Days of Our Lives (DOOL) is facing some significant cast changes, including a major departure, a temporary exit, and a dramatic return. Here’s the latest on who’s leaving Salem, and who’s coming back – including one star who’ll be pulling double duty on two soaps.
Here’s the Lowdown: Emily O’Brien is leaving her role as Theresa Donovan shortly. Charles Shaughnessy is back for a brief stint as Shane Donovan, from March 17, to be questioned about John Black (Drake Hogestyn). But this will lead into the story of Theresa’s exit after Shane delivers some tough news to his daughter. It looks likely that Theresa will then leave for California to support her mother, Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease), who has a history of cancer. However, O’Brien will soon reappear on-screen as Gwen Rizczech, starting this July. In other news, Billy Flynn, who’s played Chad DiMera for over ten years, is leaving DOOL to take on a new role on The Young and the Restless (Y&R).
What This Means Now: Theresa’s departure creates a temporary gap, but fans can anticipate O’Brien’s return as Gwen, a “very wealthy woman”. Because of DOOL’s advanced filming schedule, Billy Flynn will continue to appear as Chad for several months, even while he begins airing on Y&R later this spring. This means viewers will see him on both soaps simultaneously for a while.
The Bigger Picture: These casting changes represent a period of transition for DOOL. Flynn’s move to a different soap opera is a significant shift. Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), however, has reassured fans that she’s not going anywhere, despite online rumors. The constant flux of characters keeps storylines fresh, but it also means fans must adjust to evolving character dynamics.
