Stephen Nichols Reflects On 40 Years As DAYS’s Steve (Exclusive)

On June 13, 1985, the Days of Our Lives landscape — heck, the soap landscape in general — changed forever when a patch-wearing thug played by Stephen Nichols made his first appearance on the Salem scene. The character of Steve Johnson was originally intended to come and go in a short storyline arc, but Nichols’s charisma, not to mention his palpable chemistry with Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), was like magic in a bottle, leading to a long-term contract for the actor and the onset of one of daytime’s most beloved supercouples, Steve and Kayla. As the actor marks the 40th anniversary of his debut (and the show airs a special episode celebrating the milestone), he looked back on his remarkable DAYS career with Soap Opera Digest.

Soap Opera Digest: You had primarily worked in the theater and had accumulated a few film credits and short-tern TV roles before joining DAYS and, in short order, became the hottest thing in daytime TV. From the outside looking in, that seems like it would come with a bit of culture shock! Was it challenging at all to grapple with your sudden celebrity?

Stephen Nichols: The first time I experienced anything resembling celebrity was at my first Days of Our Lives fan event. I remember walking in as they introduced me. I was surprised and a bit overwhelmed by the reaction from the crowd. As I took my seat, I looked over to where the writers, Sheri Anderson and Thom Racina, were seated. Thom made a gesture with his hand to his face and mouthed, “We’re taking the patch off.” I shook my head and screamed inwardly, “No!!” This was also the first time I signed an autograph. Seeing the faces of each person as they approached, I had a kind of revelation. I realized in that moment how important it was to be kind to each one of them. I felt a responsibility to them and what a privilege it was to be able to give them a small gift.

Digest: Steve was not intended to be a long-term. What do you think the Stephen Nichols of 1985 would have thought if he’d known that you’d be marking your 40th anniversary?

Nichols: I could never have conceived of it, though if I had, I probably would have been so very grateful that I had a guarantee of supporting my family for the next 40 years. This is where my heart has always been in relation to my work.

Digest: The archetype of the antihero seemed to be particularly in vogue in the soap landscape of the mid-1980s. Do you think the character would have clicked no matter when he’d been introduced, or do you think it was the right role at the right time?

Nichols: Interesting question. I don’t know, however, I think it’s possible that the character could have clicked in any decade because human nature never really changes, nor does the way we connect with one another. Having said that, Patch’s first year was a bit sketchy when he was written as an expendable villain. Even so, I tried my best to bring humor to the character. Harp and humor in fact. I think that got me through until the wonderful Mary Beth Evans came along.

Digest: The eye patch you wear is almost as iconic as the hourglass when people think of DAYS. If you’d known you would still be wearing it four decades later, do you think you would have pushed for Steve not to have lost his eye in that knife fight, or do you view the patch as central to making Steve who he is?

Nichols: I was always against losing the patch. It is his signature, both physically and psychologically. Wearing the patch is one of the reasons I was excited about taking the job, because I knew what an indelible signature it would be for the character.

The patch has always been central to the psychology of the character. From the early days of hatred towards Bo for doing this to him [Steve lost his eye in a bar fight with his future brother-in-law], and resentment toward the world, believing that he is a freak and could never have a normal, happy life. Then later Kayla shows him in the moment she removes the patch to clean his wounds that he is not a freak and, as Patch says, gazing into the mirror when she is gone, “She didn’t even flinch.” It was the beginning of Kayla teaching Steve to start believing in himself.

Digest: Steve and Kayla became one of the most popular and successful supercouples in soaps. Do you think Steve would have had staying power without being paired with Kayla?

Nichols: Honestly, personally, I don’t think so, but who can know for sure. So much has to do with the collaboration of so many people.

Digest: On a similar note, do you think the magic of Steve and Kayla would have been possible had it been someone other than Mary Beth Evans playing the role of Kayla?

Nichols: Now you’re talking “magic.” There’s no way the same thing could have been created with another actress. Mary Beth is unique, and our chemistry is a once in a lifetime thing and unique to us, which hopefully invokes a little bit of “magic” every time we are on screen together.

Digest: What do you remember about filming the landmark Steve and Kayla wedding on the yacht in 1988?

Nichols: So many memories… starting with watching Mary Beth as we were filming, taking her in moment to moment, from the beginning of the ceremony to the moment when she whispered “Steve,” speaking for the first time in months. I was overwhelmed as Steve and personally by her performance. There was joy in the air. It was one of those big events where filming becomes a celebration. Everyone was invested and happy to be there. A memorable, beautiful day.

Digest: You’ve left the show on multiple occasions and created three other daytime roles. How would you say that having those (and other) experiences outside of DAYS contributed to your portrayal of Steve (or, in one case, “Stevano”!) upon your returns?

Nichols: Playing Stefan Cassadine on General Hospital, initially opposite Mary Beth [who appeared on GH as Katherine Bell] and then Genie Francis [Laura Collins], Tony Geary [ex-Luke Spencer], Nancy [Leee] Grahn [Alexis Cassadine] and my dear boy, [the late] Tyler Christopher [ex-Nikolas; ex-Stefan O. DiMera, DAYS], and written by Patick Mulcahy, was very rewarding. It was a dream job. Creating that character was great fun and challenging as Stefan was the direct opposite of Steve Johnson in every possible way.

Working on The Young and The Restless gave me the opportunity to work with [the late] Jeanne Cooper [ex-Katherine Chancellor], Jess Walton [Jill], Peter Bergman, Eileen Davidson [Ashley; ex-Kristen at al, DAYS], Eric Braeden, [the late] Kristoff St. John [ex-Neil], Bryton James [Devon] and many other fine actors. I had a very special relationship with Jeanne Cooper. She and I played mother and son and connected immediately. Every moment with her was a joy.

And Stefano, or as I liked to say when I walked onto the set, “Stevano is here!” What a challenge that was! Taking on the responsibility of bringing Stefano to [life], I watched a lot of [the late] Joe Mascolo (the one and only Stefano) every day at work on an iPad and tried to pick up his essence. The voice, his posture and walk, sone gestures. The absolute most difficult aspect was playing Stefano pretending to be Steve. Lordy! This turned out to be the most fun I had had in a very long time. And I had heavy story with Kristian [Alfonso, Hope] and Deidre [Hall, Marlena]. Two awesome actresses.

Digest: What are you most proud of when you look back on your 40-year career with DAYS?

Nichols: I suppose I am most proud of having been a part of a legacy enterprise like DAYS. As we know, in our business, there are very few programs, films, that have the staying power or the fan base of daytime television. Any actor who has enjoyed a long career in daytime television will tell you; all the time and effort put into that career was worth the effort and can’t be discounted. When I worked at Y&R we would sometimes be placed in dressing rooms across from our stages. I was once in John McCook’s [Eric, Bold and Beautiful] room and on his walls were large portraits of his family members. Underneath those pictures were these words: “Why I still do this.” When I saw this, I once again felt deeply grateful for the work.

Digest: So many DAYS viewers have been watching you from day one and continue to love your work and the character you play. What would you like to say to your fans on this momentous occasion?

Nichols: Fans of Days of Our Lives, I carry your support with me every day I go to work. Many of you are like family members I have never met, and I know you’re out there and I appreciate you. Others who I have met, I want you to know that the things you say, your take on story, the compliments you pay our show and me and others, I take all of it to heart. It means more to me than you know. I appreciate you. And those fans who have become friends, are true friends of mine and even like family in some cases. All of you sustain me, my work, and my livelihood. I am eternally grateful to you. Thank you for 40 years! Let’s keep those sands flowing.