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A Martinez Joins The Cast of Days of our Lives!

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/AMartinez

Courtesy/AMartinez

Fan favorite and Daytime Emmy winner A Martinez has made his way back to the soaps in a brand new role on Days of our Lives,  in news broken first via Soap Opera Digest.

The television and motion picture actor most known for his work to daytime fans as Cruz Castillo on the now classic NBC soap opera, Santa Barbara will be on the canvas of Salem come fall.

From rumblings we are hearing, A may turn out to be the father of Gabi Hernandez played by the just returned Camila Banus and Rafe Hernandez played by Galen Gering!  This wouldn’t the first time A has played the father to Camila Banus.  He played Ray Montez, and she played Lola Montez on One Life to Live!

What do you think of A joining DAYS?  Quite the big score for the series coming into its 50th anniversary! Comment below!

 

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Could be good.

I am sitting here on Isle of Palms watching you in The Cowboy. You were cute as a button as a teenager. I first noticed you on Passions and had a crush on you. LOL
You are just as handsome in your 60’s as you were in your 20’s. I didn’t know you were also a singer. Let’s see more of you on TV or movies. I have been a fan for years. Loyally, Joan

I LOVE him when I saw him today was so Happy, they need some new blood.

It’s a shame that they got rid of Paige before her father came on board. I thought Eve’s hubby’s surname was Larson, not Hernandez and he was younger than A. Hopefully it will all be explained.

I hated to see Paige killed. I never thought of her being Hispanic but she sure never looked like her mother. Yes, why the last name of Larson~? Did Paige’s parents not marry~? I thought it was an exceptionally well done scene today between the 2 grieving parents. Wonder as to the history with Rafe & A’s character. My hustand thought A. was Bo. Those 2 on Days will be interesting.

Kassie did very well and I thought A did as well, considering it was his first scene and he had to grieve about a child/character/actress he never interacted with.

Now Rafe will be investigating the murder of his half-sister.

Eddie obviously is not the family type as he has abandoned at least two families.

Loved him on G.H.. Although I don’t watch Day’s

These are good news. Camila Banus has a very important role in the serie, as Mom of Will’s child. And the popularity of A Martinez might also help the serie. Let’s hope, these changes will bring the viewers back to the serie.

Exciting news!!

Again, Days of Our Lives is turning out to makes its fiftieth anniversary a promising one to look forward to!

This is great casting news for DAYS. A Martinez is a class act, a fine actor. It would be interesting to see him possibly involved with Kate or Marlena! Marlena could use some loving and romance. Not sure what the show is doing with John & Marlena as a couple. A Martinez is sexy and a great addition to DAYS. I hope the show has him on contract for at least a year.

Stefano is going to kill Marlena.

Now if they would just hire Robin Strasser!

I agree with you, they need to call Robin Strasser now. I also want them to hire Erika Slezak. She can play Jennifer Hortons mom.

The Dream Team!

Yes Yes Louisa, I love Robin Strasser.

I’ve adored A Martinez since his Santa Barbara days. I’m psyched to see him on DOOL and look forward to whatever story they’re giving him.

I so adore A as well. He is a fantastic actor and I loved him teamed up with Mary Walker on SB. They were my all time favorite super couple of all time. I can’t wait to see him act on Days. I hope they realize the gem that they have scored, and that they write him into a great storyline. Please keep him around well beyond the 50th anniversary. I think since A is accepting a soap role after all these years that it must be a real good thing not just for him, the soap, but also for a his huge fans. I’m super excited and I can’t wait to see him again very soon.

More great news for DOOL fans. Welcome A Martinez!

OR he will turn out to be Paige’s father….

good news someone for jenifer or hope or kayla wish they would give roman a hot romance and abe to

Welcome back to daytime A Martinez. I wish you were still on Santa Barbara playing Cruz Castillo.

Agreed! LOVED Cruz and Eden sooo much!!!!

Ditto! If you go go YouTube uou can watch old episodes of sb. If you want crux and Eden episodes I misses the first 6: months of the show so seeing old episodes w A and Marcy are funny and so.e sexy. Til A is on Days you can still get plenty ofCruz n Eden..enjoy!

It looks like someone finally woke up over there and realize they have to expand the character’s family already there instead of bringing in newbies with no real ties to core families– glad Rafe and Gabi are getting a father and would love the deeply religious mother to show up and cause grief for Will– she sounded like she would be none too thrill that her granddaughter’s daddy is gay. In the real world there is homophobia and DOOL is so intent in making everyone so accepting it would be more honest to have one character that has a permanent problem with it– to be a thorn in the side of their happy little family– if not the mother, perhaps this character coming into the situation might be that troublemaker.

I agree with you, but I think the backlash from the gay/more liberal minded community for having someone so unaccepting permanently represented, and then the religious community offended by their portrayal vis a vis this character would be too much. While a realistic idea, I think the negative reaction from the audience would be too great. JMO.

Do any fans know what the “A.” stands for in his name? I was always curious…I’d heard somewhere that it stands for a really long name…

Adolfo

Adolfo Larrue Martinez III.

Google is your friend.

i want to say very nice days of our a martinez wu who way to go writers

Awesome casting, really looking forward to DAYS 50th anniversary, which looks to be amazing. I just hope they have a good story for A’s character, and he doesn’t fall the way of many recent big-name hires from DAYS. I also hope they place him on contract and keep him in Salem for a while, he’s a great actor.

Great! I loved A on Santa Barbara! I loved Santa Barbara!

i am just so excited!! can not wait – he is such an awesome actor!!

Would love to see him pair up with Melissa reeves.

Happy for Camila,, Galen and Mr. Martinez!

I am not familiar with his work, but what a major score for DAYS! I would love them to bring Marcy Walker to the show as well….I may have been the only person who loved her as Tangie Hill on Guiding Light!

It would be great to see Marcy acting again but she gave up the acting quite a while ago. You will love A as an actor I’m sure. He is one talented actor for sure. If you have a chance Google Cruz and Eden of Santa Barbara and you will see his previous work.

You’re burying the lead here, Michael. Camila played Lola Montez on OLTL? WOW!

a martinez!
thao peghlis!
stephen nichols!
peter reckell!
kayla, justin, adrienne all sticking around…
all we need now is a will horton and sonny recast to spruce up gabi s return and i ll return to days viewing!!!
days is on a roll, hope it lasts!!!!

I’d love to see Robert Gorrie (OLTL) take over the role of Sonny.

Robert Gorrie would make a good Sonny. I am going to miss Freddie Smith. He is just so likeable as Sonny. I wish him great success.

Would love to see him paired with Kate! Even better write a quad for A, Kate, Marlena, and John!

hey ya, totally agree. I mentioned that same idea above, too.
I’m happy that Kate finally is getting some loving, and for me, James Reed who plays Clyde is just that good. I, too, would love to see A. Martinez meet Kate & Marlena, and mix it up for them, it’s time for John to take notice that Marlena is hot and free. I think it would be hot to see Deirdre Hall paired up with A.

Awesome , great addition to days!

This is awesome news . So many of us remember A Martinez from the very much missed daytime soap ” Santa Barbara ” . He played policeman Cruz Castillo . He is a wonderful actor. ” Santa Barbara ” was one of the very best daytime soaps ever made . The Cruz and Eden love story captured many of a fan’s heart and imagination for almost a decade ! I know many fans would love to see ” Santa Barbara ” revived with brand new episodes or a reunion / remembrance / tribute special for this wonderful soap that we still haven’t forgotten and possibly never will .

Everything YOU said and more! Great actor, great person. Awesome in whatever he does.

It’s hard to believe its been 22 years since SB left. I keep the actors the same age in my mind.

Cruz Castillo!

Enough said. 🙂

Santa Barbara was the best soap ever….Why not let A continue to play Cruz Castillo on Days?

Many SB fans would like that idea!

Absolutely not. I don’t want to see Cruz without Eden, Santa Barbara was enough hard with them at the end of the show, no need to add a new life to Cruz in another show.

Holy balls! This is awesome news. Santa Barbara was one of my favorites soaps. Cruz & Eden one of my favorite soap couples. (right up there with Bo & Hope) A is a great actor. Hope he has at least a one-year contract.

A, Your #1 fan has found Santa Barbara on You-tube and is enjoying it again. Hope you have a long run on DOOL.

Always found A to be cute, entertaining and sexy on sb, cant wait to see him back on Days!

My mom will b so happy that A is back on TV. Shc found sb on utube and is rehooked. I know she keeps talking about Santa Barbara and z couple named Cruz nd Eden. Give A A love interest. Kate would b good since we know Clyde is no good! Welcome back A, my mom will b a spaz when I tell her. Any chance Marcy will come onboard…

I think that is FABULOUS idea. I met ” A ” and Drake in 1984 at a

Fan event at DOG PATCH in Harrison , Arkansas I hope it happens.

I met A. Martinez at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Sun Valley California in 1977. He was with his family for dinner. I have always followed his career closely because he comes from Tujunga, California and so do I. It was a very pleasant surprise for me when I saw him today on Days of Our Lives, which I have watched off and on for over 50 years. Kuddos A. Martinez. It was a very pleasant surprise and I think he will be a wonderful addition to the cast. Very happy to see you are still acting, which I have enjoyed immensely over the years. My name is Judy and I was a Hostess/Cashier and part time Assistant Manager at Acapulco Restaurant for almost ten years.

wowwwwwww I am happy to see Cruz he has aged alot but i am loving it cant wait to see what his actions will be, will he start hitting on the famous kate I am sitting on the edge of my seat waitng to see what comes next. Santa Barabra was my favorite number one soap until generation and now days i have been watching days since inception so i am thrill for the comeback of Cruz in Days.

Loved him on Santa Barbara 25+ years ago and am SO happy to see him on my other favorite soap, Days! Very Excited!

How do I get a picture of him, my dad is very sick, and really likes him as an actor
Would like an autograph picture of him for my dad

Great to see A on the show. Keep him around he is a good addition to the cast.

Glad to see A on Days, but could you shave the goatee off? His
face is too handsome for that !!!! It makes him look older.

Days Of Our Lives

Christopher Sean and Colton Little Make a Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’

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Next week, Days of Our Lives welcomes back fan favorites Colton Little (Andrew Donovan) and Christopher Sean (Paul Narita) when they reprise their roles for an upcoming special episode which contains Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena Evans.

Circle Monday, June 22 when the married couple comes back to Salem. Paul is the son of Marlena’s beloved and late husband, John Black (Drake Hogestyn). Andrew is the son of iconic couple Shane Donovan (Charles Shaughnessy) and Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease).

According to the official Days of Our Lives spoilers for the week of June 22-26, Andrew scolds Cat (AnnaLynne McCord).  Let’s remember Andrew is ISA. Meanwhile while Marlena thinks back on her fifty years in Salem, Paul arrives back in town.

Photo: JPI

ANDREW AND PAUL

Christopher Sean began playing Paul Narita back in 2014. He has come and gone from the show over the last decade. He was last on-screen back in November of 2025, when Paul arrived back in Salem for the dedication of the Tom Horton Free Clinic as part of the Days of Our Lives 60th anniversary celebration.

Colton Little, first began playing the all grown-up Andrew Donovan in 2022 on the Peacock limited series, Beyond Salem: Chapter 2. Little eventually moved to the mothership and Days of Our Lives in 2023. He was last seen on the soap opera back in March of this year in scenes with Peter Porte (Dimitri Von Leuschner) and Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark).

In story, Andrew and Paul tied the knot in front of family and friends on June 24, 2025, which followed the heartbreaking funeral of Paul’s father, John Black, who had passed away several weeks earlier from injuries sustained in an explosion.

Photo: JAnchondoIG

Michael Fairman TV also confirmed the romance exclusively of Colton Little with former General Hospital actor, Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco Rios) at the end of  December of 2025.

Anchondo shared at that time, “I reached out to him (Colton) when I got the job on GH. We knew of each other through mutual friends; so I knew of him for a long time. I started asking Colton about what his experience was like on soaps and asked about SAG health insurance, etc. We met up one night and were hooked from then on.”

So, are you excited to see Andrew and Paul back on your screens? Share your thoughts and if you would like to see them stay longer in Salem in the future, with a story all of their own via the comment section. But first, check out the just released promo for the action on Days of Our Lives entitled “Conspiracy” below featuring Christopher and Colton.

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Days Of Our Lives

GH and DAYS Alum Brandon Barash and Wife Isabella Welcome Son ‘Sebastian’ Into the World

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Congratulations are in order for General Hospital and Days of Our Lives favorite Brandon Barash (ex-Johnny and ex-Stefan/Jake, respectively) and his wife, Isabella Devoto Barash, who welcomed their newborn son, Sebastian Antonio Barash back on June 5.

For the first time his Sebastian’s birth the couple is posting and beaming with pride at the new addition to the family. This is Brandon and Isabella’s second child and second son together following the birth of Joaquin Lee Barash back in September of 2023. Barash is also the father of Harper Rose Barash from his previous marriage to General Hospital star, Kirsten Storms (Maxie) who is now 12-years-old and big sister to do younger brothers!

In his heartfelt post on Instagram accompanied by several photos of his growing family, Brandon expressed, “The heart is indeed a muscle, and boy, can it stretch. We welcomed our newest addition Sebastian Antonio Barash (Antonio after Isa’s dad) on 6.5.26. Lil Seba, I vow to love you with undying ferocity and without condition. As for our new family of five, we have all already evolved for the better as we rise like the lotus through the muck of sleepless nights, soul-tingling baby whimpers, and yes, poopy diapers. These babies teach us a clinic on love…all we need to do is saddle up, be still, and take em in. Isabella Barash, you’re my hero. Thank you for the gift of your love. House is full, hearts fuller.”

Photo: BBarashIG

BRANDON’S BUDDIES CONGRATULATE HIM ON WELCOMING NEW SON

Several of Brandon’s former co-stars have already jumped in the commenting thread including, Rob Scott Wilson (Alex, DAYS) “Congrats my brotha!!,” Dan Feuerriegel (EJ, DAYD) and Eric Martsolf (Brady, DAYS), with whom Brandon appears with in the Day Players Band and more.

Back in April of this year, Brandon was granted an emergency restraining order against his ex-wife, Kirsten Storms claiming that the GH favorite was exhibiting concerning behavior and he feared for the well-being of their daughter, Harper. They each now live separate lives in Tennessee.

We send our well-wishes to Brandon, Isabella and their new son, Sebastian as they build their burgeoning family unit.

Take a look at Brandon and Isabella’s new little bundle of joy in the snaps below.

Now, share your congratulations to Brandon and Isabella  via the comment section!

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A post shared by Brandon Barash (@brandonjbarash)

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of Our Lives’ Eric Martsolf Recalls Moment He Learned He Was Cast as Brady Black, and Last Scenes with Drake Hogestyn (SOAPY Exclusive Preview)

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Daytime Emmy winner, Eric Martsolf talks about how he learned he was cast as Brady Black on Days of Our Lives on an all-new episode of Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart dropping Tuesday, June 16. Martsolf, who is the special guest, related how he was out of a job following the end of his run as Passions’ Ethan Crane when the NBC soap was canceled in 2008.

In addition, Eric shares a heartbreaking and memorable conversation with the late Drake Hogestyn (John Black), who at the time was in the throes of chemotherapy following his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Ahead of the premiere of this heartfelt conversation, Michael Fairman TV is giving you an exclusive preview with two clips from Martsolf’s visit to the CBS podcast.

First, Eric recounted how he and his wife Lisa had recently welcomed twin boys, bought a house, and he did not know if he would find a way quick enough to support the family. Eric had already learned the part he read for at Days of Our Lives, he didn’t get. However, little did he know, that he was about to instead become the recast Brady Black, previously played by Kyle Lowder.

Photo: JPI

THE CALL THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

“I had my kids in their double-stroller in Porter Ranch, wondering how I’m going to pay for this house? Marnie Saitta (casting director, Days of Our Lives) calls me up, ‘Eric, can you get your butt to the studio right now?’ I’m like, ‘Why? I didn’t get the job.’ She’s like, ‘Well, maybe you got a job. They want you for Brady Black. They want to bring back this character. He’s been off the canvas for about three years.’ I said, ‘Marnie, Oh, my God! That is such great news. I have my kids, and my wife’s out of town.’ She’s like, ‘Bring your kids. Drop ’em off at my office!’ I dropped the boys off at her office, went and met with Gary Tomlin (former co-executive producer, DAYS), and he said, ‘You’re Brady now. Here’s your backstory. Welcome to the show.'”

Eric continued, “I went back to Marnie’s and I knocked on the door and they’re my kids. One has the Apple remote in his hand or whatever hitting it against the desk, the other one’s playing with the keyboard. Marnie says, ‘Congratulations, get your kids out of my office now.” I was like, ‘I’m so sorry. I love you. Just send me the bill for the damage.’ Eventually, my wife Lisa came home. I said, ‘I’m on DAYS now.’ We cried and we hugged, and I’ve been with DAYS ever since.”

THE HEARTBREAKING MOMENT WITH DRAKE HOGESTYN

The Days of Our Lives family lost one of its most beloved members when Drake Hogestyn who played John Black for 38 years passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 28, 2024. It wasn’t until June of 2025, that DAYS viewers saw the story play out where John succumbed to internal injuries sustained in an explosion saving the experimental serum to bring Bo Brady back to life. It was John’s final mission.

During his visit to Soapy, Eric Martsolf was asked to share one of his greatest memories of working with Drake as his TV son. In an emotional moment, Martsolf recalled trying to tape a scene with Drake when he clearly was feeling the effects of the chemotherapy he was undergoing at the time, while he tried to soldier on as Drake was known to do.

Photo: JPI

“Not to get too sentimental, but I think it was one of the last scenes we did together. We were in the interrogation room at the Salem PD. John is talking to Brady about something and he had to stop tape because he was on chemo and he would have to excuse himself from the set, come back, gather himself, and just go right back into the scene. You could tell he was really struggling. He didn’t talk to me much about what was going on. I heard through the grapevine what was wrong with him. I just looked at him and I went, ‘How you doing?’ We had a five minute break, and he said, ‘I’m just on a journey. It’s going to be good. It’s going to be fine.’ That just broke my heart. He still wanted to keep telling the story even though his body wasn’t letting him. Drake never complained, never bitched.”

Martsolf added, “My memory of Drake is just a man of fortitude, and a man that was a storyteller until the end that just wanted to keep doing his job. He gave Ken Corday (executive producer, Days of Our Lives) his blessing to film John Black’s funeral while he was still on this planet. Ken said to him, ‘Are you sure?’ Drake was like, ‘Tell the story.’ That’s a man. That’s a guy who is dedicated to what he had been doing for the last 40, 50 years.”

Soapy Hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart features weekly lively and often nostalgic conversations with beloved past and present stars and creatives from across the entire soap opera community and all networks and platforms, including daytime and primetime. Whether a lifelong fan or discovering the genre for the first time, the series shares that it, “offers a fresh, fun behind-the-scenes look at the stories – and storytellers – that define daytime drama.”

Episodes from the audio/video podcast series are available for free via Audacy and the CBS brand You Tube Channel. The podcast is produced by the Paramount Multiplatform Production Group, with Mike Benson serving as executive producer.

Take a look at these exclusive previews below with Eric Martsolf.

Now let us know, were you touched by Eric’s memories of Drake struggling to work as he battled cancer? What did you think of Eric’s casting story of how he became the new Brady Black? Have you enjoyed Eric’s performance over the last 18 years in the role? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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