second-tier supercouple status, and his relationship with Renee was almost as popular. He was a great character in the 80s, and it was a shame they couldn't keep that up for him.
Because alas, those good old days are long behind him, and he's quite dead now. But then again, he is a DiMera and could always come back to life. After all, he's certainly come back to life many times bef-- Oh, wait, no, nevermind. That was Andre now too.
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis (1981-1985, 2007-2009)
Current Status: Deceased (2009)
Main Love Interests: Liz Chandler, Renee DuMonde, Anna DiMera
Occupation: Count, Owner of DiMera Advertising
Children: None
Family*: Stefano DiMera (legal father)
Daphne DiMera (mother, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Lexie Carver (half-sister)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Theo Carver (nephew)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Philomena Alamain (aunt, deceased)
Lawrence Alamain (cousin, deceased)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
*Tony's the gardner's son, so he's actually not related to any of these people except for the ones through Daphne, but as he's also the only child of Stefano's that was raised by him from birth, he considers them all siblings.
Notes: If this list had been compiled in, say, Spring of 2007 than Tony undoubtedly would have been in the top 20 or 25. He'd have been an extremely important significant character in Days history, a leading man slowly turned into a despicable villain, a tragic example of the corrupting influence of the DiMera family. Unfortunately, with the 2007 rewrite that revealed Tony had been locked up on an island for twenty years, the character of Tony DiMera was effectively split in two. Everything that had happened in the 80s was still Tony, but everything that had happened int he 90s and 00s was instead Tony's cousin Andre, a character once regarded as a long-dead gimmicky secondary villain of little consequence.
This had the unfortunate effect of diluting Tony, negating the vast majority of the storylines and character traits that had once been attributed to him and turning him into a character much less defined. This might have been okay, and a good way to negate his evil actions if that was the route they wanted to go, if they had simply done something with him after revealing this. But they didn't. Tony hung around for less than two more years and did absolutely nothing. He randomly started an advertising agency (with the ridiculous story that Tony's company was all high-tech and using the newest technologies while Anna was stuck in the stone age with just drawings on paper, nevermind the fact that Tony had been on an island for twenty years and should be startled and confused by cell phones let alone the internet), they also did not show that twenty years imprisoned on a deserted island with nothing but the natives to keep him company had done anything to jar his psyche. He returned to Salem like he hadn't just lost a third of his life, and rather than driven insane with rage towards Stefano who had imprisoned him, he instead deigned to move into the mansion with him and just sort of hang out making snarky comments at his expense. So when Tony was killed in 2009, it wasn't the long-standing character with decades of history under his belt, but a poorly defined character we barely knew.
The only reason Tony's on this list at all, therefore, let alone this high up, is because of the role he played in the early-mid 80s. For those years he was everything E.J. is and more, a young DiMera (a rapist himself, many forget) desperate to get out of his father's shadow and make changes to his life to become a decent, honorable person. His relationship with Anna brought him to second-tier supercouple status, and his relationship with Renee was almost as popular. He was a great character in the 80s, and it was a shame they couldn't keep that up for him.
Because alas, those good old days are long behind him, and he's quite dead now. But then again, he is a DiMera and could always come back to life. After all, he's certainly come back to life many times bef-- Oh, wait, no, nevermind. That was Andre now too.
45. Nicole Walker
AKA: Nicole Mendez (birth name), Misty Circle (porn name), Nicole Roberts, Nicole Kiriakis, Nicole DiMera (married names)
Portrayed By: Arianne Zucker (1998-2006, 2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Eric Brady, Lucas Horton, Victor Kiriakis, Colin Murphy, Brady Black, E.J. DiMera
Occupation: PR Director for E.J. DiMera's Mayoral Campaign
Children: None
Family: Paul Mendez (father, deceased)
Fay Walker (mother, deceased)
Brandon Walker (half-brother)
Taylor Walker (sister)
Notes: Nicole's is an interesting case. For her first eight years on the show, she was more of a supporting vixen. She definitely had her fair share of schemes, from trying to kill Colin or Victor (or... something, that may have been retconned with Melaswen) to mutilating Chloe's face, but she was never really an A-Lister. At the time, the honor of Salem's premiere young vixen belonged to her rival Sami. And few people have ever left the show with less fanfare. When last we saw her she was seducing Roman or some random thing and then... that was it. And rather than it being a well-publicized insulting non-final final scene (a la Steve and Kayla), most people didn't even really know what was going on with her since at that point she was so seldomly seen. It was about a month or so before most people were like "Hey, where'd Nicole go?"
And then in 2008 she came back in a big way, and was suddenly immediately turned into one of the show's leading actress, given a prominence she'd never had before, to such an end that she appeared in a whopping 207 episodes, one of the highest amount of any Days character ever and her relationship with ex-boyfriend Brady has been morphed into an epic love story that it was never really written as in the past. Now that Sami has morphed into a goody-two-shoes it seems that the market for Salem vixens belongs exclusively to Nicole Walker, and she does it so well.
Portrayed By: Arianne Zucker (1998-2006, 2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Eric Brady, Lucas Horton, Victor Kiriakis, Colin Murphy, Brady Black, E.J. DiMera
Occupation: PR Director for E.J. DiMera's Mayoral Campaign
Children: None
Family: Paul Mendez (father, deceased)
Fay Walker (mother, deceased)
Brandon Walker (half-brother)
Taylor Walker (sister)
Notes: Nicole's is an interesting case. For her first eight years on the show, she was more of a supporting vixen. She definitely had her fair share of schemes, from trying to kill Colin or Victor (or... something, that may have been retconned with Melaswen) to mutilating Chloe's face, but she was never really an A-Lister. At the time, the honor of Salem's premiere young vixen belonged to her rival Sami. And few people have ever left the show with less fanfare. When last we saw her she was seducing Roman or some random thing and then... that was it. And rather than it being a well-publicized insulting non-final final scene (a la Steve and Kayla), most people didn't even really know what was going on with her since at that point she was so seldomly seen. It was about a month or so before most people were like "Hey, where'd Nicole go?"
And then in 2008 she came back in a big way, and was suddenly immediately turned into one of the show's leading actress, given a prominence she'd never had before, to such an end that she appeared in a whopping 207 episodes, one of the highest amount of any Days character ever and her relationship with ex-boyfriend Brady has been morphed into an epic love story that it was never really written as in the past. Now that Sami has morphed into a goody-two-shoes it seems that the market for Salem vixens belongs exclusively to Nicole Walker, and she does it so well.
44. Isabella Toscano
AKA: Isabella Beatrice Toscano (full name), Isabella Black (married name), Izzy-B (nickname)
Portrayed By: Staci Greason (1989-1992, 1995, 2000, 2002-2003)
Current Status: Deceased (1992)
Main Love Interests: John Black
Occupation: Private Investigator
Children: Brady Black (son, with John)
Family: Victor Kiriakis (father)
Loretta Toscano (mother, deceased)
Ernesto Toscano (legal father, deceased)
Marina Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Bo Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Yurgos Kiriakis (grandfather, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (grandmother, deceased)
Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: Few characters in Salem really stay dead if they die (unless their portrayor dies in real life) but Isabella seems to be the exception to that. Her death was so realistically, painfully and, in a way, beautifully done, that very few find it possible or likely that they'd ever render it moot - and not just because she's returned as a ghost so much.
Following Diana Colville's fairly abrupt departure, John "Roman Brady" Black needed a new love interest, and Marina Toscano's crazy little sister needed something to do after having been busted by Jack and Jennifer from Bayview Sanitarium. It was a match made in heaven! Isabella was launched very quickly into the mainstream, not just by being paired with RoJohn, but also the quick revelation that she was really Victor's daughter from a youthful affair with the married Loretta Toscano. All the major couples of the era were soon shuffled aboard Ernesto Toscano's infamous Cruise of Deception (still remembered as one of the most beloved storylines of all time) where all sorts of intensely soapy things took place - from Jennifer losing her virginity to "Hope" (Greta) being "killed" (turned into Swamp Girl). When all was said and done and the cruise was over, Isabella was an A-Lister in the first degree, and showed every possibility of being a new Days It-Girl.
And then Marlena came back.
There's no way to characterize it other than a big blow to Isabella. Although the fans were actually more divided than you'd think about John/Marlena vs. John/Isabella, it was clear that Marlena was going to be an issue, especially when Wayne Northrop's Roman returned having aged a fair amount, leaving John looking much more studly in comparison and thus more deserving of Marlena's affections to The Powers That Be. This, plus actress Staci Greason's desire to focus more on her writing (which I believe she's become successful with), meant that Isabella's time on the show was destined to be short-list. Still, to their credit, they could've taken the standard "turn her into a crazy bitch" track that they often do to sloppily write out a character, but they didn't. They gave Isabella a tragic death storyline, shortly after the birth of her son Brady, and let her go out with dignity. You can't ask for too much more than that.
P.S. For you Ernesto fans, I'm sorry but he won't be appearing on the list. Initially I included him but I eventually decided that as big as the Cruise of Deception was, anyone who was only on the show for a couple months can't, in good conscious, be included.
Portrayed By: Staci Greason (1989-1992, 1995, 2000, 2002-2003)
Current Status: Deceased (1992)
Main Love Interests: John Black
Occupation: Private Investigator
Children: Brady Black (son, with John)
Family: Victor Kiriakis (father)
Loretta Toscano (mother, deceased)
Ernesto Toscano (legal father, deceased)
Marina Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Bo Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Yurgos Kiriakis (grandfather, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (grandmother, deceased)
Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: Few characters in Salem really stay dead if they die (unless their portrayor dies in real life) but Isabella seems to be the exception to that. Her death was so realistically, painfully and, in a way, beautifully done, that very few find it possible or likely that they'd ever render it moot - and not just because she's returned as a ghost so much.
Following Diana Colville's fairly abrupt departure, John "Roman Brady" Black needed a new love interest, and Marina Toscano's crazy little sister needed something to do after having been busted by Jack and Jennifer from Bayview Sanitarium. It was a match made in heaven! Isabella was launched very quickly into the mainstream, not just by being paired with RoJohn, but also the quick revelation that she was really Victor's daughter from a youthful affair with the married Loretta Toscano. All the major couples of the era were soon shuffled aboard Ernesto Toscano's infamous Cruise of Deception (still remembered as one of the most beloved storylines of all time) where all sorts of intensely soapy things took place - from Jennifer losing her virginity to "Hope" (Greta) being "killed" (turned into Swamp Girl). When all was said and done and the cruise was over, Isabella was an A-Lister in the first degree, and showed every possibility of being a new Days It-Girl.
And then Marlena came back.
There's no way to characterize it other than a big blow to Isabella. Although the fans were actually more divided than you'd think about John/Marlena vs. John/Isabella, it was clear that Marlena was going to be an issue, especially when Wayne Northrop's Roman returned having aged a fair amount, leaving John looking much more studly in comparison and thus more deserving of Marlena's affections to The Powers That Be. This, plus actress Staci Greason's desire to focus more on her writing (which I believe she's become successful with), meant that Isabella's time on the show was destined to be short-list. Still, to their credit, they could've taken the standard "turn her into a crazy bitch" track that they often do to sloppily write out a character, but they didn't. They gave Isabella a tragic death storyline, shortly after the birth of her son Brady, and let her go out with dignity. You can't ask for too much more than that.
P.S. For you Ernesto fans, I'm sorry but he won't be appearing on the list. Initially I included him but I eventually decided that as big as the Cruise of Deception was, anyone who was only on the show for a couple months can't, in good conscious, be included.
43. Melissa Horton
AKA: Melissa Philips (birth name), Melissa Anderson (pre-adoption name)
Portrayed By: Kim Durso (1976)
Debbie Lyton (1978-1980, 1982)
Lisa Trusel (1982-1988, 1994, 1996, 2002, 2010)
Camilla Scott (1990-1991)
Current Status: Living in Nashville
Main Love Interests: Pete Jannings, Jack Deveraux, Emilio Ramirez, Brian Scofield
Occupation: Singer/Dancer
Children: Nathan Horton (son, with ????)
Family: Jim Philips (biological father, deceased)
Linda Patterson (biological mother)
Bob Anderson (biological step-father)
Mickey Horton (adoptive father)
Maggie Horton (adoptive mother)
Portrayed By: Kim Durso (1976)
Debbie Lyton (1978-1980, 1982)
Lisa Trusel (1982-1988, 1994, 1996, 2002, 2010)
Camilla Scott (1990-1991)
Current Status: Living in Nashville
Main Love Interests: Pete Jannings, Jack Deveraux, Emilio Ramirez, Brian Scofield
Occupation: Singer/Dancer
Children: Nathan Horton (son, with ????)
Family: Jim Philips (biological father, deceased)
Linda Patterson (biological mother)
Bob Anderson (biological step-father)
Mickey Horton (adoptive father)
Maggie Horton (adoptive mother)
Mike Horton (adoptive legal brother/adoptive cousin)
Sarah Horton (adoptive sister)
Alice Horton (adoptive grandmother, deceased)
Tom Horton (adoptive grandfather, deceased)
Tommy Horton (adoptive uncle)
Addie Horton (adoptive, aunt, deceased)
Bill Horton (adoptive uncle)
Marie Horton (adoptive aunt)
Sandy Horton (adoptive cousin)
Julie Olson (adoptive cousin)
Steven Olson (adoptive cousin)
Hope Williams (adoptive cousin)
Jennifer Horton (adoptive cousin)
Lucas Horton (adoptive cousin)
Jessica Blake (adoptive cousin)
Notes: In terms of Horton grandchildren, there's the really big ones (Julie, Mike, Hope, Jennifer, Lucas), the forgotten ones (Steven, Sandy, Jessica, Sarah) and then there's Melissa, somewhere in between. Though she once was counted among the prominent Horton kids (and, at a time, was almost on Hope's level - almost), and had a very healthy run on the show that lasted throughout almost the entirety of the 80s, and a little in both the 70s and 90s, the more recent years haven't been kind to Melissa's place on the show, and she's been relegated to guest appearances ever since - though she's had a lot of them. They seemed to struggle to find a place for Melissa after the disintegration of her big pairing with Pete Jannings, and since that couple fell apart just as couples like Steve and Kayla and Shane and Kimberly were really hitting their stride, they didn't seem to try all that hard to let Melissa back onto the frontburner. Though towards the end of Lisa Trusel's run they did manage to pair Melissa with Jack Deveraux, that didn't work either, as they had her be used and cheated on by him, ultimately sending Melissa off the show (although she was given a badass moment where she was allowed to utterly condemn the asshole on the day of the wedding in front of friends and family)
Melissa returned in 1990 (now magically darker-haired and with a singing voice!), being paired with both Emilio (who she killed by pushing of a roof!) and Brian Scofield, but fetching as she was the new Melissa didn't seem to have the panache that the old one did, and she was gone in a year. And that was essentially it, like so many 80s charaters, the 90s apparently weren't for her, but few characters from that decade who were as prominent as her became as forgotten. Thankfully, the character has had a bit of renaissance in the past year - partly because two tragic deaths have brought Melissa back for funerals twice in six months and partly because her brand-spanking-new son Nathan arrived in Salem last year and has quickly established himself as the new prominent young Horton.
Sarah Horton (adoptive sister)
Alice Horton (adoptive grandmother, deceased)
Tom Horton (adoptive grandfather, deceased)
Tommy Horton (adoptive uncle)
Addie Horton (adoptive, aunt, deceased)
Bill Horton (adoptive uncle)
Marie Horton (adoptive aunt)
Sandy Horton (adoptive cousin)
Julie Olson (adoptive cousin)
Steven Olson (adoptive cousin)
Hope Williams (adoptive cousin)
Jennifer Horton (adoptive cousin)
Lucas Horton (adoptive cousin)
Jessica Blake (adoptive cousin)
Notes: In terms of Horton grandchildren, there's the really big ones (Julie, Mike, Hope, Jennifer, Lucas), the forgotten ones (Steven, Sandy, Jessica, Sarah) and then there's Melissa, somewhere in between. Though she once was counted among the prominent Horton kids (and, at a time, was almost on Hope's level - almost), and had a very healthy run on the show that lasted throughout almost the entirety of the 80s, and a little in both the 70s and 90s, the more recent years haven't been kind to Melissa's place on the show, and she's been relegated to guest appearances ever since - though she's had a lot of them. They seemed to struggle to find a place for Melissa after the disintegration of her big pairing with Pete Jannings, and since that couple fell apart just as couples like Steve and Kayla and Shane and Kimberly were really hitting their stride, they didn't seem to try all that hard to let Melissa back onto the frontburner. Though towards the end of Lisa Trusel's run they did manage to pair Melissa with Jack Deveraux, that didn't work either, as they had her be used and cheated on by him, ultimately sending Melissa off the show (although she was given a badass moment where she was allowed to utterly condemn the asshole on the day of the wedding in front of friends and family)
Melissa returned in 1990 (now magically darker-haired and with a singing voice!), being paired with both Emilio (who she killed by pushing of a roof!) and Brian Scofield, but fetching as she was the new Melissa didn't seem to have the panache that the old one did, and she was gone in a year. And that was essentially it, like so many 80s charaters, the 90s apparently weren't for her, but few characters from that decade who were as prominent as her became as forgotten. Thankfully, the character has had a bit of renaissance in the past year - partly because two tragic deaths have brought Melissa back for funerals twice in six months and partly because her brand-spanking-new son Nathan arrived in Salem last year and has quickly established himself as the new prominent young Horton.
42. Neil Curtis
Portrayed By: Ben Archibek (1973-1974)
Joseph Gallison (1974-1991)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Phyllis Anderson, Linda Patterson, Marie Horton, Liz Chandler, Anjelica Deveraux, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Nathan Curtis (son, with Phyllis, deceased)
Sarah Horton (daughter, with Maggie) [in-vitro, raised by Mickey and Maggie]
Noelle Curtis (daughter, with Liz)
Family: Nathan Curtis Sr. (father)
Notes: For narrative reasons, almost every bad boy or bad girl character mellows as they age. No matter how much of a badass a character might have been in their 20s and 30s, if they're a designated good guy (villains are exempt from this) then they get into a lot less mischief when they're in their 40s, 50s and 60s. The reason is obvious, at that age they're usually either around to give advice to younger characters, or to do jobs like be doctors or lawyers or cops. The mischief is given to the next generation.
Neil Curtis, who had an extremely healthy eighteen-year-run had a version of this that was very condensed in comparison to other long-lasting characters, for whom this happened more gradually. Though Neil was never really a full-on leading man in the way Doug, Mickey and Bill were, in the 70s and early 80s Neil was an extremely prominent "bad boy". He had a gambling addiction, he was a bit of playboy and often unfaithful. Flashforward to 1991, the year Neil up and vanished like Don Craig and so many others before and after him, and Neil was a kindly old doctor who doesn't do much except... be a doctor. He's given a storyline here or there, usually a pairing with a similarly middle-aged character (such as Anjelica or Maggie) but for the most part, he's doing nothing but being a nice old doctor, rarely seen without his doctor's coat, and his badass days are not even a blip on the radar. Now, there were some factors working against Neil, for sure. For instance, Joseph Gallison aged prematurely (he was the same age Peter Reckell is now when he left, and yet he looked like he does in that photo) lessening the length of time he could realistically be viewed as a viable romantic candidate when they had the likes of Drake Hogestyn and Peter Reckell himself on the show.
So it goes for Days characters. The circle of soap opera life. No matter how much hell Neil raised back in the day, or how memorable his pairing with Liz Chandler was, his final years before his vanishing act were spent simply doing his rounds, in the same way you rarely see Abe and Roman doing anything outside of the context of work now. Watch out guys!
Joseph Gallison (1974-1991)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Phyllis Anderson, Linda Patterson, Marie Horton, Liz Chandler, Anjelica Deveraux, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Nathan Curtis (son, with Phyllis, deceased)
Sarah Horton (daughter, with Maggie) [in-vitro, raised by Mickey and Maggie]
Noelle Curtis (daughter, with Liz)
Family: Nathan Curtis Sr. (father)
Notes: For narrative reasons, almost every bad boy or bad girl character mellows as they age. No matter how much of a badass a character might have been in their 20s and 30s, if they're a designated good guy (villains are exempt from this) then they get into a lot less mischief when they're in their 40s, 50s and 60s. The reason is obvious, at that age they're usually either around to give advice to younger characters, or to do jobs like be doctors or lawyers or cops. The mischief is given to the next generation.
Neil Curtis, who had an extremely healthy eighteen-year-run had a version of this that was very condensed in comparison to other long-lasting characters, for whom this happened more gradually. Though Neil was never really a full-on leading man in the way Doug, Mickey and Bill were, in the 70s and early 80s Neil was an extremely prominent "bad boy". He had a gambling addiction, he was a bit of playboy and often unfaithful. Flashforward to 1991, the year Neil up and vanished like Don Craig and so many others before and after him, and Neil was a kindly old doctor who doesn't do much except... be a doctor. He's given a storyline here or there, usually a pairing with a similarly middle-aged character (such as Anjelica or Maggie) but for the most part, he's doing nothing but being a nice old doctor, rarely seen without his doctor's coat, and his badass days are not even a blip on the radar. Now, there were some factors working against Neil, for sure. For instance, Joseph Gallison aged prematurely (he was the same age Peter Reckell is now when he left, and yet he looked like he does in that photo) lessening the length of time he could realistically be viewed as a viable romantic candidate when they had the likes of Drake Hogestyn and Peter Reckell himself on the show.
So it goes for Days characters. The circle of soap opera life. No matter how much hell Neil raised back in the day, or how memorable his pairing with Liz Chandler was, his final years before his vanishing act were spent simply doing his rounds, in the same way you rarely see Abe and Roman doing anything outside of the context of work now. Watch out guys!
41. Anna DiMera
AKA: Anna Fredericks (maiden name), Anna Brady (previous married name)
Portrayed By: Leann Hunley (1982-1986, 2007-2009, 2009-2010)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Roman Brady, Tony DiMera
Occupation: Fugitive (former Advertising Executive and Fashion Designer)
Children: Carrie Brady (daughter, with Roman)
Family: Brett Fredericks (brother)
Notes: Anna DiMera's got a lot of faults. She's an unapologetic gold-digger, self-centered and self-indulgent, a bit of a ditz and currently wanted by the FBI for the kidnapping of her niece, Sydney. But for all those negative qualities, there's something sweet in Anna, and something sweet and rootable about Anna, thanks to Leann Hunley's Emmy-winning portrayal. She can be funny, lively and unpredictable, and her tendency to attempt to deal with things via seduction before all other tactics, makes her the perfect soap character. She's perhaps Days's premiere example of a typical gold-digger soap archetype (later embodied by Nicole who put a more vicious spin on it) but she's more than that.
Before Santo and Colleen or E.J. and Sami, Anna was the main connection between the Bradys and the DiMeras, her two husbands being the eldest sons of both patriarchs. You can't get much different than working class salt-of-the-earth Roman Brady and the Count Antony DiMera, yet Anna had believable and sweet relationships with both of them, the latter of which approached second-tier supercouple status. It was this connection that brought her back to Salem during the 2007 Vendetta storyline. Bizarrely, she spent the two years she was on the show alongside Tony barely being seen. It was only when Tony died that Anna's real second-run prominence began to take hold and right now she's smack-dab in the middle of one of the main storylines in Salem, having helped E.J. take his own daughter to make Sami Brady suffer.
But even then she had good intentions, as she believed E.J. honestly loved Sami and was trying to help get him to see that. Yes, Anna screws up and she can be sort of immature (in fact, her daughter Carrie has been more mature than her since she was a little girl) but Anna tries. She really does. She usually has good intentions and she's at least aware of all her qualities that have bitten her in the ass. One hopes that when her situation gets figured out, Anna is given a happy ending. But it's not looking too good.
Portrayed By: Leann Hunley (1982-1986, 2007-2009, 2009-2010)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Roman Brady, Tony DiMera
Occupation: Fugitive (former Advertising Executive and Fashion Designer)
Children: Carrie Brady (daughter, with Roman)
Family: Brett Fredericks (brother)
Notes: Anna DiMera's got a lot of faults. She's an unapologetic gold-digger, self-centered and self-indulgent, a bit of a ditz and currently wanted by the FBI for the kidnapping of her niece, Sydney. But for all those negative qualities, there's something sweet in Anna, and something sweet and rootable about Anna, thanks to Leann Hunley's Emmy-winning portrayal. She can be funny, lively and unpredictable, and her tendency to attempt to deal with things via seduction before all other tactics, makes her the perfect soap character. She's perhaps Days's premiere example of a typical gold-digger soap archetype (later embodied by Nicole who put a more vicious spin on it) but she's more than that.
Before Santo and Colleen or E.J. and Sami, Anna was the main connection between the Bradys and the DiMeras, her two husbands being the eldest sons of both patriarchs. You can't get much different than working class salt-of-the-earth Roman Brady and the Count Antony DiMera, yet Anna had believable and sweet relationships with both of them, the latter of which approached second-tier supercouple status. It was this connection that brought her back to Salem during the 2007 Vendetta storyline. Bizarrely, she spent the two years she was on the show alongside Tony barely being seen. It was only when Tony died that Anna's real second-run prominence began to take hold and right now she's smack-dab in the middle of one of the main storylines in Salem, having helped E.J. take his own daughter to make Sami Brady suffer.
But even then she had good intentions, as she believed E.J. honestly loved Sami and was trying to help get him to see that. Yes, Anna screws up and she can be sort of immature (in fact, her daughter Carrie has been more mature than her since she was a little girl) but Anna tries. She really does. She usually has good intentions and she's at least aware of all her qualities that have bitten her in the ass. One hopes that when her situation gets figured out, Anna is given a happy ending. But it's not looking too good.
40. Carly Manning
AKA: Katerina von Leuschner (birth name)
Portrayed By: Crystal Chappell (1990-1993, 2009-2011)
Current Status: Living in Europe
Main Love Interests: Lawrence Alamain, Bo Brady, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Nicholas Alamain (son, with Lawrence)
Melanie Layton (daughter, with Daniel)
Family: Henri von Leuschner (father, deceased)
Frankie Brady (brother)
Notes: Off the top of my head, I can't think of a single character whose candle burned as brightly for as limited a time as Carly Manning. Of the 40 characters I've placed ahead of Carly, every one of them has spent more time on the show than Carly has - and in some cases a lot more time, and yet a great many of them gained their significance mainly because of this longevity. Not Carly. She showed up, took over the show almost immediately and then was gone just as quickly. This quality is a double-edged sword. It ultimately is what takes her as far as it has, and yet is what keeps her from advancing much further and, despite the significance and popularity of her relationship with Bo, is what keeps it from advancing further than third in rank of the list of Bo's significant relationships.
Although 1990 signaled the triumphant return of Bo and Hope after a three year absence, this warm homecoming was cut tragically short when Hope was "killed" just a few months later on The Cruise of Deception due to Kristian Alfonso's lack of interest in a long-term daytime gig. Thus Bo needed a new love interest, and stat. Unfortunately there were no obvious candidates on the landscape. The show's premiere heroine Jennifer was a touch young for him and knee-deep in her own stuff and every other girl of prominence was a half-sister. Enter Carly Manning. Rather than introduce her gradually, they hit the ground running with her immediately, bringing the whole Alamain clan with her. They also established two big connections for her right away, as Jennifer's surrogate big sister from boarding school and Frankie's actual big sister from real-life. In no time Carly was firmly enthralled in the Salem landscape, and she remained that way for three years with the Bo/Carly/Lawrence a frontburner mainstay the entire time, and her infamous Buried Alive!!!! storyline became stuff of soap opera legend.
But nothing gold can stay. Following Peter Reckell's departure in 1992 and Bo's subsequent recasting with Robert Kelker-Kelly there seemed to be some need to start Bo over fresh and Bo had a new burgeoning love interest in Billie Reed (the relationship that would ultimately define RKK's Bo) and things began to wane for Carly. When Michael Sabatino (Lawrence and Crystal Chappell's real-life husband) was let go, Crystal decided to follow him. Bo was easily switched to fully towards Billie and very quickly Carly became a seldom mentioned non-issue. And for sixteen years, that was that.
But in that time Crystal Chappell made herself a soap opera superstar on Guiding Light, and following that show's cancellation she was quickly snatched up Days of our Lives, who wanted to make the most of the good will and buzz she had. And now Carly's back on the show and back with Bo - though this time dealing with Hope, a factor she never had to deal with before. In no time, she's already cemented herself as one of the lead characters (and, presently, the most appearing character of 2010) but time will tell if again burning hot and bright, means burning out quickly.
Portrayed By: Crystal Chappell (1990-1993, 2009-2011)
Current Status: Living in Europe
Main Love Interests: Lawrence Alamain, Bo Brady, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Doctor
Children: Nicholas Alamain (son, with Lawrence)
Melanie Layton (daughter, with Daniel)
Family: Henri von Leuschner (father, deceased)
Frankie Brady (brother)
Notes: Off the top of my head, I can't think of a single character whose candle burned as brightly for as limited a time as Carly Manning. Of the 40 characters I've placed ahead of Carly, every one of them has spent more time on the show than Carly has - and in some cases a lot more time, and yet a great many of them gained their significance mainly because of this longevity. Not Carly. She showed up, took over the show almost immediately and then was gone just as quickly. This quality is a double-edged sword. It ultimately is what takes her as far as it has, and yet is what keeps her from advancing much further and, despite the significance and popularity of her relationship with Bo, is what keeps it from advancing further than third in rank of the list of Bo's significant relationships.
Although 1990 signaled the triumphant return of Bo and Hope after a three year absence, this warm homecoming was cut tragically short when Hope was "killed" just a few months later on The Cruise of Deception due to Kristian Alfonso's lack of interest in a long-term daytime gig. Thus Bo needed a new love interest, and stat. Unfortunately there were no obvious candidates on the landscape. The show's premiere heroine Jennifer was a touch young for him and knee-deep in her own stuff and every other girl of prominence was a half-sister. Enter Carly Manning. Rather than introduce her gradually, they hit the ground running with her immediately, bringing the whole Alamain clan with her. They also established two big connections for her right away, as Jennifer's surrogate big sister from boarding school and Frankie's actual big sister from real-life. In no time Carly was firmly enthralled in the Salem landscape, and she remained that way for three years with the Bo/Carly/Lawrence a frontburner mainstay the entire time, and her infamous Buried Alive!!!! storyline became stuff of soap opera legend.
But nothing gold can stay. Following Peter Reckell's departure in 1992 and Bo's subsequent recasting with Robert Kelker-Kelly there seemed to be some need to start Bo over fresh and Bo had a new burgeoning love interest in Billie Reed (the relationship that would ultimately define RKK's Bo) and things began to wane for Carly. When Michael Sabatino (Lawrence and Crystal Chappell's real-life husband) was let go, Crystal decided to follow him. Bo was easily switched to fully towards Billie and very quickly Carly became a seldom mentioned non-issue. And for sixteen years, that was that.
But in that time Crystal Chappell made herself a soap opera superstar on Guiding Light, and following that show's cancellation she was quickly snatched up Days of our Lives, who wanted to make the most of the good will and buzz she had. And now Carly's back on the show and back with Bo - though this time dealing with Hope, a factor she never had to deal with before. In no time, she's already cemented herself as one of the lead characters (and, presently, the most appearing character of 2010) but time will tell if again burning hot and bright, means burning out quickly.
39. Vivian Alamain
Portrayed By: Louise Sorel (1992-2000, 2009-2011)
Current Status: Living in India
Main Love Interests: Victor Kiriakis, Stefano DiMera, Ivan Marais
Occupation: Socialite, former Titan Co-Owner/Executive
Children: Quinn Hudson (son, with Mr. Hudson)
She'll also tell you that she's Philip's mother
Family: Leopold Alamain (brother, deceased)
Lawrence Alamain (nephew)
John Black (adopted nephew)
Nicholas Alamain (great-nephew)
Notes: Soaps frequently have dangerously obsessive female villains (Days example: Kate Roberts). Soaps also frequently have goofy eccentric characters in lavish clothing and funny hats who are there to be the butt of jokes (Days example: Calliope Jones)... but very very rarely do these two characters intermix, and that's what makes Vivian Alamain such a fun and interesting character. She can go for months at a time doing little but being wacky comic relief and then all of a sudden pull off such a horrific crime that it takes you back, because no matter how silly, affected and just plain pathetically delusional Vivian seems, you underestimate her at your peril.
When Vivian first arrived on the scene, her nephew Lawrence was already knee-deep in his role as Days's current big villain, and Vivian's role was little more than back-up and support to him. The character didn't really hit her stride until 1993, when they started redeeming Lawrence and gave more and more villainy to Vivian - most famously exemplified by the "Bured Alive!" storyline for Carly. So famous and significant was this storyline, that it almost single-handedly launched Vivian into a level of Days villainy reserved for Days's two old Mediterranean mobsters.
While this incident did secure Vivian's place in Days history, it was also the most diabolical act that she was known for... which means she peaked in her second year. Carly and Lawrence left the show shortly after this incident, meaning Vivian was left without the people she would most organically fit into storylines with. Though they gave her other things to do for the next seven years (trying to nab Victor and, alternately, Stefano) and other rivals (Kate) she became more a supporting villain than a lead one, especially as the 90s became more and more a second golden age for the DiMeras.
Upon her return in 2009, following Lawrence's death and Carly's re-emergence, Vivian was given her claws back in a big way, while still not losing her goofy delusions of grandeur or desire to be Mrs. Victor Kiriakis. And as things stand now, what with Victor and Stefano significantly mellowed in their old age, one could even say Vivian currently stands as Days's big villain - though one could also ascribe that to E.J. or Nicole, but they don't have Viv's gravitas. So few do.
Current Status: Living in India
Main Love Interests: Victor Kiriakis, Stefano DiMera, Ivan Marais
Occupation: Socialite, former Titan Co-Owner/Executive
Children: Quinn Hudson (son, with Mr. Hudson)
She'll also tell you that she's Philip's mother
Family: Leopold Alamain (brother, deceased)
Lawrence Alamain (nephew)
John Black (adopted nephew)
Nicholas Alamain (great-nephew)
Notes: Soaps frequently have dangerously obsessive female villains (Days example: Kate Roberts). Soaps also frequently have goofy eccentric characters in lavish clothing and funny hats who are there to be the butt of jokes (Days example: Calliope Jones)... but very very rarely do these two characters intermix, and that's what makes Vivian Alamain such a fun and interesting character. She can go for months at a time doing little but being wacky comic relief and then all of a sudden pull off such a horrific crime that it takes you back, because no matter how silly, affected and just plain pathetically delusional Vivian seems, you underestimate her at your peril.
When Vivian first arrived on the scene, her nephew Lawrence was already knee-deep in his role as Days's current big villain, and Vivian's role was little more than back-up and support to him. The character didn't really hit her stride until 1993, when they started redeeming Lawrence and gave more and more villainy to Vivian - most famously exemplified by the "Bured Alive!" storyline for Carly. So famous and significant was this storyline, that it almost single-handedly launched Vivian into a level of Days villainy reserved for Days's two old Mediterranean mobsters.
While this incident did secure Vivian's place in Days history, it was also the most diabolical act that she was known for... which means she peaked in her second year. Carly and Lawrence left the show shortly after this incident, meaning Vivian was left without the people she would most organically fit into storylines with. Though they gave her other things to do for the next seven years (trying to nab Victor and, alternately, Stefano) and other rivals (Kate) she became more a supporting villain than a lead one, especially as the 90s became more and more a second golden age for the DiMeras.
Upon her return in 2009, following Lawrence's death and Carly's re-emergence, Vivian was given her claws back in a big way, while still not losing her goofy delusions of grandeur or desire to be Mrs. Victor Kiriakis. And as things stand now, what with Victor and Stefano significantly mellowed in their old age, one could even say Vivian currently stands as Days's big villain - though one could also ascribe that to E.J. or Nicole, but they don't have Viv's gravitas. So few do.
38. Brady Black
AKA: Brady Victor Black (full name)
Portrayed By: Alex, Max and Dash Lucero (1992-1994)
Eric and Brandon Billings (1994-1999)
Kyle Lowder (2000-2005)
Eric Martsolf (2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Chloe Lane, Nicole Walker, Arianna Hernandez, Madison James
Occupation: Co-CEO of Basic Black
Children: None
Family: John Black (father)
Isabella Toscano (mother, deceased)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Claire Brady (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (grandmother, deceased)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Loretta Toscano (grandmother, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Portrayed By: Alex, Max and Dash Lucero (1992-1994)
Eric and Brandon Billings (1994-1999)
Kyle Lowder (2000-2005)
Eric Martsolf (2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Chloe Lane, Nicole Walker, Arianna Hernandez, Madison James
Occupation: Co-CEO of Basic Black
Children: None
Family: John Black (father)
Isabella Toscano (mother, deceased)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Claire Brady (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (grandmother, deceased)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Loretta Toscano (grandmother, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: Following the 1999 mass aging and new teen scene creation, Belle Black was turned from a six-year-old to a fifteen-year-old while Brady remained mysteriously offscreen. The reason being that if Belle was now fifteen than Brady had to be even older than that, and yet since they were sticking with their core group of high school sophomores they weren't ready for him. In fact, it was almost a full year before we were introduced to nineteen-year-old Brady Black. But what personality were they to give him, since he'd utterly failed to be established as anyone before now. Well, friendly boy-next-door and rich arrogant playboy were taken by Shawn and Philip respectively, and that left Brady with one other young soap man option - the edgy brooding loner. You know the type. They wear black a lot.
However since, unlike other past successful edgy brooding loners like the young Bo and Steve, Brady had never actually suffered much adversity in his life, being raised in a happy, well-off loving home, this more or less manifested itself as him being emo and angsty for no particular reason. He'd shut himself up in his room and listen to loud music, he'd be rude to his parents (especially step-mother Marlena) despite them being nothing but loving and supportive to him, and he was constantly whining about how nobody understands him!!!!!! He was annoying, whiny and obnoxious. In short, one of the most realistic depictions of a teenager that Days has ever had, thanks to his Daytime Emmy-nominated performer, Kyle Lowder.
As soon as he met Chloe, however, the only portion of Brady's personality that remained was his tendency to be overly-emotional. He was thrust into a triangle with Philip and Chloe, and since Philip was already pretty well-established as a rich prick, Chloe was drawn instead to this angsty tortured soul and so became their syrupy-sweet love story. They would both burst into song at little-to-no provocation and ultimately we learned the very realistic lesson that true love conquers cancer and heals horrible facial scars. They left town in 2005 on a wave of wedded bliss.
Much like Melissa Horton, when Brady returned to town he looked suspiciously older and darker-haired (though unlike Melissa #2, Brady's second portrayer Eric Martsolf is one of the most lauded recasts in recent Days history with a great many preferring his Brady to Kyle's) We'd already learned offscreen that Brady and Chloe's marriage had fallen apart swiftly and completely with their fights turning so loud and violent the police needed to be called and Brady eventually becoming a coke addict who needed to be sent to rehab. He returned to Salem looking for a fresh start - and boy did he find one. All angsty emo qualities were gone, although his hopeless romantic trait remained. But instead of picking up where he left off with his ex-wife (or, even interacting with her) he was suddenly in love with his ex-girlfriend Nicole, despite formerly never being in love with her even when they were dating. And yet... it worked. Brady and Nicole's relationship was sweet and touching in a way it never was before, with Brady being the only one who believed and had faith in Nicole, even when everyone thought he was crazy (and even when they were right.) To stand in contrast to Nicole's husband E.J., Brady was allowed to become a classic knight-in-shining armor in the standard of his father and many other Days leading men, while still keeping a sensitivity and emotionalism that kept the character true, and an easy-going charisma thanks to his talented portrayer
However since, unlike other past successful edgy brooding loners like the young Bo and Steve, Brady had never actually suffered much adversity in his life, being raised in a happy, well-off loving home, this more or less manifested itself as him being emo and angsty for no particular reason. He'd shut himself up in his room and listen to loud music, he'd be rude to his parents (especially step-mother Marlena) despite them being nothing but loving and supportive to him, and he was constantly whining about how nobody understands him!!!!!! He was annoying, whiny and obnoxious. In short, one of the most realistic depictions of a teenager that Days has ever had, thanks to his Daytime Emmy-nominated performer, Kyle Lowder.
As soon as he met Chloe, however, the only portion of Brady's personality that remained was his tendency to be overly-emotional. He was thrust into a triangle with Philip and Chloe, and since Philip was already pretty well-established as a rich prick, Chloe was drawn instead to this angsty tortured soul and so became their syrupy-sweet love story. They would both burst into song at little-to-no provocation and ultimately we learned the very realistic lesson that true love conquers cancer and heals horrible facial scars. They left town in 2005 on a wave of wedded bliss.
Much like Melissa Horton, when Brady returned to town he looked suspiciously older and darker-haired (though unlike Melissa #2, Brady's second portrayer Eric Martsolf is one of the most lauded recasts in recent Days history with a great many preferring his Brady to Kyle's) We'd already learned offscreen that Brady and Chloe's marriage had fallen apart swiftly and completely with their fights turning so loud and violent the police needed to be called and Brady eventually becoming a coke addict who needed to be sent to rehab. He returned to Salem looking for a fresh start - and boy did he find one. All angsty emo qualities were gone, although his hopeless romantic trait remained. But instead of picking up where he left off with his ex-wife (or, even interacting with her) he was suddenly in love with his ex-girlfriend Nicole, despite formerly never being in love with her even when they were dating. And yet... it worked. Brady and Nicole's relationship was sweet and touching in a way it never was before, with Brady being the only one who believed and had faith in Nicole, even when everyone thought he was crazy (and even when they were right.) To stand in contrast to Nicole's husband E.J., Brady was allowed to become a classic knight-in-shining armor in the standard of his father and many other Days leading men, while still keeping a sensitivity and emotionalism that kept the character true, and an easy-going charisma thanks to his talented portrayer
37. Austin Reed
Portrayed By: Patrick Muldoon (1992-1995, 2011-present)
Austin Peck (1995-2002, 2005-2006)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Carrie Brady, Jennifer Horton, Sami Brady, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Forensic Accountant, Professor of Accounting at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Curtis Reed (father, deceased)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Billie Reed (sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Austin Peck (1995-2002, 2005-2006)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Carrie Brady, Jennifer Horton, Sami Brady, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Forensic Accountant, Professor of Accounting at Salem University
Children: None
Family: Curtis Reed (father, deceased)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Billie Reed (sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Notes: A lot of people tend to dislike Austin, and it's not too hard to see why. He's not very bright (okay, he's flat-out dumb) he's perpetually duped and bewildered by events, and most of all to many he never seemed quite worth all the trouble Sami went through to be with him. Still, Austin was one of the premiere leading men of the 90s, on basically the same level as Bo, John and Jack, and his ultra-popular pairing with Carrie (which, admittedly, seems to have lost popularity in recent years) was one of many latter pairings that, while possibly not quite supercouples known daytime-wide, certainly gained an iconic and legendary status among the show itself and for this reason his impact cannot be stated more vociferously - even if Austin wouldn't know what that word meant.
Besides, you need guys like Austin. It's not like he's a bad guy. Not every character can be clever, crafty or badass. You need really dumb, really nice guys who can be pawns in the games of more interesting women. You couldn't have switched the famed quadrangle around and had Carrie and Sami fighting over Lucas, not because he's not worth it, but because he's too active a character. He would make decisions and get involved. Not Austin, he's a trophy to be fought for. When it comes time for him to fight (like for Carrie against Mike) he'll just lay down and admit defeat. He doesn't know how to be unadored, and thus the 90s (when he was oft-adored) were a golden age for him. Yet, sadly, he didn't do as well in this more cynical and jaded century. Suddenly people wanted their characters to have pathos and charisma and poor Austin was left out in the cold. Still, he's made his mark. Lumi and Ejami fans can continue to fight to the death, but Sami will go down in history as best remembered for being that crazy girl obsessed with Austin and for that reason (even if that alone), Austin Reed has a secure place in the Days pantheon.
Besides, you need guys like Austin. It's not like he's a bad guy. Not every character can be clever, crafty or badass. You need really dumb, really nice guys who can be pawns in the games of more interesting women. You couldn't have switched the famed quadrangle around and had Carrie and Sami fighting over Lucas, not because he's not worth it, but because he's too active a character. He would make decisions and get involved. Not Austin, he's a trophy to be fought for. When it comes time for him to fight (like for Carrie against Mike) he'll just lay down and admit defeat. He doesn't know how to be unadored, and thus the 90s (when he was oft-adored) were a golden age for him. Yet, sadly, he didn't do as well in this more cynical and jaded century. Suddenly people wanted their characters to have pathos and charisma and poor Austin was left out in the cold. Still, he's made his mark. Lumi and Ejami fans can continue to fight to the death, but Sami will go down in history as best remembered for being that crazy girl obsessed with Austin and for that reason (even if that alone), Austin Reed has a secure place in the Days pantheon.
36. Chloe Lane
AKA: Ghoul Girl (nickname), Chloe Black, Chloe Horton, Chloe Jonas (married names)
Portrayed By: Nadia Bjorlin (1999-2003, 2004-2005, 2007-2011)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Philip Kiriakis, Brady Black, Lucas Horton, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Opera singer
Children: Parker Kiriakis (son, with Philip)
Family: Craig Wesley (father)
Nancy Wesley (mother)
Joy Wesley (sister)
Albert Miller (grandfather)
Notes: Chloe came onto the screen as a total cliche, and her first six months on the show work essentially as an extended cut of the movie She's All That. "Oh no! That girl is so ugly! She has glasses and wears baggy clothing! I can't believe I have to take her to the prom! Oh wait! Her glasses are off and she's wearing a dress! She's the hottest girl in school now!!" But nevertheless, Chloe's ugly duckling status - as well as her being cynical, moody and artsy in contrast to the 99 pounds of perkiness and cheer that was Belle Black - endeared her too many fans of the show in the early years, and she became uproariously popular. And true enough it was refreshing and invigorating to have a leading actress who wasn't just effortlessly beautiful and instead was kind of off-beat and unique in her looks, while still being pretty in her own right. Plus, unlike the other pretty and privileged Salem High kids, she'd gone through a lot of adversity - first growing up being shuffled from foster parents to foster parents, and then dealing with leukemia. It was hard not to root for her.
This popularity lead to her being vaulted to a leading actress almost immediately and put in the center of the biggest Days triangle created in the last ten years (and, yes, I'm including you, E.J./Sami/Lucas). At first there was the opposites attract thing with the cocky, charismatic playboy (Philip) and then the kindred spirits connection of the angsty, brooding loner (Brady). Fans were evenly divided but eventually (as often happens) the cocky playboy proves himself to be a douche, and the girl runs off with the brooding loner in a fabulous musical love affair and everyone could be happy that Cinderella had become a Princess at last. The ugly duckling was now a swan.
The thing about the ugly duckling though, is that you never see what happens to her after she becomes a swan - because in all likelihood, once it hits her how hot she is - all of that angst and character depth will fly out the window now that she's got T&A to show off. And, indeed, when Chloe returned in 2007 she was almost unrecognizable. Gone was anything Ghoul Girl related, and in it's place was a sexy diva who bounced from guy to guy in a way she never did as a teenager. The character's popularity suffered greatly as a result, and it wasn't helped by the fact that her pairings were bizarre (Lucas? Daniel? WTF?) Most people (including, reportedly, Nadia Bjorlin herself) didn't quite understand, when both the two love interests who'd made Chloe into a star were on the show and one of them was played by the original actor, why Chloe would suddenly be in a triangle with two people she didn't know and hadn't interacted with. Unlike when Brady faced off against Philip for Chloe, there were no winners in Lucas vs. Daniel - only losers.
With Chloe's recent affair with Philip that might have caused her to become pregnant with his child, one can hope that perhaps Chloe Lane's returning to her roots. But as long as every piece of clothing she wears flaunts her breasts (and, don't get me wrong, they're nice breasts) it might be unlikely that we'll ever see Ghoul Girl Chloe again.
Portrayed By: Nadia Bjorlin (1999-2003, 2004-2005, 2007-2011)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Philip Kiriakis, Brady Black, Lucas Horton, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: Opera singer
Children: Parker Kiriakis (son, with Philip)
Family: Craig Wesley (father)
Nancy Wesley (mother)
Joy Wesley (sister)
Albert Miller (grandfather)
Notes: Chloe came onto the screen as a total cliche, and her first six months on the show work essentially as an extended cut of the movie She's All That. "Oh no! That girl is so ugly! She has glasses and wears baggy clothing! I can't believe I have to take her to the prom! Oh wait! Her glasses are off and she's wearing a dress! She's the hottest girl in school now!!" But nevertheless, Chloe's ugly duckling status - as well as her being cynical, moody and artsy in contrast to the 99 pounds of perkiness and cheer that was Belle Black - endeared her too many fans of the show in the early years, and she became uproariously popular. And true enough it was refreshing and invigorating to have a leading actress who wasn't just effortlessly beautiful and instead was kind of off-beat and unique in her looks, while still being pretty in her own right. Plus, unlike the other pretty and privileged Salem High kids, she'd gone through a lot of adversity - first growing up being shuffled from foster parents to foster parents, and then dealing with leukemia. It was hard not to root for her.
This popularity lead to her being vaulted to a leading actress almost immediately and put in the center of the biggest Days triangle created in the last ten years (and, yes, I'm including you, E.J./Sami/Lucas). At first there was the opposites attract thing with the cocky, charismatic playboy (Philip) and then the kindred spirits connection of the angsty, brooding loner (Brady). Fans were evenly divided but eventually (as often happens) the cocky playboy proves himself to be a douche, and the girl runs off with the brooding loner in a fabulous musical love affair and everyone could be happy that Cinderella had become a Princess at last. The ugly duckling was now a swan.
The thing about the ugly duckling though, is that you never see what happens to her after she becomes a swan - because in all likelihood, once it hits her how hot she is - all of that angst and character depth will fly out the window now that she's got T&A to show off. And, indeed, when Chloe returned in 2007 she was almost unrecognizable. Gone was anything Ghoul Girl related, and in it's place was a sexy diva who bounced from guy to guy in a way she never did as a teenager. The character's popularity suffered greatly as a result, and it wasn't helped by the fact that her pairings were bizarre (Lucas? Daniel? WTF?) Most people (including, reportedly, Nadia Bjorlin herself) didn't quite understand, when both the two love interests who'd made Chloe into a star were on the show and one of them was played by the original actor, why Chloe would suddenly be in a triangle with two people she didn't know and hadn't interacted with. Unlike when Brady faced off against Philip for Chloe, there were no winners in Lucas vs. Daniel - only losers.
With Chloe's recent affair with Philip that might have caused her to become pregnant with his child, one can hope that perhaps Chloe Lane's returning to her roots. But as long as every piece of clothing she wears flaunts her breasts (and, don't get me wrong, they're nice breasts) it might be unlikely that we'll ever see Ghoul Girl Chloe again.
35. Shawn Brady Sr.
Portrayed By: Frank Parker (1983-1984, 1985-1989, 1990-2008)
Lew Brown (1984-1985)
Frank/Peter MacLean* (1989-1990)
Current Status: Deceased (2008)
Main Love Interests: Caroline Brady
Occupation: Pub owner, fisherman
Children: Roman Brady (son, with Caroline)
Kimberly Brady (daughter, with Caroline)
Kayla Brady (daughter, with Caroline)
Bo Brady (legal son, with Caroline)
Frankie Brady (adopted son, with Caroline)
Max Brady (adopted son, with Caroline)
Family: Pete Brady (father, deceased)
Colleen Brady (sister, deceased)
Eric Brady (brother, deceased)
Molly Brady (sister)
John Black (nephew)
Colin Murphy (nephew)
Carrie Brady (granddaughter)
Sami Brady (granddaughter)
Eric Brady (grandson)
Rex Brady (grandson)
Cassie DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (grandson)
Jeannie Donovan (granddaughter)
Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady ("grandson")
Chelsea Benson Brady ("granddaughter")
Zack Brady ("grandson", deceased)
Ciara Brady ("granddaughter")
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (great-grandson)
Sydney DiMera (great-granddaughter)
Claire Brady ("great-granddaughter")
Patrick Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Nora Brady (grandmother, deceased)
*Different sources refer to the actor by different names.
Notes: Grandpa Shawn was humble, loyal, hard-working, occasionally hot-tempered but always good-hearted - in other words, the truest embodiment of the Brady family. We never saw him nearly as much as we did Caroline, and he wasn't given as much to do, but with his jovial Irish accent and the twinkle in his eye, he probably remains the more iconic Brady parent. And his working-class, blue-collar grit made him a nice contrast to the more patrician WASP-y Tom and Alice.
He also came with a sense of mystery, as he alone (along with Stefano) knew absolutely everything about the histories of both the Brady and DiMera families, and the dichotomy between the jolly old man Shawn could usually be, and the haunted bitter ruthless man Shawn could become whenever anyone poked their nose a little too far into the family secrets, lead him to be a much more well-drawn and interesting character than he might have ordinarily been. Shawn Brady's gone now, but he leaves behind a legacy of six Brady children (only half of which were his actual kids, yet all of which he loved as his own) and as the patriarch of the only family in Days history that has ever come close to rivaling the Hortons in impact and significance.
Lew Brown (1984-1985)
Frank/Peter MacLean* (1989-1990)
Current Status: Deceased (2008)
Main Love Interests: Caroline Brady
Occupation: Pub owner, fisherman
Children: Roman Brady (son, with Caroline)
Kimberly Brady (daughter, with Caroline)
Kayla Brady (daughter, with Caroline)
Bo Brady (legal son, with Caroline)
Frankie Brady (adopted son, with Caroline)
Max Brady (adopted son, with Caroline)
Family: Pete Brady (father, deceased)
Colleen Brady (sister, deceased)
Eric Brady (brother, deceased)
Molly Brady (sister)
John Black (nephew)
Colin Murphy (nephew)
Carrie Brady (granddaughter)
Sami Brady (granddaughter)
Eric Brady (grandson)
Rex Brady (grandson)
Cassie DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (grandson)
Jeannie Donovan (granddaughter)
Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady ("grandson")
Chelsea Benson Brady ("granddaughter")
Zack Brady ("grandson", deceased)
Ciara Brady ("granddaughter")
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (great-grandson)
Sydney DiMera (great-granddaughter)
Claire Brady ("great-granddaughter")
Patrick Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Nora Brady (grandmother, deceased)
*Different sources refer to the actor by different names.
Notes: Grandpa Shawn was humble, loyal, hard-working, occasionally hot-tempered but always good-hearted - in other words, the truest embodiment of the Brady family. We never saw him nearly as much as we did Caroline, and he wasn't given as much to do, but with his jovial Irish accent and the twinkle in his eye, he probably remains the more iconic Brady parent. And his working-class, blue-collar grit made him a nice contrast to the more patrician WASP-y Tom and Alice.
He also came with a sense of mystery, as he alone (along with Stefano) knew absolutely everything about the histories of both the Brady and DiMera families, and the dichotomy between the jolly old man Shawn could usually be, and the haunted bitter ruthless man Shawn could become whenever anyone poked their nose a little too far into the family secrets, lead him to be a much more well-drawn and interesting character than he might have ordinarily been. Shawn Brady's gone now, but he leaves behind a legacy of six Brady children (only half of which were his actual kids, yet all of which he loved as his own) and as the patriarch of the only family in Days history that has ever come close to rivaling the Hortons in impact and significance.
34. Andre DiMera
AKA: Tony DiMera (when masquerading as him, which is usually)
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis (1983-1984, 1993-1995, 2002-2005, 2007)
Current Status: Deceased (2007)
Main Love Interests: Kristen Blake
Occupation: DiMera Flunky (frequently goes rogue)
Children: None
Family: Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
John Black (uncle)
Tony DiMera ("cousin", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: I ripped on the 2007 retcon involving Tony and Andre pretty good, but as much as it hurt the character of Tony, it did wonderful things for Andre. As mentioned before, prior to the 2007 rewrite, Andre was a nothing character. A minor look-a-like temporary villain of the early 80s (and look-a-like villains are a dime a dozen on soaps) that was killed off and had been believed to be long offscreen (even the 2002 rewrite that said the Tony we thought had died in 1995 was really Andre was just a way to bring Tony back to life, it still kept Andre dead.) As it stood, Andre would have been lucky to make this list at all.
Then it all changed, and we found out that everything from the past twenty years that we believed had been Tony was really Andre. Sucks for Tony, but it single-handedly turned Andre from a pathetic worthless stooge of Stefano's, to one of the most diabolical daytime villains of all time. To have played the role of someone else for twenty years, and to even trick family members... that's pretty bad-ass. And it also gave him credit for the numerous crazy-ass schemes that Tony pulled. Unfortunately Andre died shortly after this revelation, so he didn't get much time to bask in the glory of his crazy actions, but he gets the credit nonetheless.
The main reason Andre is so effective as a villain is because he has no limits. Stefano, Victor, Vivian, Lawrence... they have limits. They've been capable of great evils (Victor more so in the past) but there's certain things they wouldn't do. They won't harm family members or loved ones (for the most part), and they have patterns that can be predicted and can be counted on to react in certain ways. At the very least you can count on them to be self-interested and not do anything that could ultimately hurt themselves. Andre is capable of anything. He's warped and delusional and insane, and he's perfectly willing to harm himself, other DiMeras (he even killed Benjy) or anyone else just for the hell of it. And such elaborate plans to - the guy made a life-sized Salem on a deserted island for Christ's sake! This unpredictability and sheer lunacy made him the most dangerous kind of villain, even if he could also be campy and over-the-top.
As a final note, there was one other positive benefit of the Tony-Andre switcheroo. In the 80s, Tony was in love with Renee and Anna, and yet when he returned in the 90s/00s they were scarcely mentioned and instead Tony was all crazy in love with Kristen. He would still express bitterness to John about stealing her from him as late as 2005 and yet no mention of Anna. With the new version, this is easily explainable as Renee and Anna being women Tony loved, while Kristen was the woman Andre loved. It's likely the real Tony DiMera never even met Kristen.
Portrayed By: Thaao Penghlis (1983-1984, 1993-1995, 2002-2005, 2007)
Current Status: Deceased (2007)
Main Love Interests: Kristen Blake
Occupation: DiMera Flunky (frequently goes rogue)
Children: None
Family: Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
John Black (uncle)
Tony DiMera ("cousin", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: I ripped on the 2007 retcon involving Tony and Andre pretty good, but as much as it hurt the character of Tony, it did wonderful things for Andre. As mentioned before, prior to the 2007 rewrite, Andre was a nothing character. A minor look-a-like temporary villain of the early 80s (and look-a-like villains are a dime a dozen on soaps) that was killed off and had been believed to be long offscreen (even the 2002 rewrite that said the Tony we thought had died in 1995 was really Andre was just a way to bring Tony back to life, it still kept Andre dead.) As it stood, Andre would have been lucky to make this list at all.
Then it all changed, and we found out that everything from the past twenty years that we believed had been Tony was really Andre. Sucks for Tony, but it single-handedly turned Andre from a pathetic worthless stooge of Stefano's, to one of the most diabolical daytime villains of all time. To have played the role of someone else for twenty years, and to even trick family members... that's pretty bad-ass. And it also gave him credit for the numerous crazy-ass schemes that Tony pulled. Unfortunately Andre died shortly after this revelation, so he didn't get much time to bask in the glory of his crazy actions, but he gets the credit nonetheless.
The main reason Andre is so effective as a villain is because he has no limits. Stefano, Victor, Vivian, Lawrence... they have limits. They've been capable of great evils (Victor more so in the past) but there's certain things they wouldn't do. They won't harm family members or loved ones (for the most part), and they have patterns that can be predicted and can be counted on to react in certain ways. At the very least you can count on them to be self-interested and not do anything that could ultimately hurt themselves. Andre is capable of anything. He's warped and delusional and insane, and he's perfectly willing to harm himself, other DiMeras (he even killed Benjy) or anyone else just for the hell of it. And such elaborate plans to - the guy made a life-sized Salem on a deserted island for Christ's sake! This unpredictability and sheer lunacy made him the most dangerous kind of villain, even if he could also be campy and over-the-top.
As a final note, there was one other positive benefit of the Tony-Andre switcheroo. In the 80s, Tony was in love with Renee and Anna, and yet when he returned in the 90s/00s they were scarcely mentioned and instead Tony was all crazy in love with Kristen. He would still express bitterness to John about stealing her from him as late as 2005 and yet no mention of Anna. With the new version, this is easily explainable as Renee and Anna being women Tony loved, while Kristen was the woman Andre loved. It's likely the real Tony DiMera never even met Kristen.
33. Caroline Brady
Portrayed By: Peggy McCay (1983, 1985-2003, 2004-present)
Jody Carter (1984)
Barbara Beckley (1984-1985)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Shawn Brady, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Pub owner
Children: Roman Brady (son, with Shawn)
Kimberly Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Kayla Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Bo Brady (son, with Victor)
Frankie Brady (adopted son, with Shawn)
Max Brady (adopted son, with Shawn)
Family: Carrie Brady (granddaughter)
Sami Brady (granddaughter)
Eric Brady (grandson)
Rex Brady (grandson)
Cassie DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (grandson)
Jeannie Donovan (granddaughter)
Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (grandson)
Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (great-grandson)
Sydney DiMera (great-granddaughter)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Notes: As mentioned before, of the Shawn and Caroline pairing, Caroline always had a bit more going on and though, like him, her role was primarily as the head of the Brady family, her relationship with Victor gave a whole other dynamic to the character, and the Victor/Caroline affair is probably the most iconic bit of backstory that Days had. The circumstances of that relationship still get frequently mentioned until this day (to the point where I've heard some people try to argue Victor and Caroline are a supercouple) and yet all we know about it comes from dialogue.
Still, as big a deal as Caroline is in terms of being the Brady matriarch, there's still so much we've never been told about her. Where's she from? (Judging by her accent, it's not Ireland like Shawn and sometimes I detect a hint of Brooklyn in there) What's her maiden name? Does she have any family of her own, brothers, sisters, parents, whatever? We've never been told - unlike other present-day matriarchs like Maggie or Julie, Caroline never had a period of time on the show where she was a frontburner ingenue, she's never existed as anything but the Brady wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. But one can not oversell the importance of that. She is to the Bradys what Alice is to the Hortons (although far less important and far less beloved) and the Bradys are pretty damn important.
Jody Carter (1984)
Barbara Beckley (1984-1985)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Shawn Brady, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Pub owner
Children: Roman Brady (son, with Shawn)
Kimberly Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Kayla Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Bo Brady (son, with Victor)
Frankie Brady (adopted son, with Shawn)
Max Brady (adopted son, with Shawn)
Family: Carrie Brady (granddaughter)
Sami Brady (granddaughter)
Eric Brady (grandson)
Rex Brady (grandson)
Cassie DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (grandson)
Jeannie Donovan (granddaughter)
Stephanie Johnson (granddaughter)
Joey Johnson (grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (grandson)
Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (great-grandson)
Sydney DiMera (great-granddaughter)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Notes: As mentioned before, of the Shawn and Caroline pairing, Caroline always had a bit more going on and though, like him, her role was primarily as the head of the Brady family, her relationship with Victor gave a whole other dynamic to the character, and the Victor/Caroline affair is probably the most iconic bit of backstory that Days had. The circumstances of that relationship still get frequently mentioned until this day (to the point where I've heard some people try to argue Victor and Caroline are a supercouple) and yet all we know about it comes from dialogue.
Still, as big a deal as Caroline is in terms of being the Brady matriarch, there's still so much we've never been told about her. Where's she from? (Judging by her accent, it's not Ireland like Shawn and sometimes I detect a hint of Brooklyn in there) What's her maiden name? Does she have any family of her own, brothers, sisters, parents, whatever? We've never been told - unlike other present-day matriarchs like Maggie or Julie, Caroline never had a period of time on the show where she was a frontburner ingenue, she's never existed as anything but the Brady wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. But one can not oversell the importance of that. She is to the Bradys what Alice is to the Hortons (although far less important and far less beloved) and the Bradys are pretty damn important.
32. Shane Donovan
Portrayed By: Charles Shaughnessy (1984-1992, 2002, 2010)
Current Status: Living in Los Angeles
Main Love Interests: Kimberly Brady, Emma Donovan, Gabrielle Pascal, Kayla Brady
Occupation: Retired ISA Agent
Children: Eve Donovan (daughter, with Gabrielle)
Andrew Donovan IV (son, with Kimberly)
Jeannie Donovan (daughter, with Kimberly)
Family: Andrew Donovan Jr. (father)
Margaret Donovan (mother)
Andrew Donovan III (brother)
Notes: Shane Donovan wasn't the first soap opera character designed to emulate James Bond, and he wouldn't be the last, but even with John's re-invention into an international man of mystery himself following the revelation that he wasn't Roman Brady, Shane still remains Days's quintessential 007 homage (besides, with his whole amnesia thing John's more Days's Jason Bourne)
The one way in which Shane and James differ, however, is that rather than be an inveterate womanizer and first-rate cad, Shane's a true romantic and his love story with Kimberly Brady launched him to the esteemed exclusive club of VIPs with supercouple status. In fact, Shane is the first character on this list part of an honest-to-God inarguable supercouple. Shane and Kim weren't a quasi-supercouple like Justin and Adrienne or Tony and Anna or Austin and Carrie (the type where their fans seem to believe they were a supercouple but most other people don't quite give them that much credit), they were the real thing and for a period in the mid-80s they were on precisely the same level as Roman and Marlena or Bo and Hope. Unlike those other couples, Shane and Kimberly's relationship was very messy. They weren't mature and emotionally grounded like Roman and Marlena, nor were they young and relatively innocent like Bo and Hope. Instead they had enough emotional and psychological trauma for all three couples dumped squarely on their shoulder, as they battled multiple personalities, repressed memories of childhood molestation, long-lost children, prostitution, Kim fearing she was bearing her father's child (not Grandpa Shawn's, don't worry) and a whole range of other issues. Generally speaking, if the situation seemed too screwed-up to be given to poster-couples Roman and Marlena or Bo and Hope, it was given to Shane and Kimberly. And they handled it. No matter how much adversity was thrown their way, they made it work... At least for a while.
But ultimately it all became too much. Due to a variety of reasons, including Patsy Pease's constant coming and going when the 90s hit, Shane and Kimberly fell apart after the 80s - and, alone of the classic 80s supercouples, they were never given a chance to exist outside that decade. There was no continuation of the 90s for them, no grand 00s reunion. Nothing. This has both helped and hurt them. Helped in that it gives them an iconic nostalgiac reputation as a couple from a golden era unsullied by the controversial writing of later decades. Hurt in that it lessened their overall fame and notoriety, and the days when they were equal in fame to Bo and Hope, Roman/John and Marlena or even Jack and Jennifer or Steve and Kayla, are long behind them. Still, with their recent visits just last month (a particularly prominent one for Shane who was given a whole South American prison subplot) and subsequent reunion, this problematic couple at least got their happy ending.
Current Status: Living in Los Angeles
Main Love Interests: Kimberly Brady, Emma Donovan, Gabrielle Pascal, Kayla Brady
Occupation: Retired ISA Agent
Children: Eve Donovan (daughter, with Gabrielle)
Andrew Donovan IV (son, with Kimberly)
Jeannie Donovan (daughter, with Kimberly)
Family: Andrew Donovan Jr. (father)
Margaret Donovan (mother)
Andrew Donovan III (brother)
Notes: Shane Donovan wasn't the first soap opera character designed to emulate James Bond, and he wouldn't be the last, but even with John's re-invention into an international man of mystery himself following the revelation that he wasn't Roman Brady, Shane still remains Days's quintessential 007 homage (besides, with his whole amnesia thing John's more Days's Jason Bourne)
The one way in which Shane and James differ, however, is that rather than be an inveterate womanizer and first-rate cad, Shane's a true romantic and his love story with Kimberly Brady launched him to the esteemed exclusive club of VIPs with supercouple status. In fact, Shane is the first character on this list part of an honest-to-God inarguable supercouple. Shane and Kim weren't a quasi-supercouple like Justin and Adrienne or Tony and Anna or Austin and Carrie (the type where their fans seem to believe they were a supercouple but most other people don't quite give them that much credit), they were the real thing and for a period in the mid-80s they were on precisely the same level as Roman and Marlena or Bo and Hope. Unlike those other couples, Shane and Kimberly's relationship was very messy. They weren't mature and emotionally grounded like Roman and Marlena, nor were they young and relatively innocent like Bo and Hope. Instead they had enough emotional and psychological trauma for all three couples dumped squarely on their shoulder, as they battled multiple personalities, repressed memories of childhood molestation, long-lost children, prostitution, Kim fearing she was bearing her father's child (not Grandpa Shawn's, don't worry) and a whole range of other issues. Generally speaking, if the situation seemed too screwed-up to be given to poster-couples Roman and Marlena or Bo and Hope, it was given to Shane and Kimberly. And they handled it. No matter how much adversity was thrown their way, they made it work... At least for a while.
But ultimately it all became too much. Due to a variety of reasons, including Patsy Pease's constant coming and going when the 90s hit, Shane and Kimberly fell apart after the 80s - and, alone of the classic 80s supercouples, they were never given a chance to exist outside that decade. There was no continuation of the 90s for them, no grand 00s reunion. Nothing. This has both helped and hurt them. Helped in that it gives them an iconic nostalgiac reputation as a couple from a golden era unsullied by the controversial writing of later decades. Hurt in that it lessened their overall fame and notoriety, and the days when they were equal in fame to Bo and Hope, Roman/John and Marlena or even Jack and Jennifer or Steve and Kayla, are long behind them. Still, with their recent visits just last month (a particularly prominent one for Shane who was given a whole South American prison subplot) and subsequent reunion, this problematic couple at least got their happy ending.
31. Billie Reed
AKA: Billie Holliday Reed (full name)
Portrayed By: Lisa Rinna (1992-1995, 2002-2003, 2012-present)
Krista Allen (1996-1999)
Julie Pinson (2004-2008)
Current Status: Living in London (moving back to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Bo Brady, Jack Deveraux, Roman Brady, Patrick Lockhart, Steve Johnson, Nick Fallon
Occupation: Head of Titan Security (London Branch), former ISA Agent, former Police Officer, former owner of Wilhemina Cosmetics, former prostitute
Children: Chelsea Benson-Brady (daughter, with Bo)
Family: Curtis Reed (father, deceased)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Austin Reed (brother)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Portrayed By: Lisa Rinna (1992-1995, 2002-2003, 2012-present)
Krista Allen (1996-1999)
Julie Pinson (2004-2008)
Current Status: Living in London (moving back to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Bo Brady, Jack Deveraux, Roman Brady, Patrick Lockhart, Steve Johnson, Nick Fallon
Occupation: Head of Titan Security (London Branch), former ISA Agent, former Police Officer, former owner of Wilhemina Cosmetics, former prostitute
Children: Chelsea Benson-Brady (daughter, with Bo)
Family: Curtis Reed (father, deceased)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Austin Reed (brother)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Notes: Billie Reed began her time on the show as a scrappy underdog, likable and feisty. As Bo's third major pairing (chronologically), she represented a stark contrast to Hope and Carly who both (sorry to tell you both Team Hope and Team Carly) fall into the same general heroine type. For Bo, the rebel with a heart of gold, the show often seemed to go with the opposites attract pairing of putting him with a rich, upper-class sophisticated princess-type. Billie was the complete opposite... indeed, she was even further down the socioeconomic ladder than Bo himself. Instead of romantic candle-lit dinners and lovemaking on a bed of flower petals, they'd be more likely to be seen chugging brewskies and throwing darts down at the Cheating Heart. There's was less formal, less typical relationship and though this casualness to their dynamic destined it to not achieve the same level of iconic romanticism as Bo and Hope, it still made it a refreshing pairing to get behind... at least, the show seemed to believe, as long as Hope herself wasn't around.
We've discussed before the tragedy that often befalls completely normal likable characters who have the bad fortune of being paired with one half of a supercouple, their tendency to be transformed into obsessive desperate manipulators who will go to any lengths to hold onto their man/woman and destroy their former love. Billie Reed is, arguably, the most prominent character to fall into this category, and sadly even despite her popularity and strong family ties to Salem, she wasn't immune. It didn't help that it was Robert Kelker-Kelly's Bo that made Bo/Billie popular and yet it was Peter Reckell’s Bo (more well-known for Bo/Hope) that she was in the triangle with Hope with. They came awfully close to letting Billie go out with some dignity when she and Lisa Rinna left town in 1995 once Bo had chosen Hope, but the siren's call of turning the third wheel into a raving scheming bitch was apparently just too great for the show to resist and Billie was back a year later (recast) to suddenly become desperate to break up Bo and Hope.
But you just can't keep Billie Reed down. Owing to that indomitable underdog spirit, Billie was able to claw her way out of the pathetic vixenish villainy she'd been reduced to under Krista Allen and, after a few false starts, return as a likable, rootable (if supporting) protagonist under both a brief return of Lisa Rinna and a longer-term Julie Pinson. Sadly, despite redeeming Billie and giving her a long lost daughter in Chelsea, they didn't find much for her to do (it's telling that Julie Pinson is the Billie who spent the most time on the show and yet is also the Billie to appear in the fewest episodes) and after a few unsuccessful and unremarkable flings with other characters (almost all of whom had more successful pairings outside of her) they just gave up on romance for her at all and sent her quietly out the door. It remains to be seen whether we've seen the last of Billie Reed - certainly with Chelsea gone and Bo busy dealing with Hope and Carly there doesn't seem to be a place for her on the current canvas - but, as she's proven before, Billie's a survivor and she may just bounce back.
We've discussed before the tragedy that often befalls completely normal likable characters who have the bad fortune of being paired with one half of a supercouple, their tendency to be transformed into obsessive desperate manipulators who will go to any lengths to hold onto their man/woman and destroy their former love. Billie Reed is, arguably, the most prominent character to fall into this category, and sadly even despite her popularity and strong family ties to Salem, she wasn't immune. It didn't help that it was Robert Kelker-Kelly's Bo that made Bo/Billie popular and yet it was Peter Reckell’s Bo (more well-known for Bo/Hope) that she was in the triangle with Hope with. They came awfully close to letting Billie go out with some dignity when she and Lisa Rinna left town in 1995 once Bo had chosen Hope, but the siren's call of turning the third wheel into a raving scheming bitch was apparently just too great for the show to resist and Billie was back a year later (recast) to suddenly become desperate to break up Bo and Hope.
But you just can't keep Billie Reed down. Owing to that indomitable underdog spirit, Billie was able to claw her way out of the pathetic vixenish villainy she'd been reduced to under Krista Allen and, after a few false starts, return as a likable, rootable (if supporting) protagonist under both a brief return of Lisa Rinna and a longer-term Julie Pinson. Sadly, despite redeeming Billie and giving her a long lost daughter in Chelsea, they didn't find much for her to do (it's telling that Julie Pinson is the Billie who spent the most time on the show and yet is also the Billie to appear in the fewest episodes) and after a few unsuccessful and unremarkable flings with other characters (almost all of whom had more successful pairings outside of her) they just gave up on romance for her at all and sent her quietly out the door. It remains to be seen whether we've seen the last of Billie Reed - certainly with Chelsea gone and Bo busy dealing with Hope and Carly there doesn't seem to be a place for her on the current canvas - but, as she's proven before, Billie's a survivor and she may just bounce back.
30. Belle Black
AKA: Isabella Black (full name), Belle Kiriakis, Belle Brady (married names)
Portrayed By: Brianna and Chalice Fischette (1993-1995)
Brianna and Brittany McConnell (1995-1998)
Ashlyn and Kaylyn Messick (1998)
Chelsea Butler (1998-1999)
Kirsten Storms (1999-2004)
Charity Rahmer (2004)
Martha Madison (2004-2008)
Current Status: Traveling the World
Main Love Interests: Shawn D. Brady, Philip Kiriakis
Occupation: Nursing Student, former fashion designer for Basic Black
Children: Claire Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Family: John Black (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Brady Black (half-brother)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (grandmother, deceased)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Portrayed By: Brianna and Chalice Fischette (1993-1995)
Brianna and Brittany McConnell (1995-1998)
Ashlyn and Kaylyn Messick (1998)
Chelsea Butler (1998-1999)
Kirsten Storms (1999-2004)
Charity Rahmer (2004)
Martha Madison (2004-2008)
Current Status: Traveling the World
Main Love Interests: Shawn D. Brady, Philip Kiriakis
Occupation: Nursing Student, former fashion designer for Basic Black
Children: Claire Brady (daughter, with Shawn)
Family: John Black (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Brady Black (half-brother)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (grandmother, deceased)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Martha Evans (grandmother)
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Days's teen generations have a long history of having a certain type of girl at the center of them. She's popular, gorgeous, gets all the guys, and all the other girls are jealous of her - but rather than being bitchy and catty, she's also really sweet, nice and perfect. She is often (though not always) recognizable by her blonde hair. These characters will be allowed to grow and develop into more distinctive personalities after high school, but teen soap characters are usually ill-defined and fit neatly into categories like they're in the Breakfast Club.
At any rate, in the early 80s this character was Hope, in the late 80s it was Jennifer, in the early 90s it was Carrie and from 1999 until 2004 when Chelsea, Abby, Max and the new teen generation took over, this was Belle Black. But more than any of the others, Belle Black is defined by this. Say the names Hope, Jennifer and Carrie and most will conjure images and stories of them as adults, that was when they were in their prime after all. Not Belle. After being aged, she spent twice as much time on the show as a young adult then a high-schooler, she was twice married, had a daughter, got a job, had an affair, she ended her run very grown-up - yet if you hear the name Belle, odds are you think of her as a sixteen-year-old cheerleader attending Salem High. The reasons for this are obvious no teenage girl ever on Days has ever been as prominent as Belle was. She showed up in the middle of 1999 as a 15-year-old and by the next year was appearing more than Hope, Marlena and Sami. The explosion of the infamous Teen Scene in 1999 changed the landscape of Days in a way not seen since the arrival of the Bradys in the early 80s and teenaged Belle was right at the center of it.
But this couldn't last forever and, indeed, it didn't last very long. Though the Teen Scene had plenty of fans it had plenty of detractors who weren't quite wild about the fact that Bo, Hope, John and Marlena had gone from the main characters of the show to merely the parents of the main characters (Marlena in particular suffered during this era, she became tantamount to a Caroline during this time period - the other three at least had the Zack/J.T. paternity scare and baby switch going on.) Thus, when a new head writing regime took over in 2002, prominence returned to the likes of Bo, Hope, Sami, Jack and Jennifer (Truth be told, John and Marlena still remained a little backburned until Reilly's return) - Belle was still important, certainly, but she wasn't the show anymore and that was the beginning of the end.
Kirsten Storms left in 2004 was initially recast with... well, you know what she was recast with... and then eventually recast with Martha Madison. Madison had her fans (including yours truly) and certainly wasn't a bad actress, but for many fans of Belle she just wasn't the same. She looked more mature (owing to being seven years older, no doubt), she was given more adult things to do, it was like when they try to transition teen soaps into college... it just doesn't work. Belle hung around for four more years, and in the latter portion of that (with her sacreligious but extremely hot affair with Philip) was given depth and flaws in ways that she never was under Kirsten Storms. But no one cared anymore. Those fickle teens who'd flocked to the show during the teen scene heyday were largely gone and all that was left were the die-hards. And the die-hards preferred to see the older characters who'd made them die-hards in the first place. And thus, Belle was gone. And because she was never given the time or opportunity to become her own character like her teen heroine predecessors had, she exists in the zeitgeist eternally 16-years-old and late for cheerleading practice.
Stefano DiMera (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (cousin, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (cousin, deceased)
Lexie Carver (cousin)
Benjy Hawk (cousin, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (cousin)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Notes: Days's teen generations have a long history of having a certain type of girl at the center of them. She's popular, gorgeous, gets all the guys, and all the other girls are jealous of her - but rather than being bitchy and catty, she's also really sweet, nice and perfect. She is often (though not always) recognizable by her blonde hair. These characters will be allowed to grow and develop into more distinctive personalities after high school, but teen soap characters are usually ill-defined and fit neatly into categories like they're in the Breakfast Club.
At any rate, in the early 80s this character was Hope, in the late 80s it was Jennifer, in the early 90s it was Carrie and from 1999 until 2004 when Chelsea, Abby, Max and the new teen generation took over, this was Belle Black. But more than any of the others, Belle Black is defined by this. Say the names Hope, Jennifer and Carrie and most will conjure images and stories of them as adults, that was when they were in their prime after all. Not Belle. After being aged, she spent twice as much time on the show as a young adult then a high-schooler, she was twice married, had a daughter, got a job, had an affair, she ended her run very grown-up - yet if you hear the name Belle, odds are you think of her as a sixteen-year-old cheerleader attending Salem High. The reasons for this are obvious no teenage girl ever on Days has ever been as prominent as Belle was. She showed up in the middle of 1999 as a 15-year-old and by the next year was appearing more than Hope, Marlena and Sami. The explosion of the infamous Teen Scene in 1999 changed the landscape of Days in a way not seen since the arrival of the Bradys in the early 80s and teenaged Belle was right at the center of it.
But this couldn't last forever and, indeed, it didn't last very long. Though the Teen Scene had plenty of fans it had plenty of detractors who weren't quite wild about the fact that Bo, Hope, John and Marlena had gone from the main characters of the show to merely the parents of the main characters (Marlena in particular suffered during this era, she became tantamount to a Caroline during this time period - the other three at least had the Zack/J.T. paternity scare and baby switch going on.) Thus, when a new head writing regime took over in 2002, prominence returned to the likes of Bo, Hope, Sami, Jack and Jennifer (Truth be told, John and Marlena still remained a little backburned until Reilly's return) - Belle was still important, certainly, but she wasn't the show anymore and that was the beginning of the end.
Kirsten Storms left in 2004 was initially recast with... well, you know what she was recast with... and then eventually recast with Martha Madison. Madison had her fans (including yours truly) and certainly wasn't a bad actress, but for many fans of Belle she just wasn't the same. She looked more mature (owing to being seven years older, no doubt), she was given more adult things to do, it was like when they try to transition teen soaps into college... it just doesn't work. Belle hung around for four more years, and in the latter portion of that (with her sacreligious but extremely hot affair with Philip) was given depth and flaws in ways that she never was under Kirsten Storms. But no one cared anymore. Those fickle teens who'd flocked to the show during the teen scene heyday were largely gone and all that was left were the die-hards. And the die-hards preferred to see the older characters who'd made them die-hards in the first place. And thus, Belle was gone. And because she was never given the time or opportunity to become her own character like her teen heroine predecessors had, she exists in the zeitgeist eternally 16-years-old and late for cheerleading practice.
29. Philip Kiriakis
AKA: Philip Robert Kiriakis (full name)
Portrayed By: Jonathan and Thomas Selstad (1995 - 1998)
Shane Nicholas (1998)
Brandon Tyler (1999)
Jay Johnson (1999-2002, 2007-2011)
Kyle Brandt (2003-2006)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Chloe Lane, Belle Black, Stephanie Johnson, Melanie Layton
Occupation: CEO of Titan Industries, former Marine
Children: Tyler Kiriakis (son, with Mimi - in vitro)
Parker Kiriakis (son, with Chloe)
Family: Victor Kiriakis (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Isabella Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Bo Brady (half-brother)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Portrayed By: Jonathan and Thomas Selstad (1995 - 1998)
Shane Nicholas (1998)
Brandon Tyler (1999)
Jay Johnson (1999-2002, 2007-2011)
Kyle Brandt (2003-2006)
Current Status: Living in Chicago
Main Love Interests: Chloe Lane, Belle Black, Stephanie Johnson, Melanie Layton
Occupation: CEO of Titan Industries, former Marine
Children: Tyler Kiriakis (son, with Mimi - in vitro)
Parker Kiriakis (son, with Chloe)
Family: Victor Kiriakis (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Isabella Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Bo Brady (half-brother)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Brady Black (nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: Whenever characters are introduced as groups - either as a new family arriving in town, or a new generation of teens that all hang out together, it's always interesting to see which characters will take off and which won't. Ordinarily there will be some kind of initial plan in the writers minds as to who will be the big stars and who won't, but that isn't how it often works out. One such character is Philip Kiriakis, aged into the new late '90s teen generation alongside Belle, Shawn and Brady. Unlike the rest of them, Philip isn't the child of a supercouple (or at least a very popular rooting couple like John and Isabella) and as he was introduced as a rich arrogant prick, barely a notch above classmates Jan and Jason on the douchebag scale, one wouldn't think he'd go nearly as far as the rest of them. But he did. Of that large teen generation of Belle, Shawn, Philip, Chloe, Brady, Mimi and Jan, Philip is the only one who's been on the show the entire time (minus a few month gaps in between recasts) - some left early, some left late, some left and came back, but we pretty much always had Philip. There can be a lot of reasons for this - for one typical heroes and heroines can come and go, and in some cases can be interchangeable,but good cocky rich jerks with heart are rarer and harder to find. For another, Jay Johnson's performance as Philip is generally very popular, and he's usually cited as being a notch above the other actors on the show of that generation.
Still, Jay Johnson's version of Philip wasn't the only one we had and the popularity Philip had gained in his first years plummeted when he was recasted with Kyle Brandt. It wasn't necessarily that Brandt was a bad actor (although he wasn't great) but his version of Philip as a straight-laced square-jawed military man conflicted wildly with Jay Johnson's version of an arrogant scheme-y playboy whose good looks were more of the pretty boy capacity. The two characters had so little in common (including that Jay's Philip was in love with Chloe while Kyle's was suddenly in love with Belle) that it was almost hard to reconcile them with each other. When Kyle left, hardly anyone cared about Philip Kiriakis anymore. Upon Jay's return, the character's popularity bounced back up - especially as the actors and the writers seemed to allow Philip to revert to his original jerkish playboy personality and seemed content to ignore everything about Kyle's Philip beyond what was strictly necessary, namely that Philip was married to Belle (Hell, the character even grew a leg back!). But even that relationship changed, since Jay's Philip was so much more charismatic, Belle was suddenly more attracted to Philip than she was to Shawn, rather than the other way around as it had been with Kyle's. And since the character had transitioned from college-age to full-on adult during Kyle's reign, Jay's Philip was able to take his place as one of the show's leading men, and he's remained there ever since.
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Alexander Kiriakis Sr. (uncle, deceased)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: Whenever characters are introduced as groups - either as a new family arriving in town, or a new generation of teens that all hang out together, it's always interesting to see which characters will take off and which won't. Ordinarily there will be some kind of initial plan in the writers minds as to who will be the big stars and who won't, but that isn't how it often works out. One such character is Philip Kiriakis, aged into the new late '90s teen generation alongside Belle, Shawn and Brady. Unlike the rest of them, Philip isn't the child of a supercouple (or at least a very popular rooting couple like John and Isabella) and as he was introduced as a rich arrogant prick, barely a notch above classmates Jan and Jason on the douchebag scale, one wouldn't think he'd go nearly as far as the rest of them. But he did. Of that large teen generation of Belle, Shawn, Philip, Chloe, Brady, Mimi and Jan, Philip is the only one who's been on the show the entire time (minus a few month gaps in between recasts) - some left early, some left late, some left and came back, but we pretty much always had Philip. There can be a lot of reasons for this - for one typical heroes and heroines can come and go, and in some cases can be interchangeable,but good cocky rich jerks with heart are rarer and harder to find. For another, Jay Johnson's performance as Philip is generally very popular, and he's usually cited as being a notch above the other actors on the show of that generation.
Still, Jay Johnson's version of Philip wasn't the only one we had and the popularity Philip had gained in his first years plummeted when he was recasted with Kyle Brandt. It wasn't necessarily that Brandt was a bad actor (although he wasn't great) but his version of Philip as a straight-laced square-jawed military man conflicted wildly with Jay Johnson's version of an arrogant scheme-y playboy whose good looks were more of the pretty boy capacity. The two characters had so little in common (including that Jay's Philip was in love with Chloe while Kyle's was suddenly in love with Belle) that it was almost hard to reconcile them with each other. When Kyle left, hardly anyone cared about Philip Kiriakis anymore. Upon Jay's return, the character's popularity bounced back up - especially as the actors and the writers seemed to allow Philip to revert to his original jerkish playboy personality and seemed content to ignore everything about Kyle's Philip beyond what was strictly necessary, namely that Philip was married to Belle (Hell, the character even grew a leg back!). But even that relationship changed, since Jay's Philip was so much more charismatic, Belle was suddenly more attracted to Philip than she was to Shawn, rather than the other way around as it had been with Kyle's. And since the character had transitioned from college-age to full-on adult during Kyle's reign, Jay's Philip was able to take his place as one of the show's leading men, and he's remained there ever since.
28. Kimberly Brady
AKA: Kimberly Donovan (married name), Lacey and Claire (alternate personalities)
Portrayed By: Patsy Pease (1984-1990, 1991-1992, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997-1998, 2002, 2008, 2010)
Anne Howard (1990-1991)
Arianna Chase (1992-1993)
Current Status: Living in Los Angeles
Main Love Interests: Shane Donovan, Victor Kiriakis, Cal Winters, Phillip Collier
Occupation: Therapist, former prostitue
Children: Andrew Donovan (son, with Shane)
Jeannie Donovan (daughter, with Shane)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (brother)
Kayla Johnson (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (ephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie DiMera (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
News: I'll be honest, I sort of used up a lot of my Kimberly material in the recent Shane post. Like Shane, Kimberly (though part of the supercouple legacy) loses points because of her absentee-ism in recent years. She ranks higher than Shane for obvious reasons, however - she's one of the four core Brady siblings, though she's certainly the one we've seen the least of, and she's also made frequent guest appearances since her departure as a contract cast member keeping her in the public's mind.
To call Kimberly the most complicated of the Brady siblings would be the understatement of the century. Roman, Kayla and Bo all have had their own personal struggles, but Kimberly's life has been pretty much nothing but struggle. Hell, even in her recent reappearance this year, they saddled the woman with leukemia. Molested by her uncle as a child, working as a prostitute in her youth, dealing with her multiple personalities reaking havoc, it's a lot for a girl to take and for the nine or so years she was on there was always plenty for her to deal with. However, due to some personal struggles in Patsy Pease's life, the Kimberly character began to take a backseat in later years as Pease's comings and goings on the show made it seem like she was stuck in a revolving door - during 1992 for instance, Pease quit the show, was recast, then came back to the show, then left the show again and was recast again. All in one year. With all this uncertainty, it was hard to really plan storylines around her. But she left an indelible mark on the show with her steadier 80s frontburner status.
Portrayed By: Patsy Pease (1984-1990, 1991-1992, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997-1998, 2002, 2008, 2010)
Anne Howard (1990-1991)
Arianna Chase (1992-1993)
Current Status: Living in Los Angeles
Main Love Interests: Shane Donovan, Victor Kiriakis, Cal Winters, Phillip Collier
Occupation: Therapist, former prostitue
Children: Andrew Donovan (son, with Shane)
Jeannie Donovan (daughter, with Shane)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (brother)
Kayla Johnson (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (ephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie DiMera (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
News: I'll be honest, I sort of used up a lot of my Kimberly material in the recent Shane post. Like Shane, Kimberly (though part of the supercouple legacy) loses points because of her absentee-ism in recent years. She ranks higher than Shane for obvious reasons, however - she's one of the four core Brady siblings, though she's certainly the one we've seen the least of, and she's also made frequent guest appearances since her departure as a contract cast member keeping her in the public's mind.
To call Kimberly the most complicated of the Brady siblings would be the understatement of the century. Roman, Kayla and Bo all have had their own personal struggles, but Kimberly's life has been pretty much nothing but struggle. Hell, even in her recent reappearance this year, they saddled the woman with leukemia. Molested by her uncle as a child, working as a prostitute in her youth, dealing with her multiple personalities reaking havoc, it's a lot for a girl to take and for the nine or so years she was on there was always plenty for her to deal with. However, due to some personal struggles in Patsy Pease's life, the Kimberly character began to take a backseat in later years as Pease's comings and goings on the show made it seem like she was stuck in a revolving door - during 1992 for instance, Pease quit the show, was recast, then came back to the show, then left the show again and was recast again. All in one year. With all this uncertainty, it was hard to really plan storylines around her. But she left an indelible mark on the show with her steadier 80s frontburner status.
27. Shawn-Douglas Brady
AKA: Shawn D. Brady (nickname)
Portrayed By: Noel Bennett Castle (1987)
Paul Zachary (1990)
Scott Groff (1990-1995)
Collin O'Donnell (1995-1999)
Jason Cook (1999-2006)
Brandon Beemer (2006-2008)
Current Status: Traveling the world
Main Love Interests: Belle Black, Jan Spears, Mimi Lockhart
Occupation: Police Cadet, former mechanic
Children: Claire Brady (daughter, with Belle)
Family: Bo Brady (father)
Hope Brady (mother)
Portrayed By: Noel Bennett Castle (1987)
Paul Zachary (1990)
Scott Groff (1990-1995)
Collin O'Donnell (1995-1999)
Jason Cook (1999-2006)
Brandon Beemer (2006-2008)
Current Status: Traveling the world
Main Love Interests: Belle Black, Jan Spears, Mimi Lockhart
Occupation: Police Cadet, former mechanic
Children: Claire Brady (daughter, with Belle)
Family: Bo Brady (father)
Hope Brady (mother)
Chelsea Benson Brady (half-sister)
Zack Brady (brother, deceased)
Ciara Brady (sister)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (legal grandfather, deceased)
Doug Williams (grandfather)
Addie Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Isabella Toscano (aunt, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Julie Olson (aunt)
Steven Olson (uncle)
All the usual Brady cousins
Brady Black (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
David Banning (cousin)
Spencer Olson (cousin)
Notes: In my comments for Will and Abby I mentioned that the main part of the reason they made the list was because of their long-lasting significance as children, something very few soap kids have. Unfortunately, what kept them from being very high on the list was that in addition to being very prominent children, they have not yet had the opportunity to be very prominent adults. It is for this reason that Shawn-Douglas (or Shawn D. or just plain Shawn) ranks the highest of his generation. His situation was much the same as Belle in that they both appeared on the show, immediately became hugely important as teenagers, and weren't able to keep that import and significance going as adults. And if anything, Shawn is slightly disadvantaged because of the recast factor - Martha Madison was still fairly popular and had fans. Brandon Beemer? Not so much.
But the one thing Shawn has going for him that Belle, Brady and Philip, the other aged kids of his generation, don't, was the very large amount of time Shawn D. had as a child. Like Abby and Will, Shawn was hardly even aged at all because of how young his parents were when he was born, and this allowed him to grow fairly naturally and be a part of his parents frontburned story as a child. So by the time he re-appeared in 1999 as a 15-year-old (a mere three years older than he was supposed to be anyway) Shawn was already someone we knew, with an established identity and relationship. For this reason it was easy to make him the All-American boy-next-door hero type of the male generation (they tried the leather-wearing badboy type like his dad for about five minutes but it didn't really fit Jason Cook as well and so they gave that to Brady) because he was already someone we were likely to care about. We, as the audience, had a built-in relationship with him that we just didn't have with the likes of Belle and Philip, since they were seen so rarely and were so much younger.
Obviously the Shelle relationship was the calling card for aged Shawn, as it was for aged Belle, and while opinions were mixed on this couple (for some it was a heartwarming and sweet tale of teen love, for others it was a little saccharine and cutesy with the purity rings and general lack of angst) they were wildly popular under Cook and Storms. After Storms left, the popularity was able to be maintained a little, but not so much that they didn't try out other couples, and Shawn's pairing with Mimi, Belle's former dumpy sidekick who had become very hot, wound up with it's share of fans too - as it was allowed to be sexy in contrast to the constant chastity of Shelle (Belle's pairing with Johnson's Philip would become popular for much the same reason) Still, it seemed Shelle were written in stone, and they were unwilling to honestly explore the two with anyone but each other. The pairing of John and Marlena's daughter with Bo and Hope's son seemed too good for TPTB to resist for very long, and so they maintained, even when Shawn was recast as well by the much less popular Brandon Beemer. Eventually it seemed that the show realized that all keeping Shelle without their original performers was doing was ruining the good will the couple had, and they sent them off with a happy ending despite Belle having cheated on Shawn like a month prior. My guess is that, rightly or wrongly, we won't be seeing either of them again until Kirsten Storms and Jason Cook are off contract with General Hospital.
Zack Brady (brother, deceased)
Ciara Brady (sister)
Victor Kiriakis (grandfather)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Shawn Brady Sr. (legal grandfather, deceased)
Doug Williams (grandfather)
Addie Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Roman Brady (uncle)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Brady (aunt)
Isabella Toscano (aunt, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (uncle)
Julie Olson (aunt)
Steven Olson (uncle)
All the usual Brady cousins
Brady Black (cousin)
Tyler Kiriakis (cousin)
David Banning (cousin)
Spencer Olson (cousin)
Notes: In my comments for Will and Abby I mentioned that the main part of the reason they made the list was because of their long-lasting significance as children, something very few soap kids have. Unfortunately, what kept them from being very high on the list was that in addition to being very prominent children, they have not yet had the opportunity to be very prominent adults. It is for this reason that Shawn-Douglas (or Shawn D. or just plain Shawn) ranks the highest of his generation. His situation was much the same as Belle in that they both appeared on the show, immediately became hugely important as teenagers, and weren't able to keep that import and significance going as adults. And if anything, Shawn is slightly disadvantaged because of the recast factor - Martha Madison was still fairly popular and had fans. Brandon Beemer? Not so much.
But the one thing Shawn has going for him that Belle, Brady and Philip, the other aged kids of his generation, don't, was the very large amount of time Shawn D. had as a child. Like Abby and Will, Shawn was hardly even aged at all because of how young his parents were when he was born, and this allowed him to grow fairly naturally and be a part of his parents frontburned story as a child. So by the time he re-appeared in 1999 as a 15-year-old (a mere three years older than he was supposed to be anyway) Shawn was already someone we knew, with an established identity and relationship. For this reason it was easy to make him the All-American boy-next-door hero type of the male generation (they tried the leather-wearing badboy type like his dad for about five minutes but it didn't really fit Jason Cook as well and so they gave that to Brady) because he was already someone we were likely to care about. We, as the audience, had a built-in relationship with him that we just didn't have with the likes of Belle and Philip, since they were seen so rarely and were so much younger.
Obviously the Shelle relationship was the calling card for aged Shawn, as it was for aged Belle, and while opinions were mixed on this couple (for some it was a heartwarming and sweet tale of teen love, for others it was a little saccharine and cutesy with the purity rings and general lack of angst) they were wildly popular under Cook and Storms. After Storms left, the popularity was able to be maintained a little, but not so much that they didn't try out other couples, and Shawn's pairing with Mimi, Belle's former dumpy sidekick who had become very hot, wound up with it's share of fans too - as it was allowed to be sexy in contrast to the constant chastity of Shelle (Belle's pairing with Johnson's Philip would become popular for much the same reason) Still, it seemed Shelle were written in stone, and they were unwilling to honestly explore the two with anyone but each other. The pairing of John and Marlena's daughter with Bo and Hope's son seemed too good for TPTB to resist for very long, and so they maintained, even when Shawn was recast as well by the much less popular Brandon Beemer. Eventually it seemed that the show realized that all keeping Shelle without their original performers was doing was ruining the good will the couple had, and they sent them off with a happy ending despite Belle having cheated on Shawn like a month prior. My guess is that, rightly or wrongly, we won't be seeing either of them again until Kirsten Storms and Jason Cook are off contract with General Hospital.
26. Laura Horton
AKA: Laura Spencer (maiden name)
Portrayed By: Floy Dean (1966)
Susan Flannery (1966-1975)
Susan Oliver (1975-1976)
Rosemary Forsythe (1976-1979, 1980)
Jaime Lynn Bauer (1993-1999, 2003, 2010)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Bill Horton, Jack Deveraux
Occupation: Psychiatrist
Children: Mike Horton (son, with Bill)
Jennifer Horton (daughter, with Bill)
Family: James Spencer (father)
Carrie Spencer (mother, deceased)
Jeremy Horton (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Portrayed By: Floy Dean (1966)
Susan Flannery (1966-1975)
Susan Oliver (1975-1976)
Rosemary Forsythe (1976-1979, 1980)
Jaime Lynn Bauer (1993-1999, 2003, 2010)
Current Status: Unknown
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Bill Horton, Jack Deveraux
Occupation: Psychiatrist
Children: Mike Horton (son, with Bill)
Jennifer Horton (daughter, with Bill)
Family: James Spencer (father)
Carrie Spencer (mother, deceased)
Jeremy Horton (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Notes: Whenever a character is gone for a long time (like over ten years) and then returns, there's always a certain degree of re-invention the character goes through. Odds are the people writing the show now are not the people who were writing it then and many of the people that person interacted with are gone. What tends to happen is that the core facts and traits about them are maintained (their family members, their love interests, maybe their career but not always) and everything else is re-defined. This causes there to be almost two versions of the same character.
This is what happened to Laura Horton. In her first, more significant run on the show in the late 60s and the 70s, she was one of the show's main heroines. A strong, feisty woman who'd suffered greatly but never allowed herself to drown in her victimhood, and managed to overcome all odds. This was particularly evident when played by her most famous portrayer, Susan Flannery, who won an Emmy for the role. Although Laura lost some of her strength after Flannery left in 1975 and she was recast with less substantial actors, it would still be how Laura would remain in the mind of those who watched her in that era.
When Jaime Lynn Bauer took over the role thirteen years later (during which time Laura had been absent and seldom mentioned), she wasn't quite the same. She was still a psychiatrist, still Mickey and Bill's ex-wife and Mike and Jennifer's mother... but she was also ten years younger, a brunette, batshit crazy, far more sexed-up, and a bit of a manipulative cougar like Kate (albeit far more well-meaning). There wasn't necessarilly wrong with characterizing her this way, but it was just... not who Laura Horton had been, and unfortunately many of the audience were too young or new to be aware of that. And thus Laura is left as a paradox. A character with two identities. Newer people don't get what the big deal is about her and why they should like her, and older people are left to shake their heads and pity the younger generation for missing out.
This is what happened to Laura Horton. In her first, more significant run on the show in the late 60s and the 70s, she was one of the show's main heroines. A strong, feisty woman who'd suffered greatly but never allowed herself to drown in her victimhood, and managed to overcome all odds. This was particularly evident when played by her most famous portrayer, Susan Flannery, who won an Emmy for the role. Although Laura lost some of her strength after Flannery left in 1975 and she was recast with less substantial actors, it would still be how Laura would remain in the mind of those who watched her in that era.
When Jaime Lynn Bauer took over the role thirteen years later (during which time Laura had been absent and seldom mentioned), she wasn't quite the same. She was still a psychiatrist, still Mickey and Bill's ex-wife and Mike and Jennifer's mother... but she was also ten years younger, a brunette, batshit crazy, far more sexed-up, and a bit of a manipulative cougar like Kate (albeit far more well-meaning). There wasn't necessarilly wrong with characterizing her this way, but it was just... not who Laura Horton had been, and unfortunately many of the audience were too young or new to be aware of that. And thus Laura is left as a paradox. A character with two identities. Newer people don't get what the big deal is about her and why they should like her, and older people are left to shake their heads and pity the younger generation for missing out.
25. Kate Roberts
AKA: Katherine Elizabeth Roberts (full name), Kate Kiriakis, Kate Brady, Kate DiMera (married names)
Portrayed By: Deborah Adair (1993-1995)
Lauren Koslow (1996-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Bill Horton, Stefano DiMera, Victor Kiriakis, Nicholas Alamain, Roman Brady, John Black, E.J. DiMera, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: CEO of Countess Wilhemina Cosmetics, Founder of Hearth & Home, former CEO of Mythic Communications, former Executive for Basic Black, former waitress, former President of Titan Publishing, former Editor/Owner of the Salem Spectator, former prostitute
Children: Austin Reed (son, with Curtis)
Billie Reed (daughter, with Curtis)
Lucas Horton (son, with Bill)
Rex Brady (son, with Roman)
Cassie DiMera (daughter, with Roman)
Philip Kiriakis (son, with Victor)
Family: Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (grandson)
Tyler Kiriakis (grandson)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Portrayed By: Deborah Adair (1993-1995)
Lauren Koslow (1996-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Bill Horton, Stefano DiMera, Victor Kiriakis, Nicholas Alamain, Roman Brady, John Black, E.J. DiMera, Daniel Jonas
Occupation: CEO of Countess Wilhemina Cosmetics, Founder of Hearth & Home, former CEO of Mythic Communications, former Executive for Basic Black, former waitress, former President of Titan Publishing, former Editor/Owner of the Salem Spectator, former prostitute
Children: Austin Reed (son, with Curtis)
Billie Reed (daughter, with Curtis)
Lucas Horton (son, with Bill)
Rex Brady (son, with Roman)
Cassie DiMera (daughter, with Roman)
Philip Kiriakis (son, with Victor)
Family: Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (grandson)
Tyler Kiriakis (grandson)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Notes: In some ways being a character like Kate can be rather limiting. Kate is the only woman in the top 30 who's never really been a leading actress on the show and is the only one who's not a heroine. Unfortunately, rarely leading story and never being a protagonist can keep you from being mentioned with frequency among Days's all-star women. At the same time however, it's immensely freeing. Kate can be anything at any time, ranging from gold-hearted vixen to black-hearted villainness, she's a pitch-hitter that can be brought into any storyline and spin her webs of malice and deceit and very little seems out of character for her.
Kate is not the first of her type, the rich bitch, both on the show, or on this list, but she is by far the most significant that Days has ever had. She also probably has the largest love interest section and I had to ween a few names off it to make it even that size. She's been with damn near everyone, at least a few representatives of every age group, and even now in the twilight of middle age she shows no signs of slowing down. This has left her with six kids (although, who are we kidding - four kids) for her to obsess over and manipulate. Kate loves her kids, she really does, but that's part of the problem, as loving them invariably means hating the person they're with and doing everything she can to destroy them. This obsessive mothering to her babies (particular Lucas, who is probably her favorite and thus the one who's suffered the most) in addition to constant sleeping around, has created for her a list of rivals that can't be compared to anyone else. This includes, but is not limited to - Laura, Vivian, Nicole, Marlena, Chloe and, of course, Sami.
This ability to be a constant antagonist to anyone she's needed to antagonize has allowed Kate to stay on the landscape for seventeen years with very little downtime, even if she's often in the background, while ingenues and heroines have come and go. And she's still able to partake in the soapiest of activities - murder, blackmail, sabotage, framing, gold-digging and seducing men left and right. No, Kate will never be as iconic as a Marlena or a Hope, but then... when she gets to have this much fun, why should she want to?
Kate is not the first of her type, the rich bitch, both on the show, or on this list, but she is by far the most significant that Days has ever had. She also probably has the largest love interest section and I had to ween a few names off it to make it even that size. She's been with damn near everyone, at least a few representatives of every age group, and even now in the twilight of middle age she shows no signs of slowing down. This has left her with six kids (although, who are we kidding - four kids) for her to obsess over and manipulate. Kate loves her kids, she really does, but that's part of the problem, as loving them invariably means hating the person they're with and doing everything she can to destroy them. This obsessive mothering to her babies (particular Lucas, who is probably her favorite and thus the one who's suffered the most) in addition to constant sleeping around, has created for her a list of rivals that can't be compared to anyone else. This includes, but is not limited to - Laura, Vivian, Nicole, Marlena, Chloe and, of course, Sami.
This ability to be a constant antagonist to anyone she's needed to antagonize has allowed Kate to stay on the landscape for seventeen years with very little downtime, even if she's often in the background, while ingenues and heroines have come and go. And she's still able to partake in the soapiest of activities - murder, blackmail, sabotage, framing, gold-digging and seducing men left and right. No, Kate will never be as iconic as a Marlena or a Hope, but then... when she gets to have this much fun, why should she want to?
24. Lexie Carver
AKA: Alexandra Brooks (full maiden name)
Portrayed By: Sheila Wills (1988)
Cyndi James Gossette (1988-1989)
Angelique Francis (1989-1990, 1992)
Shellye Broughton (1993)
Renee Jones (1993-2007, 2007, 2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Abe Carver, Jonah Carver, Brandon Walker, T.E.K. Kramer
Occupation: Doctor, former police officer
Children: Theo Carver (son, with Abe)
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Celeste Perrault (mother)
Grace Brooks (adopted mother/aunt)
Tony DiMera ("half-brother", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (half-sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable half-brother)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: Lexie's stay on the show has functioned as a bit of a bell curve. She came on the show initially without any story, just to be one of many random go-nowhere love interests Abe had in the '80s. Then, upon Lexie's recast with Renee Jones the character slowly was built up, we met her family and found out she was part of a core Days family in the DiMeras, and she was given her own storylines outside of being Abe's wife.
Eventually, by 2000, Renee Jones was a bonafide lead actress - with the baby switch storyline of 2000 to 2002 (arguably the main storyline for the non-teens) being driven almost entirely by her. This prominence continued for a few years, with her relationships with Brandon and TEK - but it was also slowly trending downwards. By 2007 she had no storyline whatsoever beyond being Abe's wife (and Theo's mother) which is where she remains today, almost exactly where she started from.
Circular as this journey's been, it's been a looooong one and her 20+ years on the show is something that can't be matched by too many characters, even ones more important than she was. As a result of her multiple affairs (cheating on likable Days mainstay Abe Carver no less) and occasionally narrative-induced medical malpractice (falsely declaring people dead and so forth) Lexie hasn't always been the most popular character but she's etched her place in Days's history as the show's most prominent African-American woman.
Portrayed By: Sheila Wills (1988)
Cyndi James Gossette (1988-1989)
Angelique Francis (1989-1990, 1992)
Shellye Broughton (1993)
Renee Jones (1993-2007, 2007, 2008-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Abe Carver, Jonah Carver, Brandon Walker, T.E.K. Kramer
Occupation: Doctor, former police officer
Children: Theo Carver (son, with Abe)
Family: Stefano DiMera (father)
Celeste Perrault (mother)
Grace Brooks (adopted mother/aunt)
Tony DiMera ("half-brother", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (half-sister, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (half-sister, deceased)
Benjy Hawk (half-brother, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (half-brother)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable half-brother)
Steven Hawk (nephew)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Santo DiMera (grandfather, deceased)
John Black (uncle)
Andre DiMera (cousin, deceased)
Brady Black (cousin)
Belle Black (cousin)
Notes: Lexie's stay on the show has functioned as a bit of a bell curve. She came on the show initially without any story, just to be one of many random go-nowhere love interests Abe had in the '80s. Then, upon Lexie's recast with Renee Jones the character slowly was built up, we met her family and found out she was part of a core Days family in the DiMeras, and she was given her own storylines outside of being Abe's wife.
Eventually, by 2000, Renee Jones was a bonafide lead actress - with the baby switch storyline of 2000 to 2002 (arguably the main storyline for the non-teens) being driven almost entirely by her. This prominence continued for a few years, with her relationships with Brandon and TEK - but it was also slowly trending downwards. By 2007 she had no storyline whatsoever beyond being Abe's wife (and Theo's mother) which is where she remains today, almost exactly where she started from.
Circular as this journey's been, it's been a looooong one and her 20+ years on the show is something that can't be matched by too many characters, even ones more important than she was. As a result of her multiple affairs (cheating on likable Days mainstay Abe Carver no less) and occasionally narrative-induced medical malpractice (falsely declaring people dead and so forth) Lexie hasn't always been the most popular character but she's etched her place in Days's history as the show's most prominent African-American woman.
23. Steve Johnson
AKA: Steven Earl Johnson (full name), Patch (nickname), Nick Stockton (amnesiac name)
Portrayed By: Stephen Nichols (1985-1990, 2006-2009)
Current Status: Living in Africa
Main Love Interests: Britta Englund, Kayla Brady, Marina Toscano, Billie Reed, Ava Vitali
Occupation: Private Investigator, former Hospice Worker, former DiMera henchman, former Kiriakis henchman, former ISA Agent, former Brady Fish Market employee, former Merchant Marine
Children: Stephanie Johnson (daughter, with Kayla)
Joey Johnson (son, with Kayla)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Jack Deveraux (brother)
Adrienne Johnson (sister)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted nephew)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted nephew)
Jackson Kiriakis (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Notes: When Steve showed up in 1985 he was planned as nothing but a temporary foil and rival for that other leather-wearing bad boy ex-merchant marine, Bo Brady. And indeed he was essentially, at first, he was just a darker Bo, a little edgier and more menacing, but essentially the same kind of guy. Like so many other temporary characters who grew into stars, it was through Stephen Nichols amazing, nuanced performance that the feral, unstable madman known as "Patch" grew into the soulful, tough-as-nails but still good-hearted Steve Johnson. Slowly, thanks to his loving and tender relationship with his "Sweetness" Kayla, Steve began to show more and more of humanity. And when Bo left the show in 1987, it was Steve that took his reigns as the show's leading man, playing much the same role as he had but with his own sensibilities, humor and charisma that made Steve all his own. Rather than slowly lose his edge over the years as Bo had and would continue to do, Steve remained cool rough-around the edges dude through-and-through. There were some missteps (notably the incredibly lame plotline that saw Steve get a glass eye and remove his patch) but no amount of whitewashing could take away the essential qualites that made Steve who he was.
Unfortunately, though his time on the show was very active and introduced an entire new core Days family in the Johnsons, Steve's reign as the show's leading man would be very short-lived. He "died" in 1990 and remained that way for sixteen years, one of the longest fake deaths this show has had. And though return was originally hailed as the return of the legend, he was very quickly back-burned and then written out less than three years later. Had he lasted longer on the show, remained a leading man into the 90s and early 00s, rather than have a long interim period of death, it's very likely he'd be in the top 10. As it stands, he has less time on the show than anyone else in the top 40, even among people he's already passed up. The fact that he ranks so high inspite of his handicap, is a testament to the powerful and ferocious performance of Stephen Nichols - ensuring the Patch man is a character that will not be soon forgotten.
Portrayed By: Stephen Nichols (1985-1990, 2006-2009)
Current Status: Living in Africa
Main Love Interests: Britta Englund, Kayla Brady, Marina Toscano, Billie Reed, Ava Vitali
Occupation: Private Investigator, former Hospice Worker, former DiMera henchman, former Kiriakis henchman, former ISA Agent, former Brady Fish Market employee, former Merchant Marine
Children: Stephanie Johnson (daughter, with Kayla)
Joey Johnson (son, with Kayla)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Jack Deveraux (brother)
Adrienne Johnson (sister)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted nephew)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted nephew)
Jackson Kiriakis (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Notes: When Steve showed up in 1985 he was planned as nothing but a temporary foil and rival for that other leather-wearing bad boy ex-merchant marine, Bo Brady. And indeed he was essentially, at first, he was just a darker Bo, a little edgier and more menacing, but essentially the same kind of guy. Like so many other temporary characters who grew into stars, it was through Stephen Nichols amazing, nuanced performance that the feral, unstable madman known as "Patch" grew into the soulful, tough-as-nails but still good-hearted Steve Johnson. Slowly, thanks to his loving and tender relationship with his "Sweetness" Kayla, Steve began to show more and more of humanity. And when Bo left the show in 1987, it was Steve that took his reigns as the show's leading man, playing much the same role as he had but with his own sensibilities, humor and charisma that made Steve all his own. Rather than slowly lose his edge over the years as Bo had and would continue to do, Steve remained cool rough-around the edges dude through-and-through. There were some missteps (notably the incredibly lame plotline that saw Steve get a glass eye and remove his patch) but no amount of whitewashing could take away the essential qualites that made Steve who he was.
Unfortunately, though his time on the show was very active and introduced an entire new core Days family in the Johnsons, Steve's reign as the show's leading man would be very short-lived. He "died" in 1990 and remained that way for sixteen years, one of the longest fake deaths this show has had. And though return was originally hailed as the return of the legend, he was very quickly back-burned and then written out less than three years later. Had he lasted longer on the show, remained a leading man into the 90s and early 00s, rather than have a long interim period of death, it's very likely he'd be in the top 10. As it stands, he has less time on the show than anyone else in the top 40, even among people he's already passed up. The fact that he ranks so high inspite of his handicap, is a testament to the powerful and ferocious performance of Stephen Nichols - ensuring the Patch man is a character that will not be soon forgotten.
22. Carrie Brady
AKA: Caroline Anna Brady (full name), Carrie Reed (married name)
Portrayed By: Andrea Barber (1982-1986)
Christie Clark (1986-1991, 1992-1999, 2005-2006, 2010, 2011-present)
Tracy Middendorf (1992)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Julio Ramirez, Austin Reed, Mike Horton, Lucas Horton, Rafe Hernandez
Occupation: Attorney, CEO of High Style, former Director of Public Relations at University Hospital, former model
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Anna DiMera (mother)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Brett Fredericks (uncle)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: I've mentioned a few characters who were relics of the '80s, and there are plenty of them - well, here we have Carrie Brady, who you could say is a relic from the '90s. She appeared in the '80s and '00s too, and had healthy enough runs in both of those decades, but it was really the '90s where she shined, taking over from Jennifer as the leading ingenue around 1992, when Jennifer was married and had a baby launching her into more adult stories, and keeping that role all the way into 1999 when she left and Belle took her place. Very few characters have that kind of record - most young ingenues get the role for only a few years when they're shuffled into adulthood and someone new comes and takes their place. Not Carrie, for almost the entire decade she was the heroine of that younger generation.
Like Austin, Carrie's the kind of character that was really popular during her time and is a little less popular in retrospect. She was portrayed as perfection, especially in the eyes of her younger sister Sami. She was pretty, favored by their parents, popular, successful and had, in Sami's estimation, the perfect guy. In the 90s a character this perfect was fine, but in this more cynical and snarky century, it can veer on obnoxious - and instead flawed characters like Sami gain popularity. But Carrie fit right into the 90s, and the more simplistic, black and white, good and evil storytelling that the decade brought us.
She also was a significant part of two couples which, though not supercouples, certainly got that named bandied about frequently for them: Austin and Carrie and Mike and Carrie. Though the former is the most famous, the latter had an interesting distinction of being the first big Days couple that it hit it big during the Internet age. There are, thus, more Mike and Carrie websites on the internet than there are sites for any other couple - most of which being on Angelfire or Geocities and not having been updated since 2000. Mike and Carrie, which took place at the end of the 90s and after the JER-era, was also a sign of bringing Carrie into less perfect and more nuanced storytelling. Perfect Carrie and Perfect Austin went through so much to be together... and yet, when they finally were, Carrie started to question whether this Prince Charming she'd wanted all her life was really enough for her. Whether she didn't want something more interesting and soulful, with the older, more worldly and experienced Mike. Rarely had the gumdrop and rainbows love of the established written-in-stone couples ever been established. The formula was that once the One True Pairing for each character was decided upon, any guy or girl that came along after that to create a triangle would invariably turned into a mustache-twirling villain. With Mike and Carrie, this didn't happen and it was ultimately not Carrie's established Prince Charming, Austin, that she ended up with when she left in 1999, signaling a shift of storytelling formula....
Until James Reilly returned and shoved Austin and Carrie back together really quickly during their brief return in '05/'06, but that's another story...
Portrayed By: Andrea Barber (1982-1986)
Christie Clark (1986-1991, 1992-1999, 2005-2006, 2010, 2011-present)
Tracy Middendorf (1992)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Julio Ramirez, Austin Reed, Mike Horton, Lucas Horton, Rafe Hernandez
Occupation: Attorney, CEO of High Style, former Director of Public Relations at University Hospital, former model
Children: None
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Anna DiMera (mother)
Sami Brady (half-sister)
Eric Brady (half-brother)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Johnny DiMera (nephew)
Sydney DiMera (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Brett Fredericks (uncle)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: I've mentioned a few characters who were relics of the '80s, and there are plenty of them - well, here we have Carrie Brady, who you could say is a relic from the '90s. She appeared in the '80s and '00s too, and had healthy enough runs in both of those decades, but it was really the '90s where she shined, taking over from Jennifer as the leading ingenue around 1992, when Jennifer was married and had a baby launching her into more adult stories, and keeping that role all the way into 1999 when she left and Belle took her place. Very few characters have that kind of record - most young ingenues get the role for only a few years when they're shuffled into adulthood and someone new comes and takes their place. Not Carrie, for almost the entire decade she was the heroine of that younger generation.
Like Austin, Carrie's the kind of character that was really popular during her time and is a little less popular in retrospect. She was portrayed as perfection, especially in the eyes of her younger sister Sami. She was pretty, favored by their parents, popular, successful and had, in Sami's estimation, the perfect guy. In the 90s a character this perfect was fine, but in this more cynical and snarky century, it can veer on obnoxious - and instead flawed characters like Sami gain popularity. But Carrie fit right into the 90s, and the more simplistic, black and white, good and evil storytelling that the decade brought us.
She also was a significant part of two couples which, though not supercouples, certainly got that named bandied about frequently for them: Austin and Carrie and Mike and Carrie. Though the former is the most famous, the latter had an interesting distinction of being the first big Days couple that it hit it big during the Internet age. There are, thus, more Mike and Carrie websites on the internet than there are sites for any other couple - most of which being on Angelfire or Geocities and not having been updated since 2000. Mike and Carrie, which took place at the end of the 90s and after the JER-era, was also a sign of bringing Carrie into less perfect and more nuanced storytelling. Perfect Carrie and Perfect Austin went through so much to be together... and yet, when they finally were, Carrie started to question whether this Prince Charming she'd wanted all her life was really enough for her. Whether she didn't want something more interesting and soulful, with the older, more worldly and experienced Mike. Rarely had the gumdrop and rainbows love of the established written-in-stone couples ever been established. The formula was that once the One True Pairing for each character was decided upon, any guy or girl that came along after that to create a triangle would invariably turned into a mustache-twirling villain. With Mike and Carrie, this didn't happen and it was ultimately not Carrie's established Prince Charming, Austin, that she ended up with when she left in 1999, signaling a shift of storytelling formula....
Until James Reilly returned and shoved Austin and Carrie back together really quickly during their brief return in '05/'06, but that's another story...
21. Lucas Horton
AKA: Lucas Roberts (birth name), Lucas Desmond Horton (full name)
Portrayed By: Bryan Dattilo (1993-2001, 2002-2010, 2012-present)
Current Status: Living in Hong Kong (returning to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Carrie Brady, Nicole Walker, Chloe Lane
Occupation: Runs Hearth & Home, former CFO of Titan, former Titan executive
Children: Will Horton (son, with Sami)
Allie Horton (daughter, with Sami)
Family: Bill Horton (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Mike Horton (half-brother)
Jennifer Horton (half-sister)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Jeremy Horton (nephew)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton (adopted cousin)
Sarah Horton (adopted cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: Lucas came on this show as a typical spoiled brat. The pampered pretentious teenager in a military academy suit that no one really liked and had no reason to be a permanent fixture in Salem. When he left in February, 17 years later, he was a funny, shaggy-haired fan favorite and a tatted-up ex-con. It took a long time for Lucas to come into his own. For most of the 90s he was a mere supporting character and almost eternally played the role of the guy you were supposed to root against, be it in competition with Austin for Carrie or in competition with Eric for Nicole. It was easy to see why, he was sneering and obnoxious. But even in those early days he had two big things going for him. 1) He was a Horton, even if he hadn't grown up on one. It was a shrewd move for the longevity of the character that they gave him Horton credentials, because even in the early 90s the Hortons were a dying breed and bringing in this new youngest grandchild of Tom and Alice's, helped stave off their extinction (there were even moments where, except for the old-timers and Hope, who's more of a Brady now anyway, he was the sole representative of the Hortons). 2) They made him Will's father, instead of Austin. Making him the father of Sami Brady's only child (well, until the late 2000s when Sami went from having one kid to having a litter) tied in forever to the character that was slowly on her path to becoming Salem's newest it girl. This connection meant there would almost always be story for Lucas, and always a role for him to play.
Starting with the 2000s, they took Lucas on a slow past to redemption. It wasn't anything drastic (but then, he wasn't exactly a hardened criminal) but through his struggles with alcoholism, which ultimately landed him in a coma for almost a year, and desire to be a good father to his son, we began to see Lucas as more than a sneering brat. He started to become one of the show's leading men and began his relationship with Sami (his romantic relationship that is - rather than his friendly, sexual or confrontational relationship with her, all of which he'd already done.) Lucas and Sami quickly garnered fans, because they were kindred spirits, as it were. Instead of Sami being with golden boys who were regarded as morally superior, like Austin or Brandon, Lucas was kind of like her. Scheming, sarcastic, occasionally mean-spirited, but also had a streak of goodness inside. It was easy to look at Lucas and Sami, even despite everything they'd done to each other, and think that they might be soulmates. There are plenty that will even consider them a supercouple (though also plenty who will deny anything of the sort - saying that either Ejami is the supercouple or that no supercouples even existed after the early 90s). Lucas definitely has plenty of detractors, the most common complaint being that he constantly lives under the thumb of (and is ridiculously forgiving of) his batshit crazy mother, and with E.J. and Rafe playing the new roles of Sami's love interests, Lucas's role in the canvas recently fizzled reverting him back to the guy you were apparently not supposed to root for, but even though he's gone, he's left behind two children, three ex-wives and tons of family in Salem. So firmly rooted is he in the landscape of the show, that one never knows when he'll pop up again.
Portrayed By: Bryan Dattilo (1993-2001, 2002-2010, 2012-present)
Current Status: Living in Hong Kong (returning to Salem)
Main Love Interests: Sami Brady, Carrie Brady, Nicole Walker, Chloe Lane
Occupation: Runs Hearth & Home, former CFO of Titan, former Titan executive
Children: Will Horton (son, with Sami)
Allie Horton (daughter, with Sami)
Family: Bill Horton (father)
Kate Roberts (mother)
Mike Horton (half-brother)
Jennifer Horton (half-sister)
Austin Reed (half-brother)
Billie Reed (half-sister)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Jeremy Horton (nephew)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (niece)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton (adopted cousin)
Sarah Horton (adopted cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: Lucas came on this show as a typical spoiled brat. The pampered pretentious teenager in a military academy suit that no one really liked and had no reason to be a permanent fixture in Salem. When he left in February, 17 years later, he was a funny, shaggy-haired fan favorite and a tatted-up ex-con. It took a long time for Lucas to come into his own. For most of the 90s he was a mere supporting character and almost eternally played the role of the guy you were supposed to root against, be it in competition with Austin for Carrie or in competition with Eric for Nicole. It was easy to see why, he was sneering and obnoxious. But even in those early days he had two big things going for him. 1) He was a Horton, even if he hadn't grown up on one. It was a shrewd move for the longevity of the character that they gave him Horton credentials, because even in the early 90s the Hortons were a dying breed and bringing in this new youngest grandchild of Tom and Alice's, helped stave off their extinction (there were even moments where, except for the old-timers and Hope, who's more of a Brady now anyway, he was the sole representative of the Hortons). 2) They made him Will's father, instead of Austin. Making him the father of Sami Brady's only child (well, until the late 2000s when Sami went from having one kid to having a litter) tied in forever to the character that was slowly on her path to becoming Salem's newest it girl. This connection meant there would almost always be story for Lucas, and always a role for him to play.
Starting with the 2000s, they took Lucas on a slow past to redemption. It wasn't anything drastic (but then, he wasn't exactly a hardened criminal) but through his struggles with alcoholism, which ultimately landed him in a coma for almost a year, and desire to be a good father to his son, we began to see Lucas as more than a sneering brat. He started to become one of the show's leading men and began his relationship with Sami (his romantic relationship that is - rather than his friendly, sexual or confrontational relationship with her, all of which he'd already done.) Lucas and Sami quickly garnered fans, because they were kindred spirits, as it were. Instead of Sami being with golden boys who were regarded as morally superior, like Austin or Brandon, Lucas was kind of like her. Scheming, sarcastic, occasionally mean-spirited, but also had a streak of goodness inside. It was easy to look at Lucas and Sami, even despite everything they'd done to each other, and think that they might be soulmates. There are plenty that will even consider them a supercouple (though also plenty who will deny anything of the sort - saying that either Ejami is the supercouple or that no supercouples even existed after the early 90s). Lucas definitely has plenty of detractors, the most common complaint being that he constantly lives under the thumb of (and is ridiculously forgiving of) his batshit crazy mother, and with E.J. and Rafe playing the new roles of Sami's love interests, Lucas's role in the canvas recently fizzled reverting him back to the guy you were apparently not supposed to root for, but even though he's gone, he's left behind two children, three ex-wives and tons of family in Salem. So firmly rooted is he in the landscape of the show, that one never knows when he'll pop up again.
20. Mike Horton
AKA: Michael William Horton Jr. (full name)
Portrayed By: Kyle Puerner (1968-1969)
Wade Holdsworth (1969)
Craig Bond (1969)
Brian Andrews (1970)
Bobby Eilbacher (1970)
Eddie Rayden (1970)
Alan Decker (1970-1971)
John Amour (1971-1973)
Dick DeCoit (1973)
Stuart Lee (1973)
Wesley Eure (1974-1980, 1981)
Paul Coufus (1981-1982)
Michael T. Weiss (1985-1990)
Roark Critchlow (1994-1999, 2010)
Current Status: Living in Boston*
Main Love Interests: Trish Clayton, Margo Anderman, Robin Jacobs, Janice Barnes, April Ramirez, Carrie Brady, Ali McIntyre
Occupation: Doctor, former Chief of Staff of University Hospital
Children: Jeremy Horton (son, with Robin)
Family: Bill Horton (biological father)
Mickey Horton (legal father/uncle, deceased)
Laura Horton (mother)
Jennifer Horton (sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton (adopted cousin/sister)
Sarah Horton (adopted cousin/sister)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
*For those thinking Mike lives in Israel, it was brief but they mentioned he was living in Boston during this return for Alice's funeral. My guess is that since Jeremy clearly doesn't live in Israel anymore, they figured there was no reason to keep Mike there.
Portrayed By: Kyle Puerner (1968-1969)
Wade Holdsworth (1969)
Craig Bond (1969)
Brian Andrews (1970)
Bobby Eilbacher (1970)
Eddie Rayden (1970)
Alan Decker (1970-1971)
John Amour (1971-1973)
Dick DeCoit (1973)
Stuart Lee (1973)
Wesley Eure (1974-1980, 1981)
Paul Coufus (1981-1982)
Michael T. Weiss (1985-1990)
Roark Critchlow (1994-1999, 2010)
Current Status: Living in Boston*
Main Love Interests: Trish Clayton, Margo Anderman, Robin Jacobs, Janice Barnes, April Ramirez, Carrie Brady, Ali McIntyre
Occupation: Doctor, former Chief of Staff of University Hospital
Children: Jeremy Horton (son, with Robin)
Family: Bill Horton (biological father)
Mickey Horton (legal father/uncle, deceased)
Laura Horton (mother)
Jennifer Horton (sister)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Abigail Deveraux (niece)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (nephew)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton (adopted cousin/sister)
Sarah Horton (adopted cousin/sister)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
*For those thinking Mike lives in Israel, it was brief but they mentioned he was living in Boston during this return for Alice's funeral. My guess is that since Jeremy clearly doesn't live in Israel anymore, they figured there was no reason to keep Mike there.
Notes: Mike Horton is infamous for being the most recasted character in Days history (and hell, maybe in daytime history) and while this has hurt him in the sense that Mike has seemed to have multiple identities, the constant reinventions have also served to consistently reinvigorate the character by making him seem fresh each time while acting as a sort of fountain of youth as following his age in the early 70s with Wesley Eure, every subsequent Mike has been younger than the last. This has given Mike a remarkably long life as a younger leading man (from the mid-70s to the late 90s off-and-on).
Though there have been like fifteen Mikes in all, by far the three most notable are Wesley Eure, Michael T. Weiss and Roark Critchlow, who essentially embodied Mike in the '70s, '80s and '90s respectively. Each brought something different to the role - from Wesley's sensitive and angsty Mike to MTW's wild and goofy Mike to Roark's earnest and romantic Mike.
As a result of each re-invention of the character, Mike has never had any romances that have carried over from one Mike to the next, but there have arguably been three that have been most significant and, as luck would have it, each one goes with a different Mike. The first was Margo, the tragic young woman suffering from leukemia who died shortly after her and Mike's marriage; the second was Robin, the mother of Mike's only child Jeremy, for whom Mike was willing to renounce his religious beliefs to be with him; and finally there was Carrie, a married woman when Mike became acquainted with her, whom he pined after for years, chastely refusing all others offers, and eventually won over. Different though Mike's relationship with these three women were, they each reveal a unifying trait that dwells in the core of each Mike, that of a passionate and devoted man who wears his heart on his sleeve. No matter who's playing him, Mike Horton has a good heart and a good soul, as is expected from his Horton heritage. And as the premiere Horton man of his generation he did a good job of keeping his family's legacy alive.
Except for his welcome return last month for Alice's funeral, we haven't seen Mike on canvas in eleven years. One hopes he'll return soon to take back his rightful place as Chief of Staff of University Hospital. If they can't get Roark or any of the other Mikes, they can always just recast again. It's worked so far!
Though there have been like fifteen Mikes in all, by far the three most notable are Wesley Eure, Michael T. Weiss and Roark Critchlow, who essentially embodied Mike in the '70s, '80s and '90s respectively. Each brought something different to the role - from Wesley's sensitive and angsty Mike to MTW's wild and goofy Mike to Roark's earnest and romantic Mike.
As a result of each re-invention of the character, Mike has never had any romances that have carried over from one Mike to the next, but there have arguably been three that have been most significant and, as luck would have it, each one goes with a different Mike. The first was Margo, the tragic young woman suffering from leukemia who died shortly after her and Mike's marriage; the second was Robin, the mother of Mike's only child Jeremy, for whom Mike was willing to renounce his religious beliefs to be with him; and finally there was Carrie, a married woman when Mike became acquainted with her, whom he pined after for years, chastely refusing all others offers, and eventually won over. Different though Mike's relationship with these three women were, they each reveal a unifying trait that dwells in the core of each Mike, that of a passionate and devoted man who wears his heart on his sleeve. No matter who's playing him, Mike Horton has a good heart and a good soul, as is expected from his Horton heritage. And as the premiere Horton man of his generation he did a good job of keeping his family's legacy alive.
Except for his welcome return last month for Alice's funeral, we haven't seen Mike on canvas in eleven years. One hopes he'll return soon to take back his rightful place as Chief of Staff of University Hospital. If they can't get Roark or any of the other Mikes, they can always just recast again. It's worked so far!
19. Kayla Brady
AKA: Kayla Caroline Brady (full name), Kayla Deveraux, Kayla Johnson (married names), Sweetness (nickname)
Portrayed By: Catherine Mary Stewart (1982-1983)
Mary Beth Evans (1986-1992, 2006-2009, 2010, 2011-present)
Current Status: Currently on an extended stay in Salem
Main Love Interests: David Banning, Chris Kositchek, Steve Johnson, Jack Deveraux, Shane Donovan
Occupation: Doctor, former nurse
Children: Stephanie Johnson (daughter, with Steve)
Joey Johnson (son, with Steve)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (brother)
Kimberly Brady (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (ephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie DiMera (niece)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Notes: Many people forget that Kayla was actually the second member of the Brady family introduced, having been introduced in January 1982 a mere month after Roman showed up onscreen. During that time, as played by Catherine Mary Stewart, she was involved in quite a few romances and even had her virginity taken by Chris Kositchek (who was played by Josh Taylor... who would go on to play her brother.)
The reason people forget about all this is because when Mary Beth Evans showed up as Kayla three years after Stewart's departure she blew any other previous notions of who Kayla was out of the water. I quote Wikipedia by saying "In the mid-80s, the baby name 'Kayla' jumped from the roughly 900th most popular girl's name, to around the top 10, where it has remained ever since. This is widely attributed to Kayla Brady's arrival on the show, with which it coincides." I'd heard that factoid before and in conducting my own research (i.e. quickly Googling name statistics) this appears to be roughly true, although the name was already trending up to like the 300s before Kayla showed and has leveled off considerably since the 90s. Nonetheless, there's no denying the huge impact Kayla had in the cultural landscape of the 1980s and even this fact alone would make her worthy of remembrance.
But in addition to this, we also had the character herself who also had a huge impact on the Days landscape and served as the main heroine in the late 80s. Rather than be a pure young ingenue like a lot of other Days heroines both before and after her, Kayla was a little tougher and had been around the block once or twice, a quality that made her a perfect match for Steve Johnson. As previously mentioned with Steve, their love story, though short-lived, was a hugely significant and popular and for a few years they kept the show afloat after Peter Reckell, Kristian Alfonso and Deidre Hall all jumped ship at roughly the same time in '87. Mary Beth Evans always gave very powerful moving performances, from her struggle with deafness to her pain after being raped by Steve's brother, Jack to the her grief upon Steve's death. Once Steve died, Kayla's role on the show faltered, and her subsequent (and icky) pairing with brother-in-law Shane Donovan didn't win too many people over, but Kayla had already more than made her mark on the show. And despite her unfortunately lacklustre return in 2006, that saw her mostly backburned, she remains a popular and beloved Days heroine.
With Mary Beth Evans due back to the show in the fall, hopefully she'll stick around long enough to raise Kayla back to the baby names top 10.
Portrayed By: Catherine Mary Stewart (1982-1983)
Mary Beth Evans (1986-1992, 2006-2009, 2010, 2011-present)
Current Status: Currently on an extended stay in Salem
Main Love Interests: David Banning, Chris Kositchek, Steve Johnson, Jack Deveraux, Shane Donovan
Occupation: Doctor, former nurse
Children: Stephanie Johnson (daughter, with Steve)
Joey Johnson (son, with Steve)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (brother)
Kimberly Brady (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (ephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie DiMera (niece)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Notes: Many people forget that Kayla was actually the second member of the Brady family introduced, having been introduced in January 1982 a mere month after Roman showed up onscreen. During that time, as played by Catherine Mary Stewart, she was involved in quite a few romances and even had her virginity taken by Chris Kositchek (who was played by Josh Taylor... who would go on to play her brother.)
The reason people forget about all this is because when Mary Beth Evans showed up as Kayla three years after Stewart's departure she blew any other previous notions of who Kayla was out of the water. I quote Wikipedia by saying "In the mid-80s, the baby name 'Kayla' jumped from the roughly 900th most popular girl's name, to around the top 10, where it has remained ever since. This is widely attributed to Kayla Brady's arrival on the show, with which it coincides." I'd heard that factoid before and in conducting my own research (i.e. quickly Googling name statistics) this appears to be roughly true, although the name was already trending up to like the 300s before Kayla showed and has leveled off considerably since the 90s. Nonetheless, there's no denying the huge impact Kayla had in the cultural landscape of the 1980s and even this fact alone would make her worthy of remembrance.
But in addition to this, we also had the character herself who also had a huge impact on the Days landscape and served as the main heroine in the late 80s. Rather than be a pure young ingenue like a lot of other Days heroines both before and after her, Kayla was a little tougher and had been around the block once or twice, a quality that made her a perfect match for Steve Johnson. As previously mentioned with Steve, their love story, though short-lived, was a hugely significant and popular and for a few years they kept the show afloat after Peter Reckell, Kristian Alfonso and Deidre Hall all jumped ship at roughly the same time in '87. Mary Beth Evans always gave very powerful moving performances, from her struggle with deafness to her pain after being raped by Steve's brother, Jack to the her grief upon Steve's death. Once Steve died, Kayla's role on the show faltered, and her subsequent (and icky) pairing with brother-in-law Shane Donovan didn't win too many people over, but Kayla had already more than made her mark on the show. And despite her unfortunately lacklustre return in 2006, that saw her mostly backburned, she remains a popular and beloved Days heroine.
With Mary Beth Evans due back to the show in the fall, hopefully she'll stick around long enough to raise Kayla back to the baby names top 10.
18. Abe Carver
AKA: Abraham Washington Carver (full name)
Portrayed By: James Reynolds (1981-1990, 1991-2003, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Fay Walker, Nikki Wade, Lexie Brooks
Occupation: Mayor of Salem, former Police Commissioner
Children: Brandon Walker (son, with Fay)
Theo Carver (son, with Lexie)
Family: Benjamin Carver (father, deceased)
Rita Carver (mother, deceased)
Theo Carver I (brother, deceased)
Karen Carver (sister)
Jonah Carver (brother)
Jett Carver (nephew)
Notes: For almost thirty years, Abe Carver (the longest-running African-American character in television history) and his portrayer, multiple Daytime Emmy nominee James Reynolds, have been stalwart supporting presences (with brief peppering of lead) of Days of our Lives. Abe's never been a flashy role, but as the steadfast and reliable Police Commander (turned Police Commissioner turned Mayor) Abe has lead the Salem Police Department for the majority of the series and has done so with unshakable moral character, even if the SPD is not always known for getting results. Characters like Abe are important. For every renegade cop that plays by his own rules (and Days has had a lot of them) you need a no-nonsense by-the-book cop to pair him with, and that's Abe. Romantic leads come and go, but there are few solid characters who are a constant presence on the landscape and can always be counted on to be there.
Abe is one of the moral centers of Days of our Lives - he's honest, true and incorruptible. He's not perfect by any means, but you know he's almost always going to do the right thing - or at least try to. When Isaac was going to be taken away from the Carvers and Lexie turned evil and crazed in her attempts to keep him, Abe didn't do the same and even rejected Lexie for the lies and schemes she had pulled. When he found out that Brandon Walker was his long-lost son he reached out to him, even though Brandon had slept with his estranged wife and previously made no secret of his hatred for him. Abe has found it in his heart to forgive Lexie her numerous transgressions, he's dealt with losing most of his family and almost losing his eyesight, but through and through he's still managed to be the official leader of the good guys and never waver. In this day and age of bad boys, criminals and playboys acting as the leading men of the show, there's no remaining character on the landscape that best exemplifies the role and character of Tom Horton - valuing family, decency, truth, justice and the American way- more than Mayor Abraham Carver.
Portrayed By: James Reynolds (1981-1990, 1991-2003, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Fay Walker, Nikki Wade, Lexie Brooks
Occupation: Mayor of Salem, former Police Commissioner
Children: Brandon Walker (son, with Fay)
Theo Carver (son, with Lexie)
Family: Benjamin Carver (father, deceased)
Rita Carver (mother, deceased)
Theo Carver I (brother, deceased)
Karen Carver (sister)
Jonah Carver (brother)
Jett Carver (nephew)
Notes: For almost thirty years, Abe Carver (the longest-running African-American character in television history) and his portrayer, multiple Daytime Emmy nominee James Reynolds, have been stalwart supporting presences (with brief peppering of lead) of Days of our Lives. Abe's never been a flashy role, but as the steadfast and reliable Police Commander (turned Police Commissioner turned Mayor) Abe has lead the Salem Police Department for the majority of the series and has done so with unshakable moral character, even if the SPD is not always known for getting results. Characters like Abe are important. For every renegade cop that plays by his own rules (and Days has had a lot of them) you need a no-nonsense by-the-book cop to pair him with, and that's Abe. Romantic leads come and go, but there are few solid characters who are a constant presence on the landscape and can always be counted on to be there.
Abe is one of the moral centers of Days of our Lives - he's honest, true and incorruptible. He's not perfect by any means, but you know he's almost always going to do the right thing - or at least try to. When Isaac was going to be taken away from the Carvers and Lexie turned evil and crazed in her attempts to keep him, Abe didn't do the same and even rejected Lexie for the lies and schemes she had pulled. When he found out that Brandon Walker was his long-lost son he reached out to him, even though Brandon had slept with his estranged wife and previously made no secret of his hatred for him. Abe has found it in his heart to forgive Lexie her numerous transgressions, he's dealt with losing most of his family and almost losing his eyesight, but through and through he's still managed to be the official leader of the good guys and never waver. In this day and age of bad boys, criminals and playboys acting as the leading men of the show, there's no remaining character on the landscape that best exemplifies the role and character of Tom Horton - valuing family, decency, truth, justice and the American way- more than Mayor Abraham Carver.
17. Bill Horton
AKA: William Horton (full name)
Portrayed By: Paul Carr (1965-1966)
Edward Mallory (1966-1980, 1991, 1992)
Christopher Stone (1987-1988, 1994)
John Martin (2010)
Current Status: Living in Africa
Main Love Interests: Laura Horton, Susan Martin, Linda Patterson, Kate Roberts, Janice Barnes
Occupation: Doctor (helping to fight AIDS in Africa)
Children: Mike Horton (son, with Laura)
Jennifer Horton (daughter, with Laura)
Lucas Horton (son, with Kate)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Jeremy Horton (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Portrayed By: Paul Carr (1965-1966)
Edward Mallory (1966-1980, 1991, 1992)
Christopher Stone (1987-1988, 1994)
John Martin (2010)
Current Status: Living in Africa
Main Love Interests: Laura Horton, Susan Martin, Linda Patterson, Kate Roberts, Janice Barnes
Occupation: Doctor (helping to fight AIDS in Africa)
Children: Mike Horton (son, with Laura)
Jennifer Horton (daughter, with Laura)
Lucas Horton (son, with Kate)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Mickey Horton (brother, deceased)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Melissa Horton (niece)
Sarah Horton (niece)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Jeremy Horton (grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Notes: Every family has their black sheep, and for the original Hortons that was Bill. It may seem sort of strange to call a successful doctor and devoted humanitarian a "black sheep" but so perfect are the Hortons, that Bill still qualifies. For the first fifteen years of this show, Bill was a huge character and the family's well-meaning screw-up. And the storylines of Bill's that are the most famous are also the ones that best exemplify these traits:
In the late '60s, when Bill discovered that Laura, the woman he loved, was marrying his brother Mickey, he showed up to her house, drunk, and proceeded to rape her - forgetting all about it the next morning. Laura kept this act a secret, afraid it would destroy the Horton family, and the effects of this act would be felt for almost a decade, as the baby Laura became pregnant with (Mike) turned out to be Bill's rather than Mickey's as everyone believed. Then, after all that was ironed out, and Bill knew he was Mike's father and he and Laura had gotten together and had another child, Jennifer, the more traditional way... he proceeded to cheat on her with colleague Kate Winograd (retroactively morphed into Kate Roberts in the 90s), conceiving a child with her and driving Laura into an insane asylum where she'd spend the better part of twenty years. He then basically abandoned young Jennifer in the care of his parents. When he returned to Salem again, briefly in the 80s, he had an affair with his son Mike's girlfriend, Janice Barnes, who also happened to be Mickey and Maggie's foster daughter. When Janice was murdered, Bill skipped town again.
The thing is, when you read all that Bill comes off as a total douchebag, but that wouldn't be an entirely fair description (although he certainly has his moments of it), thanks to Edward Mallory's sensitive and well-meaning portrayal, you could see that Bill really did mean well, and tried to be a good man, to follow in the footsteps of his more respectable father and older brother, but he just couldn't quite get there. And in this way, as the flawed, imperfect Horton, he was one of the more realistic Hortons - as the family could occasionally veer into being a little too perfect. Though Christopher Stone's later portrayal wasn't quite as popular, there's been almost nothing but positive comments for John Martin's Bill, whom we just met at Alice's funeral. With Tom, Alice, Addie and Mickey gone and Tommy basically erased from history, there aren't too many original Hortons left... let's hope that Bill finally gets his act together one day and returns to Salem as the new Horton patriarch.
In the late '60s, when Bill discovered that Laura, the woman he loved, was marrying his brother Mickey, he showed up to her house, drunk, and proceeded to rape her - forgetting all about it the next morning. Laura kept this act a secret, afraid it would destroy the Horton family, and the effects of this act would be felt for almost a decade, as the baby Laura became pregnant with (Mike) turned out to be Bill's rather than Mickey's as everyone believed. Then, after all that was ironed out, and Bill knew he was Mike's father and he and Laura had gotten together and had another child, Jennifer, the more traditional way... he proceeded to cheat on her with colleague Kate Winograd (retroactively morphed into Kate Roberts in the 90s), conceiving a child with her and driving Laura into an insane asylum where she'd spend the better part of twenty years. He then basically abandoned young Jennifer in the care of his parents. When he returned to Salem again, briefly in the 80s, he had an affair with his son Mike's girlfriend, Janice Barnes, who also happened to be Mickey and Maggie's foster daughter. When Janice was murdered, Bill skipped town again.
The thing is, when you read all that Bill comes off as a total douchebag, but that wouldn't be an entirely fair description (although he certainly has his moments of it), thanks to Edward Mallory's sensitive and well-meaning portrayal, you could see that Bill really did mean well, and tried to be a good man, to follow in the footsteps of his more respectable father and older brother, but he just couldn't quite get there. And in this way, as the flawed, imperfect Horton, he was one of the more realistic Hortons - as the family could occasionally veer into being a little too perfect. Though Christopher Stone's later portrayal wasn't quite as popular, there's been almost nothing but positive comments for John Martin's Bill, whom we just met at Alice's funeral. With Tom, Alice, Addie and Mickey gone and Tommy basically erased from history, there aren't too many original Hortons left... let's hope that Bill finally gets his act together one day and returns to Salem as the new Horton patriarch.
16. Roman Brady
AKA: Roman Augustus Brady (full name)
Portrayed By: Wayne Northrop (1981-1984, 1991-1994)
Josh Taylor (1997-2004, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Anna DiMera, Marlena Evans, Billie Reed, Kate Roberts
Occupation: Police Commissioner
Children: Carrie Brady (daughter, with Anna)
Sami Brady (daughter, with Marlena)
Eric Brady (son, with Marlena)
Rex Brady (son, with Kate - in vitro)
Cassie DiMera (daughter, with Kate - in vitro)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Kimberly Brady (sister)
Kayla Brady (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Portrayed By: Wayne Northrop (1981-1984, 1991-1994)
Josh Taylor (1997-2004, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Anna DiMera, Marlena Evans, Billie Reed, Kate Roberts
Occupation: Police Commissioner
Children: Carrie Brady (daughter, with Anna)
Sami Brady (daughter, with Marlena)
Eric Brady (son, with Marlena)
Rex Brady (son, with Kate - in vitro)
Cassie DiMera (daughter, with Kate - in vitro)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Kimberly Brady (sister)
Kayla Brady (sister)
Bo Brady (brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Will Horton (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Shawn D. Brady (nephew)
Chelsea Benson Brady (niece)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Pete Brady (grandfather, deceased)
Colleen Brady (aunt, deceased)
Eric Brady Sr. (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
John Black (cousin)
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Notes: It's easy to look at the Roman Brady of today, who we see seldomly and is basically only around to be Sami's father and The Cop if Bo and Hope are doing something else, and write him off, but the over the years the character has played a huge role on the series and the name "Roman Brady" is one of the most famous names in Days of our Lives, more famous even than some of the characters who are much more important and significant than he is. This is partly because he's not the only Days character to utilize that name, but John Black's tenure as Roman is hardly the only time this character has been important. Roman dominated the landscape in the early 80s, single-handedly changing the focus of the show to him and the other Bradys who followed him. His relationship with Marlena kick-started what would become Days' Golden Age of Supercouples - beginning the formula that would be replicated by Bo and Hope, Shane and Kimberly, Steve and Kayla and more.
What's interesting about Roman is though he was the catalyst for the change in the direction this show took in the early 80s... a change in direction that largely persists to this day, he wasn't able to do more than get that ball going. Wayne Northrop left the show after less than three years and his departure signaled the end of Roman Brady as a Days of our Lives icon. When we discovered in 1991, with Wayne's return, that the man we'd been considering a Roman recast since 1986 was actually another character in general, the stage was set for Drake Hogestyn who, at this point, was much younger and more vital than Wayne Northrop, even if he lacked the former's gravitas, to sort of take over Roman's life, even though he wasn't Roman. The First Brady was relegated to the role of eternal third-wheel in John and Marlena's relationship and that, added to his recast with Josh Taylor who to many people would forever be Chris Kositchek and to others was strangley Southern in comparison to the rest of his family, further pushed the character into the supporting realm. Oh, they tried to give Roman other stuff to do for a while, once it became clear John and Marlena were the official rooting couple - including relationships with Billie, Kate and, briefly, Anna again... but none of those lasted very long or set the world on fire and after a while they just stopped trying. And, sadly, Roman hasn't had a love interest in years. As mentioned he's mainly around now to be Sami's (and occasionally Carrie's) father, to be Bo's brother, and to do whatever police work needs to be done when more prominent cops are busy. His personality still remains, as a tough, family-oriented and salt-of-the-earth police officer, but he's simply given nothing to do.
It's a rather inauspicious finale for the man that launched a thousand Bradys, and by this time he's been in this supporting capacity much longer than he was a main character, but... he's still Roman Brady, and for that he gets 16th.
What's interesting about Roman is though he was the catalyst for the change in the direction this show took in the early 80s... a change in direction that largely persists to this day, he wasn't able to do more than get that ball going. Wayne Northrop left the show after less than three years and his departure signaled the end of Roman Brady as a Days of our Lives icon. When we discovered in 1991, with Wayne's return, that the man we'd been considering a Roman recast since 1986 was actually another character in general, the stage was set for Drake Hogestyn who, at this point, was much younger and more vital than Wayne Northrop, even if he lacked the former's gravitas, to sort of take over Roman's life, even though he wasn't Roman. The First Brady was relegated to the role of eternal third-wheel in John and Marlena's relationship and that, added to his recast with Josh Taylor who to many people would forever be Chris Kositchek and to others was strangley Southern in comparison to the rest of his family, further pushed the character into the supporting realm. Oh, they tried to give Roman other stuff to do for a while, once it became clear John and Marlena were the official rooting couple - including relationships with Billie, Kate and, briefly, Anna again... but none of those lasted very long or set the world on fire and after a while they just stopped trying. And, sadly, Roman hasn't had a love interest in years. As mentioned he's mainly around now to be Sami's (and occasionally Carrie's) father, to be Bo's brother, and to do whatever police work needs to be done when more prominent cops are busy. His personality still remains, as a tough, family-oriented and salt-of-the-earth police officer, but he's simply given nothing to do.
It's a rather inauspicious finale for the man that launched a thousand Bradys, and by this time he's been in this supporting capacity much longer than he was a main character, but... he's still Roman Brady, and for that he gets 16th.
15. Jack Deveraux
AKA: Jack Harcourt Deveraux (full name), William Earl Johnson (birth name)
Portrayed By: Joseph Adams (1987)
James Acheson (1987)
Matthew Ashford (1987-1993, 2001-2003, 2004-2006, 2007, 2011-present)
Mark Valley (1994-1997)
Steve Wilder (1997-1998)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Kayla Brady, Melissa Horton, Jennifer Horton, Billie Reed, Laura Horton, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Journalist, Professor of Journalism at Salem University, former Talk Show Host, Former Assemblyman
Children: Abigail Deveraux (daughter, with Jennifer)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (son, with Jennifer)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Harper Deveraux (adoptive father, deceased)
Anjelica Deveraux (adoptive mother)
Steve Johnson (brother)
Adrienne Johnson (sister)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted nephew)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted nephew)
Jackson Kiriakis (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Portrayed By: Joseph Adams (1987)
James Acheson (1987)
Matthew Ashford (1987-1993, 2001-2003, 2004-2006, 2007, 2011-present)
Mark Valley (1994-1997)
Steve Wilder (1997-1998)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Kayla Brady, Melissa Horton, Jennifer Horton, Billie Reed, Laura Horton, Greta von Amberg
Occupation: Journalist, Professor of Journalism at Salem University, former Talk Show Host, Former Assemblyman
Children: Abigail Deveraux (daughter, with Jennifer)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (son, with Jennifer)
Family: Duke Johnson (father, deceased)
Jo Johnson (mother)
Harper Deveraux (adoptive father, deceased)
Anjelica Deveraux (adoptive mother)
Steve Johnson (brother)
Adrienne Johnson (sister)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Victor Kiriakis II (adopted nephew)
Joseph Kiriakis (adopted nephew)
Jackson Kiriakis (nephew)
Earl Johnson (uncle)
Notes: In 1989 Matthew Ashford won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Villain for his portrayal of Jack Deveraux. As Kayla Brady's rapist, Jack was one of the most despised characters in daytime - a spoiled, arrogant, manipulative and often cruel and sadistic little rich boy who couldn't stand to see other people happy when he wasn't - and as Steve and Kayla were the most popular couple on daytime, it pretty much was a guarantee that Jack would go down in Days history as one of the most despicable characters the show had ever seen. If he was lucky he'd get to join Days' pantheon of villains like Stefano and Victor, more than likely he'd be tossed away like all other suit-wearing jerks who try to get in between a supercouple. Four years later, Jack had been honored with the SOD Awards for Best Love Story (twice), Best Wedding and Outstanding Comic Performance. Far from being turned into an arch-villain or cast aside, Jack was now one of the romantic leads of the series and grown into one of the most beloved characters in Days history, a role which he maintains to this day. So, how did it happen? How could the most hated villain in daytime become among the most beloved heroes?
The story of Jack's redemption is often regarded as one of the most complex and interesting stories Days has ever told, and is usually the gold standard with which all subsequent redemptions are compared (in particular, E.J.'s redemption is often compared to it - usually unfavorably) ... it was slow, realistic and painful at times, never hurried or unbelievable. Rather than just quickly and hurriedly transform Jack into a completely different person because they decided they liked the actor, they looked at the qualities Jack had that were already engaging, namely that in addition to be a manipulative sociopath, he was also sly, witty and charming. By building on those qualities they were able to slow morph him into a clever and lovable rogue. They were able to build upon his discovery of the Johnsons as his real family by allowing him to feel guilty and ashamed what he'd done, cutting himself off from them out in penance even when they reached out to him. Unlike with E.J. and other rushed redemptions, they waited for the rest of Salem to accept him before they let Jack accept himself. It was only when sweet and spunky college intern Jennifer Horton entered his life, showing constant faith in him, did Jack begin to realize he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
Though Jack wound up a firm part of the Salem landscape for roughly twenty years, his characterization suffered as time went on. He was recasted with Mark Valley in 1994 who, though a popular actor, essentially made Jack a typical soap hero of the same type that John and Bo were. When Matt Ashford returned to the role in 2001 Jack's clever and lovable rogue personality returned, but the show's attempts to downplay the darker aspects of Jack's character (and complete removal of all references to him as a rapist) caused Jack to become too comedic in the eyes of many, turning him into more of a lighthearted trickster. And then of course, when James Reilly took over in 2003, they started the infamous process of killing him off over and over. Had the brilliant characterization of the early years continued, and had the supercouple Jack and Jennifer remained even in import as Bo and Hope and John and Marlena instead of drifting down to third place, Jack may well have been able to crack the top 10. But even the top 15 is not too shabby for a character once so universally hated. And with new word that Jennifer is returning to the show, it likely won't be long until Jack follows.
The story of Jack's redemption is often regarded as one of the most complex and interesting stories Days has ever told, and is usually the gold standard with which all subsequent redemptions are compared (in particular, E.J.'s redemption is often compared to it - usually unfavorably) ... it was slow, realistic and painful at times, never hurried or unbelievable. Rather than just quickly and hurriedly transform Jack into a completely different person because they decided they liked the actor, they looked at the qualities Jack had that were already engaging, namely that in addition to be a manipulative sociopath, he was also sly, witty and charming. By building on those qualities they were able to slow morph him into a clever and lovable rogue. They were able to build upon his discovery of the Johnsons as his real family by allowing him to feel guilty and ashamed what he'd done, cutting himself off from them out in penance even when they reached out to him. Unlike with E.J. and other rushed redemptions, they waited for the rest of Salem to accept him before they let Jack accept himself. It was only when sweet and spunky college intern Jennifer Horton entered his life, showing constant faith in him, did Jack begin to realize he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
Though Jack wound up a firm part of the Salem landscape for roughly twenty years, his characterization suffered as time went on. He was recasted with Mark Valley in 1994 who, though a popular actor, essentially made Jack a typical soap hero of the same type that John and Bo were. When Matt Ashford returned to the role in 2001 Jack's clever and lovable rogue personality returned, but the show's attempts to downplay the darker aspects of Jack's character (and complete removal of all references to him as a rapist) caused Jack to become too comedic in the eyes of many, turning him into more of a lighthearted trickster. And then of course, when James Reilly took over in 2003, they started the infamous process of killing him off over and over. Had the brilliant characterization of the early years continued, and had the supercouple Jack and Jennifer remained even in import as Bo and Hope and John and Marlena instead of drifting down to third place, Jack may well have been able to crack the top 10. But even the top 15 is not too shabby for a character once so universally hated. And with new word that Jennifer is returning to the show, it likely won't be long until Jack follows.
14. Doug Williams
AKA: Brent Douglas (birth name)
Portrayed By: Bill Hayes (1970-1984, 1986-1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem (but frequent globetrotter)
Main Love Interests: Julie Olson, Addie Horton, Lee DuMonde
Occupation: Retired, former lounge singer, former owner of Doug's Place, former Mayor of Salem, former conman
Children: Hope Williams (daughter, with Addie)
Douglas LeClair (son, with Rebecca North - in vitro)
Family: Byron Carmichael (half-brother)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (grandson)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Notes: Doug has always struck me as Salem's answer to Frank Sinatra - a silver-haired smooth-talking lounge singer with underworld connections. First introduced as Bill's prison cellmate, Doug was definitely an unconventional hero, especially a time when anti-heroes weren't quite as common on the show as they became today. He was originally hired by Susan Hunter to seduce Julie and breaking up her relationship with Scott Banning, and there was nothing to suggest that Doug and Julie would be a match made in heaven. Doug was twenty years older than her and fairly unsavory, but thanks to Bill Hayes's effortless charm and twinkling blue eyes, Doug quickly established himself as a beloved hero, and the show's leading man for the better part of the 70s. He and Julie are generally considered daytime's first supercouple, having their faces on the cover of Time and everything, and his ill-fated marriage to Addie is still one of Days's best remembered storylines, even all these years later. His prominence was certainly helped by his relationship with Julie, the show's main heroine for Days' first twenty years, but he gained significance and popularity on his own steam as well. I've mentioned that other characters either embodied the 1980s or 1990s, and I believe better than anyone Doug embodied the 1970s, as he still remains the hippest cat this show's ever seen.
Unfortunately, when the show was re-tooled in the early '80s, bringing in a wealth of new characters named Brady and DiMera and getting rid of the old ones, even Doug, who'd been the show's leading man, was one of the casualties. Though, like Mickey, Maggie and Julie, he was still seen into the '80s, '90s and '00s, he was the one of those four that was seen the least only popping up for guest appearances here and there generally in the capacity as Hope's father and usually just for holidays or special events, and never on contract again. But it doesn't matter if he's barely been seen for the past twenty-five years. Doug could have not appeared at all after his departure in 1984 and still warranted high inclusion on this list. Because at the end of the day, even into his 80s, he's still one cool cat. Dig it, man.
Portrayed By: Bill Hayes (1970-1984, 1986-1987, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem (but frequent globetrotter)
Main Love Interests: Julie Olson, Addie Horton, Lee DuMonde
Occupation: Retired, former lounge singer, former owner of Doug's Place, former Mayor of Salem, former conman
Children: Hope Williams (daughter, with Addie)
Douglas LeClair (son, with Rebecca North - in vitro)
Family: Byron Carmichael (half-brother)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (grandson)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Notes: Doug has always struck me as Salem's answer to Frank Sinatra - a silver-haired smooth-talking lounge singer with underworld connections. First introduced as Bill's prison cellmate, Doug was definitely an unconventional hero, especially a time when anti-heroes weren't quite as common on the show as they became today. He was originally hired by Susan Hunter to seduce Julie and breaking up her relationship with Scott Banning, and there was nothing to suggest that Doug and Julie would be a match made in heaven. Doug was twenty years older than her and fairly unsavory, but thanks to Bill Hayes's effortless charm and twinkling blue eyes, Doug quickly established himself as a beloved hero, and the show's leading man for the better part of the 70s. He and Julie are generally considered daytime's first supercouple, having their faces on the cover of Time and everything, and his ill-fated marriage to Addie is still one of Days's best remembered storylines, even all these years later. His prominence was certainly helped by his relationship with Julie, the show's main heroine for Days' first twenty years, but he gained significance and popularity on his own steam as well. I've mentioned that other characters either embodied the 1980s or 1990s, and I believe better than anyone Doug embodied the 1970s, as he still remains the hippest cat this show's ever seen.
Unfortunately, when the show was re-tooled in the early '80s, bringing in a wealth of new characters named Brady and DiMera and getting rid of the old ones, even Doug, who'd been the show's leading man, was one of the casualties. Though, like Mickey, Maggie and Julie, he was still seen into the '80s, '90s and '00s, he was the one of those four that was seen the least only popping up for guest appearances here and there generally in the capacity as Hope's father and usually just for holidays or special events, and never on contract again. But it doesn't matter if he's barely been seen for the past twenty-five years. Doug could have not appeared at all after his departure in 1984 and still warranted high inclusion on this list. Because at the end of the day, even into his 80s, he's still one cool cat. Dig it, man.
13. Victor Kiriakis
Portrayed By: John Aniston (1985-1997, 1998-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Caroline Brady, Kimberly Brady, Julie Olson, Carly Manning, Kate Roberts, Vivian Alamain, Nicole Walker, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Owner of Titan Industries, former crime lord
Children: Isabella Toscano (daughter, with Loretta; deceased)
Bo Brady (son, with Caroline)
Philip Kiriakis (son, with Kate)
Family: Yurgos Kiriakis (father, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (mother, deceased)
Alexander Kiriakis (brother, deceased)
Brady Black (grandson)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (grandson)
Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Tyler Kiriakis (grandson)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Justin Kiriakis (nephew)
Notes: When Victor showed up in 1985, he at first seemed to be little more than a Greek version of Stefano DiMera, who had just departed from the canvas months prior. It didn't take long for the two old Mediterranean crime lords to distinguish themselves, and though there were many ways this happened - a chief difference came in the manner by which they appeared on the show. Unlike Stefano, who tends to come and go, Victor is a constant presence in Salem, having appeared in far more episodes overall than his Italian counterpart. This has both helped and hurt Victor, in his capacity as a Days villain. Helped, in that, simply because there's been more time spent on him, Victor has been allowed to grow and develop more. It's made him more grounded in reality, since he couldn't be expected to commit the kind of cartoonish evil that Stefano does and keep being an active member of the community, it's turned Victor into more of an unscrupulous business tycoon than an outright crime lord. On the other hand, all these appearances, in addition to building him up as a father, husband, lover, etc. has lessened his mystique. Because Stefano, until recently, didn't have to be a member of the Salem community, he could commit much more egregious and over-the-top acts of evil. They didn't need to worry about justifying his continuation on canvas. In fact, having Stefano offscreen a lot of the time allowed him to be a more sinister, shadow-y figure. Those characteristics, though they once applied to Victor, no longer do.
But that's okay. Victor, and the Kiriakis family at large, have found their own niche as rich, powerful businessmen. Not so much evil, as kind of shady. As a result of his sweet, star-crossed relationship with Caroline, as well as the complex (but often surprisingly loving) relationships Victor had with his three children (Isabella, Philip and, especially, Bo) and grandchildren (most notably Brady) he's turned into a really likable old coot, his villainous days mainly behind him, replaced with anti-heroism. And though his role lessened greatly in the mid-late 90s when Stefano gained prominence again, Victor's had a bit of a comeback in recent years, becoming a fan favorite and almost comic relief, with his constant grouchy and sarcastic remarks. His burgeoning golden years love story with recently-widowed Maggie Horton is a testament to his resurgence in prominence, becoming, arguably, the first time Victor was in a relationship you were supposed to root for.
With so many recent and sad departures of older characters, let us hope Victor still remains around for years to come to lead the Kiriakis family as only he could. Because after all, if you were to ask him, none of his heirs have what it takes.
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Caroline Brady, Kimberly Brady, Julie Olson, Carly Manning, Kate Roberts, Vivian Alamain, Nicole Walker, Maggie Horton
Occupation: Owner of Titan Industries, former crime lord
Children: Isabella Toscano (daughter, with Loretta; deceased)
Bo Brady (son, with Caroline)
Philip Kiriakis (son, with Kate)
Family: Yurgos Kiriakis (father, deceased)
Sophie Kiriakis (mother, deceased)
Alexander Kiriakis (brother, deceased)
Brady Black (grandson)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (grandson)
Chelsea Benson Brady (granddaughter)
Zack Brady (grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (granddaughter)
Tyler Kiriakis (grandson)
Parker Kiriakis (grandson)
Claire Brady (great-granddaughter)
Justin Kiriakis (nephew)
Notes: When Victor showed up in 1985, he at first seemed to be little more than a Greek version of Stefano DiMera, who had just departed from the canvas months prior. It didn't take long for the two old Mediterranean crime lords to distinguish themselves, and though there were many ways this happened - a chief difference came in the manner by which they appeared on the show. Unlike Stefano, who tends to come and go, Victor is a constant presence in Salem, having appeared in far more episodes overall than his Italian counterpart. This has both helped and hurt Victor, in his capacity as a Days villain. Helped, in that, simply because there's been more time spent on him, Victor has been allowed to grow and develop more. It's made him more grounded in reality, since he couldn't be expected to commit the kind of cartoonish evil that Stefano does and keep being an active member of the community, it's turned Victor into more of an unscrupulous business tycoon than an outright crime lord. On the other hand, all these appearances, in addition to building him up as a father, husband, lover, etc. has lessened his mystique. Because Stefano, until recently, didn't have to be a member of the Salem community, he could commit much more egregious and over-the-top acts of evil. They didn't need to worry about justifying his continuation on canvas. In fact, having Stefano offscreen a lot of the time allowed him to be a more sinister, shadow-y figure. Those characteristics, though they once applied to Victor, no longer do.
But that's okay. Victor, and the Kiriakis family at large, have found their own niche as rich, powerful businessmen. Not so much evil, as kind of shady. As a result of his sweet, star-crossed relationship with Caroline, as well as the complex (but often surprisingly loving) relationships Victor had with his three children (Isabella, Philip and, especially, Bo) and grandchildren (most notably Brady) he's turned into a really likable old coot, his villainous days mainly behind him, replaced with anti-heroism. And though his role lessened greatly in the mid-late 90s when Stefano gained prominence again, Victor's had a bit of a comeback in recent years, becoming a fan favorite and almost comic relief, with his constant grouchy and sarcastic remarks. His burgeoning golden years love story with recently-widowed Maggie Horton is a testament to his resurgence in prominence, becoming, arguably, the first time Victor was in a relationship you were supposed to root for.
With so many recent and sad departures of older characters, let us hope Victor still remains around for years to come to lead the Kiriakis family as only he could. Because after all, if you were to ask him, none of his heirs have what it takes.
12. Maggie Horton
AKA: Margaret Simmons (birth name)
Portrayed By: Suzanne Rogers (1973-1984, 1985-2003, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Don Craig, Neil Curtis, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Owner/Manager of Chez Rouge, former owner of Tuscany, former hospital worker
Children: Daniel Jonas (son, with ??? - in vitro)
Melissa Horton (adopted daughter, with Mickey)
Sarah Horton (daughter, with Neil - in vitro)
Family: Elmer Simmons (father, deceased)
Dorothy Simmons (mother, deceased)
Melanie Jonas (granddaughter)
Nathan Horton (adopted grandson)
Notes: Within the last few years, it's become more and more apparent that Frances Reid's time on the show was drawing to a close, and that someone new would need to take Alice Horton's place as Days of our Lives' matriarch. Though there were other candidates, from Brady matriarch Caroline to the original Days it-girl Julie, the natural successor proved to be Maggie Horton, and there appears to be almost unanimous consent that she's the right woman for the job.
Maggie has come far in the thirty-seven years she's been on the show. Beginning as a crippled young country girl, Maggie has grown into fiesty and independent business woman, with a mix of the old-fashioned home-spun charm that remind us all of Alice, as well as the tortured complexity that befits many of Days' leading women, past and present. It is in this avenue that Alice and Maggie truly differ because while Alice was, for all intents and purposes, perfect - Maggie is far from. She's a recovering alcoholic (a storyline that garnered Rogers her much-deserved Emmy) and in this way she has been able to relate to other addicts like Lucas and Brady in ways that Alice would never have been able to. She has also strayed in her marriage to Mickey, allowing her to understand the other flawed characters of Salem who may have done the same (which is almost all of them) - many of whom would likely be too ashamed to confide the same information to Alice who managed to stick with the same man for 60+ years. This mix of many of Alice's best qualities and Maggie's own human imperfections, makes Maggie the perfect candidate to take what Alice Horton brought to the show into the new millennium.
The only tragedy about the fact that Maggie's gained such prominence in recent years, is how horrible it was that she'd had such little prominence in years past. Though certainly the character's role on the show was bound to be hurt by John Clarke's retirement in 2004 (and the unsuccessful recasts of Mickey that followed) there was still no excuse for the backburning she received, especially when one considers that Suzanne Rogers is one of the few Emmy-winners this show has had, and played such a huge role in the 70s and early 80s as Mickey Horton's soulmate. With the recent death of Mickey, mandated by Maggie's burgeoning renaissance on the show, and the awkwardness of this show always trying to pretend Mickey's in Chicago on business or else in the other room, Suzanne Rogers has again been given a chance to shine in the spotlight, for the first time in decades. One hopes that her new relationship with fellow veteran Victor will continue to cement Maggie's once and future place as one of Days's leading women.
Portrayed By: Suzanne Rogers (1973-1984, 1985-2003, 2004-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Mickey Horton, Don Craig, Neil Curtis, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Owner/Manager of Chez Rouge, former owner of Tuscany, former hospital worker
Children: Daniel Jonas (son, with ??? - in vitro)
Melissa Horton (adopted daughter, with Mickey)
Sarah Horton (daughter, with Neil - in vitro)
Family: Elmer Simmons (father, deceased)
Dorothy Simmons (mother, deceased)
Melanie Jonas (granddaughter)
Nathan Horton (adopted grandson)
Notes: Within the last few years, it's become more and more apparent that Frances Reid's time on the show was drawing to a close, and that someone new would need to take Alice Horton's place as Days of our Lives' matriarch. Though there were other candidates, from Brady matriarch Caroline to the original Days it-girl Julie, the natural successor proved to be Maggie Horton, and there appears to be almost unanimous consent that she's the right woman for the job.
Maggie has come far in the thirty-seven years she's been on the show. Beginning as a crippled young country girl, Maggie has grown into fiesty and independent business woman, with a mix of the old-fashioned home-spun charm that remind us all of Alice, as well as the tortured complexity that befits many of Days' leading women, past and present. It is in this avenue that Alice and Maggie truly differ because while Alice was, for all intents and purposes, perfect - Maggie is far from. She's a recovering alcoholic (a storyline that garnered Rogers her much-deserved Emmy) and in this way she has been able to relate to other addicts like Lucas and Brady in ways that Alice would never have been able to. She has also strayed in her marriage to Mickey, allowing her to understand the other flawed characters of Salem who may have done the same (which is almost all of them) - many of whom would likely be too ashamed to confide the same information to Alice who managed to stick with the same man for 60+ years. This mix of many of Alice's best qualities and Maggie's own human imperfections, makes Maggie the perfect candidate to take what Alice Horton brought to the show into the new millennium.
The only tragedy about the fact that Maggie's gained such prominence in recent years, is how horrible it was that she'd had such little prominence in years past. Though certainly the character's role on the show was bound to be hurt by John Clarke's retirement in 2004 (and the unsuccessful recasts of Mickey that followed) there was still no excuse for the backburning she received, especially when one considers that Suzanne Rogers is one of the few Emmy-winners this show has had, and played such a huge role in the 70s and early 80s as Mickey Horton's soulmate. With the recent death of Mickey, mandated by Maggie's burgeoning renaissance on the show, and the awkwardness of this show always trying to pretend Mickey's in Chicago on business or else in the other room, Suzanne Rogers has again been given a chance to shine in the spotlight, for the first time in decades. One hopes that her new relationship with fellow veteran Victor will continue to cement Maggie's once and future place as one of Days's leading women.
11. Mickey Horton
AKA: Michael Horton (full name), Marty Hansen (amnesia name)
Portrayed By: John Clarke (1965-2004)
Richard Voigts (2004)
John Ingle (2004-2006)
Kevin Dobson (2008)
Current Status: Deceased (2010)
Main Love Interests: Laura Horton, Linda Patterson, Maggie Horton, Bonnie Lockhart
Occupation: Attorney
Children: Mike Horton (legal son, with Laura)
Melissa Horton (adopted daughter, with Maggie)
Sarah Horton (adopted daughter, with Maggie)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Jeremy Horton ("grandson"/great-nephew)
Nathan Horton (adopted grandson)
Notes: First and foremost, I want to register how painful it was that Mickey Horton got excluded from the top 10. I went back and forth for quite some time between him and the person I have in the 10th spot, and ultimately I decided that despite Mickey's much longer tenure, the person I have in 10th made a bigger impact on the show when they were on, and Mickey was left in 11th. I know it's a semantics thing, in that 10th is really only slightly bigger than 11th, but I'm aware of the fact that being in the top 10 brings with it a certain cache. So, sorry Mickey. If it's any consolation, at least you get to be beside your beloved Maggie. Now, to business.
It's a shame that Mickey (and by extension, his portrayer John Clarke) never quite reached the same iconic stature of Frances Reid/Alice and Macdonald Carey/Tom. After all, Clarke was on the show almost as long as Reid, substantially longer than Carey and spent more time as a lead than either of his parents. But whatever the reason, while Mickey Horton was always first and foremost among the second-generation Horton children, he never became a true daytime legend, instead having to settle for being a Days of our Lives-specific legend. Mickey was always the reliable Horton kid - though he had his personal dramas like everyone else (notably the time he lost his memory and the time he went crazy and wanted to murder Bill and Laura for betraying him when he found out he wasn't Mike's father) for the most part he was the solid and dependable good son, in contrast to the more troubled Bill. What drama he did have (usually when he was with Laura) settled down greatly once he was paired with Maggie and for the vast majority of their time on the show they've been a happy and drama-free couple, the perfect candidates to replace Tom and Alice when the time came.
Sadly, Mickey never got that chance. Over the years we began seeing less and less of him (less even than Alice, or sometimes even less than Doug and Julie who only popped up from time to time). His major job was to be Salem's designated attorney, particularly when there wasn't a front burner attorney on canvas, and then to show up at family functions and holidays, to the point where Mickey's role on the show was more emeritus than anything else. It seemed that John Clarke's health wasn't great and he eventually chose the perfect moment to retire - when the show was going to hell anyway because of the whole Salem Stalker storyline. Though Mickey himself wasn't killed off during that story, many of the actors who'd been his peers (Bill Hayes, Frances Reid and especially Suzanne Rogers) either had been killed or were about to be. If I were reaching retirement age, I'm sure that's when I'd have decided to pack it in as well.
The character of Mickey hung on for six more years after Clarke's retirement... but, really, the less said about those years the better. There was John Ingle's Mickey (who looked so old that he might have been more suitable as a twilight-years love interest for Alice than as her son) and Kevin Dobson's Mickey (whose Brooklyn accent made him come of like a sleazy mob attorney) but for the most part Mickey was just offscreen - always upstairs, in the kitchen or on business in Chicago. This could be tolerated back when we didn't see Maggie much, but in 2009 the character's role started growing once it became clear that Frances Reid's time on the show was done and that a new Alice would need to take her place. With all the new prominence for Maggie - especially since her house started becoming a major set and the new home for wayward teens - it became clear that her having a constantly awkwardly offscreen husband wasn't going to work and Mickey Horton met his untimely death, allowing John Clarke's version to be the one we see in photographs and flashbacks making him the official Mickey Horton once again. As if anyone ever thought otherwise.
Portrayed By: John Clarke (1965-2004)
Richard Voigts (2004)
John Ingle (2004-2006)
Kevin Dobson (2008)
Current Status: Deceased (2010)
Main Love Interests: Laura Horton, Linda Patterson, Maggie Horton, Bonnie Lockhart
Occupation: Attorney
Children: Mike Horton (legal son, with Laura)
Melissa Horton (adopted daughter, with Maggie)
Sarah Horton (adopted daughter, with Maggie)
Family: Tom Horton (father, deceased)
Alice Horton (mother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (brother)
Addie Horton (sister, deceased)
Bill Horton (brother)
Marie Horton (sister)
Julie Olson (niece)
Steven Olson (nephew)
Hope Williams (niece)
Jennifer Horton (niece)
Lucas Horton (nephew)
Jessica Blake (niece)
Jeremy Horton ("grandson"/great-nephew)
Nathan Horton (adopted grandson)
Notes: First and foremost, I want to register how painful it was that Mickey Horton got excluded from the top 10. I went back and forth for quite some time between him and the person I have in the 10th spot, and ultimately I decided that despite Mickey's much longer tenure, the person I have in 10th made a bigger impact on the show when they were on, and Mickey was left in 11th. I know it's a semantics thing, in that 10th is really only slightly bigger than 11th, but I'm aware of the fact that being in the top 10 brings with it a certain cache. So, sorry Mickey. If it's any consolation, at least you get to be beside your beloved Maggie. Now, to business.
It's a shame that Mickey (and by extension, his portrayer John Clarke) never quite reached the same iconic stature of Frances Reid/Alice and Macdonald Carey/Tom. After all, Clarke was on the show almost as long as Reid, substantially longer than Carey and spent more time as a lead than either of his parents. But whatever the reason, while Mickey Horton was always first and foremost among the second-generation Horton children, he never became a true daytime legend, instead having to settle for being a Days of our Lives-specific legend. Mickey was always the reliable Horton kid - though he had his personal dramas like everyone else (notably the time he lost his memory and the time he went crazy and wanted to murder Bill and Laura for betraying him when he found out he wasn't Mike's father) for the most part he was the solid and dependable good son, in contrast to the more troubled Bill. What drama he did have (usually when he was with Laura) settled down greatly once he was paired with Maggie and for the vast majority of their time on the show they've been a happy and drama-free couple, the perfect candidates to replace Tom and Alice when the time came.
Sadly, Mickey never got that chance. Over the years we began seeing less and less of him (less even than Alice, or sometimes even less than Doug and Julie who only popped up from time to time). His major job was to be Salem's designated attorney, particularly when there wasn't a front burner attorney on canvas, and then to show up at family functions and holidays, to the point where Mickey's role on the show was more emeritus than anything else. It seemed that John Clarke's health wasn't great and he eventually chose the perfect moment to retire - when the show was going to hell anyway because of the whole Salem Stalker storyline. Though Mickey himself wasn't killed off during that story, many of the actors who'd been his peers (Bill Hayes, Frances Reid and especially Suzanne Rogers) either had been killed or were about to be. If I were reaching retirement age, I'm sure that's when I'd have decided to pack it in as well.
The character of Mickey hung on for six more years after Clarke's retirement... but, really, the less said about those years the better. There was John Ingle's Mickey (who looked so old that he might have been more suitable as a twilight-years love interest for Alice than as her son) and Kevin Dobson's Mickey (whose Brooklyn accent made him come of like a sleazy mob attorney) but for the most part Mickey was just offscreen - always upstairs, in the kitchen or on business in Chicago. This could be tolerated back when we didn't see Maggie much, but in 2009 the character's role started growing once it became clear that Frances Reid's time on the show was done and that a new Alice would need to take her place. With all the new prominence for Maggie - especially since her house started becoming a major set and the new home for wayward teens - it became clear that her having a constantly awkwardly offscreen husband wasn't going to work and Mickey Horton met his untimely death, allowing John Clarke's version to be the one we see in photographs and flashbacks making him the official Mickey Horton once again. As if anyone ever thought otherwise.
10. Sami Brady
AKA: Samantha Gene Brady (full name), Sami Horton, Sami DiMera (married names), Stan (male alias)
Portrayed By: Ronit Arnoff (1984)
Lauren Ann Bundy (1985)
Jessica Davis (1985-1986)
Tiffany Nicole Palma (1986)
Ashleigh Blair Sterling (1986-1990)
Christina Wagoner (1990-1992)
Alison Sweeney (1993-present)
Dan Welles (2005, as Stan)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Lucas Horton, Austin Reed, Franco Kelly, Brandon Walker, E.J. DiMera, Rafe Hernandez
Occupation: Executive at Countess Wilhemina Cosmetics
Children: Will Horton (son, with Lucas)
Johnny DiMera (son, with E.J.)
Allie Horton (daughter, with Lucas)
Sydney DiMera (daughter, with E.J.)
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Eric Brady (twin brother)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Claire Brady (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Martha Evans (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Sami's current role on the show, as the oft-pregnant center of the universe with every guy desiring her, makes it very easy to forget the humble roots of the character and what it was about her that made this underdog popular enough in the first place to get to the position she is now. No character on Days has ever started as, well, pathetic as Sami Brady was and then risen as high as her. Generally, when a young girl is aged to her teenage years it's also done to get a pretty young ingenue, but with Sami they actively sought to make her kind of a plain jane. And not in a "throw some glasses on her and tell you she's plain" kind of way (a la Chloe), but really legitimately plain. The effect was to simply make Sami a foil to her sister Carrie, the ingenue of the times. Carrie was the pretty, popular one while Sami was the bitter jealous sister who actively schemed against her to steal Austin. And there was no need for Sami to be gorgeous or likable or anything like that, because were supposed to be rooting against her.
But few did. Instead, Sami grew way more popular than Austin or Carrie. It was hard not to be drawn to this vivacious little vixen over her golden child sister and her cardboard cut-out love interest. Audiences, many of whom were teenage girls themselves, weren't used to having a young female character on a soap who wasn't effortlessly gorgeous, popular and successful, and they quite understandably identified with her. And as Carrie and Austin faded to the background, Sami took their place as the lead character of her generation and was given love interests of her own like Brandon Walker and, most significantly, Lucas Roberts, who liked Sami for Sami, inspite of her flaws and imperfections - hell, even because of them. Sami was now the breakout character of the show, and it wasn't long before she became the star, a position she's held for years now.
The trouble is that once you become the star of the show and the most popular character both offscreen and on, you can hardly still present yourself as the underdog. Eventually Sami had no choice but to become the kind of character that she used to be a refreshing change from. And her popular (if controversial) pairing with E.J. DiMera coincided with an unappealing white-washing of the character (possibly to set up a contrast between them) that has resulted in her becoming more like her mother Marlena and sisters Carrie and Belle, than the Sami of old. Still, Sami continues to reign supreme on the show, and there's little sign of that going away.
Portrayed By: Ronit Arnoff (1984)
Lauren Ann Bundy (1985)
Jessica Davis (1985-1986)
Tiffany Nicole Palma (1986)
Ashleigh Blair Sterling (1986-1990)
Christina Wagoner (1990-1992)
Alison Sweeney (1993-present)
Dan Welles (2005, as Stan)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Lucas Horton, Austin Reed, Franco Kelly, Brandon Walker, E.J. DiMera, Rafe Hernandez
Occupation: Executive at Countess Wilhemina Cosmetics
Children: Will Horton (son, with Lucas)
Johnny DiMera (son, with E.J.)
Allie Horton (daughter, with Lucas)
Sydney DiMera (daughter, with E.J.)
Family: Roman Brady (father)
Marlena Evans (mother)
Carrie Brady (half-sister)
D.J. Craig (half-brother, deceased)
Eric Brady (twin brother)
Rex Brady (half-brother)
Cassie DiMera (half-sister)
Belle Black (half-sister)
Claire Brady (niece)
Shawn Brady Sr. (grandfather, deceased)
Caroline Brady (grandmother)
Frank Evans (grandfather)
Martha Evans (grandmother)
Kimberly Brady (aunt)
Kayla Johnson (aunt)
Bo Brady (uncle)
Samantha Evans (aunt, deceased)
Andrew Donovan (cousin)
Jeannie Donovan (cousin)
Stephanie Johnson (cousin)
Joey Johnson (cousin)
Shawn D. Brady (cousin)
Chelsea Benson-Brady (cousin)
Zack Brady (cousin, deceased)
Ciara Brady (cousin)
Notes: Sami's current role on the show, as the oft-pregnant center of the universe with every guy desiring her, makes it very easy to forget the humble roots of the character and what it was about her that made this underdog popular enough in the first place to get to the position she is now. No character on Days has ever started as, well, pathetic as Sami Brady was and then risen as high as her. Generally, when a young girl is aged to her teenage years it's also done to get a pretty young ingenue, but with Sami they actively sought to make her kind of a plain jane. And not in a "throw some glasses on her and tell you she's plain" kind of way (a la Chloe), but really legitimately plain. The effect was to simply make Sami a foil to her sister Carrie, the ingenue of the times. Carrie was the pretty, popular one while Sami was the bitter jealous sister who actively schemed against her to steal Austin. And there was no need for Sami to be gorgeous or likable or anything like that, because were supposed to be rooting against her.
But few did. Instead, Sami grew way more popular than Austin or Carrie. It was hard not to be drawn to this vivacious little vixen over her golden child sister and her cardboard cut-out love interest. Audiences, many of whom were teenage girls themselves, weren't used to having a young female character on a soap who wasn't effortlessly gorgeous, popular and successful, and they quite understandably identified with her. And as Carrie and Austin faded to the background, Sami took their place as the lead character of her generation and was given love interests of her own like Brandon Walker and, most significantly, Lucas Roberts, who liked Sami for Sami, inspite of her flaws and imperfections - hell, even because of them. Sami was now the breakout character of the show, and it wasn't long before she became the star, a position she's held for years now.
The trouble is that once you become the star of the show and the most popular character both offscreen and on, you can hardly still present yourself as the underdog. Eventually Sami had no choice but to become the kind of character that she used to be a refreshing change from. And her popular (if controversial) pairing with E.J. DiMera coincided with an unappealing white-washing of the character (possibly to set up a contrast between them) that has resulted in her becoming more like her mother Marlena and sisters Carrie and Belle, than the Sami of old. Still, Sami continues to reign supreme on the show, and there's little sign of that going away.
9. John Black
AKA: The Pawn (alias by Stefano), Roman Brady (assumed name), Forrest Alamain (legal name), Ryan DiMera (birth name)
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn (1986-2007, 2008-2009, 2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Marlena Evans, Diana Colville, Isabella Toscano, Kristen Blake, Gina von Amberg, Hope Williams, Kate Roberts, Ava Vitali
Occupation: CEO of Basic Black , former head of DiMera Empire, former ISA Agent, form Priest, former Mercenary, former DiMera pawn
Children: Brady Black (son, with Isabella)
Belle Black (daughter, with Marlena)
Family: Santo DiMera (father, deceased)
Colleen Brady (mother, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (half-brother)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Tony DiMera ("nephew", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (niece, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (niece, deceased)
Lexie Carver (niece)
Benjy Hawk (nephew, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (nephew)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable nephew)
Shawn Brady Sr. (uncle)
Eric Brady I (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
Roman Brady (cousin)
Kimberly Brady (cousin)
Kayla Brady (cousin)
Bo Brady ("cousin")
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Notes: John has always been a fairly controversial character, from the very moment he showed up in 1986 and started calling himself Roman Brady there were always going to be some people who were hesitant to embrace him. Roman and Marlena were the only supercouple that, after being firmly established by Days, the show then permanently broke up. Every other time a supercouple broke up you knew it would only be temporary and eventually the rival would turn evil or crazy or die or whatever. But the manner in which John established himself - not just taking Roman's place as Marlena's love interest, but taking Roman's identity entirely, ensured that by the time the real Roman returned to reclaim his wife and his life, it was already too late. John and Marlena had already established themselves as a supercouple in their own right and as John, at that point, was more familiar to the audience of the early 90s (as well, as being younger and more vital than the real Roman), it was him that would stand beside Marlena. And in that day and age, whoever was paired with Marlena was guaranteed to become one of the show's main men, and John was no exception.
Unfortunately, the usurping of Roman's role wasn't the only thing that has caused controversy for John, nor is it the thing that kept such a superstar from ranking higher on this list. The thing that has hurt John the most as a character, and John alone of characters ranked this highly, is lack of a stable identity or charaterization. John was a character constantly reinvented, always being outfitted with a different name, a different past and, often, a different personality. It's this unfortunate side-effect of John's unique persona that keeps him from being a character you can really know well, identify with or always understand. From his very first storyline, to his very last, John has never quite known who he was... and neither have we. Is he the mysterious Pawn? Gregarious average-joe cop Roman? Bold and debonair John? Robotic and antisocial Jawn? Is he a Brady? A DiMera? An Alamain? Was a he a priest? A mercenary? We could never be totally sure.
But at the same time... it almost doesn't really matter. John is less a character and more an archetype. He's the Knight in Shining Armor. He's Superman, Batman, Lancelot, James Bond, Jason Bourne and Hercules all rolled into one. There's one trait that has been true of John through all his various identities and personalities and that is bravery. The character, no matter what his name is, is a hero. Usually a true blue hero, occasionally an anti-hero, but always a hero. And that's really all he needs to be. John Black (like Days itself, particularly in the days when John ruled the roost) is pure escapism, with storylines based around amnesia, mind control, presumed deaths, kidnappings, mistaken identity and psychotic jealous lovers. If Days is going to sell storylines like that, then you need a character less bound by the constraints of reality to do it. You need the quintessential superhero. You need John Black.
And that, my friends, is a fact.
2012 Update: Shortly after posting this I realized there was one order that didn't sit right with me - John at number 10 and Sami at number 9. I had my reasons (I still maintain John's constant identity shifts have hurt his character) but I couldn't shake the feeling that important though Sami's become, she isn't really beyond John in terms of import. And thus the change has been made.
Portrayed By: Drake Hogestyn (1986-2007, 2008-2009, 2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Marlena Evans, Diana Colville, Isabella Toscano, Kristen Blake, Gina von Amberg, Hope Williams, Kate Roberts, Ava Vitali
Occupation: CEO of Basic Black , former head of DiMera Empire, former ISA Agent, form Priest, former Mercenary, former DiMera pawn
Children: Brady Black (son, with Isabella)
Belle Black (daughter, with Marlena)
Family: Santo DiMera (father, deceased)
Colleen Brady (mother, deceased)
Stefano DiMera (half-brother)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Tony DiMera ("nephew", deceased)
Renee DuMonde (niece, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (niece, deceased)
Lexie Carver (niece)
Benjy Hawk (nephew, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (nephew)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable nephew)
Shawn Brady Sr. (uncle)
Eric Brady I (uncle)
Molly Brady (aunt)
Roman Brady (cousin)
Kimberly Brady (cousin)
Kayla Brady (cousin)
Bo Brady ("cousin")
Colin Murphy (cousin)
Notes: John has always been a fairly controversial character, from the very moment he showed up in 1986 and started calling himself Roman Brady there were always going to be some people who were hesitant to embrace him. Roman and Marlena were the only supercouple that, after being firmly established by Days, the show then permanently broke up. Every other time a supercouple broke up you knew it would only be temporary and eventually the rival would turn evil or crazy or die or whatever. But the manner in which John established himself - not just taking Roman's place as Marlena's love interest, but taking Roman's identity entirely, ensured that by the time the real Roman returned to reclaim his wife and his life, it was already too late. John and Marlena had already established themselves as a supercouple in their own right and as John, at that point, was more familiar to the audience of the early 90s (as well, as being younger and more vital than the real Roman), it was him that would stand beside Marlena. And in that day and age, whoever was paired with Marlena was guaranteed to become one of the show's main men, and John was no exception.
Unfortunately, the usurping of Roman's role wasn't the only thing that has caused controversy for John, nor is it the thing that kept such a superstar from ranking higher on this list. The thing that has hurt John the most as a character, and John alone of characters ranked this highly, is lack of a stable identity or charaterization. John was a character constantly reinvented, always being outfitted with a different name, a different past and, often, a different personality. It's this unfortunate side-effect of John's unique persona that keeps him from being a character you can really know well, identify with or always understand. From his very first storyline, to his very last, John has never quite known who he was... and neither have we. Is he the mysterious Pawn? Gregarious average-joe cop Roman? Bold and debonair John? Robotic and antisocial Jawn? Is he a Brady? A DiMera? An Alamain? Was a he a priest? A mercenary? We could never be totally sure.
But at the same time... it almost doesn't really matter. John is less a character and more an archetype. He's the Knight in Shining Armor. He's Superman, Batman, Lancelot, James Bond, Jason Bourne and Hercules all rolled into one. There's one trait that has been true of John through all his various identities and personalities and that is bravery. The character, no matter what his name is, is a hero. Usually a true blue hero, occasionally an anti-hero, but always a hero. And that's really all he needs to be. John Black (like Days itself, particularly in the days when John ruled the roost) is pure escapism, with storylines based around amnesia, mind control, presumed deaths, kidnappings, mistaken identity and psychotic jealous lovers. If Days is going to sell storylines like that, then you need a character less bound by the constraints of reality to do it. You need the quintessential superhero. You need John Black.
And that, my friends, is a fact.
2012 Update: Shortly after posting this I realized there was one order that didn't sit right with me - John at number 10 and Sami at number 9. I had my reasons (I still maintain John's constant identity shifts have hurt his character) but I couldn't shake the feeling that important though Sami's become, she isn't really beyond John in terms of import. And thus the change has been made.
8. Stefano DiMera
AKA: The Phoenix (nickname)
Portrayed By: Joseph Mascolo (1982-1983, 1984-1985, 1988, 1993-2001, 2007-2008, 2008-present)
Frank Fata (1991)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Daphne DiMera, Lee DuMonde, Celeste Perrault, Marlena Evans, Kate Roberts, Vivian Alamain, Gina von Amberg, Probably Madeline Peterson-Woods
Occupation: Crime Lord, Head of DiMera Enterprises
Children: Tony DiMera (legal son, with Daphne, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (daughter, with Lee, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (daughter, with , deceased)
Lexie Carver (daughter, with Celeste)
Kristen Blake (adopted daughter)
Peter Blake (adopted son)
Benjy Hawk (son, with Ellen, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (son, with Susan)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable son, with Madeline)
Family: Santo DiMera (father, deceased)
John Black (half-brother)
Other Brothers
Theo Carver (grandson)
Steven Hawk (grandson)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Grace Brady (probable granddaughter, deceased)
Andre DiMera (nephew)
Brady Black (nephew)
Belle Black (niece)
Notes: It's interesting, considering how synonymous the name Stefano DiMera is with Days of our Lives, how little of the man we've actually seen over the years. Of the past thirty years (which is roughly how long Stefano's been around) he's not even in the top 20 most appearing characters, as per Jason47's page. But Stefano doesn't need to be onscreen for us to feel his influence. As Days's arch-villain, Stefano is always ominpresent, his last name is constantly evoked as the pure embodiment of evil and wrongdoing in Salem, and schemes get attributed to him even when he's not onscreen. Stefano is a supervillain in the truest sense of the word. Days has had many good guys come and go, but since 1982 there has always been one definitive bad guy, and all others mere pretenders to the throne.
Like his pawn John Black, Stefano suffers from occasionally verging on cartoon character. As mentioned before, unlike Days' secondary reigning villain Victor Kiriakis, there is almost nothing realistic about Stefano DiMera. I want to name some of them off but I literally don't even know where to begin. Suffice to say, with very little exaggeration, he's tried to kill everyone, he's kidnapped everyone and he's brainwashed/given amnesia to/altered the identity of everyone. He even aided Satan in possessing Marlena. This guy is (and pardon my language, since it's the only time I'll use the word here) seriously fucked up. Fans of who have only tuned in the past few years to see a more docile, mellow semi-retired Stefano, would be in shock at just how dastardly this guy is. In the mid and late 90s, in particular (which was, it should be noted, a very cartoonish time for Days in general) the guy was basically hatching some Bond-villain esque scheme on a weekly basis.
It hasn't all been silliness though. They've grounded Stefano more in reality since his return in 2007 and through it all, there's been a figure devoted to his family and upholding its honor and tradition. Stefano cares about his children and grandchildren above all else (usually) and the knowledge that the ever-changing nature of his feud with the Bradys stems from simply wanting to honor his father and uphold his dying wish to make the Bradys suffer, occasionally peppers the character with much-needed motive and pathos. At times, especially recently, we can believe that Stefano could really exist as a real person, with other emotions mixed in with all the hatred and evil.
Still, no one's going to pretend Stefano numbers among the most true-to-life characters this show has ever had (though Joseph Mascolo has always brought his A-Game in bringing the Phoenix to life as a vivid and charismatic figure) but, like John, he doesn't need to be. He's died and come back to life approximately twelve times and, every five years or so, you can pretty much count on another long-lost kid of his to pop out of the wood work. In essence, Stefano DiMera is the prototype of all daytime villains and pretty much inarguably the most famous one ever. And, lunacy aside, if that doesn't deserve someone a spot on the top 10 then I'm not sure what does.
Portrayed By: Joseph Mascolo (1982-1983, 1984-1985, 1988, 1993-2001, 2007-2008, 2008-present)
Frank Fata (1991)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Daphne DiMera, Lee DuMonde, Celeste Perrault, Marlena Evans, Kate Roberts, Vivian Alamain, Gina von Amberg, Probably Madeline Peterson-Woods
Occupation: Crime Lord, Head of DiMera Enterprises
Children: Tony DiMera (legal son, with Daphne, deceased)
Renee DuMonde (daughter, with Lee, deceased)
Megan Hathaway (daughter, with , deceased)
Lexie Carver (daughter, with Celeste)
Kristen Blake (adopted daughter)
Peter Blake (adopted son)
Benjy Hawk (son, with Ellen, deceased)
E.J. DiMera (son, with Susan)
Chad Peterson-Woods (probable son, with Madeline)
Family: Santo DiMera (father, deceased)
John Black (half-brother)
Other Brothers
Theo Carver (grandson)
Steven Hawk (grandson)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Grace Brady (probable granddaughter, deceased)
Andre DiMera (nephew)
Brady Black (nephew)
Belle Black (niece)
Notes: It's interesting, considering how synonymous the name Stefano DiMera is with Days of our Lives, how little of the man we've actually seen over the years. Of the past thirty years (which is roughly how long Stefano's been around) he's not even in the top 20 most appearing characters, as per Jason47's page. But Stefano doesn't need to be onscreen for us to feel his influence. As Days's arch-villain, Stefano is always ominpresent, his last name is constantly evoked as the pure embodiment of evil and wrongdoing in Salem, and schemes get attributed to him even when he's not onscreen. Stefano is a supervillain in the truest sense of the word. Days has had many good guys come and go, but since 1982 there has always been one definitive bad guy, and all others mere pretenders to the throne.
Like his pawn John Black, Stefano suffers from occasionally verging on cartoon character. As mentioned before, unlike Days' secondary reigning villain Victor Kiriakis, there is almost nothing realistic about Stefano DiMera. I want to name some of them off but I literally don't even know where to begin. Suffice to say, with very little exaggeration, he's tried to kill everyone, he's kidnapped everyone and he's brainwashed/given amnesia to/altered the identity of everyone. He even aided Satan in possessing Marlena. This guy is (and pardon my language, since it's the only time I'll use the word here) seriously fucked up. Fans of who have only tuned in the past few years to see a more docile, mellow semi-retired Stefano, would be in shock at just how dastardly this guy is. In the mid and late 90s, in particular (which was, it should be noted, a very cartoonish time for Days in general) the guy was basically hatching some Bond-villain esque scheme on a weekly basis.
It hasn't all been silliness though. They've grounded Stefano more in reality since his return in 2007 and through it all, there's been a figure devoted to his family and upholding its honor and tradition. Stefano cares about his children and grandchildren above all else (usually) and the knowledge that the ever-changing nature of his feud with the Bradys stems from simply wanting to honor his father and uphold his dying wish to make the Bradys suffer, occasionally peppers the character with much-needed motive and pathos. At times, especially recently, we can believe that Stefano could really exist as a real person, with other emotions mixed in with all the hatred and evil.
Still, no one's going to pretend Stefano numbers among the most true-to-life characters this show has ever had (though Joseph Mascolo has always brought his A-Game in bringing the Phoenix to life as a vivid and charismatic figure) but, like John, he doesn't need to be. He's died and come back to life approximately twelve times and, every five years or so, you can pretty much count on another long-lost kid of his to pop out of the wood work. In essence, Stefano DiMera is the prototype of all daytime villains and pretty much inarguably the most famous one ever. And, lunacy aside, if that doesn't deserve someone a spot on the top 10 then I'm not sure what does.
7. Jennifer Horton
AKA: Jennifer Rose Horton (birth name), Jennifer Deveraux (married name)
Portrayed By: Maren Stephenson (1976-1977)
Jennifer Peterson (1977-1978)
Melissa Reeves (1985-1995, 2000-2006, 2010-present)
Stephanie Cameron (1995-1998)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Frankie Brady, Emilio Ramirez, Jack Deveraux, Peter Blake, Brandon Walker, Colin Murphy
Occupation: PR Director for Abe Carver's mayoral campaign, former journalist for the London Spectator, former talk show host, former TV reporter
Children: Abigail Deveraux (daughter, with Jack)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (son, with Jack)
Family: Bill Horton (father)
Laura Horton (mother)
Mike Horton (brother)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Jeremy Horton (nephew)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Notes: Though the 1980s are considered by many to be the glory days of Days of our Lives, they were a very bad time for the Hortons. Throughout the 60s and 70s they had an unquestioned and uncompromised iron grip on the landscape and almost all of the main characters were branches of their family tree. Then Roman Brady showed up in 1981 and everything changed. Within a couple years this show could effectively be renamed The Brady Bunch... there were some Hortons that remained huge stars through the 80s, 90s and 00s, of course, but more often than not they were simple technically Hortons, while mainly belonging to some other family (For most of her tenure Hope has really seemed more like an honorary Brady than anything else, Lucas has always been more of a Roberts, etc.) Indeed, the Hortons might have died off entirely, around only for purposes of nostalgia and to offer a sympathetic for the new main characters... if it wasn't for a girl named Jennifer.
Teenaged Jennifer (who had, at that point, spent the vast majority of her life offscreen) breezed into town in 1985, at the height of the Brady era, as the quintessential Horton. A golden-locked, green-eyed girl-next-door, consistently friendly and pure of heart, always perky and helpful. Jennifer was the Hortoniest Horton around, and for years she almost single-handedly carried on the tradition of Hortons who were actually (*gasp*) front-burned as the show piled on Brady after Brady after Brady. And though characters as earnest and sweet as Jennifer can sometimes undergo a bit of a backlash (see Belle Black), Jennifer was almost universally popular thanks to her genuine and down-to-earth portrayal by Melissa Reeves. And in the twenty-five years since Jennifer came onto the screen, she's missed less than five of them, allowing the Hortons to live on through her for quite some time.
If that had been all that Jennifer had done over the years, simply continue the relevance of the show's once-dominant family and act as the premiere Horton of her generation... that would have ensured her a place high on the list, though maybe not in the top 10. However, Jennifer has done all that and more. After a notable tenure as Days's resident ingenue (taking over for Hope in the mid-late 80s and then passing her crown to Carrie in the early 90s), Jennifer finally found her niche as an adult when she entered Salem University in 1989 and began an internship at the Salem Spectator under Jack Deveraux. Their complicated and tumultuous relationship - which has ranged from hilarious to heart-breaking - took the character in an unexpected direction. Recent young leading ladies like Hope and Kayla had a definitive type - scruffy but sensitive leather-wearing rebels with a heart of gold from the wrong side of the tracks. This type had proven popular (certainly Bo and Steve's awesomeness can't be denied) and were guaranteed indicators of success. Instead they chose to pair Jennifer with the exact opposite type - a slick, arrogant and wealthy criminal. The success of Jack and Jennifer as a supercouple, took Jennifer in a direction few other heroines at the time went. Rather than it being her and her man fighting the world, it was usually her and her man fighting each other. They rarely needed outside influences to cause trouble for them, because Jack caused enough trouble all on his own, providing the couple a dynamic more grounded in realism than many other supercouples have and allowing Jennifer (who started the relationship wide-eyed and naive, hanging on Jack's every word and grew into a savy, independent woman less than enamored with Jack's charm and antics and yearning for a true partner) a chance at real character growth.
The Horton family has taken some drastic hits this year with the deaths of Alice and Mickey and the departure of Lucas. Though Maggie's character has had a much needed Renaissance and a new crop of young Hortons like Nathan are beginning to take hold (if not necessarilly enjoying wide-scale popularity), the Hortons could still use a new standard bearer. Jennifer's brief return for Alice's funeral, and coming permanent return in November should be just what the doctor ordered.
Portrayed By: Maren Stephenson (1976-1977)
Jennifer Peterson (1977-1978)
Melissa Reeves (1985-1995, 2000-2006, 2010-present)
Stephanie Cameron (1995-1998)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Frankie Brady, Emilio Ramirez, Jack Deveraux, Peter Blake, Brandon Walker, Colin Murphy
Occupation: PR Director for Abe Carver's mayoral campaign, former journalist for the London Spectator, former talk show host, former TV reporter
Children: Abigail Deveraux (daughter, with Jack)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (son, with Jack)
Family: Bill Horton (father)
Laura Horton (mother)
Mike Horton (brother)
Lucas Horton (half-brother)
Jeremy Horton (nephew)
Will Horton (nephew)
Allie Horton (niece)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Addie Horton (aunt, deceased)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Julie Olson (cousin)
Steven Olson (cousin)
Hope Williams (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Notes: Though the 1980s are considered by many to be the glory days of Days of our Lives, they were a very bad time for the Hortons. Throughout the 60s and 70s they had an unquestioned and uncompromised iron grip on the landscape and almost all of the main characters were branches of their family tree. Then Roman Brady showed up in 1981 and everything changed. Within a couple years this show could effectively be renamed The Brady Bunch... there were some Hortons that remained huge stars through the 80s, 90s and 00s, of course, but more often than not they were simple technically Hortons, while mainly belonging to some other family (For most of her tenure Hope has really seemed more like an honorary Brady than anything else, Lucas has always been more of a Roberts, etc.) Indeed, the Hortons might have died off entirely, around only for purposes of nostalgia and to offer a sympathetic for the new main characters... if it wasn't for a girl named Jennifer.
Teenaged Jennifer (who had, at that point, spent the vast majority of her life offscreen) breezed into town in 1985, at the height of the Brady era, as the quintessential Horton. A golden-locked, green-eyed girl-next-door, consistently friendly and pure of heart, always perky and helpful. Jennifer was the Hortoniest Horton around, and for years she almost single-handedly carried on the tradition of Hortons who were actually (*gasp*) front-burned as the show piled on Brady after Brady after Brady. And though characters as earnest and sweet as Jennifer can sometimes undergo a bit of a backlash (see Belle Black), Jennifer was almost universally popular thanks to her genuine and down-to-earth portrayal by Melissa Reeves. And in the twenty-five years since Jennifer came onto the screen, she's missed less than five of them, allowing the Hortons to live on through her for quite some time.
If that had been all that Jennifer had done over the years, simply continue the relevance of the show's once-dominant family and act as the premiere Horton of her generation... that would have ensured her a place high on the list, though maybe not in the top 10. However, Jennifer has done all that and more. After a notable tenure as Days's resident ingenue (taking over for Hope in the mid-late 80s and then passing her crown to Carrie in the early 90s), Jennifer finally found her niche as an adult when she entered Salem University in 1989 and began an internship at the Salem Spectator under Jack Deveraux. Their complicated and tumultuous relationship - which has ranged from hilarious to heart-breaking - took the character in an unexpected direction. Recent young leading ladies like Hope and Kayla had a definitive type - scruffy but sensitive leather-wearing rebels with a heart of gold from the wrong side of the tracks. This type had proven popular (certainly Bo and Steve's awesomeness can't be denied) and were guaranteed indicators of success. Instead they chose to pair Jennifer with the exact opposite type - a slick, arrogant and wealthy criminal. The success of Jack and Jennifer as a supercouple, took Jennifer in a direction few other heroines at the time went. Rather than it being her and her man fighting the world, it was usually her and her man fighting each other. They rarely needed outside influences to cause trouble for them, because Jack caused enough trouble all on his own, providing the couple a dynamic more grounded in realism than many other supercouples have and allowing Jennifer (who started the relationship wide-eyed and naive, hanging on Jack's every word and grew into a savy, independent woman less than enamored with Jack's charm and antics and yearning for a true partner) a chance at real character growth.
The Horton family has taken some drastic hits this year with the deaths of Alice and Mickey and the departure of Lucas. Though Maggie's character has had a much needed Renaissance and a new crop of young Hortons like Nathan are beginning to take hold (if not necessarilly enjoying wide-scale popularity), the Hortons could still use a new standard bearer. Jennifer's brief return for Alice's funeral, and coming permanent return in November should be just what the doctor ordered.
6. Hope Williams
AKA: Hope Alice Williams (birth name), Hope Brady (married name), Gina von Amberg (amnesia name), Fancy Face (nick name)
Portrayed By: Kristina Osterhaut (1974)
Kimberly Weber (1974-1975)
Natasha Ryan (1975-1980)
Tammy Taylor (1981)
Kristian Alfonso (1983-1987, 1990, 1994-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Bo Brady, Larry Welch, Franco Kelly, John Black, Patrick Lockhart, Justin Kiriakis
Occupation: Police Detective, former bounty hunter, former model
Children: Shawn-Douglas Brady (son, with Bo)
Zack Brady (son, with Bo, deceased)
Ciara Brady (daughter, with Bo)
Family: Doug Williams (father)
Addie Horton (mother, deceased)
Julie Olson (half-sister)
Steven Olson (half-brother)
Douglas LeClair (half-brother)
David Banning (nephew)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Byron Carmichael (uncle)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Bill Horton (uncle)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Mike Horton (cousin)
Jennifer Horton (cousin)
Lucas Horton (cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: Most couples on Days of our Lives will have one half that causes the majority of the drama, while the other is the one who must deal with it (For Lucas and Sami, the drama queen was Sami; for Jack and Jennifer, it was Jack; for any pairing involving Nicole, it's Nicole; etc.) and for Day's arguably most famous supercouple, Bo Brady and Hope Williams, there's no question that the vast majority of the drama has been caused by Hope. First she's a spoiled brat who thinks she's too good for Bo, then she's engaged to an asshole named Larry Welch, then she "dies", then she has amnesia, then she's brainwashed, then she has an evil princess impersonating her and, at present, she's been addicted to sleeping pills that caused her to go into a murderous rage towards men, even Bo. Though Hope is perhaps not as much a stereotypical soap diva like Marlena is (and was never possessed by Satan), at the very least Marlena and John shared duty in causing drama, making Hope perhaps Day's biggest drama queen. It's hard to fault her for this though. She means well, and most of the time it's not her fault. Besides, since the character of Bo is generally firmly grounded in reality (never really given amnesia, been killed off, brainwashed, etc.), someone has to cause the drama, so it might as well be her.
And it's not all drama. What has made Hope so successful as a lead heroine for so many years is that she's able to combine the soapiness of all the drama she's had, with the grounded reality of being a mother, a wife, and a member of Day's premiere Horton family. Hope manages to continue with all the soapy ridiculousness that she's been given over the years, without ever coming off like a cartoon character herself, in ways that someone like John or Stefano, so defined by their over-the-topness, have had greater difficulty with. And not only that, but she's able to grow and develop as a realistic figure as well, beginning as a spoiled rich debutante type and becoming a hard-working, family-oriented police officer.
With Deidre Hall, Mary Beth Evans and Patsy Pease all gone, Kristian Alfonso is one of the last leading ladies of the 80s to remain an active part of the show (even the returning Melissa Reeves is more of a 90s heroine than an 80s one) and as such there are times that Bope stand alone in their representation of that golden era (there's other 80s characters of course, but few besides Bo and Hope remain leads). As I've mentioned before, when characters age there's an unspoken rule that they will become more sedentary and drift off to the background as stable advice-givers and let a new crop of characters usurp their role. Eventually the day will come, of course, where Hope is no longer causing drama left and right - and certain characters like Sami and Nicole are already beginning to take her place - but as her soapy front-burning storyline this year has proven, Fancy Face is not done just yet.
Portrayed By: Kristina Osterhaut (1974)
Kimberly Weber (1974-1975)
Natasha Ryan (1975-1980)
Tammy Taylor (1981)
Kristian Alfonso (1983-1987, 1990, 1994-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Bo Brady, Larry Welch, Franco Kelly, John Black, Patrick Lockhart, Justin Kiriakis
Occupation: Police Detective, former bounty hunter, former model
Children: Shawn-Douglas Brady (son, with Bo)
Zack Brady (son, with Bo, deceased)
Ciara Brady (daughter, with Bo)
Family: Doug Williams (father)
Addie Horton (mother, deceased)
Julie Olson (half-sister)
Steven Olson (half-brother)
Douglas LeClair (half-brother)
David Banning (nephew)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Byron Carmichael (uncle)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Bill Horton (uncle)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Mike Horton (cousin)
Jennifer Horton (cousin)
Lucas Horton (cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: Most couples on Days of our Lives will have one half that causes the majority of the drama, while the other is the one who must deal with it (For Lucas and Sami, the drama queen was Sami; for Jack and Jennifer, it was Jack; for any pairing involving Nicole, it's Nicole; etc.) and for Day's arguably most famous supercouple, Bo Brady and Hope Williams, there's no question that the vast majority of the drama has been caused by Hope. First she's a spoiled brat who thinks she's too good for Bo, then she's engaged to an asshole named Larry Welch, then she "dies", then she has amnesia, then she's brainwashed, then she has an evil princess impersonating her and, at present, she's been addicted to sleeping pills that caused her to go into a murderous rage towards men, even Bo. Though Hope is perhaps not as much a stereotypical soap diva like Marlena is (and was never possessed by Satan), at the very least Marlena and John shared duty in causing drama, making Hope perhaps Day's biggest drama queen. It's hard to fault her for this though. She means well, and most of the time it's not her fault. Besides, since the character of Bo is generally firmly grounded in reality (never really given amnesia, been killed off, brainwashed, etc.), someone has to cause the drama, so it might as well be her.
And it's not all drama. What has made Hope so successful as a lead heroine for so many years is that she's able to combine the soapiness of all the drama she's had, with the grounded reality of being a mother, a wife, and a member of Day's premiere Horton family. Hope manages to continue with all the soapy ridiculousness that she's been given over the years, without ever coming off like a cartoon character herself, in ways that someone like John or Stefano, so defined by their over-the-topness, have had greater difficulty with. And not only that, but she's able to grow and develop as a realistic figure as well, beginning as a spoiled rich debutante type and becoming a hard-working, family-oriented police officer.
With Deidre Hall, Mary Beth Evans and Patsy Pease all gone, Kristian Alfonso is one of the last leading ladies of the 80s to remain an active part of the show (even the returning Melissa Reeves is more of a 90s heroine than an 80s one) and as such there are times that Bope stand alone in their representation of that golden era (there's other 80s characters of course, but few besides Bo and Hope remain leads). As I've mentioned before, when characters age there's an unspoken rule that they will become more sedentary and drift off to the background as stable advice-givers and let a new crop of characters usurp their role. Eventually the day will come, of course, where Hope is no longer causing drama left and right - and certain characters like Sami and Nicole are already beginning to take her place - but as her soapy front-burning storyline this year has proven, Fancy Face is not done just yet.
5. Tom Horton
AKA: Thomas Horton (full name), Norm DePlume (poetry alias)
Portrayed By: Macdonald Carey (1965-1994)
Current Status: Deceased (1994)
Main Love Interests: Alice Horton
Occupation: Doctor, Chief of Staff at University Hospital
Children: Tommy Horton (son, with Alice)
Addie Horton (daughter, with Alice, deceased)
Mickey Horton (son, with Alice, deceased)
Bill Horton (son, with Alice)
Marie Horton (daughter, with Alice)
Family:
Sandy Horton (granddaughter)
Julie Olson (granddaughter)
Steven Olson (grandson)
Hope Williams (granddaughter)
Melissa Horton ("granddaughter")
Sarah Horton ("granddaughter")
Mike Horton (grandson)
Jennifer Horton (granddaughter)
Lucas Horton (grandson)
Jessica Blake (granddaughter)
David Banning (great-grandson)
Spencer Olson (great-grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (great-grandson)
Zack Brady (great-grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (great-granddaughter)
Nathan Horton ("great-grandson")
Jeremy Horton (great-grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (great-granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (great-grandson)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Nick Fallon (great-grandson)
Scotty Banning (great-great grandson)
Claire Brady (great-great granddaughter)
Notes: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of our Lives..." these words greet us at the start of every episode of Days of our Lives, showing that while Tom Horton has been gone for sixteen years now, his voice and influence lives on. Days of our Lives was originally conceived as a soap opera starring Macdonald Carey and for the first few years on the show, Tom Horton was indeed the dominant character on the show, a wise and paternal doctor and a firm advocate for family and tradition. He is the standard by which all male Hortons are judged, a bastion of honor, love and decency.
As the sixties faded into the seventies, Tom began to take the supporting role he is more traditionally remembered for - that of a loving father and grandfather, always around to give advice and dispense wisdom. There's almost not much you can say about Tom Horton, he has no flaws and issues with his character that balance out his positives, like some of the other characters. He's pure perfection. Unfortunately, this doesn't leave Tom as among the most complex or multi-layered characters Days of our Lives has ever had, but that wasn't the point of him. He's not supposed to be the one deciding between right and wrong, he's the angel on the shoulder helping people see the right thing to do.
Sadly, the major thing that keeps him from being side-by-side with his beloved Alice (who, spoiler alert, is not next on this list) is that unlike her, who has existed in one form or another in all 45 years of Days of our Lives, Tom died in its 29th year, unfortunately meaning that he only had a substantive effect on the first two-thirds of the series, and not the final third. Still, there's no character who has been gone so long and who still shines as brightly as Grandpa Tom.
Portrayed By: Macdonald Carey (1965-1994)
Current Status: Deceased (1994)
Main Love Interests: Alice Horton
Occupation: Doctor, Chief of Staff at University Hospital
Children: Tommy Horton (son, with Alice)
Addie Horton (daughter, with Alice, deceased)
Mickey Horton (son, with Alice, deceased)
Bill Horton (son, with Alice)
Marie Horton (daughter, with Alice)
Family:
Sandy Horton (granddaughter)
Julie Olson (granddaughter)
Steven Olson (grandson)
Hope Williams (granddaughter)
Melissa Horton ("granddaughter")
Sarah Horton ("granddaughter")
Mike Horton (grandson)
Jennifer Horton (granddaughter)
Lucas Horton (grandson)
Jessica Blake (granddaughter)
David Banning (great-grandson)
Spencer Olson (great-grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (great-grandson)
Zack Brady (great-grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (great-granddaughter)
Nathan Horton ("great-grandson")
Jeremy Horton (great-grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (great-granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (great-grandson)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Nick Fallon (great-grandson)
Scotty Banning (great-great grandson)
Claire Brady (great-great granddaughter)
Notes: "Like sands through the hourglass, so are the Days of our Lives..." these words greet us at the start of every episode of Days of our Lives, showing that while Tom Horton has been gone for sixteen years now, his voice and influence lives on. Days of our Lives was originally conceived as a soap opera starring Macdonald Carey and for the first few years on the show, Tom Horton was indeed the dominant character on the show, a wise and paternal doctor and a firm advocate for family and tradition. He is the standard by which all male Hortons are judged, a bastion of honor, love and decency.
As the sixties faded into the seventies, Tom began to take the supporting role he is more traditionally remembered for - that of a loving father and grandfather, always around to give advice and dispense wisdom. There's almost not much you can say about Tom Horton, he has no flaws and issues with his character that balance out his positives, like some of the other characters. He's pure perfection. Unfortunately, this doesn't leave Tom as among the most complex or multi-layered characters Days of our Lives has ever had, but that wasn't the point of him. He's not supposed to be the one deciding between right and wrong, he's the angel on the shoulder helping people see the right thing to do.
Sadly, the major thing that keeps him from being side-by-side with his beloved Alice (who, spoiler alert, is not next on this list) is that unlike her, who has existed in one form or another in all 45 years of Days of our Lives, Tom died in its 29th year, unfortunately meaning that he only had a substantive effect on the first two-thirds of the series, and not the final third. Still, there's no character who has been gone so long and who still shines as brightly as Grandpa Tom.
4. Julie Olson
AKA: Julie Williams (married name)
Portrayed By: Charla Doherty (1965 - 1966)
Catherine Dunn (1967)
Catherine Ferrar (1967 - 1968)
Susan Seaforth Hayes (1968-1984, 1990-1993, 1994, 1996, 1999-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem (but frequently traveling)
Main Love Interests: Scott Banning, David Martin, Doug Williams, Bob Anderson, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Retired/world traveler, former owner of Wings, The Salem Spectator, Doug's Coffee House, Julie's Antique Store
Children: David Banning (son, with Scott)
Family: Ben Olson (father, deceased)
Addie Horton (mother, deceased)
Steven Olson (brother)
Hope Williams (half-sister)
Spencer Olson (nephew)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (nephew)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Scotty Banning (grandson)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Bill Horton (uncle)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Mike Horton (cousin)
Jennifer Horton (cousin)
Lucas Horton (cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: When she first showed up on screen in the first episode, Julie was a troubled sixteen-year-old girl. Now, forty-five years later, she's a sophisticated and loving wife, aunt, and grandmother. And in between she was one of the most prominent and important heroines this show has ever had. More than any other character, Julie has truly grown up on Days of our Lives. There are characters we've seen more of than Julie (many, in fact, Julie's not among the most-appearing characters Days has had) but, at the same time, no other character has gone through as much life on this show as she has. There's no one else we've essentially see go from puberty to menopause and beyond. Unlike other characters, we didn't meet her when her life was already well-established nor did she vanish when she got too old. More than anyone else, Julie Olson, the first of many Horton grandchildren, has had her whole life onscreen.
And what a life it's been. Julie's been on the cover of Time magazine, and has the honor being part of what is commonly accepted as daytime's first supercouple, Doug and Julie. Though a little more supporting in the 60s, Julie essentially was Days of our Lives in the 70s - the pre-eminent character of that era, both on Days and maybe in soaps in general. She was a troubled, outspoken, occasionally bitchy but always good hearted, vixenish ingenue (the Samis, Chelseas and Melanies of today, are essentially just playing her). No matter what kind of trouble she got herself into, and she got herself into all of it, ( hell she committed her first misdemeanor in the very first episode!) we knew Julie meant well, and she was trying her best to figure out her messed up life. And, as anyone can see by looking at the confident successful woman she is now, she definitely did figure it out. And in the past 15-20 years, she's seemed to have had everything figured out better than almost everyone else in Salem.
Unfortunately, after her starring role in the 70s, her prominence faded rapidly. The early 80s were a new age in Salem, and since Julie was the very definition of the previous age, there didn't seem to be much room for her. Since her departure in 1984, she's popped up frequently from time to time (most notably in a significant supporting stretch from 1990 to 1993) but she's essentially been a special guest star, around more to lend an ear and advice to her younger Horton relatives, particularly her half-sister/pseudo-daughter Hope, and she hasn't had much in the way of a storyline since before most of the characters on this list even existed. If that hadn't happened, if she could have continued being what she was in the 70s into the 80s, 90s and today, there's little doubt she'd have been the obvious universal pick for number 1. Instead, she has two other major heroines she must compete with for the honor of Days' most significant leading lady. But still, despite having among the smaller episode counts of the top 10, Julie has proved herself as a Days legend, and managed to have that place secured within the first ten years of the show's history, something only her grandparents can match.
On another note, sorry for the slowness with which this has been updated recently - particularly this last post. I've just been really busy recently. Hopefully the final three won't take as long.
Portrayed By: Charla Doherty (1965 - 1966)
Catherine Dunn (1967)
Catherine Ferrar (1967 - 1968)
Susan Seaforth Hayes (1968-1984, 1990-1993, 1994, 1996, 1999-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem (but frequently traveling)
Main Love Interests: Scott Banning, David Martin, Doug Williams, Bob Anderson, Victor Kiriakis
Occupation: Retired/world traveler, former owner of Wings, The Salem Spectator, Doug's Coffee House, Julie's Antique Store
Children: David Banning (son, with Scott)
Family: Ben Olson (father, deceased)
Addie Horton (mother, deceased)
Steven Olson (brother)
Hope Williams (half-sister)
Spencer Olson (nephew)
Shawn-Douglas Brady (nephew)
Zack Brady (nephew, deceased)
Ciara Brady (niece)
Scotty Banning (grandson)
Tom Horton (grandfather, deceased)
Alice Horton (grandmother, deceased)
Tommy Horton (uncle)
Mickey Horton (uncle, deceased)
Bill Horton (uncle)
Marie Horton (aunt)
Sandy Horton (cousin)
Melissa Horton ("cousin")
Sarah Horton ("cousin")
Mike Horton (cousin)
Jennifer Horton (cousin)
Lucas Horton (cousin)
Jessica Blake (cousin)
Notes: When she first showed up on screen in the first episode, Julie was a troubled sixteen-year-old girl. Now, forty-five years later, she's a sophisticated and loving wife, aunt, and grandmother. And in between she was one of the most prominent and important heroines this show has ever had. More than any other character, Julie has truly grown up on Days of our Lives. There are characters we've seen more of than Julie (many, in fact, Julie's not among the most-appearing characters Days has had) but, at the same time, no other character has gone through as much life on this show as she has. There's no one else we've essentially see go from puberty to menopause and beyond. Unlike other characters, we didn't meet her when her life was already well-established nor did she vanish when she got too old. More than anyone else, Julie Olson, the first of many Horton grandchildren, has had her whole life onscreen.
And what a life it's been. Julie's been on the cover of Time magazine, and has the honor being part of what is commonly accepted as daytime's first supercouple, Doug and Julie. Though a little more supporting in the 60s, Julie essentially was Days of our Lives in the 70s - the pre-eminent character of that era, both on Days and maybe in soaps in general. She was a troubled, outspoken, occasionally bitchy but always good hearted, vixenish ingenue (the Samis, Chelseas and Melanies of today, are essentially just playing her). No matter what kind of trouble she got herself into, and she got herself into all of it, ( hell she committed her first misdemeanor in the very first episode!) we knew Julie meant well, and she was trying her best to figure out her messed up life. And, as anyone can see by looking at the confident successful woman she is now, she definitely did figure it out. And in the past 15-20 years, she's seemed to have had everything figured out better than almost everyone else in Salem.
Unfortunately, after her starring role in the 70s, her prominence faded rapidly. The early 80s were a new age in Salem, and since Julie was the very definition of the previous age, there didn't seem to be much room for her. Since her departure in 1984, she's popped up frequently from time to time (most notably in a significant supporting stretch from 1990 to 1993) but she's essentially been a special guest star, around more to lend an ear and advice to her younger Horton relatives, particularly her half-sister/pseudo-daughter Hope, and she hasn't had much in the way of a storyline since before most of the characters on this list even existed. If that hadn't happened, if she could have continued being what she was in the 70s into the 80s, 90s and today, there's little doubt she'd have been the obvious universal pick for number 1. Instead, she has two other major heroines she must compete with for the honor of Days' most significant leading lady. But still, despite having among the smaller episode counts of the top 10, Julie has proved herself as a Days legend, and managed to have that place secured within the first ten years of the show's history, something only her grandparents can match.
On another note, sorry for the slowness with which this has been updated recently - particularly this last post. I've just been really busy recently. Hopefully the final three won't take as long.
3. Marlena Evans
AKA: Doc (nickname), Marlena Craig, Marlena Brady, Marlena Black (married names)
Portrayed By: Deidre Hall (1976-1987, 1991-2009, 2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Don Craig, Roman Brady, John Black, Stefano DiMera, Alex North
Occupation: Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychology at Salem University
Children: D.J. Craig (son, with Don; deceased)
Sami Brady (daughter, with Roman)
Eric Brady (son, with Roman)
Belle Black (daughter, with John)
Family: Frank Evans (father)
Martha Evans (mother)
Samantha Evans (sister, deceased)
Will Horton (grandson)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Notes: Few characters best represent the ups and downs of Days of our Lives better than Marlena Evans. She was pure soapiness in every sense of the word, but unfortunately that can be good or bad. When Days was good, Marlena was good - a sophisticated and feisty independent woman, chock full of grace and warmth. But when Days was weird or downright bad, well... so was Marlena - possessed by Satan and floating over her bed, brainwashed into becoming a serial killer and shoving doughnuts down Alice's throat, and whatnot. Generally speaking, if it was ridiculous and bizarre, Marlena was somehow involved.
Unfortunately the character's reputation has sometimes suffered because of this, accused of being the greatest representative of the extremely controversial Reilly era, where characterization and complexity of storytelling was sacrificed for shock value and ratings-driven stunts. Though, truly, Marlena was Reilly's go-to gal for that kind of stuff, it's not fair to blame her for it. Because she existed in the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s as well, those time periods that everyone seems to unanimously and embrace. Marlena's just versatile, few characters have been prominent in as many wildly different eras as she has. Her prominence was never by design - she was introduced simply as Mickey's psychiatrist, with no greater ties to Salem than that, but by the time we said goodbye to her thirty-two years later she'd become a lynchpin in Salem life.
No matter what incarnation of Marlena we've had, she's always remained a classy, elegant leading lady. Even though she shifted to a less focal role in the twenty-first century (Serial Killer business aside) and was ultimately written out last year, she always remained the show's quintessential heroine and that's unlikely to ever change. Hopefully, with the Reilly days permanently behind us, Marlena will return one day, and get a chance to remind her fans (and show her detractors) just how she became the soap opera legend that she so rightfully is.
Portrayed By: Deidre Hall (1976-1987, 1991-2009, 2011-present)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Don Craig, Roman Brady, John Black, Stefano DiMera, Alex North
Occupation: Psychiatrist, Professor of Psychology at Salem University
Children: D.J. Craig (son, with Don; deceased)
Sami Brady (daughter, with Roman)
Eric Brady (son, with Roman)
Belle Black (daughter, with John)
Family: Frank Evans (father)
Martha Evans (mother)
Samantha Evans (sister, deceased)
Will Horton (grandson)
Johnny DiMera (grandson)
Allie Horton (granddaughter)
Sydney DiMera (granddaughter)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Notes: Few characters best represent the ups and downs of Days of our Lives better than Marlena Evans. She was pure soapiness in every sense of the word, but unfortunately that can be good or bad. When Days was good, Marlena was good - a sophisticated and feisty independent woman, chock full of grace and warmth. But when Days was weird or downright bad, well... so was Marlena - possessed by Satan and floating over her bed, brainwashed into becoming a serial killer and shoving doughnuts down Alice's throat, and whatnot. Generally speaking, if it was ridiculous and bizarre, Marlena was somehow involved.
Unfortunately the character's reputation has sometimes suffered because of this, accused of being the greatest representative of the extremely controversial Reilly era, where characterization and complexity of storytelling was sacrificed for shock value and ratings-driven stunts. Though, truly, Marlena was Reilly's go-to gal for that kind of stuff, it's not fair to blame her for it. Because she existed in the glory days of the 1970s and 1980s as well, those time periods that everyone seems to unanimously and embrace. Marlena's just versatile, few characters have been prominent in as many wildly different eras as she has. Her prominence was never by design - she was introduced simply as Mickey's psychiatrist, with no greater ties to Salem than that, but by the time we said goodbye to her thirty-two years later she'd become a lynchpin in Salem life.
No matter what incarnation of Marlena we've had, she's always remained a classy, elegant leading lady. Even though she shifted to a less focal role in the twenty-first century (Serial Killer business aside) and was ultimately written out last year, she always remained the show's quintessential heroine and that's unlikely to ever change. Hopefully, with the Reilly days permanently behind us, Marlena will return one day, and get a chance to remind her fans (and show her detractors) just how she became the soap opera legend that she so rightfully is.
2. Bo Brady
AKA: Beauregard Aurelius Brady (full name)
Portrayed By: Peter Reckell (1983-1987, 1990-1992, 1995-present)
Robert Kelker-Kelly (1992-1995)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Britta Englund, Hope Williams, Carly Manning, Billie Reed
Occupation: Police Detective
Children: Shawn-Douglas Brady (son, with Hope)
Chelsea Benson Brady (daughter, with Billie)
Zack Brady (son, with Hope; deceased)
Ciara Brady (daughter, with Hope)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (half-brother)
Kimberly Brady (half-sister)
Kayla Brady (half-sister)
Isabella Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (nephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie Brady (niece)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Brady Black (nephew)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Portrayed By: Peter Reckell (1983-1987, 1990-1992, 1995-present)
Robert Kelker-Kelly (1992-1995)
Current Status: Living in Salem
Main Love Interests: Britta Englund, Hope Williams, Carly Manning, Billie Reed
Occupation: Police Detective
Children: Shawn-Douglas Brady (son, with Hope)
Chelsea Benson Brady (daughter, with Billie)
Zack Brady (son, with Hope; deceased)
Ciara Brady (daughter, with Hope)
Family: Shawn Brady Sr. (father, deceased)
Caroline Brady (mother)
Roman Brady (half-brother)
Kimberly Brady (half-sister)
Kayla Brady (half-sister)
Isabella Toscano (half-sister, deceased)
Philip Kiriakis (half-brother)
Frankie Brady (adopted brother)
Max Brady (adopted brother)
Claire Brady (granddaughter)
Carrie Brady (niece)
Sami Brady (niece)
Eric Brady (nephew)
Rex Brady (nephew)
Cassie Brady (niece)
Andrew Donovan (nephew)
Jeannie Donovan (niece)
Stephanie Johnson (niece)
Joey Johnson (nephew)
Brady Black (nephew)
Tyler Kiriakis (nephew)
Justin Kiriakis (cousin)
Notes: It seems only fitting that if the primary representative of Salem's first family is in the number one spot, that number two goes to the primary representative of Salem's second family. Though the Bradys didn't show up until the show was a third of the way through, they instantly established themselves as an all-pervasive force on Salem that has never let up. They complimented the Hortons in many ways - while the Hortons were white collar, the Bradys were blue-collar. The Hortons were rational, kind and sophisticated, the Bradys were hot-tempered, edgy and rough-around the edges. The Hortons had all the class and refinement that befit their WASP-y heritage, and the Bradys were all Irish Catholic grit. And no characters best identified these quintessential Brady traits, then Bo Brady. It didn't matter that he wasn't a Brady by blood (hell, Alice isn't a Horton by blood either) because he was a Brady in his heart and soul. A lot of tough, rebellious spitfire Bradys have followed Bo - the likes of Sami and Shawn D. and Chelsea and Max - and there were even some that came before him, like his elder siblings, but none so purely represent his clan like he does.
But Bo's far more than just the quintessential Brady - he's also the quintessential hero. In fact, according to Jason47's site, there's no character that has appeared in more episodes of Days of our Lives than Bo Brady, even despite him missing the first third. Not Tom, not Alice, not even Marlena (though she comes closest.) With the exception of that minor interruption from 1987-1990, Bo has basically been on constant frontburner status, even while his peers came and went or drifted to the background. It's telling that Bo is one of the few main characters this show has had who has never been killed off, and who is only very rarely given over-the-top impairments like amnesia or alternate personalities - even while the likes of John, Marlena and Hope get thrown those things all the time. The reason is because Bo can't be the one in trouble or impaired, because Bo's the one who reacts and deals with that. If the show has a main protagonist, he's it. From his origins, as the prototypical "leather-wearing bad boy with a heart of gold" (a total soap cliche nowadays, but only because Bo did it first) to his present day form of a down-to-earth and middle-aged father and police commissioner, Bo has always been the hero. Not in an over-the-top James Bond kind of way like John or Shane, and not in a dark and tortured anti-hero way like Jack and Steve. Just a pure and simple salt-of-the-earth hero. This characterization has been aided by Peter Reckell's performance. There have been better actors on this show, of course, but the downside of the great ones is that they occasional veer into the theatrical and scenery-chewing, while Peter's Bo has always remained grounded and relatable.
There are disadvantages to the type of character Bo is, of course. No one's going to accuse him of being the most complex or interesting character Days has ever had, they don't take the same risks with him as they might've with others, so as not to add much grey to that white hat of his and thus he's unlikely to truly fascinate too many. But that's okay. The important thing is that in an ever-involving show that has been increasingly putting less focus on the vets, we still have Bo Brady around to save the day.
But Bo's far more than just the quintessential Brady - he's also the quintessential hero. In fact, according to Jason47's site, there's no character that has appeared in more episodes of Days of our Lives than Bo Brady, even despite him missing the first third. Not Tom, not Alice, not even Marlena (though she comes closest.) With the exception of that minor interruption from 1987-1990, Bo has basically been on constant frontburner status, even while his peers came and went or drifted to the background. It's telling that Bo is one of the few main characters this show has had who has never been killed off, and who is only very rarely given over-the-top impairments like amnesia or alternate personalities - even while the likes of John, Marlena and Hope get thrown those things all the time. The reason is because Bo can't be the one in trouble or impaired, because Bo's the one who reacts and deals with that. If the show has a main protagonist, he's it. From his origins, as the prototypical "leather-wearing bad boy with a heart of gold" (a total soap cliche nowadays, but only because Bo did it first) to his present day form of a down-to-earth and middle-aged father and police commissioner, Bo has always been the hero. Not in an over-the-top James Bond kind of way like John or Shane, and not in a dark and tortured anti-hero way like Jack and Steve. Just a pure and simple salt-of-the-earth hero. This characterization has been aided by Peter Reckell's performance. There have been better actors on this show, of course, but the downside of the great ones is that they occasional veer into the theatrical and scenery-chewing, while Peter's Bo has always remained grounded and relatable.
There are disadvantages to the type of character Bo is, of course. No one's going to accuse him of being the most complex or interesting character Days has ever had, they don't take the same risks with him as they might've with others, so as not to add much grey to that white hat of his and thus he's unlikely to truly fascinate too many. But that's okay. The important thing is that in an ever-involving show that has been increasingly putting less focus on the vets, we still have Bo Brady around to save the day.
1. Alice Horton
AKA: Alice Grayson (maiden name)
Portrayed By: Frances Reid (1965-2007)
Current Status: Deceased (2010)
Main Love Interests: Tom Horton
Occupation: Philanthropist and Doughnut-Maker, former restauranter
Children: Tommy Horton (son, with Tom)
Addie Horton (daughter, with Tom, deceased)
Mickey Horton (son, with Tom, deceased)
Bill Horton (son, with Tom)
Marie Horton (daughter, with Tom)
Family: Sandy Horton (granddaughter)
Julie Olson (granddaughter)
Steven Olson (grandson)
Hope Williams (granddaughter)
Melissa Horton ("granddaughter")
Sarah Horton ("granddaughter")
Mike Horton (grandson)
Jennifer Horton (granddaughter)
Lucas Horton (grandson)
Jessica Blake (granddaughter)
David Banning (great-grandson)
Spencer Olson (great-grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (great-grandson)
Zack Brady (great-grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (great-granddaughter)
Nathan Horton ("great-grandson")
Jeremy Horton (great-grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (great-granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (great-grandson)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Nick Fallon (great-grandson)
Scotty Banning (great-great grandson)
Claire Brady (great-great granddaughter)
Notes: FINALLY COMING!!!!
Portrayed By: Frances Reid (1965-2007)
Current Status: Deceased (2010)
Main Love Interests: Tom Horton
Occupation: Philanthropist and Doughnut-Maker, former restauranter
Children: Tommy Horton (son, with Tom)
Addie Horton (daughter, with Tom, deceased)
Mickey Horton (son, with Tom, deceased)
Bill Horton (son, with Tom)
Marie Horton (daughter, with Tom)
Family: Sandy Horton (granddaughter)
Julie Olson (granddaughter)
Steven Olson (grandson)
Hope Williams (granddaughter)
Melissa Horton ("granddaughter")
Sarah Horton ("granddaughter")
Mike Horton (grandson)
Jennifer Horton (granddaughter)
Lucas Horton (grandson)
Jessica Blake (granddaughter)
David Banning (great-grandson)
Spencer Olson (great-grandson)
Shawn D. Brady (great-grandson)
Zack Brady (great-grandson, deceased)
Ciara Brady (great-granddaughter)
Nathan Horton ("great-grandson")
Jeremy Horton (great-grandson)
Abigail Deveraux (great-granddaughter)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (great-grandson)
Will Horton (great-grandson)
Allie Horton (great-granddaughter)
Nick Fallon (great-grandson)
Scotty Banning (great-great grandson)
Claire Brady (great-great granddaughter)
Notes: FINALLY COMING!!!!
Final thoughts...
First off, sorry again about the delay. Just been busy, didn't mean to make you all wait.
Secondly, thanks to everyone who came here (this website got 33,000+ hits by the time I added a counter, almost halfway through) and especially to the hundreds of comments I received, most of which were extremely positive and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, there were also a great many of you who were displeased with where certain characters were ranked, and I'm sorry about that. Obviously this is just one person's opinion and though I did my best to be unbiased and not make this about choosing favorites (my own personal favorite character did not make the top 10, though I probably couldn't have stretched things to make it so they did) something like this is inherently opinion-based.
If I could do it over again there's probably changes I would have made. Perhaps the term "Greatest" was off, I really meant "Most Important or Significant". Also, some characters I downright neglected/forgot about (Sorry David Banning!) and some characters whose importance I didn't fully appreciate until after they were already ranked too low. It's not a perfect list, but I did spend a lot of time on it (more than I expected, the "Notes" sections kept getting longer and longer) and so I appreciate that so many of you were so pleased and invested in it! I know many of you thought it took too long for this all to come out, but it wouldn't have come out half as quickly as this if it hadn't been for all of your investment. I probably would have lost interest in the 70s or so if not for the way it caught on.
Many of you have e-mailed inquiring about my identity. Some of you I've told and some of you have figured it out on your own. Perhaps I should have claimed credit for it, but I didn't really want it to be seen through the scope of any message board persona I would have. To that end, I'm not going to make my identity public but for those of you who have already figured it out - kudos, I suppose!
Thanks again.
P.S. By the by, I'm considering a Greatest Couple List (with about 50 or so names) but judging by my lack of time for this one towards the end, I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. We'll see.
Secondly, thanks to everyone who came here (this website got 33,000+ hits by the time I added a counter, almost halfway through) and especially to the hundreds of comments I received, most of which were extremely positive and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, there were also a great many of you who were displeased with where certain characters were ranked, and I'm sorry about that. Obviously this is just one person's opinion and though I did my best to be unbiased and not make this about choosing favorites (my own personal favorite character did not make the top 10, though I probably couldn't have stretched things to make it so they did) something like this is inherently opinion-based.
If I could do it over again there's probably changes I would have made. Perhaps the term "Greatest" was off, I really meant "Most Important or Significant". Also, some characters I downright neglected/forgot about (Sorry David Banning!) and some characters whose importance I didn't fully appreciate until after they were already ranked too low. It's not a perfect list, but I did spend a lot of time on it (more than I expected, the "Notes" sections kept getting longer and longer) and so I appreciate that so many of you were so pleased and invested in it! I know many of you thought it took too long for this all to come out, but it wouldn't have come out half as quickly as this if it hadn't been for all of your investment. I probably would have lost interest in the 70s or so if not for the way it caught on.
Many of you have e-mailed inquiring about my identity. Some of you I've told and some of you have figured it out on your own. Perhaps I should have claimed credit for it, but I didn't really want it to be seen through the scope of any message board persona I would have. To that end, I'm not going to make my identity public but for those of you who have already figured it out - kudos, I suppose!
Thanks again.
P.S. By the by, I'm considering a Greatest Couple List (with about 50 or so names) but judging by my lack of time for this one towards the end, I'm not sure if it's a good idea or not. We'll see.