Days of Our Lives’s New Chad, Conner Floyd, Previews His Salem Debut: ‘I’m Pumped!’
The news that Conner Floyd was taking as Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives broke back in June 2025, and although the actor began taping last spring, the soap films so far ahead that it isn’t until the episode scheduled to stream on Peacock on Tuesday, April 21 that fans will finally get to see him in the role. “It’s pretty crazy,” the actor said of the delay in an interview with TV Insider. “That was a big time gap, but it’s finally come…. I’m pumped for people to see what we’ve been working on because the storylines have been really interesting and fun.”
Diving Right In
Although Floyd knew how daytime worked from his 2021-25 run as Chance Chancellor on Young and Restless, he also got some helpful advice about DAYS — specifically, from Chad’s previous portrayer, Billy Flynn, who left the soap to join Y&R as the new Cane Ashby at the same time the recast announcement was made. Having been given the lay of the land by Flynn, Floyd was more confident going in for his first day of work, which was good, because his first scenes were with daytime icon Deidre Hall (Malena).
“It’s incredible — they threw me in there with her right out of the gate,” Floyd shared. “I think it was kind of to see if I can hang, and she’s incredible. She’s obviously a legend, and super fun to work with. The more we get time with each other, it’s fun to pick her brain, talk, and get a note or two from her as well. I’ll take that any day.” He described their dynamic as “very similar” to the one he forged with Eric Braeden (Victor) at Y&R. “I always enjoyed being on set with him, somebody who’s been working this long in this industry, obviously they’re doing something right. Same goes for her. Being around people who are better than you, I just want to absorb as much knowledge as I can from her.”
Fans can also look forward to seeing the actor share the screen with AnnaLynne McCord as Chad and Cat reconnect now that he’s back in Salem. “That hole in Chad’s heart from [his late wife] Abigail, I think, is never going to be filled,” Floyd shared, “but for a second there, it kind of was with Cat. It’s very complicated, and I think what people can expect with Chad and Cat is a tug of war of confusion, and down the road, it just gets even more complicated.”
Chad will also have a family reunion of sorts when he gathers with the rest of the DiMera clan — including EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) and Tony (Thaao Penghlis) — for the reading of Stefano’s will, which Floyd described as “probably my favorite day that I’ve had” since first reporting to work at DAYS. “I understood the weight of the DiMera name, and what it means to carry it,” he mused. “I had to kind of find my place in that family, and everyone was really helpful, giving their notes on Chad.”
Floyd was a recast at Y&R, so he’s no stranger to having to win over fans who are slow to warm to a new face in a familiar role. “Hopefully, they accept me,” he said, “and hopefully they love it.”
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