Days Of Our Lives
A Martinez Says Farewell To DAYS In Heartfelt Message
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
It’s time for us to have to say goodbye to Daytime Emmy winner and critically-acclaimed actor, A Martinez who is wrapping up his run in April as Eduardo Hernandez on NBC’s Days of our Lives.
Martinez, who became best known to soap audiences as Cruz Castillo on Santa Barbara and since then appeared on One Life to Live, The Bold and the Beautiful, and General Hospital as well, is being written off the canvas in Salem.
On Thursday in a heartfelt post as can only be written with such poignancy by Martinez; he shared this with his fans, friends, and colleagues: “As Eduardo is taken ‘off the canvas’ on Days, I want to express my gratitude to all who’ve supported him – and me – over the course of these last eighteen months. It’s been an honor to come to Salem on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of a show I have followed and esteemed for more than thirty years.
The work itself has been a consistent pleasure, partly because of the deliciously wounded guy I‘ve been playing, but mostly because of the multitude of excellent people who pass their days in the ongoing labor of love that is the making of this beloved show.
My pleasure in this process has grown steadily over the time I’ve been at it – and it’s about to come to a memorably emotional peak in the climactic beats of my pivot away. The scenes of failed atonement with Galen, Jordi, Camila – and Lauren – were among the most wrenching of my life, in the most wonderful way possible. Two final thoughts: For the record – Eduardo is not dead. If you care about him, you may choose to remember him.
And further, for those who’ve felt disappointed that he hasn’t conformed to their expectations as a ‘villain’ – I’ll just say that it has never once occurred to me to approach him that way. What I most clearly carry in him is the knowledge that he was deeply broken as a boy, and that he has done his level best to recover – ever since. That he has fallen short is regrettable, but not a negation of his humanity. I kinda admire the guy, actually. Meanwhile, much love to everyone in the Days community, going forward. May we all continue to prosper as best we can, and seek to deal in kindness along the way.”
Will you be sad to see A exit DAYS? What did you think of his post via social media? Comment below!
Such a class act of a guy!
I’m shocked about this news! I am sad to see him go. I don’t understand why he is leaving though. Sad. Very Sad. Best of luck A. Hernandez in your future endeavors.
The writers seemed not to know what to do with his character….
ABSOLUTELY…AGREED!
I have loved and followed Mr. Martinez since his time on Santa Barbara. He is one that if he is on a particular show, I will watch it. God Bless and keep you, and thank you for all the joy you have brought to my TV screen and I look forward to your next project.
i loved him on Santa Barbara,,his coming on the show 18 months,,was a delight knowing A Martinez would show his outstanding acting.it’s really hard seeing A leave in April..he made Eduardo stand out! i wish A will be on Tv shows very soon!
Will miss this wonderful actor! Watched him on Santa Barbara, in Longmire and now on Days. He has nailed each and every role he has been in. What a loss to Days! Class act he is for sure. Will miss him
Yes. I have been a fan of A since Santa Barbara. He is a fine actor and I am very sorry to see Eduardo leave DOL. He was a complex,interesting character – an assassin with a heart and a family. If John loves him, there has to be some good in Eduardo. Please bring him back.
He is such a talented actor. Like many of you, I have followed his career his days as Cruz on “Santa Barbara”. I wish him well and know he will continue to work. I am excited to see what Ron Carlivati has in store for us.
I loved him on Santa Barbara, He is a great actor, but he never really clicked for me on Days. I wish him continued success. He is a class act indeed.
Totally agree with your sentiments. He didn’t hit the mark on GH either, but it wasn’t his fault. The character (Roy) never should have been brought back from the dead.
I think the show did not take advantage of his tremendous talents. It seemed he and Vincent went back and forth being a good guy or a villain.
Once again no one seems to know how to honor this man & his skills. I think the last time he got to really shine was Profiler and that was cut way too short. He has such integrity and is so interesting, his acting choices are always so unique and he has EVER been easy on the eyes. He was so good on SB, he has the ability to have electric chemistry with a costar. I just hope that he keeps working so maybe someday we get that lightening again!
He is such a great guy and I have enjoyed him on DOOL and looking forward to see him again. Best of luck to him.
I like Eduardo and anything he had to do with anybody on the show especially Lauren Koslow. I don’t get why they have to write him off but maybe someone will change his or her mind and keep him around. I’m pulling for him!!!
This is a very kind and positive message. Mr. Martinez is clearly a very classy gentleman. Too bad TPTB didn’t know what to do with his character. I wish him the very best in the future.
He was great on Santa Barbara
He is a great actor… Days have been very boring lately and have been not watching the shows… I am just waiting for the new writing to show up soon… These characters that I used to love in the past.. Just feel no connection or caring about now a days…..
“boring” is the word – this show used to be kind of interesting when they had Will and Sonny, threw Paul into the mix, had EJ and Sammi – and now, I don’t know, it’s just not all that enthralling. Is it the bland writing or is it the fact that the characters just aren’t connecting – I’m not exactly sure what the missing component is.
I don’t understand why TPTB bring in TOP NOTCH ACTORS…only to not have a clue how to use them?! 1st Vincent Irrizzary…now A… Funny, I viewed Eduardo kind of like, A did, I never saw him as a VILLIAN…and I think there was CHEMISTRY with Drake/John Black…but due to Drake’s injury, that had to take a back seat to this storyline that is “ridiculous” in my mind’s eye. Best of luck to you A in all your endeavors. As always, you were a delight to watch…thank you..
Such a class act! The character had potential but I agree that the writers didn’t seem to know what to do with him. I hope Ron brings him back, A is way too talented to not be on a soap.
A, I shall miss you on DAYS. Still look forward to seeing you on FACEBOOK ❗❕❗
A very gracious post.
I was thrilled when they announced that they were finally addressing Rafe’s family– but they totally screwed it up– from his father being a forced assassin and Paige’s father after she died–to the mother never living up to her potential either– to putting Rafe onto the sideline as Hope’s love sick puppy dog slave to his brother now taking over most of the screen— and I hate that Gabi is being rewritten as some kind of saint– did Chad forget how Gabi kidnapped his girl friend Melanie so she could be with him? This whole family was badly thought out, is constantly being rewritten to suit whichever writer at the moment wants– and although I think it is important soaps have more ethnic families– this one, might have outlived it usefulness storywise
I love A Martinez. He is such a talented actor. He will be missed.
That was a tremendous message. He is just the latest victim of Days’ inability to create compelling new characters and write long-term story for them. Meanwhile, some of soap’s most brilliant, iconic actors get shown the revolving door. Days – it’s not enough to just make a prestigious hire. You have to follow through with STORY.
I could be wrong, but my understanding is A was given a contract, then requested recurring status because he has other irons in the fire. His availability was limited, so it was hard to focus on a character and storyline for someone who isn’t available full time.
Point well taken. I just wish that overall the writing was better and more consistent. The powers that be must agree as they have hired a new head writer.
I really enjoyed you performances on Days, It is a shame that you are leaving. I would have hoped that you would stay. Your acting is fantastic. The very best of luck to you in whatever you are going for. You will be missed, thank you for entertaining us on Days.
You have done a wonderful job! Best of luck to you.
Sorry to hear this news…I loved A on Santa Barbara & have enjoyed watching him as Eduardo…..it’s such a shame that Days is letting him go. Surely they could come up with more storyline for him. First Vincent Irizarry & now A…..who’s next? They also had the wonderful Kassie DePaiva & wrote her off. Although they brought her back a couple times, they were only for brief moments. C’mon Days…hold onto these fantastic actors! I wish the best to A & hope to see more of him soon.
I am heartbroken to hear this news. A Martinez is a fantastic actor. He was incredible on Santa Barbara and also on Days. I deeply love the character Eduardo and will miss him terribly. Surely hope he returns some day.
we will miss you. Best of luck to all you do,
Days is Days. It will always let a good opportunity go to waste. So many of us were thrilled when Days finally brought diversity to Salem but having finally done so they don’t know what to do with the characters. It has to be kumbahyah Disney all the time. Now Eduardo is leaving after sending Mama Hernandez away previously. The diverse characters on Days never face any discrimination or struggle. so they are just boring. Sonny should be aware of Chad’s relationship with Ari and should be pushing for formal adoption of his child and getting major blowback from the Brady, Hernandez and Horton families. Julie should be struggling to relate to a biracial grandson. Ann should be hooking up with Roman or with Eric and bringing some interfaith diversity to the tube. Paul should be demanding a committed relationship with Sonny. Aint happening because Days lacks imagination. A leaving is another wasted opportunity.
Loved you portral of Eduardo almost as much as Cruz I will miss you
They never integrated his character well and the storylines they gave him were not good.
Please take Dario with you.
He is a great actor and can only do the stories the writers give him. The only thing I didn’t like about him was the beard, shave it off. Would like to have seen him hook up with Kate, she loves bad boys. I thought he used his “mean boy characteristics” when the time was needed. There is also being “too mean” ! Look at Demois, he goes too far (poisoning, and was waiting to watch them die). They finally added diversity with this new family, now they are taking it away. Glad the mom is gone, she looked way too old for Eduardo. Anyway, good luck to A.
For me Days is sinking fast. misuse of good actors, now new writer bringing back the Sami hour something that totally destroyed the ensemble nature of Days and turned it into just all about Sami and a few extras given well left overs with minimal air time and some with none.
Once Sami takes over again I will end up doing what I did years ago and cancel Days. Sad, I had such hope for a revival but now I feel like the writers are just BS’ing us and bringing forth just another diva act. I never liked that and never will
The guy really didn’t have that much of a story to be honest I think his character was boring,i do like the actor but no loss.
If you have ever tuned-in to the soap opera genre over the last 50 years, and witnessed some of the greatest romances, drama, classic and outlandish storylines of all-time, you would have seen Deidre Hall smack dab in the middle of it as longtime Salem heroine, Dr. Marlena Evans.
It was 50 years on this date, June 21, 1976 that Hall first appeared on DAYS on NBC which was its home for 57 years before it moved to its current streaming platform on Peacock in September of 2022.
In Hall’s first episode she was introduced as a psychiatrist treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at Bayview Sanitarium after he suffered a complete mental breakdown. Mickey learned that his brother Bill Horton (Edward Mallory) was the biological son of Mike Horton (Wesley Eure) with his wife Laura (Susan Flannery) and that he had been lied to for years and years. From that moment on, the rest is television and soap opera history. Days of Our Lives put Hall front and center.
Photo: NBC
There were so many heartbreaking and shocking story twists involving the beloved Marlena. One of the first was the historic crib death of baby DJ (Don Jr.) in 1980, Marlena’s infant son with Don Craig (Jed Allan). The story had never been told on daytime television and Hall’s performances received accolades from TV critics to fans when Deidre received thousands of letters from grieving mothers who had gone through the same thing in their own lives.
DAYS also brought Deidre’s twin sister, Andrea Hall Lovell to the show as her on-screen sister Samantha, who had a grudge and even locked Marlena up in a sanitarium and took her place! Fast-forward and in 1982, DAYS launched the Salem Strangler story where everyone believed Marlena was his next victim, only it turned out to be Samatha. Jake Kositchek (played by Jack Coleman) was revealed to be the actual serial killer.
Later, Deidre would assume the role of Marlena’s look-alike, Hattie Adams in 2004, once played by her sister, Andrea. Over the years, Hattie has come back to Salem and caused trouble giving Hall a chance to play a different type of character, then the always upstanding Marlena.
Photo: JPI
THE LOVES OF MARLENA
Deidre Hall struck gold with all her leading men: from the late Jed Allan, to Wayne Northrop as Roman Brady, and of course, her enduring love story with the late John Black played by the iconic Drake Hogestyn. In fact, Marlena’s 1986 wedding to John (who was believed to be Roman at the time) remains a favorite of fans to this day.
TOP MARLENA STORYLINES OF ALL-TIME
While the list is long, here are several that were some of the memorable during Deidre’s five decades in Salem!
The Possession (1994- 1995)
Considered one of the most ambiguous, outlandish and unforgettable story arcs in soap opera history, then Days of Our Lives head writer, James Reilly went there! Marlena was possessed by the devil! That included; the demonic eyes, hissing at father John (Black) the priest, morphing into creatures, and the classic levitating in her bed! It became a cultural phenomenon and cemented Deidre Hall’s status as a daytime television legend. Just ask Ryan Gosling!
Photo:JPI
The Affair with John Black (1993)
John and Marlena’s forbidden love could not be denied and they had passionate affair, while she was still married to the real Roman. Problem was her daughter, Sami (Alison Sweeney) caught her mother having sex with John on a desk that changed Sami forever.
The Salem Stalker Mystery (2003-2004)
In a shocker, Marlena was revealed to be a serial killer who bumped off several Salem favorites residents who were all alive on the island of Melaswen (spelled “New Salem” backward). Turns out, she was manipulated and gaslighted by Andre DiMera (Thaao Penghlis) to do the “killings” and had no memory of her actions.
The Pier Scene (1991)
This remains Michael Fairman TV’s all-time favorite Deidre Hall moment, which featured some of the best acting in the storied careers of both Hall and Drake Hogestyn.
In the story, a presumed-dead Marlena returns after four years. One foggy night on the pier, John is alone, and Marlena steps out of the fog to reveal herself, and is reunited with the love of her life. You can watch it any year, any decade, and in any moment, and it will have you reaching for the hankies again and again. (best music score fo a soap scene of all-time too!)
Photo: NBC
Kristen’s Secret Room Reveal (1997)
Marlena was caught in Kristen Blake’s (Eileen Davidson) elaborate web of lies, when she was held hostage in a secret wine cellar/room until John managed to track her down, leading to an iconic on-screen reunion. The classic catfight between Hall and Eileen Davidson was one for the ages.
It should be noted that Maison Blanche, Queen of the Night, Possession, Aremid and Lady in a Cage were all a part of classic DAYS storyline and all featured Hall at the epicenter of it from 1993-1996.
THE RECENT YEARS OF MARLENA
In recent years, DAYS brought back the possession 2.0 storyline under then head writer Ron Carlivati in 2021 where the devil leapt back in Marlena after taking advantage of a frail Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes)
In 2025, viewers watched the end of the love story of John and Marlena, as John succumbed to injuries sustained in an explosion saving a vial of medication needed to bring Bo (Peter Reckell) back to life. Marlena has been a widow on-screen since June of 2025 as Hall as portrayed the good doctor struggling with her grief and to move on with her life since his death.
Photo: JPI
One story that never goes away is Stefano DiMera’s (the late Joe Mascolo) obsession with Marlena, his “Queen of the Night.” Even in death, Stefano is toying with her from the great beyond with the mysterious chess set and the missing “pawn,” that he had gifted John and Marlena in his will. The mystery is currently unfolding on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives.
Tune-in to Days of our Lives on the Monday, June 22 episode as Marlena looks back at her 50 years in Salem.
Share your congratulations to Deidre Hall for this incredible 50-year milestone as Dr. Marlena Evans on Days of Our Lives in the comment section. Then let us know, what is your all-time favorite storyline or moment in the life of Marlena over the past 5 decades? And, just for kicks, and to celebrate this amazing milestone, here is Marlena levitating below circa Christmas Eve 1994.
Days Of Our Lives
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
It’s been a bittersweet time for Al Calderon. The talented actor/singer/songwriter has watched from his vantage point to roles he loved so much come to their conclusion for different reasons.
In a heartfelt message posted to his Instagram story on Saturday, Calderon took a moment to share how grateful he was for the opportunity to play Javi Hernandez on Days of Our Lives, and nurse Nico Silva this year on NBC’s second season of Brilliant Minds. Currently, Brilliant Minds has two more episodes that will air on June 24 and the series finale on July 1.
Calderon expressed, “As I sit here reflecting on this lovely Saturday afternoon over the last two years of my life, I have two major chapters closing that have been part of my life every day for the last two years. We have Brilliant Minds. Our last episodes are wrapping up, and then my last scenes aired yesterday as me as Javi on Days of Our Lives.
Photo: JPI
“I’m just unbelievably grateful for the chance and the opportunity to be a part of something so much larger than me,” continued Al. “I (will) love Days of Our Lives forever, my family. Thank you for supporting me and supporting my decision to take the leap of faith and believe in myself and, and tell other stories. You know, it’s never goodbye. It’s always ‘see you later’ to me and just leaving with love and leading with love.”
Al concluded with a special mention to some very important people, the fans: “Thank you to the fans and the support from everyone, the lovely messages. So this next chapter, hopefully it’s not a dragon, hopefully it’s a gold coin.”
Photo: NBC
Calderon’s journey on-screen on Days of Our Lives began in October of 2024 and concluded this month. In one of his last appearances Javi was asking a favor from Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) before bumping into his ex, Leo (Greg Rikaart). In story, Javi has a new romance with Gus (Michael Ocampo), while fighting his feelings for Leo. The role of Javi will be played starting on June 30 by Jacob Martinez who takes over the role.
NBC decided to cancel the Brilliant Minds, after it split up the airing of its second season which began in the fall of September of 2025 and the back-half started airing after a long break this past May. Calderon joined the medical drama staring Zachary Quinto for the new season, which sadly was its last.
So, will you miss Al on Days of Our Lives and Brilliant Minds as his time on-screen has come to an end? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
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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