Days Of Our Lives
Freddie Smith Posts Heartfelt Message As His Final Episode Airs On Days of our Lives!
Photo Credit: Brad Everett Young
Where has the time gone? It’s been four plus years since Freddie Smith made his debut as the first openly gay main character on Days of our Lives, Sonny Kiriakis.
Throughout Smith’s time on the NBC soap opera, the show broke ground with the marriage of Sonny and Will, and Sonny became one of the moral centers of Salem.
As a nice capper to his time at DAYS, Freddie also took home the Daytime Emmy this year in the Outstanding Younger Actor category. Smith, who made the decision earlier this year to exit DAYS, wrapped up his run on-screen during Tuesday’s episode which was broadcast across the country.
This afternoon, Freddie to took his facebook page to share a message about his exit, his journey, what he has learned, and what it has meant to him to play Sonny. Here’s what he shared:
FREDDIE SMITH: “This is CRAZY!!! Today is the last airing episode for Sonny Kiriakis! June 2011, “Sonny” made his debut in Salem as the first openly gay character on “Days of Our Lives.”‘
I remember people being unsure how the audience would accept the character. With amazing writing and an incredible vision, “Days of Our Lives” and the creative team told a raw, uncut, passionate love story between two men who fell in love.
Will and Sonny became the POWER COUPLE known as WILSON! We were treated like every other couple on the show and the audience accepted us with open arms. I feel so blessed to have been a part of the equal rights movement over the past 4 years. I will never forget the journey I had as Jackson “Sonny” Kiriakis.
Thank you to all my friends, family, and fans for your support and love. I know Sonny will be missed, but I hear Salem always has their door open!”
What do you think of the sentiments shared by Freddie in his message? Will you miss seeing him on DAYS? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Bravo. He will be missed.
So long! Don’t get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you’re drunk anymore!
I have enjoyed watch you on Days! I am gonna missed you!! You are well deserved and openly minded. Thank you for your doing. Hope you can come back sooner than u think! 🙂
Kudos to Freddie Smith for his stunning job acting out such a complex role. As a gay man myself I found his portrayal smart and mostly on point. He never portrayed a stereotype and he , for a straight man, showed ease in portraying the tender, sensitive side of Sonny. I wish Freddie huge success in whatever he does in the future and I thank him for sending out a positive picture of what it is like to love as everyone else loves. I respect the team at Days for sending out a positive picture of what a gay couple is really like. I didn’t agree with the rush towards marriage BUT I do respect that they took on such a controversial topic in a genre that is known for avoiding unpleasant or controversial topics. Stellar work by Freddie Smith. He will be sorely missed.
very well said,he’s a great guy and played the part well –Freddie and Chandler did there best and gave all 100 percent will miss him and what ever he decide to do in his Life I want to wish him the very Best —us fans support him and respect him for a great job he’s done he had a great inpack on our lives and a lot of great memorable moments over the years that will always be there.
Freddie ia a great actor and a class act through and through. I wish there were more like him in the profession.
I hope the show will write Sonny as an intermittent character like so many others, so that Freddie can keep playing him in between other projects. Perhaps 3 or 4 scenes every quarter just so the relationship can be kept alive.
Sonny (Freddie Smith) You will be Sadley missed . You and Will (Chandler Massey) were the Best Couple ever. I really wish both of you would come back together. Please keep an open mind about returning to DOOL , No one could play your part like you do. Wilson Forever !!!! I wish you Success in all your future endevors. Donna from Brooklyn
This just shows what a great person Freddie is. He will be greatly missed and I hope he comes back and visits every once in a while. He is an amazing actor! Hopefully Sonny will divorce Will at some point..lol Do not like the character of Will anymore. They changed him too much.
Great job and hope you and chandler Massey return together, the storyline was best when the actor portraying will could act.
Freddie made Sonny one of my favorite characters on the show & I will really miss him. I hope Days’ new writers aren’t going to drop the gay storylines [as I’ve been hearing] & that if Freddie doesn’t want to return after those “months” at Victor’s clubs, that the show will consider a recast. And that PaulSon will become a reality!
I really like Freddie. I hope his drunk driving was a one time thing and is over. It is a hard thing to overcome!
You are truly amazing and will be missed I hope you and your girlfriend will enjoy many more happy moments. God bless “WILSON”
I truly enjoyed Freddie’s performance as Sonny. He played Sonny as a really nice and genuine person. I will miss him so very much. I wish Freddie nothing but the very best in his future and hope he shows up on Days again from time to time.
Only when Sonny (Freddie Smith) came aboard did I watch DOOL religiously. Freddie’s portrayal of Sonny is outstanding and superb. I was able to empathize with the character as well as mesmerized by the plots. Sonny/Freddie, I will sadly miss! I do wish him well in his endeavors…he is a class act and very professional actor!
Yes you are already missed, They need you back on days you are a very big part of days,
My wife and I are going to miss Sonny.Sonny and Wills characters helped me understand different life styes.I think the gayt community owes days of our lives a lot and we will miss freddy a lot.God bless you Freddy and good luck to whatever you decide to do.Canaan NH loves you.
Thank you Joe for taking the time to write that. It’s always heartening to see someone realize that we really are just like everyone else in everyday life. And thanks to both Days & Freddie for helping all the other ‘Joes’ out there to understand. It’s a shame that hasn’t been the case for a few others who post here – you know who you are….
I love Freddie playing as the sonny character I wish he would come back as sonny Arianna needs her other daddy and she will always be sad on the show with out him so please come back as sonny
Well if they recast you can bet you won’t get another job for a while..and that’s too bad..daytime actors as a majority are so overlooked when they should easily transition to primetime or indie films or big budgets..the stories may sometimes be over the top..the director or EP may sometimes insist on over the top..but most actors who spend a good amount of time in a role shouldn’t find it so hard to transition..and yet that’s the idiots in charge who think they know more than what people watching and enjoying these actors do…
He really could have left off with that goofy pose though..not helping for the here after..
JMO
ps: i honestly thought… prior to reading your post… that his pic seemed a little too machismo
relax FS. your looks and acting skills…. whew!
NICE
hey! a keeper, i’d follow your career… and wait for your return
you nailed it.
what a nice post.
I will never understand…. either
when one transitions from “daytime” to prime time or features’
have to gavel
“…yet that’s the idiots in charge who think they know more than what people watching and enjoying these actors do… ”
Freddie Smith is one actor among (nearing 4 decades of watching) what seems like millions
LOL…. and we’ve been witness to a bountiful of TREAT after TREAT
the magnitude of talent in daytime is tantamount…. because, we’ve seen so many pass through those doors and we have had to let go
Freddie Smith: words cannot be fully expressed… how much you’ve affected my livelihood. as a gay man… I couldn’t believe it… another lifestyle…. my life… is being depicted … starring two of the finest actors… Freddie Smith and Chandler Massey…(to STARt) followed by Guy Wilson, and Sean Christopher. as i’ve shared before… the relationship with Will and Gramma Marlena… is when the dam broke… and I witnessed a tour de force magic unfold.
tearfully… i’m happy…. I truly hope Sony / NBC/ and Days of OUR Lives forwards this epic
Bravo !! Well written Freddie you will be sadly missed by me and my younger sister who also watches the show. No one can every take your place in our eyes Best wishes to you in all you do in the future.
You will be surely be missed. You stress a great actor and played your role so well. I hope that you will return to the show because your fans would bee very happy if you did. It was so hard to see you say goodbye. We love you Freddie.
Freddie(Sonny) you truly will be missed just hoping that in the near future you will return to your much loved character, we love our Sonny
Have been a fan and a support to your career, Freddie, for all this time. Will miss you and all my friends here in Clarkston, Michigan will, too. Your Grandma, Fran, first cousin to my mother, Carmelita Corbissero, is so very proud of you! Cece
I am really gonna miss you on the show. You were one of the best on the show. Is there a chance you could return. I use to watch Days all by my self but now I got my husband into it too. Good luck with your future plans.
Freddie you made your character real. It was amazing how much realism you put into Sonny. The emotion I saw, you made him real. When Sonny was hurting we saw that in his face and actions. As fans we hurting right along with you. You are such a special person and your talent as an actor will take you far. I hope to see you on Dool again if only for an occasional visit. I to wish that they would bring you back with Chandler Massey. You two were so great together.
i will always miss Sonny i love the story of Will and Sonny and that sweet baby perfect couple
Dear Freddie,
God Bless you and keep you safe on all your adventures.
Best of luck in all your carrier choices.
Big hugs,
M
Freddie “Sonny” Smith- you will be greatly missed. I hope you will one day return.
I will so miss Sonnys character on Days He is a great actor. I looked forward to seeing him each day he was on the show. Loved every scene he played in. He played such a sweet guy.He was so much a part of my family it was a very sad day yesterday when told everyone goodbye. Made me cry through most of show and the scene with Ariana was was so touching. It gave us all hope when he told Paul he would be back. Good luck Freddie Smith and God bless you.
You will be missed on screen Freddie. I can’t picture anyone else playing the role of Sonny. Good luck in the future! Hope it includes your return to Days soon.
You will be missed on DOOL. I know that you will be back soon. Until then I wish you the best in everything you do
He did a great job as Sonny. He will be missed. I hope he will return and reconcile with Will.
Will miss the GREAT acting of a wonderful human being no matter what his part he was part of it that is why he was so good. Thank you for making days better all the time I have watched for over 40 years. Will miss you. Your first love is a great replacement. I still think you should be together. Thanks again for my hour of relaxation.
He carefully states that “Sonny will be missed by Salem always has it’s door open” which I interpret to mean that the CHARACTER of Sonny may re-emerge (as portrayed by a new Actor) but it doesn’t sound like Freddie himself will be back. I think that after the character of Sonny is gone for a while in Europe, he may return after a while as played by someone else. I hope so, I would not want to see Sonny, Derrick, Will or Paul off the canvas. Their storylines are just as valid if not more so than some of the other plots which can get a little tedious after a while. I mean, this whole Daniel-Nicole-Eric triangle has gone on for long enough.
He will be missed. I truly hope he comes back again but for good.
i have been watching Days since it began and I can honestly say I have loved most of the characters over the years. By far, I have enjoyed the Sonny and Will story line the best. I really loved it with Chandler and Freddie but Guy has done a great job as Will and I really felt like Will’s character changed tremendously when Chandler left. This Will has done an outstanding job as an offspring of Sammie’s would. Chandler was really much more lovable. Freddie has played Sonny with so much honesty and charisma. He really has done a great job representing the Gay community in this day and age and not the stereotypical showing of those that feel threatened by Gay people. I also commend Days of Our Lives for taking the high road. Bravo!
Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do now, I will miss you, but hopefullt you will come back, you did say when you left you would be back & they said dont stay away too long.
I always loved the Character of Sonny as I do Will as well. I will definitely itely miss Sonny on the show. What disappointed me the most was when those of us who are gay have tried so hard for marriage acceptance.. and the writers pulled our first good example apart.. but it is a soap. Haha I will miss you Freddy! And I wish you all the success and happiness in the future! I hope to see you again n film , tv or as even Sonny again.
Best wishes,
Chad C.
Love this actor. Hope he returns.
What I don’t understand is why is he leaving Days? Was he fired or did he quit or is he going back to Ohio to serve his 2 year community service and then come back to days? How come no one is saying why he is leaving?
Freddie chose not renew his contract, Melissa. He played Sonny for 4 years and wanted to face new challenges. He said he knows the door will be open for him at DAYS if he chooses to go back.
I’m new to the show! Only started watching since Sonny, Will, & Paul! I could clearly see Sonny n Paul are soul mates! Enthusiastic to see the chemistry between the two. Looking for more I researched and learned all the hoopla involving the storyline. Finding past episodes online I fell in love with Chandler M. And I get get what all the drama is about. It’s a soap and happy couples don’t last or viewers might get bored!
Freddie Smith you will be missed!!!
I wish for your girlfriend a full recovery and that you can get your life in order and come back to us!
Sonny will be very much missed on zDays. Hopefully, Freddie will come back after taking some time away from the show. I hope they don’t recast the part. Good luck Freddie.
Four years already? Freddie Smith will be missed on Days Of Our Lives!
I want the gay story to continue but seriously wish they would add a lesbian story! No one does both and no one is presently doing a lesbian story. Bring Stephanie back as a lesbian. Or one of Maggie’s daughters.
I stumbled on the show one day about the time that Paul came to town, never missed an episode since. Always looked forward to any scene that Sonny was in, Freddie is an A+ actor in every way. I haven’t really watched the show since his goodbye, just checking in on spoiler alerts. I wish Freddie all the success in the world but also hope he comes back even for a short while and gets together with Paul, they are soulmates.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Nominations
On Thursday, the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards revealed nominations in several key categories via four entertainment news programs: Access Hollywood, E! News, Extra and Access Hollywood.
Three of the four announcements were major categories in the field of Daytime Dramas.
The nominees in the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series category are: The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Neighbours and The Young and the Restless.
Photo: JPI
General Hospital won this category last year, and has the most all-time wins for a series in this category. For the first time, the beloved Australian-based soap opera, Neighbours is now eligible for competition due to its reboot which streams on Amazon Freevee.
Photo: AmazonFreevee
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out in ceremonies in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th.
Previous categories announced tonight via the entertainment news outlet included: Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
So, what do you think about this year’s nominee for the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series? Who do you think should win? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Tamara Braun, Finola Hughes, Katherine Kelly Lang, Annika Noelle, Michelle Stafford, Cynthia Watros Score Lead Actress Nominations
The nominations were revealed for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys. in the prestigious Lead Actress in a Drama Series category by Entertainment Tonight.
This comes ahead of tomorrow’s full list that is set to be unveiled at 12noon/9am PST on Friday.
In the running for this year’s Outstanding Lead Actress are Tamara Braun (Ava, Days of our Lives), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, The Bold and the Beautiful), Annika Noelle (Hope, The Bold and the Beautiful), Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital), Cynthia Watros (Nina, General Hospital) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: Getty
Previous winners in this category include GH’s Finola Hughes, Cynthia Watros and Y&R’s Michelle Stafford. Days of our Lives nominee had won in the Supporting Actress category twice in her career.
Earlier, the Lead Actor nominees were revealed and you can find them here.
Make sure to be with us Friday night, April 19th for the Michael Fairman Channel’s 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special beginning at 5 pm PT where we chat live with some of this year’s nominees.
So, what do you think about this year’s Lead Actress nominees? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Eric Braeden, Scott Clifton, Thorsten Kaye, John McCook and Eric Martsolf Score Lead Actor Nominations
Ahead of the full list of 51st annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations to be revealed tomorrow on Friday, April 19th, Extra’s Melvin Roberts unveiled the nominations in the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor.
Going for gold are Eric Braeden (Victor, The Young and the Restless), Scott Clifton (Liam, The Bold and the Beautiful), John McCook (Eric, The Bold and the Beautiful), Thorsten Kaye (Ridge, The Bold and the Beautiful) and Eric Martsolf (Brady, Days of our Lives).
All five of the nominees are previous Daytime Emmy winners, with Eric Martsolf the only won in the group to have won his previous Emmy for work in the Supporting Actor category.
Photo: JPI
B&B could make it three years in a row as the reigning champs in the actor race, having won in 2022 with John McCook and 2023 with Thorsten Kaye.
In addition, as previously announced, the Michael Fairman Channel will play host to its 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations special featuring several of the nominees for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys which happens live tomorrow Friday, April 19th beginning at 8 pm ET/5pm PT.
Check out Extra’s announcement of this year’s Daytime Emmy nominees for Lead Actor, then let us know in the comment section, which of the five do you hope takes home the prize?
We’re honored to announce the @DaytimeEmmys nominees for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series:@EBraeden, @YandR_CBS@CliftonsNotes, @BandB_CBS@Iamthorstenkaye, @BandB_CBS
John McCook, @BandB_CBS@EricMartsolf, @DaysPeacock#DaytimeEmmys pic.twitter.com/2fWsxtWs3W— ExtraTV (@extratv) April 18, 2024
51st Daytime Emmys: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Receive Talk Show Host Nominations
51st Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Nominations
51st Daytime Emmys: Tamara Braun, Finola Hughes, Katherine Kelly Lang, Annika Noelle, Michelle Stafford, Cynthia Watros Score Lead Actress Nominations
51st Daytime Emmys: Eric Braeden, Scott Clifton, Thorsten Kaye, John McCook and Eric Martsolf Score Lead Actor Nominations
Mark Consuelos Celebrates One-Year Anniversary as Co-Host of ‘Live’ Alongside Kelly Ripa
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
Matthew Ashford and Melissa Reeves Talk Return to DAYS for Doug’s Funeral, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and Their Enduring Friendship
DAYS Alum Tanner Stine to Appear in ‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Starring Nicholas Chavez
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
Y&R’s Hayley Erin Previews Her Role in Horror-Thriller ‘New Life’
‘The Golden Bachelor’s’ Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist to Divorce Three Months After TV Wedding
‘Tamron Hall Show’ Fire Forces ‘The View’ Hosts to Evacuate Studio
WrestleMania 40 Night Two: Cody Rhodes ‘Finishes the Story’ and Defeats Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship with Run-Ins by The Rock, John Cena & The Undertaker
-
General HospitalApril 12, 2024George Russo to Appear on General Hospital as Carmine Cerullo
-
Days Of Our LivesApril 13, 2024Ron Carlivati Talks on Decision to Make Days of our Lives 15000th Episode About Doug’s Funeral, and Previews Chances for WGA Award
-
General HospitalApril 15, 2024General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
-
RecapsApril 14, 2024Y&R’s Eileen Davidson Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’
-
Days Of Our LivesApril 14, 2024Days of our Lives wins WGA Award for Daytime Drama Series
-
NewsApril 12, 2024Y&R’s Hayley Erin Previews Her Role in Horror-Thriller ‘New Life’