Since November 8, 1965, the dramatic, insane, heart-wrenching soap opera that is Days of Our Lives has been on air, making it one of the longest-running scripted TV programs in the entire world. The cast of this beloved show has stayed mostly the same, with some additions here and there, so we looked at all that Salem offers and pulled out 20 of our favorite cast members then and now.
Lauren Koslow
Who could forget the femme-fatale and villainess of Kate Roberts? She also starred in soaps The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful. She’s someone we fans love to hate.
Lauren Koslow
Eileen Davidson
Now here’s a soap opera veteran, Eileen Davidson has appeared on Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful. Back in 2014, for her role in Days of Our Lives, Davidson won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She’s also an author and former model, makes sense, her jawline is one all women beg to have.
Eileen Davidson
Eric Martsolf
We can’t even handle how gorgeous Martsolf is, I mean, seriously. Martsolf is actually an incredible singer and has also modeled for over 50 designers, companies, and businesses, yeah we get it. It was his role as Ethan Winthrop from the soap opera Passions that helped him land the role of Brady Black. Don’t mind me, I’m just booking some cheap hotels in Salem in the hopes of bumping into Eric.
Eric Martsolf
Renee Jones
Ahh, Lexie Carver, how we all adore you and have since 1993. Her portrayal of the physician and wife of Salem’s’ former mayor got her nominated five times for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series for the role. Not bad, Jones, not bad at all. However in 2012, Jones retired, not just from her role of 20 long years but acting all together, so she could live “a more simplistic life”. Jones was no longer happy acting.
Renee Jones
Peter Reckell
Two words, BO BRADY. Also, two more words, Bo and Hope. Perhaps one of the greatest characters on the show, his raw emotion, passion, determination is truly inspiring, Reckell is an extremely talented actor who brought Bo Brady to life and more. Which is why it is so heartbreaking that this year, he was officially written off when he died in his beloved wife’s arms. ~Forever broken~
Peter Reckell
Deidre Hall
For 40 years now, Hall has portrayed Dr. Marlena Evans for which she has won countless awards for (we won’t name them all, the list is way too long). Her character however has seriously undergone some of the most outrageous circumstances of any character in soap opera history, I mean you just have to watch the show to understand, it’s a bit difficult to explain. With her successful career, she doesn’t need to worry about cheap hotels when she dines like royalty.
Deidre Hall
Drake Hogestyn
He must be a vampire cause John Black looks exactly the same! What’s more impressive is that Hogestyn is a double major in microbiology and applied sciences, and after graduation, he was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. Hogestyn signed with the Yankees (yay!) and played third base for one of their farm teams until he was sadly injured in 1978. Speaking of accidents, he was recently injured on the set of Days of Our Lives and suffered a nasty head wound, finally after three months of recovery, he’s back at it.
Drake Hogestyn
Kristian Alfonso
Kristian is an incredible human being, the woman is a former figure skater and fashion model. Oh yeah, she’s also the wonderful Hope Brady, the amazing detective who is one part of the super-couple that is Bope.
Kristian Alfonso
Thaao Penghlis
All the way from down under, Thaao Penghlis plays everyone’s favorite villain on the show. Tony DiMera/André DiMera are the two roles he juggled until he was written out again in 2009. Penghlis is currently stage acting and has even done some films likes Mission: Impossible. Penghlis has also traveled to many places but we doubt he ever stayed in cheap hotels, I mean, why would he?
Thaao Penghlis
James Reynolds
Abe Carver is currently the third longest serving actor on the show, impressive! Reynolds plays a noble Commissioner of the Salem Police Department but off-screen, he’s just as incredible. Reynolds is an active sportsman (basketball and racquetball) and an avid philanthropist.
James Reynolds
Alison Sweeney
Sweeney is more than just a soap time actress, she’s also a reality show host, director and author. If you don’t know her as Samantha “Sami” Brady from the show then maybe you recognize her from The Biggest Loser.
Alison Sweeney
Nadia Bjorlin
This actress, singer and model is drop dead gorgeous. Look at those beautiful blue eyes! She plays our homegirl Chloe Lane, who is an opera singer shedding away from her dark past. Excuse us while we march on down with out plastic signs that say, “We Heart You, Chloe!”
Nadja Bjorlin
Joseph Mascolo
Since 1982, Mascolo has portrayed the ultimate super-villain, Stefano DiMera. Mascolo has won three Soap Opera Digest Awards for his incredible performances and sadly, just this year, he passed away from Alzheimer’s.
Joseph Mascolo
Lisa Rinna
On and off again, Rinna played the kick a** detective, businesswoman, and ISA agent, Billie Reed. She has starred in many television shows following her Days career, including Melrose Place. She was also a TV host, model and business owner.
Lisa Rinna
Bryan Dattilo
Lucas Horton is everyone’s favorite businessman, sometimes. In 2001, Dattilo left the show because he needed a break and his character definitely deserved some time off. In 2012, Lucas came back and has been shaking things up!
Bryan Dattilo
Peggy McCay
McCay was gorgeous when she was young and she’s only gotten more gorgeous. She started her acting career way way in 1949, including theatre, television, soap operas, and feature films. From 1983 until 2016, McCay portrayed powerhouse mother and business owner, Caroline Brady.
Peggy McCay
Jason Cook
From 1999 to 2006, cook played the son of supercouple Bo and Hope Brady, Shawn. Since then, he’s gone on to become a talented screenwriter, film director and film producer.
Jason Cook
Josh Taylor
Everyone’s favorite police commander and ranking detective on the Salem police force, Roman Brady. Having been killed and resurrected, Taylor seems to have done it all and is still continuing his “What da hell” is going on bravado.
Josh Taylor
John Aniston
That’s right, Jennifer Aniston’s dad is a soap opera actor and a darn good one at that! Since 1985, John has portrayed Victor Kiriakis on Days and still continues to play the role now.
John Aniston
Arianne Zucker
This actress and model played our beloved Nikki Walker. So many of her storylines have focused on treachery, death, and love, while she’s always been in the pursuit of finding true love and having the family she never had growing up.
Arianne Zucker
Suzanne Rogers
Since 1973, Rogers has portrayed Maggie Horton and is the longest-running character on the show after 40 long years and still counting. In 1979, Rogers won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Maggie as an alcoholic.
Suzanne Rogers
