Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Marlena Stands Up to Stefano at His Memorial, But Does an Extinguished Flame Signify the End of Their History, or a New Chapter to Come?
Days of our Lives held what is said to be an official memorial for long time super villain, Stefano DiMera (the late Joseph Mascolo) on the Friday, February 6 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera.
How we got here: Stefano’s bones were recently found in the DiMera crypt after all his children were kidnapped there by Peter Blake (Dan Gauthier). But it has always been a question if Stefano, also known as “The Phoenix,” will rise again given that after so many times his life had apparently ended, he never actually died in the first place.
As the saga goes: Stefano was considered dead after being shot by Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) in 2016. His portrayer, Joseph Mascolo also died that year. Then in 2019 and 2020, Stefano existed when his essence was implanted by Dr. Rolf in a brain micro-ship into Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) in the “Steveno” storyline that ended later in 2020. Now in 2026 it was confirmed that his original body had decomposed after dying in hiding, and was buried by Rolf before being placed in the DiMera crypt.

Photo: JPI
EX-WIVES AND ENEMIES SAY THEIR GOODBYES TO STEFANO
Fast forward to where we are today. The DiMera’s have Stefano in an urn at the mansion and are holding a memorial for the patriarch of their family. One of Stefano’s ex-wives, Kate (Lauren Koslow) shows up and has a moment alone with his urn to have a few choice words with the deceased. Then, Roman (Josh Taylor) has a moment where he recalled how Stefano destroyed his life, but in a twist of fate and irony, both he and Stefano shared the same woman, Kate! Despite everything Roman took from him, he can finally say, “checkmate, you old bastard.”
After everyone is outside in the foyer and ready to leave, Marlena (Deidre Hall) says she wants a moment alone to say her goodbyes to Stefano. Given all he perpetrated on her throughout their lives, at first, it may have seem strange she would want to say anything at all, but Marlena certainly had some things she needed to get off her chest.
MARLENA ADDRESSES BEING STEFANO’S ‘QUEEN OF THE NIGHT’

Photo: JPI
Looking at his photo next to the lit candles, Marlena begins, “There’s so many things I want to say to you, not just on my behalf, but on John’s as well. I was your obsession. I never really quite understood that, but at one point I realized that it wasn’t me. It had nothing to do with me. II was your fantasy. I was a figment of your imagination.” Next, a clip is shown of Marlena dancing with Stefano at the masquerade ball as her “Queen of the Night” which was very creepy for its time and opened the door for Marlena being possessed by the devil for the first time.
Coming out of the flashback, Marlena continued: “You pulled me into your web, and for that, my life was forever changed. You took so much from me, but because of you, John came into my life. He gave me strength. He gave me the courage to fight the very devil himself. I hope you rest in peace because that way we’ll never have to see you again. I am not sure we get that lucky. Lucky enough to have you gone forever.”
With that sentiment, the lit candles beside Stefano’s urn suddenly and quickly blow out as if a sudden wind took over which at first startled Marlena. It left her both defiant to stand strong against any forces of Stefano, but let the door open to interpretation if the “Phoenix” will somehow rise again in another human form and is not truly done with his obsession for Marlena.
So, what did you think about Deidre Hall’s performance as Marlena for all intent and purposes firmly let Stefano have it, for how she tried to destroy her life? Do you think the end of the episode, with the candles suddenly being blown-out, signifies a story ahead involving some type of Stefano and Marlena, or could this be the end of good conquering evil once and for all? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
John Oliver Arrives on ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role

Late Week Tonight host, John Oliver finishes up his tour of soap opera duty, next week in all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives. As previously reported, Oliver is arriving in Salem in a mystery role, but will share scenes with EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) and Rita (Maggie Carney), and from the newly-released Peacock promo with Mayor Paulina Price (Jackée Harry), too!
DAYS fans and ‘Late Nigh’t fans can look forward to three episodes featuring Oliver. First up on Tuesday, August 11, followed by Wednesday, August 12 and his last appearance on Friday, August 14.
Once Oliver put out the word on an episode of his HBO series back in March, sharing. “To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I’m officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast, it will make your head spin,’ both General Hospital and Days of Our Lives came calling.

Photo: CordayProductionsInc
Oliver wrapped his three-episode General Hospital stint as the head of the WSB (World Security Bureau) on-screen on July 6, after his sudden emergence onto the scene of a shoutout and making quite the entrance via getting out of an actual helicopter on the July 2 episode. Oliver was praised by the GH cast and its fans for his portrayal as it was dramatic with a few soap tropes thrown in for fun, during his visit, too.
Now, can he do it again on Days of Our Lives? This time as of this posting, DAYS has not revealed who Oliver actually is within portraying within the story, but we do know he is wearing a dark wig on his head.
Days of Our Lives executive producer, Ken Corday previously said in a statement, “When John Oliver said, ‘Call me, soaps, I’m available and willing to travel. I want to be a part of that world,’ our world, we had to heed the call!”
As reported, Access Hollywood was on the set the day Oliver was in Salem and spoke to the guest star plus his scenes partner, Dan Feuerriegel and Maggie Carney, where Carney said of John, “He is fast, of course, quick on his feet. He definitely likes to improvise — which I do, too — but within the scope of the scene. So that’s so much fun. He’s very present.”
Now below, you can check out the promo sighting of John Oliver at the end of the teaser, while earlier in the video spoiler: Theo (Tyler Joseph Andrews) threatens Rita saying, “If you don’t get out of my way, I will make you get out of my way.” Stephanie (Abigail Klein) does not likeAlex’s (Robert Scott Wilson) plan to move into Joy’s (AlexAnn Hopkins) room at the pub. Rafe (Galen Gering) shows up and reveals he has been following Dimitri (Peter Porte) and it appears Chanel (Raven Bowens) is going into labor, or, is she? And did Theo get to say goodbye to his mother, Lexie (Nikki Crawford) in time? Stay tuned.
So, who exactly do you think John Oliver is playing next week when he arrives on Days of Our Lives? Intrigued to see how it all plays out after his successful stint as GH’s Z? Let us know via the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
Jean Lodge, British Actress and Mother of ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’s’ Charles Shaughnessy, Producer/Director David Shaughnessy, Dies at 99

Our hearts and condolences go out today to Charles Shaughnessy (ex-Shane Donovan, Days of Our Lives and Victor Cassadine, General Hospital, and Maxwell Sheffield, The Nanny) and his brother, David Shaughnessy, one time executive producer and director at The Young and as well as The Bold and the Beautiful, on the loss of their beloved mother, Jean Lodge.
Lodge was a British actress who appeared with Alan Ladd in the 1954 medieval adventure film The Black Knight. She died at age 99 on August 5 just one day after she celebrated her birthday. News of her passing came from her granddaughter, Amy Shaughnessy who took to Facebook with a tribute to her beloved grandmother.
Throughout her motion picture career, Lodge was featured in 1949’s Dick Barton Strikes Back and Dr. Morelle: The Case of the Missing Heiress. Later credits included: Brandy for the Parson (1952), White Corridors (1951), Final Appointment (1954), Accidental Death (1963), The Eyes of Annie Jones (1963) and Invasion (1966).

WATFORD/Mirrorpix via Almay
THE SHAUGHNESSY BROTHERS CARRY ON THE FAMILY LEGACY
Talent runs in the Shaughnessy family as Lodge’s late husband, Alfred Shaughnessy, had developed and served as head writer and producer on the acclaimed 1971-75 UK series, Upstairs, Downstairs.
As daytime fans know, Charles Shaughnessy was one-half of the Days of Our Lives super couple of Shane and Kimberley (Patsy Pease) and has appeared on the soap opera on and off for decades starting in 1984 up until his more recent appearance in 2025 at John Black’s memorial. In addition, Shaughnessy was the last actor to play Victor Cassadine on General Hospital, a role he played from 2021-2023.
David Shaughnessy has continued his career behind the scenes mainly as a daytime soap opera director with a list of credits from Santa Barbara to Y&R, B&B and since 2019, Days of Our Lives.
HEARTFELT REMEMBRANCES
When Amy Shaughnessy took to Facebook to announce her grandmother’s death, she expressed, “Jean Margaret Shaughnessy (neé Lodge) left us today, one day after her 99th birthday. She passed, as she would say, “quite quietly” and peacefully in her sleep. My grandmother was a beautiful, talented, complicated, passionate, emotional, energetic woman who was always on the move and full of life.”
She continued, “The perfect hostess Jean enjoyed parties, friends, socializing, the theatre, feeding the ducks, museums, gardening, music, culture, long walks in nature, animals, painting (she was amazing!), cooking, art, traveling… the list goes on. She loved her two sons, Charles and David, her daughters-in-law, Susie and Annie, and her five granddaughters, Amy, Jenny, Katie, Maddy, and Josie. She was blessed with two great-grandsons, Julian and Noa.”
“An ever-present matriarch, her silliness, stubbornness, joyfulness, and her love for storytelling will continue on through her family. Us. Forever. We will miss her. We will carry her with us always. We love her all the world and then some.”
Share your thoughts and condolences to Charles, David and Amy and the rest of the extended Shaughnessy family on the passing of Jean Lodge via the comment section.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Star Emily O’Brien Ties the Knot With Longtime Love Ken Barnett

Congratulations are in order for Days of Our Lives schemer, Emily O’Brien (Gwen Rizchech). The actress said “I do,” over the weekend in a wedding ceremony on Saturday, August 1 at the CaliPaso Winery in Paso Robles, California.
Emily married her longtime boyfriend, Ken Burnett. The couple have been together for 12 years before the big day. Taking to her Instagram with some exquisite photos which includes a look at Emily’s spectacular wedding dress, O’Brien announced the couple’s union.
As it turns out, the dress was worn by Burnett’s grandmother in 1956! Making the whole feel of the nuptials so special. Emily expressed, “I married my best friend this weekend… Ken, this life is more colorful, more adventurous & so much more beautiful with you in it. You make every dream a reality. Wearing your grandmothers heirloom wedding dress from 1956 was just the cherry… Cheers to Pickles & Neens”

Photo: EOBrienIG
DAYS AND Y&R STARS SHARE EXCITEMENT FOR EMILY
The comment thread quickly filled up with congratulations from many of Emily’s present Days of our Lives co-stars and those from her former soap, The Young and the Restless where she played Jana Hawkes.
Tamara Braun (ex-Ava, Days and ex-Sienna, Y&R) shared, “The day was everything you two embody. Absolutely beautiful.” Greg Rikaart, who played Emily’s on-screen husband, Kevin Fisher on Y&R, and is now her bff Leo on DAYS shared, “Spectacular and beautiful. Zero notes. Congrats you two!!”Al Calderon (ex-Javi, DAYS) chimed in with “perfection,” while current DAYS co-star Linsey Godfrey (Sarah) added, “Perfect perfect perfect. Both of you.” Abigail Klein (Stephanie, DAYS) shared, “Storybook!” Y&R’s Michelle Stafford (Phyllis) expressed, “Gorgeous!!!!!”
It was back in March of this year that Barnett made his own tribute to the love of his life via his Instagram with a series of photos of the couple adding, “12 years later and we’re still up to our same shenanigans 😜 joyeux anniversaire, ma chérie.”
Share your congratulations for Emily and Ken via the comment section below, and wish the newlyweds all the best on their union!
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