Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Stefan is Brain-Dead After Getting In Lani’s Line Of Fire
If you caught last Friday’s Days of our Lives, and as we head into a new and dramatic-filled week ahead in Salem, after jumping in front of a bullet meant for Vivian (Robin Strasser), Stefan (Brandon Barash) has been shot badly – he has a gun shot wound to the neck through the carotid artery.
Lani (Sal Stowers), who fired the shot in an effort to stop and take down Vivian for her crimes against Kate (Lauren Koslow), et al, now finds herself in very, very hot water, and none more so than with Stefan’s wife, Gabi (Camila Banus).
Photo: JPI
In the waiting area, Gabi shows up and confronts Lani. However, Lani and Abe (James Reynolds) try to explain it was an accident. Gabi reminds him of how he felt after Theo was shot. As Gabi runs off to see Stefan, Lani cries, “What if he dies?”
When Gabi arrives in the trauma room, she is told by Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and team that they worked on Stefan for over 20 minutes but he is brain-dead. Vivian, who alerted Gabi to what happened, and showed up at the hospital incognito in her scrubs to check up on the fate of her son, is trying to make her escape plan from Salem
Meanwhile, Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) is MIA from her hospital room as she and Doug (Bill Hayes) go to Doug’s Place. She wants to breathe her last breath there, and wants one last night with her beloved husband. Julie asks Doug, if she has been a good wife to him, knowing the end is near. After reminiscing of their past and flashbacks, and Julie wanting to have one last dance, she passes out
Photo: JPI
Next, Hope (Kristian Alfonso) and Eli (Lamon Archey) arrive at Doug’s Place and find Doug crying. They tells him that they need to get Julie back to the hospital but Doug says it’s too late. Everyone is heartbroken.
So, what have you thoughts of the twist? Stefan brain-dead? Gabi on the warpath? Julie’s plight and its toll on Doug? How do you think this will all play itself out? Could Stefan come back to life as others have via Dr. Rolf? Share your thoughts below.
But first, for a preview of what’s to come check out the latest DAYS promo from NBC.
Stefan’s going to have a hard time coming back from the dead without his heart. Which will be located in Julie’s chest very soon.
Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of Stefan down here. His father will finally get to meet him.
As most people already know, Gabi will do the right thing for once and donate Stefan’s heart to Julie. I for one would have preferred it was the other way around. He had more heart than she ever did.I guess they thought it would be of greater value to keep her around to cause misery to everyone than to keep B.B which a lot of us were getting to like in the role of Stefan.
Oh, mo God…this is shocking!!! I did not want this to end for Stefan this way. I hate Brandon Barash left the show because he really fit the role just like he did when he was at GH. But the way this story is being told, I do have to admit that DAYS is still on fire. It’s going to be interesting to see where all this leads now that these shocking events have unfolded.
Hope this frees him up for the return of Johnny Z to Port Charles!!!
Hey Shay
From your mouth to TPTB at GH.
Hi, Vi!!! Even though I despise mafioso characters on soap operas—think GH’s Sonny!!!—-I’ve always had a soft spot for that reluctant mob prince, Johnny Z. He had such possibilities in the beginning when he was a piano playing, car racing rebel who was wooing TruLu, which made his decline into a vicious killer all the more tragic…Then again, with a father/grandfather/role model like the insanely violent Anthony, could his life have really ended up any other way??? (Not to mention having a SisterMama like the tough as nails Claudia….How I loathed that woman! There was never a better use of an axe handle than when Michael cracked her in the noggin with it!) P.S. Be sure to refer back to our lengthy conversation thread…we done got spanked for going off-topic, Violet!!! Oh. My!
Shay,
Glad to finally hear from you after our reprimand from M.F.I answered your last reply, but guess it went astray, ha.I too love and miss Johnny Z. He was something else and so sexy. I liked him and Olivia together, and his father/grandfather was a piece of work. I don’t know how he could ever return to P.C as Johnny, but we know in Soaps never say never, right? I never saw Claudia, and know only what I’ve heard or read about her. By the time I’d gotten back to GH, after many years, she was gone and Michael had just gotten sent to prison. Laura Wright is also the only Carly I’ve seen. It was like watching a whole new show to me.Gosh, I think the only ones left from the old days was Monica, Scotty, Luke and Laura.
I am enjoying the SLs now, I know a lot of fans are bored, but I am anxious to see how the baby Wylie thing turns out, and though I am not crazy about nuNina, I like the possibility of she and Jax, while hopefully getting rid of Valentin and the return of Nickolas, as long as they don’t pair him up with Ava. I do feel sorry for Sasha, but am still excited for the reveal of Willow being Nina’s real daughter. Well, hope you get this reply, as I didn’t go off topic once!
Hi, Shay. There are strong indications Brandon has already returned to DAYS. Maybe the upcoming “time jump” (November 8th, DAYS’ 54th anniversary) will explain Stefan’s supposed death. Stefan and Gabi are too popular to let go.
@4everDAYS….Thank you for the info, even though I haven’t watched Days in probably two decades!!!! Despite that fact, I still find myself being able to follow many of their current characters because (unlike GH…) this soap actually honors its past by keeping old favorites and consistently adding to their legacy families…there are still plenty of Salemites who are related to at least one Brady, Horton, DiMera, Williams, et al. As far as Brandon goes, I’m glad his Stefan is so popular with the Days crowd, but I’m always up for Johnny Z to resurface in Port Charles…he is missed!
I’m crying. I like Stefan and Gabi together. Don’t want them to end.
I agree with you Momo. Stefan and Gabi are cute together. I think their marriage is good for both of them.
The only thing I can hope for is that somehow Gabi is pregnant.
I am extremely disappointed to see Stefan go. TPTB didn’t think this through. There is so much potential story for Stefan. He carried the genes of two important villains from the show’s history. He came into the show as a dark, isolated, ruthless and destructive force. His marriage to Gabi has turned into a genuine and loving connection. There are so many potential stories for Stefan as he struggles to find a balance between his dark, destructive side and being a loving husband and father. I believe Gabi and Stefan really do love each other. We already know he’s a push over for children. He’d be a very loving stepfather to Gabi’s daughter. And then, they could have their own child or children. I’ve read that Chad and Abigail are coming back. There is another story that could be told as Stefan tried to repair his relationship with them.
From where I sit, killing Stefan is throwing away an important future of the show.
Agree!!!
I am sorry to see Stefan dead.What a shock.I wonder if Vivian will come back.If not she didnt last to long either.One more thing I saw Gabi in a Lifetime movie I think it was called Killer Caregiver of course she was a bad girl and committed murder.She is a great actress I only hope they can do something for Stefan,Days is like a new Dark Shadows people are always returning from the dead.
How is he breathing if he is brain dead???
Technically he isn’t. He’s hooked up to machines which are forcing air in and out of his lungs and circulating his blood. It’s standard practice with brain dead patients, for two reasons: First it gives family members time to say their goodbyes, and more importantly in this case, it keeps organs alive so they are viable for donation. It was a one in 666 million chance that Stefan jumped in front of a gun and was “lucky” enough to take one in the throat, rather than the chest, which obviously would have been a much bigger target.
One very odd thing I observed in how this whole thing was written on screen….
Kristen only learns of Stefan’s death by reading about it online??
Now I realize that Kristen isn’t the most popular mortal in Salem, but I was under the impression that hospitals always make a “good faith effort” to contact all known relatives of the deceased before reporting the death to the media. So all DiMera family members known to be alive – which would be Kristen, Chad, and Tony at the most recent count – should have been contacted before the death was made public.
Hateful or not, nobody should hear about the death of a sibling from the media.
Satan
You are very knowledgeable, so I wonder if you have any thoughts about Dr.Rolfe using stem-cell via Kristen’s baby to resurrect Stefan although they are not blood related.
I also thought that having Kristen find out about Stefan dying that way, was very insensitive of the writers.Actually none of his living relatives were notified. What about E.J who is back with the living and as far as we know with Sammy and not a vegetable.
Stem-cell technology isn’t really capable of reproducing vital organs yet but I guess it’s really not anymore ridiculous than any of Rolfe’s other medical experiments. So if Stefan shows up a few months from now with a brand new heart (and presumably that hole in his throat fixed) I wouldn’t be surprised.
And yeah, good catch on EJ… forgot about him, since he disappeared so soon after he was found in that weird warehouse/hospital.
Satan,
Thanks for the info. I have read rumours of Stephan returning, with Tyler Christopher in the saddle again, with a couple of variations. The stem cell was one of them. Funny thing about that old hoot Rolfe, I kind of like him, crazy as he is.
Hopefully Tyler is on his way back to Port Charles where he really belongs. Because the anvils have been dropping from the sky on an almost daily basis, regarding Nikolas Cassadine not being dead, and the last attempted recast of that character was every bit as horrible as the recasts that ReRon has done on Days (with Brandon Barash being the one exception)
All the rumors I’ve heard of Stefan (or somebody who looks like Stefan, at least) returning to Salem have been about Brandon, rather than TC in the role.
Satan,
I agree. I would rather see T.C in P.C than Salem. I hope what I read was really just rumour and not a spoiler. It said he could also be a Stefan twin. I was really starting to like Stefan when played by B.B, except for his last romantic choice.
@ Michael Fairman
Michael, what can you tell us about the DOOL time jump that is supposed to be happening soon? Is it fact or fiction?
Since Michael hasn’t chimed in here yet, I’ll take the question….
According to Jason 47 at soapcentral.com, the “time jump” period is apparently one year into the future. The pretense for the missing year will be an un-named character waking up from a coma. And over the coming Helliday season there will be several “flashbacks” from the missing previous year.
That’s about all I know at the moment, but hopefully fast-forwarding through the current pregancy storylines on the show will prevent ReRon from dragging out one of his favorite recycled storylines, the tired “baby switch” gimmick.
Satan
Once again thanks again for the info. I thought this sounded so interesting. I’ve never seen it done before on soaps, only other TV fare. Now I am going crazy trying to imagine who the coma person is you mentioned. You said un-named. Does that mean someone we know or someone that doesn’t exist yet? Sorry, I know I’m driving you nuts!
Hi again, just read that Ciara or Rafe is poisened by that crazy Jordan at the B.D party, so maybe one if these will be the coma victim.
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.
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
Al Calderon Reflects on ‘Major Chapters’ Coming to an End on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Brilliant Minds’
Y&R Preview: Matt Clark Asks Phyllis on a Date, Would You Be Down for the Pairing? Roger Howarth & Michelle Previously in GH’s Franco/Nina Romance
‘General Hospital’s’ Controversial Luke and Laura Rape Episode: Writer Sheri Anderson Reveals Behind the Scenes Decisions and Admits ‘I Was Wrong’ to Defend It (Exclusive)
‘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)
Maurice Benard Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’ Writers; Teases Upcoming Sonny Scenes with Anna, Jason, Justine and Ric
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Weighs-In on Dante and Elizabeth Pairing and Sharing Scenes with Rebecca Herbst (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL Promo: Rocco’s in a Panic as Britt’s Health Takes a Turn, Chase is Called to the Carpet
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Carly and Lulu Make Plans to Rescue Their Children; Anna Looks Determined to Secure Her Freedom
Deidre Hall Marks 50 Years as ‘Days of Our Lives’ Dr. Marlena Evans
Y&R Preview: Matt Clark Asks Phyllis on a Date, Would You Be Down for the Pairing? Roger Howarth & Michelle Previously in GH’s Franco/Nina Romance
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Reflects on Dante’s Guilt for the ‘Atrocity’ That Happened to Michael Which Kept Everyone From Telling Him the Truth About Rocco (Exclusive)
Christopher Sean and Colton Little Make a Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’
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