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Nicole Reunites Eric With His Son — Before Ending Things With EJ — and Stefan Erupts at Gabi
Tuesday, July 9, 2024: Today on Days of Our Lives, Eric's dream becomes reality, EJ confesses to Holly, Stefan can't get over what Gabi did, and Tate deceives his parents.
Tuesday, July 9th, 2024
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Theresa comes to the townhouse before Tate heads to lacrosse camp. Having just returned from taking Eric to the airport, Brady informs her Tate’s not there. Theresa panics that he’s with Holly. Brady assures her Tate will be a thousand miles away from Holly soon enough. Moving on, she calls Brady out for suggesting to Alex that she’s using him for his money. Brady admits he thinks she could have found out Alex was Victor’s heir before she slept with him.
Tate meets Aaron in the park. He gives him his license in case they check his ID at camp. Out for a run, Alex pounces out of nowhere. He overheard them and knows what they’re up to.
An enraged EJ throws a glass in the DiMera living room, vowing vengeance to his father’s portrait. Holly enters, wondering why he’s so angry. Calming down, EJ tells his stepdaughter how Gabi revealed that Jude is Eric’s son. Holly expresses how sorry she is for him. EJ very evenly says her sympathy is misplaced. He already knew.
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In the Square, Stefan demands to know why Gabi exposed EJ’s secret about Jude. She says she couldn’t let Eric suffer the way she did in prison, being kept away from her child. Stefan counters that she just wanted to stick it to EJ.
At the airport, Nicole stops Eric from getting on the plane. She tells him he’s Jude’s father. “He’s our son.” She briefly recaps Gabi’s clams at the press conference and then lifts Jude from his stroller. The baby smiles and waves his arms as she hands him to Eric. Tears run down Eric’s face as he kisses his son’s head.
At the townhouse, Theresa acts appropriately insulted over Brady’s accusation. She’s not that woman anymore. She aspires to be a woman of integrity her son can be proud of. He apologizes, noting if she was only out for Alex’s money she wouldn’t have agreed to sign the prenup.
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In the park, Tate begs Alex not to say anything to his mother. Alex would never. He had fake IDs once upon a time, too. He knows Tate was just hooking up his buddy before leaving for the summer. However, he warns Aaron not to drink and drive. Alex continues on his run as the boys freak out over the bullet they just dodged. Tate gives Aaron his plane ticket. In a couple hours, Aaron will be in New York and Tate will be able to spend his summer with Holly.
In the Square, Stefan points out Gabi could have privately told Eric about Jude. Instead, she publicly humiliated EJ because she hates him for what he did to her. Of course, she hates EJ! Gabi declares. He sent her to prison, where she lived in fear every day. She spent weeks in solitary confinement, where she feared she’d never see Stefan or Ariana again. If it were up to EJ, she would have been left to rot for the rest of her life. EJ got what he deserved. Can they go home and just forget about this? “No, Baby,” Stefan responds. “We can’t.”
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At the mansion, EJ explains to Holly that he kept the secret about Jude, fearing Nicole would reunite with Eric. Holly is happy Eric has Jude back and hates what EJ did. However, she understands feeling so desperate that lying is the only choice you have. EJ thanks her for saying that. After she leaves, EJ looks up at Stefano’s portrait with the briefest hint of a smirk.
Holding Jude at the airport, Eric says he can’t take that job in Paris now. Nicole didn’t think he would. Eric can’t imagine what EJ’s going through right now. “I wouldn’t feel so sorry for EJ,” she says through gritted teeth. Later, Eric stews over what EJ did. Nicole explains he concealed the truth, fearing they would reunite. Sharing an emotional look, Eric says, “Let’s get out of here.”
In the Square, Stefan tells Gabi he loves her, but he is furious right now. He’s not on EJ’s side, but he promised his silence in exchange for her freedom. He thought they could all finally live in peace, but now he has to prepare for an all-out war. He walks away from her.
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Holly meets Aaron in the park. He tells her Tate is getting his luggage (in air quotes) and should be there shortly. He assures her nothing will mess this up for them.
Returning to the townhouse, Tate tries to get out of Brady driving him to the airport. Theresa insists they will both take him. However, she gets a call from Alex, who needs her to return to the mansion to sign the prenup. Before leaving, she tells Tate that she knows this isn’t the summer he envisioned, but she’s just looking out for his best interests. She loves him. As they hug, Tate breathes a sigh of relief.
Eric pushes Jude’s stroller past Gabi in the Square. He thanks her for what she did. She’s happy for him and kind of proud of herself, even if Stefan is furious with her.
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EJ pours himself a drink at the DiMera mansion, thinking about Nicole leaving him. Stefan shuffles in, asking EJ to pour one for him. EJ offers to put arsenic in it as well. Or should he stab him in the back? Stefan assures EJ he had every intention of taking his secret to the grave, but Gabi had other ideas. EJ says the damage is done. He lost his wife forever. Nicole returns.
When Theresa comes to the Kirakis mansion, she learns Alex ran into Tate earlier. She thinks it’s weird Tate didn’t tell her.
Holly and Tate accompany Aaron to the airport. After Aaron heads to his flight, Tate grins at Holly. “So, where do you want to spend the rest of the summer?”
In the Square, Gabi thinks about outing EJ at the press conference. With a pleased expression, she sips champagne.
Eric comes to the townhouse with Jude. Confused, Brady wonders why he’s back. Eric grins. “I thought you’d like to meet your nephew.”
After Stefan leaves them alone at the mansion, Nicole tells a hopeful EJ she’s just there to pack her things. She takes off her wedding ring. “I want a divorce.”
Next, on Days of Our Lives, Justin confides in Xander, and Jack could put a stop to Chad’s desperate plan.
See if you agree with our rankings of the best soap recasts in the photo gallery below!
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<p>The saying “You’ve got the look” was never more applicable than when <em>The Doctors</em> needed to replace star on the rise Kathleen Turner in 1979. The soap laid eyes on doppelganger Zimmer, and that was that, it had its new Nola Aldrich. (She even played Turner’s lookalike in the film noir <em>Body Heat</em>.) Of course, Zimmer was more than a dead ringer for her predecessor. The future Emmy winner all but <em>devoured</em> the role of the show’s resident bitch on her way to playing the part for which she will always be most vividly remembered, that of <em>Guiding Light</em>‘s scarlet woman, Reva Shayne.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI (2)
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<p><em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ latest Chance Chancellor might have been fated to pick up where Donny Boaz left off. While he was waiting to audition, sitting in the CBS lobby “nervous and sweating,” future on-screen wife Melissa Ordway (Abby) approached him, he told <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/615928/young-restless-new-chance-conner-floyd-first-interview/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a>, and provided a crash course in the legacy character. And ever since he took over in 2021, we’ve had to scratch our heads to remember that there ever <em>was</em> another Chance — and no, not just because Floyd bears more than a passing resemblance to his predecessor. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/584032/soap-opera-stars-real-life-lookalikes-pictures/" target="_blank">See here</a>.)</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
3/50
<p>Admittedly, <em>As the World Turns</em>’ Lucy Deakins didn’t last long enough in the role of power monger Lucinda’s daughter Lily to really blossom. Yet her successor still earned a hundred times over her place on this list — so much so that, whenever the CBS soap tried to replace <em>her</em>, viewers scrunched up their faces and wished for the return of the “real” Lily.</p>
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4/50
<p>Over the years,<em> The Bold and the Beautiful</em> had cast and recast Thomas Forrester a number of times, turning him from a junior deceiver into a passion’s plaything. But the legacy character seemed to turn a corner when a year after Pierson Fodé exited the role in 2018, <em>Young & Restless</em>’ former Austin Travers stepped in. Thomas remained as troubled as ever — maybe even more so, given his obsession with Hope Logan and “relationship” with her mannequin twin — but Atkinson not only made it work, he managed to navigate the circuitous route that Taylor and Ridge’s son walked to a clean slate and a fresh start.</p>
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5/50
<p>If you’re stepping into shoes left empty by Buffy the Freakin’ Vampire Slayer, you’d better be prepared to bring it. Luckily, Minshew was. Though the role of <em>All My Children</em>’s Kendall Hart was her big break, the relative newcomer managed to make the most of it, convincing us all to forget Sarah Michelle Gellar and invest wholeheartedly (or whatever comes after wholeheartedly) in the romance of “Zendall” — to the uninitiated, that’s Kendall and her true love, Zach Slater.</p>
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6/50
<p>Maybe the bar was set a bit low where <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Kyle Abbott was concerned. When Mealor became the fourth adult version of Jack’s son with Diane Jenkins in 2018, the show had yet to cast a really successful one. But Mealor still deserves a truckload of credit. When he picked up where <em>Station 19</em>’s Lachlan Buchanan left off, he overcame writing that reintroduced the character as a snotty jerk, showed even the soap itself Kyle’s potential and struck supercouple pay dirt opposite Hunter King as Summer Newman.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI (2)
7/50
<p>We know from ABC’s primetime soap <em>Queens</em> that Precious Way is a natural born scene stealer. But for our money, the character of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Chanel Dupree didn’t really take flight until Bowens took over the role in 2021. She blended a sweetness and vivacity into the mischievous mix that makes up Paulina’s daughter that left us as enchanted as love interests Allie and Johnny. Ironically, Bowens originally auditioned for the part but was passed over in favor of Way. “I was pretty sad about it,” Bowens admitted to <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/meet-dayss-raven-bowens/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a>. Thankfully, all’s well that ends well.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
8/50
<p>When <em>General Hospital</em> decided in 2021 to transform Nikolas Cassadine’s son Spencer from a scheming tween into a complicated hunklet, it may have been less a recast than a reinvention of the legacy character. But that in no way diminishes the magnitude of Chavez’ accomplishment in the role, played by Nicolas Bechtel since he was 8 years old. The future Emmy winner infused Spencer with a pathos that was as compelling as his charm was irresistible. Within weeks, we couldn’t even type his name without adding “fan favorite” before it. That’s how good he was — and is.</p>
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9/50
<p>When OG <em>Passions</em> cast member Travis Schuldt left after three years — with leading lady Natalie Zea (Gwen) as his real-life future wife — the NBC soap didn’t have to spend a whole lotta time making up a list of names of possible new Ethan Winthrops. The actor that the powers that be wanted had been right under their noses for years. Martsolf, you see, had tried out to play Richie Rich along with Schuldt. The future <em>Days of Our Lives</em> star (as Brady Black) had also appeared on <em>Passions</em> as a cop! (By the way, that’s not Zea with the Ethans above, that’s Lindsay Hartley, aka their <em>other</em> love interest, Theresa.)</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
10/50
<p>From now until forever, we’ll be left wondering what on earth possessed the powers that be at <em>Days of Our Lives</em> in 2023 to replace Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan with Emily O’Brien… who was already front and center as Gwen Rizczech. But whatever the reason the switch was made, O’Brien, the trouper that she is, powered through and gave performances about which we were genuinely wiggy. She even knew the perfect thing to fans who’d be watching, going, “Whaaat?” On Instagram, she encouraged viewers to have fun with it. “After all, it’s just a bit of dress-up and make-believe, really.”</p>
Image: ABC/Getty Images, ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
11/50
<p>Though <em>One Life to Live</em> minx Tina Lord is one of the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/daytime-soaps-most-recast-characters-all-time-list-photos/" target="_blank">most recast roles in daytime history</a>, she wasn’t always one of the most <em>successfully</em> recast roles in daytime history. The late Andrea Evans, who first and last played Victoria Lord’s impetuous half sister, is the quintessential Tina, of course. But among the actresses who tried on the part for size, one stands out as significantly fizzy and fun: Witter, who held the role from 1990-94 during the character’s love triangle with ex-husband Cord Roberts and charming con man Cain Rogan.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, John Paschal/JPI
12/50
<p><em>Guiding Light</em> waited five years to try recasting Dinah Marler after the departure of popular Wendy Moniz (who would go on to play <em>Yellowstone</em> governor Lynelle Perry). But the wait proved worth it when Tognoni became available. A <em>One Life to Live</em> fave, owing to her work as fireball Kelly Cramer, the actress wound up winning not one but two Emmys for her revamp of Vanessa Chamberlain and Ross Marler’s trouble-magnet daughter.</p>
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13/50
<p>So, um, adequate a Blair Cramer was Mia Korf for <em>One Life to Live</em> that when she was replaced after two years by Kassie DePaiva (then Kassie Wesley, a veteran of <em>Guiding Light</em> as Chelsea Reardon), the character’s Asian heritage was dispatched. Overnight, the schemer became, er, vaguely Southern — and also a hit. DePaiva held the role for the next 20 years.</p>
Image: ABC (2)
14/50
<p><em>General Hospital</em> viewers fell in love with Trina Robinson over the course of Sydney Mikayla’s three-year run in the role. By the time she left in 2022 to focus on her college studies, they had also fallen hard for the character’s promised pairing with Spencer Cassadine. So no one was more delighted than her successor to find herself embraced alongside leading man Nicholas Alexander Chavez. “It’s hard to wrap my head around,” she told <a href="https://people.com/general-hospital-stars-nicholas-chavez-and-tabyana-ali-on-being-soap-power-couple-exclusive-7550731" target="_blank"><em>People</em></a> in 2023. “Generations of people still think and talk about Luke and Laura. For it to be Nick and I, where people are telling us, ‘I’m watching the show because of you,’ I’m like, ‘What… ?’ It’s a lot. But I’m grateful.”</p>
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15/50
<p>The circumstances surrounding <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ recasting of Stefan Cassadine in 2019 will always be sad; the late <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/626830/general-hospital-tyler-christopher-dead-three-times-alcohol-abuse/" target="_blank">Tyler Christopher opened up it here</a>. So taking over, Barash told <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/icymi-brandon-barash-interview/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a>, “was definitely precarious… [Christopher] and I have been friends for a long time” — since their days as Nikolas Cassadine and Johnny Zacchara on <em>General Hospital.</em> “Not once did I want him to think, ‘Hey, I’m trying to take your job’… I was just going to be there for about a month.” It didn’t quite work out that way. However, Barash certainly worked out as Stefan 2.0 — to the point that after the character was killed off, he was given a twin brother and ultimately resurrected again!</p>
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16/50
<p>Even now, Grossman strikes us as a smidgen youthful to be playing Victor Newman’s black-sheep son, Adam, on <em>The Young and the Restless</em>. Nonetheless, his charisma — <em>and</em> chemistry with every leading lady who crosses his path — have enticed us to accept him in the role played in bygone days by <em>This Is Us</em>’ Justin Hartley and <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/572300/michael-muhney-demands-apology-tmz-young-restless-adam-newman/" target="_blank">headline-maker Michael Muhney</a>.</p>
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17/50
<p>Jeff Tracta had made a lasting impression in the seven years since he’d replaced Clayton Norcross as Thorne Forrester on <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>. But Harmon, fresh from his stint as Del Henry on <em>All My Children</em>, quickly proved that he was up to the task of stepping in. He remained in the role for a decade and became so identified with the part of Stephanie Forrester’s second-favorite son that when the show tried to swap in a new Thorne in 2017, the attempt made our <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/570555/soap-opera-worst-recasts-list/" target="_blank">list of soaps’ all-time worst recasts</a>.</p>
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18/50
<p><em>The Young and the Restless</em> scored the casting coup of the decade when it landed <em>Knots Landing</em> legend Joan Van Ark — you know, “poor pitiful Val” — to play Michael Baldwin and Kevin Fisher’s Mommie Dearest, Gloria, in 2004. So it was a total “Ack! WTH do we do now?!?” moment when she took a powder shortly after making her debut. What the soap did was call in daytime’s Bette Davis, Chapman. The rest, folks, is history. Delicious, delicious history.</p>
Image: ABC
19/50
<p>It’s a tall order, picking up where someone left off, especially when that someone is Emmy winner Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, <em>The Young and the Restless</em>). But Watros, an Emmy winner herself for her stellar work as Annie Dutton on <em>Guiding Light</em>, has pulled it off as <em>General Hospital</em>’s Nina Reeves. (If only Signy Coleman had managed to do the same when she took over for Watros on <em>Guiding Light</em> in 1998.) On a related note…</p>
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20/50
<p>After Michelle Stafford exited stage left as <em>Young & Restless</em> pot-stirrer Phyllis Summers in 2013 — as you know, she checked in to <em>General Hospital</em> — the CBS soap searched far and wide for a suitable replacement. Tognoni, a veteran of <em>One Life to Live</em> and <em>Guiding Light</em>, hoped that she would be it. Stafford “is fearless,” she told <a href="https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-gina-tognoni-interview-the-young-and-the-restless/2014/08/07/" target="_blank">Michael Fairman TV</a> at the time. “That is why this role is so amazing.” Tognoni remained “open to the fact that maybe this isn’t the right thing” — but it was. Though <em>Young & Restless</em> eventually brought back Stafford, Tognoni scored a 2017 Emmy for her portrayal of Phyllis. </p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, John Paschal/JPI
21/50
<p>When <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Deborah Adair retired from acting in 1995, the then-NBC soap sought to bring in a big gun to replace her as Kate Roberts. Original <em>Young & Restless</em> cast member Janice Lynde (who was Leslie Brooks) tried out. So did Bond girl Lois Chiles (who you may also remember as Holly Harwood on <em>Dallas</em>). But the most firepower was brought by Koslow, who’d already made a name for herself as <em>Young & Restless</em> blackmailer Lindsay Wells and <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> designer Margo Lynley. “Kate has definitely evolved over the years,” the actress told <a href="https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/entertainment/television/2021/02/02/days-our-lives-actress-lauren-koslow-on-nbc-soap-25-years-hails-from-quincy-boston-newport-amherst/4315244001/" target="_blank"><em>MetroWest Daily News</em></a> in 2021. “She is like an Eleanor of Aquitaine character. She’ll do it all if necessary.”</p>
Image: CBS
22/50
<p>The third time was <em>definitely</em> the charm for <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Sharon Collins. Future <em>Parenthood</em> star Monica Potter was cast first but, as she put it 2010, “I was fired because <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/577323/young-restless-sharon-newman-timeline-photos/" target="_blank">I was terrible</a>.” Not a whole lot better was Sharon No. 2, <em>Playboy</em>’s Miss July 1995, Heidi Mark. But then in came Case, already a soap vet, thanks to roles on <em>As the World Turns</em> and <em>General Hospital</em>, and suddenly, we could not only see the potential in the character, we could see it being realized.</p>
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23/50
<p>Don’t even start with us about how it turned out that St. John wasn’t <em>really</em> a recast of <em>One Life to Live</em>’s Todd Manning, he was the character’s brother, Victor Lord Jr. St. John did such a bang-up job of making his own the infamous role for which Roger Howarth had won a Daytime Emmy that when the o.g. returned to the ABC soap, a whole <em>new</em> part was created for his successor. Don’t buy it? When was the last time you saw backstory massively upended and rewritten to keep an <em>unsuccessful</em> recast in the mix? Mm-hmm. St. John, now Tucker McCall on <em>Young & Restless</em>, wasn’t just a hit, he was a megahit.</p>
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24/50
<p>Are you surprised to see Evans on this list? <em>Long</em>-longtime viewers of <em>Days of our Lives</em> won’t be; they’ll remember that before she brought her, um, sweetness to the role of Steve Johnson’s better half, the part was played, and quite successfully, by Catherine Mary Stewart, whose version of Kayla was smitten with Chris Kositchek (to the point that she even lost her virginity to him!). Three years after Stewart split to do movies like <em>Weekend at Bernie’s</em>, <em>Rituals</em> vet Evans stepped in and laid claim to the plum part.</p>
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25/50
<p><em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> hit such a homerun with the casting of Kim Matula as the SORAS’d daughter of Brooke Logan and Deacon Sharpe that we were skeptical about the prospect of anyone else so perfectly embodying the part. “Hold my beer,” said Noelle (metaphorically, anyway). When she took over in 2018, she gave us new Hope for the future, so to speak — and slayed in some of the character’s most challenging and emotional storylines. (How she wasn’t handed a hatchback full of Emmys for her performance after baby Beth “died,” we’ll never understand.)</p>
Image: Chris Haston/NBC
26/50
<p>“If anyone wants to know how to be a recast, they should call me!” the Emmy winner told <a href="https://www.soapcentral.com/days-of-our-lives/news/2022/1219-cady-mcclain-interview-talks-salem-pine-valley-and-her-new-career-as-artistic-director-of-new-yorks-axial-theatre.php" target="_blank">SoapCentral</a> in 2022. She replaced Yvonne Perry as Rosanna Cabot on <em>As the World Turns</em>, Cynthia Watros as Kelly Andrews on <em>The Young and the Restless</em> and — and <em>this</em> is the feat that earned her a spot on this list — Melissa Reeves as Jennifer Horton on<em> Days of Our Lives</em>. “The trick of it is you don’t try to compare yourself or look at the success or the behaviors of the actress [before you].” Whatever works — and it does. McClain even earned Reeves’ seal of approval. On Instagram, the OG Jennifer said “if anybody was going to fill in for her, she was glad it was going to be me.”</p>
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27/50
<p>The odds of succeeding were most definitely against the soap vet, once <em>Loving</em> brat Lorna Forbes, when she was chosen to replace Alex Donnelley as <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ Diane Jenkins in 2001. Donnelley had played the part for nearly 20 years — and opposite two Jack Abbotts! But Walters was no ordinary recast; she brought a cunning and depth to the vixen that over the next decade made her irreplaceable. And the show <em>tried</em> to replace her — with Emmy winner Maura West (<em>General Hospital</em> femme fatale Ava Jerome) — and failed.</p>
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28/50
<p>OK, this one’s a no-brainer. In the late 1980s, when <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> debuted, Katie Logan was a secondary character, the sort of (in her own mind!) Plain Jane whose dramas played out in the background of her gorgeous older sisters’ affairs. But when Nancy Sloan was finally replaced by Emmy winner Tom (previously Victoria Newman on <em>The Young and the Restless</em>), Katie moved front and center, shining as brightly as either of her blonde-bombshell siblings could’ve ever hoped to!</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, George DeSota/JPI
29/50
<p>When the <em>Guiding Light</em> Emmy winner (as Ross Marler) joined <em>One Life to Live</em> in the role of Asa Buchanan’s elder son in 2005, he knew what to expect: a lotta grumbling. “Audiences hate recasts — at least they usually do,” the late actor told <a href="https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-jerry-verdorn-interview-one-life-to-live/2011/06/09/" target="_blank">Michael Fairman TV</a> in 2009. So he deployed a clever trick to keep from being unfavorably compared to his predecessor, the late Clint Ritchie. “My decision was to not base everything off of what [he] did when he was doing the role,” verDorn explained, “but I based everything on Phillip Carey,” who’d played Daddy Dearest Asa. The gambit worked — and <em>especially</em> well the more conniving the show made Clint!</p>
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30/50
<p>Back in 2018, when the primetime vet was tapped to take over for Eileen Davidson as <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Kristen DiMera (<em>and</em> Susan Banks), the world was like, “Mmkay, good luck with <em>that</em>.” Not us, though. Having been blown away by Haiduk’s work as <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ poor, crazy Patty Williams and her empathetic shrink, Emily Peterson, we knew that she wouldn’t need luck. And she hasn’t. With a blindingly bright flair, she’s brought a method to the look-not-at-all-alikes’ madness that has only made us wonder ever more loudly how she doesn’t have a trophy case full of Emmys.</p>
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31/50
<p>The fact that you’re probably at this moment asking yourself, “Wait, why is Wally Kurth on this list?” is exactly the reason that he is. Before he assumed the role of <em>General Hospital</em>’s Ned Ashton in 1991, the part had been played — and to great success — by Kurt McKinney (who’s better known now as Matt Reardon on <em>Guiding Light</em>); in fact, it was McKinney’s Ned who embarked on that infamous, pseudo-incestuous affair with the strumpet played by the actress at No. 2!</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection (2)
32/50
<p>When <em>Ryan’s Hope</em> debuted in 1975, force of nature Ilene Kristen didn’t just <em>request</em> viewers’ attention, she <em>commanded</em> it. So it was a terrible blow to the new soap on the block when she exited stage left as manipulative mantrap Delia Reid four years later. That is, it was a terrible blow <em>until</em> the powers that be discovered Randall Edwards and dropped <em>her</em> into the role. Suddenly, Delia was as daffy as she was devious, and fans ate it up as readily as Ryan’s Bar customers did matriarch Maeve’s corned beef and cabbage.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
33/50
<p>“Give it up already,” you could just hear <em>Young & Restless</em> viewers saying in 1987 when the soap tried, tried again to recast Brenda Dickson as camptastic gold digger Jill Abbott. “It can’t be done,” we thought. And yet not only was it done, it was done brilliantly when future two-time Emmy winner Walton was recruited straight off her comeback role of Kelly Harper on <em>Capitol</em> to put a brain beneath the character’s big hair.</p>
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<p>The accent is an issue, it’s true. But you also can’t deny that when this soap-hopper (who’d previously played Patrick Thornhart on <em>One Life to Live</em>, Ian Thornhart on <em>Port Charles</em> and Zach Slater on <em>All My Children</em>) was tapped to succeed Ronn Moss as <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em>’s Ridge Forrester in 2013, “the dressmaker” plumbed depths of emotion that had been previously out of reach.</p>
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<p>Given that James Scott wasn’t just liked by <em>Days of Our Lives</em> fans as EJ DiMera, he was freakin’ adored, his successor, it seemed, had been set up to fail when he stepped into the role in 2021. However, it only seemed so because, at the time, we didn’t yet realize just how sharp an actor Feuerriegel is. Without trying to replicate his predecessor in any way, the native of Australia wore his new character like a pair of expensive shoes until the fit became so good that it dawned on even us — you know how slow we are! — that he wasn’t merely talking the talk, he was walking the walk.</p>
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<p>When an actor has played a part for as long as Hunter Tylo did Taylor Hayes on <em><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/wp-admin/_wp_link_placeholder">The Bold and the Beautiful</a></em>, the chances of her being successfully replaced are about as slim as the chances of Tylo taking a bad photo — and recast Krista Allen knew it. “I feel like I’m about to be introduced to my fiancé’s mom,” <a href="https://twitter.com/KristaAllenXO/status/1468790970393128962" target="_blank">she tweeted</a> ahead of her 2021 debut, “but she’s made it very clear that his ex is the only one for him.” Yet as quickly as you could say, “The part of Taylor Hayes is now being played by… ” the <em>Days of Our Lives</em> vet hadn’t just gotten us to <em>accept</em> but <em>embrace</em> her in her new role.</p>
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<p>The <em>General Hospital</em> leading man took a big leap of faith in 2015 when he left his popular role of Patrick Drake to replace <em>Young & Restless</em> Emmy winner as Billy Abbott. But the gamble paid off in a big way. Thompson was embraced by the audience and celebrated by his peers (with a 2020 Emmy win of his own). The secret of his success? At least in part, his late predecessor, he <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/692479/jason-thompson-tribute-billy-miller-death/" target="_blank">said in 2023</a>. “Knowing that it was his role, that he’s the one that really made that character, he kept me honest for the last eight years. I think he would’ve been really, really, surprised how much I thought about him. I did all the time.”</p>
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<p>Truth be told, we don’t consider Thomson, best known for his work as Adam Carrington on <em>Dynasty</em>, a replacement for Terry Lester, who played <em>Santa Barbara</em>’s Mason Capwell with a cheesy flair after Lane Davies called it a day. We consider the actor a recast of Davies, in that he brought to the role an altogether necessary wit and intelligence that, were the soap gods fair, would have him standing in the spotlight to this day.</p>
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<p>Somewhere, Erica Hope has kinda-sorta gotta be gnashing her teeth — because in 1979, grown-up child actress Scott left <em>The Waltons</em> — <em>The Waltons</em>, for John Boy’s sake! — to step into Hope’s former role of <em>The Young and the Restless</em>’ troubled Nikki Reed. Scott — then just plain ol’ Melody Thomas — had options, too; she reportedly joined the soap instead of signing with a sitcom pilot (which, as luck would have it, didn’t get picked up). The rest, as we well know, is history — more than 40 years of it at last count!</p>
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<p>When the <em>Another World</em> alum (as Sam Fowler) joined <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as Bo Brady, he famously <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/real-life-soap-scandals-photos/" target="_blank">failed to make a fan of leading lady</a> Lisa Rinna (ex-Billie). The rest of us, however, bought what he was selling in the role that Peter Reckell originated. In fact, after Kelker-Kelly’s first stint as Bo ended, he “negotiated a second contract,” he told <a href="https://www.welovesoaps.net/2013/09/robert-kelker-kelly-interview.html" target="_blank">We Love Soaps</a>, “and then that one fell apart” (paving the way for Reckell’s return).</p>
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<p>We know. We know that Ellen Wheeler, who first played Vicky and Marley on <em>Another World</em>, eventually returned to play the good twin (leaving Jensen Buchanan to continue on as the more twisted sister). But that does a total of nothing to detract from the superlative work that Wheeler’s replacement, Anne Heche, did in the roles. The late actress, like her predecessor, waltzed straight into the Daytime Emmys’ winners’ circle. Can Buchanan say that? Didn’t think so.</p>
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<p>You can argue all you like that no way, no how was Miller’s Jake Doe in any way, shape or form <em>General Hospital</em>’s Jason Morgan (and, in fact, he turned out not to be Stone Cold but his heretofore-unknown twin brother, so you’d technically be right). However, the passionate fan base that for ages was committed to the connection that Drew Cain formed with Kelly Monaco’s Sam McCall would beg to differ, despite the 2017 return of Steve Burton as the real McCoy, the preppy-turned-hitman that he’d played since 1991.</p>
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<p>All these years later, of course we know that <em>Days of our Lives</em>’ amnesiac John Black was never Roman Brady, as was initially believed. However, that doesn’t in the slightest diminish Hogestyn’s accomplishment, in making fans obsessed with Wayne Northrop as Marlena Evans’ one and only accept someone new in the role. Heck, even after Northrop was reintroduced in 1991 as the real Roman, he wound up being jettisoned in favor of Hogestyn, whoever it was he was playing!</p>
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<p>The veteran of <em>Loving</em>, <em>The City</em> and <em>All My Children</em> was as surprised as anybody when <em>The Young and the Restless</em> chose her in 2005 to step into the role of Victoria Newman that had been left vacant by Heather Tom (who had departed to play Kelly Cramer on <em>One Life to Live</em>). But two Daytime Emmy wins later, it’s safe to say that Heinle made it work. “There’s no way I could’ve played the character the way Heather played it,” she told <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/593164/young-restless-amelia-heinle-tribute-anniversary-debut-victoria-newman/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> in 2020. “They wanted this strong character, and ultimately, I found my own strength. It may not have looked like hers, but it was mine.”</p>
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<p>You could have argued — and credibly — that after three-time Emmy winner Sarah Brown split from <em>General Hospital</em> and her role of Carly Roberts, no one could possibly hold a candle to her. But then Tamara Braun (who later played Kim Nero on the show) did just that, so brightly did she burn. And, ultimately, Wright, by then a veteran of <em>Loving</em>, <em>The City</em> and <em>Guiding Light</em>, did the unthinkable: put yet <em>another</em> unique stamp on the part. So, as she put it after signing a new contract in 2009, “you guys are <a href="https://www.soapcentral.com/gh/news/2009/1109-wright.php" target="_blank">stuck with me.</a>” And happily so!</p>
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<p>After three years as <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Eric Brady, Jensen Ackles was well on his way to a primetime career that put the “super” in <em>Supernatural</em>. But he left a hole in Salem that was as hard to fill as it is hard to explain how Dr. Rolfe’s resuscitation process works. So a dozen years would pass before finally, the powers that be decided that the actor to tackle the role was Vaughan, who had already managed to replace Diego Serrano as Diego Guittierez on <em>Young & Restless</em> and Jacob Young as Lucky Spencer on <em>General Hospital</em>. The recast worked so well that in 2018, Vaughan won his first Daytime Emmy.</p>
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<p>We don’t need to tell you what a hard act to follow is Robin Strasser (Dorian, <em>One Life to Live</em>). So it will come as no surprise that her original replacement as Rachel Davis on <em>Another World</em> was such a flop that the Daytime Emmy winner had to come back for a few months while the show <em>re</em>-recast. Thankfully, the powers that be discovered Wyndham — a veteran of <em>Guiding Light</em> as Charlotte Bauer — and once she took on the role in 1972, she made it so definitively her own that she played it until the NBC soap was cancelled in 1999.</p>
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<p>When the soap vet, who’d already paid her dues on <em>A Flame in the Wind</em>, <em>As the World Turns</em> and <em>Love Is a Many Splendored Thing</em>, was tapped to play <em>General Hospital</em>’s Dr. Monica Webber, “I walked into something that I would never want to do again — replacing Patsy Rahn, who played [the character] before me and was rudely let go,” she told <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/tbt-leslie-charleson-3/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> in 1981. “It was done in a very tactless way.” Nonetheless, Charleson rose to the challenge and has become one of the longest-serving actors in daytime history.</p>
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<p>If you <em>really</em> want to gauge how successful a recast this record-holding six-time Daytime Emmy winner was as <em>One Life to Live</em>’s embattled Viki Buchanan, all you have to do is ask yourself, “Hmm… who played the part before her?” No idea? Exactly! But the role of the sometime Niki Smith was actually originated by the well-liked Gillian Spencer (later Daisy Cortlandt on <em>All My Children</em>). When she left in 1970, someone no one remembers tried and failed to fit the bill before Slezak stepped in and brought Viki to life for the next four-plus decades.</p>
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