Days of our Lives has made a groundbreaking move for the soaps, by casting Kennedy Garcia in the new role of Felicity. Viewers of the Peacock streaming soap opera will first see the character beginning the week of May 20th,

Garcia has previously appeared on primetime including on 9-1-1, This Is Us and more. Speaking to TV Insider, Kennedy shared: “I have wanted to be on a soap opera for a long time, so for a role to come up for a teenager with Down syndrome was just amazing!”

In real life, Kennedy who has Down syndrome is also a cancer survivor, and becomes he first teen with Down syndrome to land an ongoing role on the soaps. “It’s really such a special thing. I am so proud of Days of our Lives for taking this step and taking a chance on me. Inclusion in this industry is so important and I am proud to help move it forward.”

Photo: JPI

As to a little insight on her new role of Felicity in Salem, Garcia shared. “She is sweet, funny and kind. She is also very smart and she never misses anything. Most of all, she loves her family more than anything else. I think that viewers will love her and see the beauty she brings to everyone in her life.”

The actress added, “I hope that everyone will love Felicity and see that even though she has Down syndrome, she is cherished by her family and friends, she is capable of great things, and she’s a hard worker. I’m pretty sure she bakes better than I do. She is also a typical teenager who has real feelings and fears that people will see as her story goes on. I hope no one underestimates Felicity as a character, or actors with disabilities like me. Representation is so important and I’m so thankful for this opportunity to become Felicity and let you all get to know her, and me!”

What do you think of Days of our Lives casting of Kennedy Garcia and the importance of inclusion and representation on streaming and daytime dramas? Comment below.

On Thursday night May 16th, the daytime community comes together for Daytime Stands Up – A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer, streaming live at 8 pm ET/5pm PT.

Stand Up To Cancer, in collaboration with leading daytime community voices Michael Fairman and Alan Locher, are coming together for a first-of-its-kind livestream event, Daytime Stands Up: A Benefit for Stand Up To Cancer … We All Have a Story.

The three-hour benefit will feature stars from the world of daytime drama television past and present, musical performances, and stories of emotional on- and off-screen experiences with cancer. Special celebrity guests will also join the effort to encourage viewers to support urgently needed research and new cancer treatments.  You can watch live on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel, The Locher Room or the Stand Up To Cancer website.

In support of the event, SU2C will simultaneously launch a 10-day eBay silent auction, from May 16 through 26, for soap opera fans to bid on a wide range of items, including a meet-and-greet experience with the cast of NBC’s Days of Our Lives; an autographed script from the cast of CBS’s The Young and the Restless and signed merchandsise from CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful cast; a 1:1 video call with General Hospital’s Cynthia Watros, Maura West and Laura Wright, and with daytime legends Robert Newman, Vincent Irizarry, Colleen Zenk, and more. Full details will be shared the evening of May 16, at StandUpToCancer.org/DaytimeStandsUp.

As part of the event, you will hear, cancer survivorship stories from General Hospital’s Cameron Mathison and The Young and the Restless’ Colleen Zenk, who will reflect on the impact of publicly sharing their diagnoses; and 2024 Daytime Emmy nominee Eric Braeden, who shares his battle with bladder cancer

Daytime icon Jackie Zeman, who played nurse Bobbie Spencer on General Hospital for 45 years, shared by daughters Cassidy MacLeod and Lacey Gorden.

Elizabeth Hubbard who played the iconic Lucinda Walsh on As the World Turns and Dr. Althea Davis on The Doctors, shared by her on-screen daughter Martha Byrne and real-life son Jeremy Bennett.

Two-time Emmy Award-winner Jerry verDorn (Guiding Light / One Life to Live), shared by widow Beth verDorn and his on-screen wife on Guiding Light, friend and co-star Liz Keifer.

Andrea Evans, who played Tina Lord Roberts on One Life to Live, shared by her husband Stephen G. Rodriguez and daughter Kylie Rodriguez.

Kamar de los Reyes shared by his One Life to Live co-stars Michael Easton (General Hospital) Trevor St. John (The Young and the Restless).

Poignant reflections from actors who have portrayed breast cancer survivors, including Sharon Case and Eileen Davidson from The Young and the Restless; Erika Slezak from One Life to Live; Tina Sloan and Kim Zimmer from Guiding Light and more.

Additional talent slated to participate in the virtual benefit include (subject to change): Eddie and Kristen Alderson (One Life to Live); Elia Cantu (Days of Our Lives); The Day Players,  featuring Days of Our Lives castmates Carson Boatman, Brandon Barash, Wally Kurth (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee), Eric Martsolf (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee); Kassie DePaiva (One Life to Live); Don Diamont (The Bold and the Beautiful); Linsey Godfrey (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, Days of Our Lives); Leo Howard (Days of Our Lives); Lesli Kay (The Bold and the Beautiful); Eden McCoy (General Hospital); Kin Shriner (General Hospital); and Michelle Stafford (2024 Daytime Emmy nominee, The Young and the Restless).

You can watch the Daytime Stands Up livestream below. Now let us know if you have a cancer story that has affected your life via the comment section below, or how a daytime TV character who went through a cancer battle, gave you strength and courage in your own journey.

While Deidre Hall has become synonymous with Days of our Lives as the iconic Dr. Marlena Evans Black, she also has had quite the television career in other roles.

Hall starred on the NBC drama, Our House from 1986-1988 and also appeared in several series in guest star roles including Emergency! in the role of Nurse Sally Lewis.

In addition, Deidre appeared on Columbo, Kung Fu, S.W.A.T. and of course, later as Electra Woman in Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, to name just a few.

Photo: JPI

Now, COZI TV is set to air a day of some of Dee’s early roles, this Saturday, May 18.  It all begins at 8am ET with an episode of Emergency! entitled “Show Biz,” followed at 9am ET, another episode of Emergency! called “Saddled.”  That will be followed at 10am ET by Columbo in an episode featuring Hall entitled, “Columbo Cries Wolf.”

Photo: JPI

COZI TV is a haven for beloved sitcoms, dramas and classics from the 1960s to the 2000s. Whether you’re a seasoned fan reliving favorites or a new generation uncovering timeless treasures, COZI offers a warm embrace of comfort and familiarity. Find out where to find COZI TV in your area here.

Check out the COZI TV teaser for ‘Day of our Deidre” below.  Now, let us know, other than Days of our Lives, what has been your favorite role of Deidre Hall throughout her career?

 

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