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DAYS Bryan Dattilo Interview: When Lucas returns how will he react to Will, EJ, Sami and more?

Photo Credit: PR Photo

Photo Credit: Peter Randolph

It’s been several years since fan favorite Bryan Dattilo (Lucas Horton) has been on-screen on Days of our Lives mixing it up with the characters of Salem.  Well, that’s all about to change in a few weeks when Lucas returns on-air and gets swept up, and is placed smack dab in the middle, of all the family drama surrounding Will’s coming out story, Sami’s secret romp with EJ, and his mother Kate’s business dealings, and that’s just for starters!

In this revealing interview with On-Air On-Soaps, the once rowdy bad-boy of the Salem scene discusses how time away has changed his perspective on the soap opera working environment. Plus, how Lucas will deal with Will’s struggles, and what it has been like for Bryan to work side by side again with his co-stars: James Scott (EJ), Alison Sweeney (Sami), Chandler Massey (Will) and Lauren Koslow (Kate).  In addition, the actor chats openly about how being a father in real life means being supportive of your child’s struggles whatever they may be.

Here’s our chat with Mr. Dattilo and we want to add, a big “Welcome Home!”

Bryan, your fans have missed you so much. They are a very devoted and loyal group, always coming to this website, and on my Twitter page, wanting to know when you will return, and now you’re back!   How are things this time so far for you at DAYS? Are you coming in with a fresh perspective?

BRYAN: That is awesome to know about the fans!   I feel a lot different.  I think before I was always into having a good time and just doing the work, but mostly having a good time. That was my priority. But now that I am back, I am just trying to sink into the work as much as I can, and make it as good as I can.  I want to go home at the end of the day and feel proud of what I’ve done and not thinking that there was something I should’ve done.  I don’t like to go home feeling regretful about my job.  It’s hard because it’s every day on a soap opera.  You can’t do great every day but I am trying, as opposed to before when I would just laugh off a bad day.  I am trying to take the job more seriously and make it about the work and not be the “comic relief” so much because people then tend to have you fall into that role everyday. But the people at DAYS are great. I am working with a lot of familiar faces and since I was gone, a lot of people came back to the show as well. It’s cool to see everyone, and you don’t realize how much you miss certain people until you go away for a couple of years.  Everyone from the people who run the show, to the Associate Directors, to the cameramen, to the sound people, to hair and make-up; they really become your family when you are here.  It’s great to be back and to figure out where I fit in the best and where I can plug myself in the best.

How do you think you have changed the most during your time away from soaps?

Photo Credit: Adam Campbell

BRYAN: I have changed a little in a couple of years.  I got married and settled down.  I don’t run around with the crazy guys anymore.  I am like an old man overnight now! I try not to do anything crazy. (Laughs)  My goal is to stay out of trouble and I am trying to apply that to being on the set, too.

What most people are excited to see is how Lucas will react and be a part of his son, Will’s coming story.  How is working with Chandler Massey?

BRYAN: I did not really work with Chandler but for a couple of times before I left the show last time. He was just starting at that time, and now I see how much he has grown and how he has gotten comfortable.  I think he was a great actor then, but he is exceptional now.  It helps to have someone to play off of that gives you that kind of interaction. Chandler is a really good listener, and he is really good at adapting to a scene. So if something comes up unexpectedly, he is not thrown by it. Chandler kind of adapts with it and that is when he really turns it up.  I am kind of the same way whereas I want things to happen that aren’t predicted in the rehearsals, or are in the blocking.

How do you feel they are writing Lucas’s reaction to Will’s sexuality?

BRYAN: I have got to give the writers a hand (clapping-hands), because they totally had my character understanding and accepting of what this kid is going through.  I think the love of your child is the thing that overrides anything that comes between the two of you or anything that comes up in the future … knowing you always have that relationship to fall back on.  I honor the writers for it.

People were very concerned that they could possibly make Lucas the homophobe of the Horton family where he would shun his son.  If that were to have happened, I think fans would have been very upset!

Courtesy/NBC

BRYAN: I would have been disturbed by that as an actor, too.  In real life, I have a son and he is twelve, and he is getting to the point where he is interested in “things” and how “things” work and curious. If he came to me and said his sexuality was a thing he was struggling with, I would handle it the exact same way Lucas did, and that was supportive and loving.   I would say something along the lines of, “I care about you.  I honor your way of living your life and I love you anyway.  In fact, I love you more, because you have the guts to talk to me about it, or not.”  For my kid, whatever happens in his life, it’s important for kids to know that their parents are always there for them.  So I was happy Lucas was supportive, but I think Lucas’s fear was more about how other people were going to treat Will once they found out.

That is very common that parents have a deep concern of how society will view their child if they know they are gay, and that is because no parent ultimately wants to see their child hurt by people’s perceptions!

BRYAN: Right! I think that Chandler brings so many levels to it that there is so much to have going on between the two of them outside of whatever he is struggling with and his identity. I respected the writing and storyline, because it is written how you would want your parents to take the news.

It will be interesting to see how Sami and Lucas come together for Will, or are different sides of the fence with it.  Can you preview any part of that leg of the story beat?

BRYAN: It’s interesting. They have not brought that up yet as far as Lucas and Sami dealing with that because Will is still denying his preference, and Sami knows that something is going on with him, but does not know what.  I do anticipate having these scenes in the future with Alison about it.  It will be interesting to see Sami’s reaction to it.  I think she would probably react similar to Lucas, but Sami is a little more affected by what people think. So it might force her into some sort of frenzy!   I can’t wait to play those scenes out with Alison to see where the writing goes with that.

Courtesy/NBC

Hopefully, there will be a new woman for Lucas? Or, will it be Sami, Sami, Sami?

BRYAN: Well, he has got this fiancé in Hong Kong!  I don’t know how long that will last, or if it’s a speed bump between Lucas and Sami, or Lucas and anybody.  I have been playing it that Lucas is very concerned about Sami which he always has been and wanting to be there for his kids, and the fact that they share two kids together, and the fact that they have this history.  I think Lucas is coming back with some sort of agenda to make sure he is supposed to be engaged, and to make sure that his chapter with Sami is closed.

Can we expect Lucas to give EJ a piece of his mind for how he had used his control to really implode his family?

BRYAN: We have had some scenes where we have locked horns.  Lucas’s beef with EJ is how Will is working for him and he is subjected to all these things that Lucas finds inappropriate.  Most of the confrontations scenes I have had with EJ are about Will, but Lucas had also threatened EJ to stay away from Sami, but he has always done that and that never goes anywhere! (Laughs)  EJ is kind of in the same boat as Lucas with Sami, in that they have the history and they have kids. And like it or not, they are always going to be a part of each others lives.  Lucas is very suspicious of EJ’s motives and he can’t believe he wants to be Mayor!  It’s like “WHAT?” But James Scott brings a lot of levels to his performance, so it’s kinda cool to play ram against ram.

Why is working with James Scott so cool?

BRYAN: He is a good actor, and he always knows where he is going with a scene, and again, when something comes up in a scene that is not planned, he always is willing to roll with it.  I think that is a big quality in an actor.  Working with James is always a challenge and making sure I am not the one in the scene just whining to him to leave Sami or Will alone. I kind of have to pick my moments to challenge him, because the more you challenge a character like that, the more they revel that they are getting to you.  As an actor, I get notes from the producers or the directors to really turn it up on James, but there are moments that I think are more effective, to hit him with what I feel, rather than play the anger and the argument, because that just shows the other person that you are truly affected.  If you show that, then EJ automatically wins that confrontation.

Courtesy/NBC

How long have you actually been back at the studio now?

BRYAN: I have been back taping for a month. It’s been a challenge getting used to work load again, but hopefully I am cutting it!

It’s so good to have you back Bryan! You were always my bud on the red carpet at all the award shows, like the Emmys! 

BRYAN: And we will do it again someday!

If you were to preview for the fans what to expect from Lucas, what would you say?

BRYAN: I would say he is more present and accounted for. He is more involved with a variety of people in the way that he can be, because he has so much history with so many of the characters on the canvas.  Lucas is one of those characters that can tap into any storyline.

How is working with the amazing Lauren Koslow again?  Lucas and his on-screen mom always had such an interesting relationship?

Photo Credit: PR Photo

BRYAN: Oh, we have had great scenes! Lauren has always been, and is the best person to work with.  I have such a great dynamic with her. I love Lauren’s pace and delivery. We are very similar in real life in a lot of ways. So, we get to play that out in a lot of our scenes as mother and son, which is kind of interesting.  It’s an older and more refined relationship, too.

And then you have all of your other on-screen half-brothers, sisters, etc, too?

BRYAN: That goes to Austin, to Billie, to Carrie, and then that gets me into the Rafe thing, and then the Sami/Rafe thing, and then the Sami/EJ thing, and the Will thing, and then the mother, and then the mother having trouble with her relationships and how he affects those, and the business that they are all kind of involved with together.  I don’t know what the show did without me … to tell you the truth! (Laughs)

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Great interview! Yeah he’s right I don’t know how the show did some of those s/ls without Lucas. So glad he’s back to stay.

Love having BD back; I have missed Lucas! However, please NO LUMI! Lucas is great and has an awesome wit about him and I love EJ and Lucas scenes…but this fan wants EJAMI and nothing else!

Welcome back BD!
Go EJAMI Go!!!

I am glad that Lucas is returning to be supportive of Will. It is refreshing to know the writers are not planning another Sami-Lucas romance. I hope we will actually get to see his fiancee.

Yeah I’m so glad Lucus is back esp Bryan he’s an amazing actor he sees and tackles each role he has in Lucas being an alcoholic to a scorned lover i. I can’t wait for Lucas Sami and Ej. Always loved Lucas his siblings

YAY!!! I’m so excited Lucas is back! I can’t wait to see him on my television screen again! I’ve really missed him. I absolutely loved Sami/Lucas. Side note: I think it was a mistake to make Sami have two kids with EJ. I’m just saying….

Great interview! Really looking forward to Lucas’ return. Hope he is paired with his true love, Sami!

Very interesting interview, I cannot wait for Lucas’ return to Salem. And especially his scenes with his mom, Kate. And, of course, with his sexually-confused son, Will.

I love Lucas! I’m so glad Bryan is back and I really want to see what the future holds in store for Lucas, Lumi, Lucas and his siblings, Lucas and his kids, Lucas and Ej…you name it, like Bryan said, Lucas is one of those characters that can tap into any story and make it more interesting.

So glad and I can’t wait until Feb. 29.

Welcome back Bryan. Yes please no more whining to EJ. You’re right, much more effective when you play cool and collected with EJ. Liked Lucas and Sami back in the day, but that’s the past. It’s time for Sami to be with her true love, EJ DiMera.

LOL missed bryan, maybe I can accept Lucas this time around. As long as he doesn’t get involved with Sami I am free of bias!

I have started watching Days since AMC ended back in September. I know a little of the family tree. When I first started to watch the storylines were slow but now things are getting good! ABC’s loss is NBC’s gain!

Another great interview Michael!!!!
Welcome back Bryan. I hope these writers do you justice and give you an amazing story line!!!
GO GO GO EJAMI!!!!

What a fabulous, fabulous interview!!! Welcome Back Bryan!!! It certainly hasn’t been the same without him and I can’t wait till his scenes start airing. Lucas has always been one of my favorite characters since he came home from military school and I’m hoping he and Sami will find their way back together!!!

SO glad Bryan’s back….did NOT enjoy this period of Days without Lucas. I’ll take Lucas with or without Lumi, but if they do go down the Sami/Lucas road again I hope they do it justice. Bry/Ali have great chemistry

I am glad that he is back but no to Lumi!

Wow, Bryan is still as immature as he was 5 years ago when Days fired him. His comments about James Scott are completely juvenile. If he says he has ‘matured’ as a person he has claimed since he has a son and has been married since, then he shouldn’t feel so threatened by and inferior to a person like James. He should actually feel more comfortable at work because he’s been on the show on 15 years, and if he was so grown up, he wouldn’t be asking producers or directors for ways to ‘one up’ James. It’s obvious he can get along with Ali or Lauren, why not James? It just shows me that Bryan finds James inferior, that he really hasn’t grown up, and he loves drama. I have missed Lucas too, but Bryan needs to gain some confidence or stop playing games with other people. Days is a work environment. Act professional with your co-workers, and leave the fake drama at home Bryan.

Agreed!!!! Yeah, James is Very talented & Professional Actor.

yeah and if James is so talented and professional,he would not be on a 1.0
soap LOL

LOL @@
where did you read that LOLA
Bryan/Lucas is very talented and professional and he knows how to have FUN.
welcome home Bry/Lucas

I read it in the article. Did you read it?

Wow, you completely misinterpreted what he was saying.

Days didn’t fire him 5 years ago. What articles are you reading. ALL his interviews last week have been praised by those that are fans and those that aren’t. To each his own…I love Bryan and can’t wait for Lucas to get back to Salem, Days isn’t the same without him around.

thank you michael – this is such an awesome interview – can’t wait to see bryan back on screen!

Ive been watching days of our lives since abc ripped all my children out of my life ,I am still trying to get every ones name in my head ,decades ago I use to watch it , then it went on the same time as one life to live and that I wasnt giving up.I watched when hope was just a baby,mickey and magie were together,marlana and I think a guy named jed were a idem ,did not watch when marlana was satin,I remember reading about it thinking thats dumb,well its one heck of a long time ago,who is this guy bryan,why did jenn and jack break up,where is mickey and bill horton , is sammy a bitch ? cant figure her out and where can I go to get all of my questions answered?

I’ve tried to watch. I just can’t get into it at all. Terrible IMO.

OLTL was so incredible, nothing can compare.
This soap is soooooooooooo bad. The accents on some, the storylines..???horrible, and so phony.

carol ,you have a point there ,oltl was the best ,we were spoiled,Its so hard to believe that abc canceled that show ,one more time ,the wrong soap was canceled.I will continue to support dool ,have to keep what soaps that are left .Im hoping that general hospital continues,its 4th and we have to make it the number 1 soap,it cant get canceled.and I do believe abc knows one way or the other,they cant ,or wont share that news with us ,because they dont want to put the final nail in the coffin of the soap fans,not yet anyway.

Glad he will accept his son, and be Sami’s friend. I want to see a Rafe-Lucas friendship.

LUCAS! TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH! I fucking love Lucas, and I’m so happy he’s going to be around in time for Will to come out. I don’t want him back with Sami though. I like Lucas. I don’t like Sami. She’s a selfish, manipulative hobag.

Thank you for the good interview. Glad to have Lucas back! Bryan will add a nice dimension to the show as he can be intense, but he can also be humorous. Look forward to seeing the father son scenes when Lucas learns that Will is gay. Glad that he will be suppotive. Lucas and Sami being supportive and caring to each other as ex-spouses will be good to watch, and actually I thought EJ/Lucas were good and even funny together at times. I hope they will have many Ej/Lucas scenes.

Welcome back Bryan Dattilo.I love the character Lucas, he is so much fun.I am glad Lucas will be back in Sami and EJ orbits where he belongs.The there of you as actors and characters are perfect together,exciting to watch,so much FUN.

Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives Star, Greg Vaughan, Gives Health Update and Thanks Everyone for Their Support

Greg Vaughan (Eric, Days of our Lives, ex-Lucky, GH, and ex-Diego, Y&R) provided an update on his health on Sunday, March 17th. Vaughan had previously shared that he had become ill during a trip with his sons to Colorado, and had developed altitude sickness when he was having trouble breathing accompanied by terrible headaches and landed in the urgent care.

Now on St. Patrick’s Day, Greg took to his Instagram and shared how he is feeling now, and to thank everyone for their love and support.  As it turned out, Vaughan was diagnosed with high altitude pulmonary edema, commonly known as HAPE. However, he is on the mend slowly and surely.

In his new video post, the DAYS favorite started by expressing, “I just felt such an appreciation and gratitude for everything. . reaching out. Your prayers have been felt. It’s been a struggle, but I’m over the top. And, taking this moment just to say I didn’t realize the things that I was going through. My (original) post was simply just to educate, put some information out there and some things that I was feeling, just share that information and the struggle that I was going through, which I didn’t quite understand. And it wasn’t because I’m stubborn or just because I’m a father, a man, and didn’t want to go to a doctor. It is just something I thought was so minor that I could overcome it, just by taking care of myself.”

Photo: JPI

The Daytime Emmy winner then revealed his actual diagnosis, “So, basically my situation was high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). With some good friends, doctors that had reached out to me, it kind of gave me some understanding on the aftermath, which was very, very beneficial.”

“But I’ve been resting, taking care of myself even though I live in a hamster wheel,” said the dad of three teenaged boys. “I gotta get up and, you know, do my normal domesticated stuff, eventually. I’m tired of laying down in this bed, but, I am feeling much better.”

Photo: GVaughanIG

Talking on his confusion of trying to understand what could have been ailing him, Vaughan expressed, “I couldn’t quite figure it out, even though I was emphasizing and professing to my children going on our spring break getaway about hydration. I professed it. But, even though I was acting on it, it had a greater effect on me, and for which I did not even think, because my head was such in pain, and I was in a very bad state of mind – not being able to be out there with my kids on the mountain, enjoying their time, as well. I thought I was doing the right thing. Unfortunately, my lungs were full of fluids and my head was in severe pain and even migraine pills didn’t even help. So, I just want anybody that goes into the Colorado Mountains to know, it is no joke. It is this very serious thing which I guess is why they call it the Mile High City.”

Greg had a mountain of ‘thank you’s’ to give for the outreach he received from his original post, “For everybody internationally, wherever you are, I love you and I appreciate you and just the time and the thoughts that you’ve shared with me,” said Vaughan. “I didn’t realize that it would make such an impression on so many people around the world. I feel tremendously loved and I can’t say it enough. I’m good. And I appreciate you.”

Photo: GVaughanIG

The actor concluded his video with, “To all the family and friends that have reached out to me, man, it means the world. So take care of yourself, enjoy your spring break with your families. It’s Saint Patty’s Day, obviously. I wish I could be out there.” Vaughan added, “I feel loved and touched and I can’t emphasize that enough. I’ll take better care of myself, promise you will do the same.” Before he signed off, Greg shared, “Just know, that I’m alive and well and breathing, and I’m sore. So, be well, take care. I mean it. Thank you, tremendously.”

Glad to know that Greg has been on the mend, and shared his appreciation for everyone that reached out to him during this trying time? Comment below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘Couple to Throuple’ Host Scott Evans to Appear on Days of our Lives

Scott Evans, host of Access Hollywood and the Peacock reality series Couple to Throuple, will make a guest appearance this week on Days of our Lives.

Circle the Thursday, March 21st episode of DAYS for Evans’ arrival in Salem. During his tape date last fall (since DAYS tapes months well ahead of when episodes actually stream), Scott posed for a snap alongside Mary Beth Evans (Kayla), Jackée Harry (Paulina), James Reynolds (Abe) and Greg Rikaart (Leo).

Teasers for the 3/21 episode of DAYS share that Leo tries to come up with his next gossip column, and Paulina and Abe return home to a mini-celebration set up by Johnny and Steve. Will Evans pop up in one of those scenarios? Stay tuned.

Photo: JPI

For a long time, soap opera fans knew only of one Scott Evans. The one who played Oliver Fish on One Life to Live from 2008-2010.  But in show business, there are two Scott Evans’ that are widely-known.

Last Thursday, March 12th at the 35th annual GLAAD Media Awards, it found both Scott Evans and Scott Evans together in the green room and they taped this video ditty below, calling out how they both share the same name.

Photo: JPI

Last weekend, viewers saw OLTL’s Scott Evans on-stage at the Oscars when he performed in the musical number “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie led by Ryan Gosling.

As for Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans, he has been with the entertainment news program since 2015, appeared in the recent Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas with Linda Gray, Donna Mills, Nicollette Sheridan, Loni Anderson and Morgan Fairchild, and currently has an overall talent and development deal with NBCUniversal.

So, looking forward to seeing Scott on DAYS? Check out ‘Evans meeting Evans’ below, and then share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Days Of Our Lives

Days of our Lives Star Greg Vaughan Shares Sudden Health Scare: “I Truly Feel Like I Work & Live in a Soap Opera!”

What started out as an adventure with his sons, quickly turned into a nightmare for Days of our Lives Daytime Emmy winner, Greg Vaughan (Eric Brady).

In a series of Instagram posts, Vaughan shared the sudden health crisis he found himself in.  The images show Greg with an oxygen tank to help him breathe.

The actor began to fill people, sharing, “I’ve said more than a few times, I truly feel like I work & live in a Soap Opera! 🤪 this trip was nothing short of another great Vaughan adventure!”

He went on to say that on a father and son Colorado spring break trip, he began to feel shortness of breath, feeling tired and with a headache and after two days of hoping he would feel better, Vaughan finally went to an Urgent Care to get checked out.

Photo: GVaughanIG

“I finally surrendered & went to urgent care and to my shock I learned that I was experiencing severe altitude sickness.” Vaughan admitted. “My Blood Oxygen was at 54% & my lungs were full of fluids! Blood oxygen, also known as oxygen saturation, represents the percentage of hemoglobin in your red blood cells that is carrying oxygen. Most people have an oxygen level of 95-100%….”

Providing more detail to his health scare, Greg shared, “Well, 4hrs later, a couple of bags of IV & oxygen tank strapped to my face, I was told that I needed to immediately get off the mountain! However I couldn’t, we still had another day to go & wanting the boys to enjoy their last day on the hill tops! I opted to go home with an oxygen tank, a good laugh for everyone, and I know will follow, but my boys looked after their old man & fortunately they had friends on this trip!”

Photo: JPI

The experience of altitude sickness in the Colorado Rockies gave Vaughan a bit of a new perspective, “In all seriousness, no matter your age, and all the times I’ve ⛷️ & 🏂 in my lifetime, Colorado Rockies is no joke! As they say, ‘ take a breathe and smell the roses!’ That is truly something we need to remember & appreciate! #recover”

Share your well-wishes to Greg as he continues to be on the mend via the comment section below.

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