Days of Our Lives: 14 Actors Who Returned In a New Role

Days of Our Lives just announced that Brandon Butler has joined the cast as Mason Whitfield after previously appearing as Zack Brady. He joins a long line of DAYS actors who returned to the show as a totally different character than the one they originally played. Scroll through the gallery for a look at a list of these notable performers, including Salem superstars like John Aniston (ex-Victor Kiriakis), Joseph Mascolo (ex-Stefano DiMera) and Daytime Emmy winners like Tamara Braun (ex-Ava Vitali) and Paul Telfer (Xander).

John Aniston

JPI

John Aniston made his DAYS debut in 1970 as Dr. Eric Richards, then returned in 1985 to play the legendary villain Victor Kiriakis, a role heheld until his death in 2022.

HOWARD WISE/JPI

DAYS fans first met Tamara Braun as mob princess Ava Vitali in 2008, a role for which she won a Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Supporting Actress. In 2011, she came back to the show as Taylor Walker. That proved short-lived, but she later returned as Ava from 2015-16 and 2020-25.

CBS

Judith Chapman assumed the role of Anjelica Deveraux from 1989-91 and played her again in 2018. Then, in 2019 and 2024, she was reintroduced to the canvas as Diana Cooper (formerly known as Diana Colville).

JPI

Blake Berris portrayed the devious Nick Fallon from 2006-09 and 2012-14, then came back as another chaos agent, Everett Lynch, from 2023-24.

NBC

Judi Evans played heroine Adrienne Johnson from 1986-91 and was rehired in 2003 for a four-year run as Bonnie Lockhart. When she wrapped as Bonnie, she returned as Adrienne from 2007-08 and 2010-2020. Then, when Adrienne was killed off, Evans came back as Bonnie, her current role.

LISA ROSE/JPI

Andrea Hall, the real-life twin sister of Deidre Hall (Marlena), portrayed Marlena's flighty twin, Samantha Evans, from 1977-80 and in 1982. From 2000-01, she returned to the show as Hattie Adams, a Marlena look-alike.

MITCHELL HAASETH/NBC

Renee Jones did a 1982-83 stint as Nikki Wade, a love interest for Abe Carver (James Reynolds), but made an even bigger mark when she was brought back as Lexie Brooks, who married Abe. Jones played Lexie from 1993-2012.

KTVN/CBS

Kyle Lowder assumed the role of Brady Black in 2000 for a five-year run. The actor was then tapped to play Rex Brady from 2018-23.

NBC

DAYS icon Joseph Mascolo began his career on the show with a five-day run as Dr. Tufano in 1968. He returned in 1982 to begin portraying the infamous Stefano DiMera, who wreaked havoc for decades until the actor's passing in 2016.

Gary Null/©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

Wayne Northrop was beloved as Roman Brady from 1981-84 and 1991-94. His second role, the devious Alex North (2005-06), was a far cry from the upstanding Roman.

XJJohnson/jpistudios.com

Emily O'Brien's character switch happened in the course of a single episode! The very day she was written out as Gwen Rizczech, who she had played from 2020-23, she donned a wig and reappeared as a recast Theresa Donovan. (She has since returned as Gwen.)

NBC

Josh Taylor was a mainstay on DAYS as Chris Kositchek from 1977-87. Then, in 1997, the show recruited him to play a recast Roman Brady, a role he still holds today.

Paul Telfer JPI

Paul Telfer made such a strong impression when he played the brief role of henchman Damon in January 2015 that in March of that same year, he was reintroduced as Xander Cook, the role that earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor and that he still plays today.

Jill Johnson/jpistudios.com

Robert Scott Wilson had only a few weeks to transition from his long-running role as Ben Weston (2015-22) to the character he currently plays, Alex Kiriakis.

Blake Berris Emily O'Brien John Aniston Joseph Mascolo Josh Taylor Judi Evans Paul Telfer Renee Jones Days of Our Lives

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Days of Our Lives: 14 Actors Who Returned in a Totally New Role

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