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Peter Reckell Gets Emotional as He Remembers His DAYS Co-Stars Drake Hogestyn and Wayne Northrop

By Michael Fairman

Published

1 year ago

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Photos: JPI

It has been a rough six months for the cast of Days of our Lives with the the loss of legacy cast members Wayne Northrup (ex-Roman Brady and Alex North) and Drake Hogestyn (John Black). Both men who played “Roman” at different times in their DAYS run; both passed away within two months of each other. Hogestyn died on September 28, 2024 at age 70, followed by Northrop on November 29, 2024 at age 77. Both actors also shared a close bond with Peter Reckell (Bo Brady).

Peter made a return visit to the Michael Fairman Channel for a live chat where he shared his remembrances of the two iconic stars and other such as: Bill Hayes (Doug Williams), Frances Reid (Alice Horton), John Aniston (Victor Kiriakis) and Peggy McCay (Caroline Brady), all of which were involved in story with Reckell through the years.

Meanwhile, DAYS fans are counting down to Peter’s next return on the Peacock streaming soap opera along with Kristian Alfonso (Hope) when Bo and Hope come back to Salem. They are expected to be on-screen as previously reported early this summer. Until then, Peter shared many behind the scenes memories and stories of his enduring career as one of the most popular characters in soap history while chatting with his fans.

Photo: NBC

MEETING WAYNE 

On his remembrances of working with Wayne Northrop, who played Bo’s big brother, Reckell recalled, “People remember Bo and Hope. But there were so many strong relationships like that with Bo’s older brother, Roman, and his mom, Caroline. All those relationships had all the dynamics that were just so amazing. I remember that first day with Deidre Hall (Marlena), Jim Reynolds (Abe) and Wayne. I remember that day so well more than 42 years ago. The three of them were the powerhouses of daytime TV and there was no ego there. They just put their arms around me and let me do what I do.”

Peter also mentioned what so many did before him. He confirmed that Wayne was definitely the on-set prankster at DAYS. “We hit it off from the very beginning. I mean, he was always like my big brother. I looked up to him. Wayne was such a prankster all the time,” said Reckell. “The one prank I remember is when Roman was in prison and Mrs. H and Bo were getting him out, and he would have to go into an ambulance. I had a hiding place in the ambulance. There was a box above the wheel well that I hid in and it had a top to it. When I appeared from the box, I knocked the person out in the scene and grabbed Wayne. However, when we were rehearsing it, I was just listening for my cue, and Wayne had gotten out of the bed and sat on top of the box. I was like, ‘I’m stuck in this little thing.” That’s when I noticed I was really kind of claustrophobic. He wouldn’t let me out!” (Laughs)

BO CRADLES HIS BROTHER ROMAN IN HIS ARMS ON THE BEACH

In the history of DAYS, one moment that is never forgotten is after his struggle with Stefano on a cliff, Roman apparently falls to his death and is washed up on the beach. Bo finds him and is wracked with guilt. “You’ve got to thank the writers and producers in seeing those relationships and really fleshing them out so that when that moment happened, the audience was so invested in these brothers, and in this family that really hit him hard,” said Peter of the moment. “Yeah, I did my part. But, the writers really gave us some powerful stuff.”

Photo: JPI

DRAKE HOGESTYN AND THE FIGHT GONE WRONG

As the years went by, Peter would wind up working much longer with Drake Hogestyn. In tribute, he recalled this moment. “The story with Drake happened early on for him. We did that remote at Kern River with all the river-rafting and stuff. Drake and I had to do a fight scene. This was before they started hiring stunt coordinators. He and I were working out this fight. It was quite a long fight. We got about halfway through it, and I thought I had to do this and he thought he had to do that. His elbow met my lip and blew it open. I had to go to some doctor in the small rural town where we were filming, and they sewed it up. We were on location for around three days. The thing about is, he and I had maybe a dozen fights or more after that. For some reason the writers liked to see us fight.”

Drake never forgot the injury Peter sustained. “So, every time we did a fight, Drake would go, ‘You can go ahead and kick me hard.’  I was like, ‘Drake, it was an accident.’ He felt so bad about (the lip incident) forever,” recalled Reckell. “That was the kind of person he was. He just had the biggest heart you could ever have and that’s the energy he had. Drake would walk on a set and the impact he had for Days of our Lives and everybody he met has left a big hole in the cast for sure.”

Everyone at the set loved Drake’s stories and the way he would tell them so full of life and with great storytelling skills. Peter also experienced it, sharing, “At a young age, Drake made the best grandfather ever. He had these stories, I’m sure, you know. You’ve heard plenty of his stories. Drake had this memory that remembers every detail of the story. So. you just sit there, like, ‘What? And then what happened?”‘

Photo: JPI

LOOKING BACK AT THIS CO-STARS THAT ARE NO LONGER WITH US

It is hard to believe how many of Peter’s Days of our Lives co-stars are no longer with us, but we don’t think anyone else in soaps got to work with such extraordinary people as Reckell, and he is very well aware of it.  Choking back tears, Peter shared, “I have been just so incredibly lucky to have worked with people of the stature of: Bill Hayes, John Aniston, Peggy McCay Frances Reid … all of them. I got to experience every kind of emotion that you can have as an actor, or as a person for that matter from: your kid passing away, to marrying a beautiful woman, and having a grandmother like Francis Reid. All these relationships were so powerful and with these astounding people that I got to do the scenes with.”

In case you missed it, check out our full conversation with Peter below and make sure to ‘subscribe’ to the Michael Fairman Channel for upcoming livestream interviews, special event coverage and celebrity features.

Now let us know, what were your favorite Bo and Roman and Bo and Roman/John scenes through the years? Are you looking forward to Bo’s emotional return in a few months? Share your thoughts in the comment section.

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Peter R was amazing as Bo and that time period with Wayne falling off the cliff was a majestic time at days The writing the stories were phenomenal The introduction of Drake John Aniston and his relationship with Peggy McCay. It was just an amazing period of daytime and very glad to have seen it all ! Great interview and I look forward to the return of Bo and Hope !

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Days Of Our Lives

Nadia Bjorlin Confirms She Was Asked to Return to ‘Days of Our Lives’ as Chloe Lane But Turned Down the Offer (Exclusive)

Published

3 hours ago

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August 31, 2026

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Nadia Bjorlin

Nadia Bjorlin opened up during a livestream conversation promoting her new film Veronica & Julian about a hot button topic with Days of Our Lives fan these days – the status of the character of Chloe Lane; a part which Bjorlin played on and off for 25 years and since 1999.

The actress participated in a chat on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel on Monday, August 31 with her Veronica & Julian co-star and former DAYS star Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver).

In this exclusive moment from the interview, Bjorlin was asked if return as Chloe was in the cards, amid speculation on social media that General Hospital alum, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha Gilmore) is rumored to have taken over the part of Chloe, although unconfirmed by Days of Our Lives. Nadia then revealed she was indeed asked to return to the Peacock streaming soap opera.

Photo: JPI

A HEAVY HEART AND LOGISTICS

“What I can confirm is they did ask me, but logistically it just didn’t make sense and with TV, budgets and whatnot (these days), it didn’t make any sense, and I said ‘no,” expressed Bjorlin. Presently, Nadia lives with her husband Grant Turnbull and their two children in Ireland. In fact, Bjorlin was participating in the indie film promotional chat from Ireland on Monday.

In addition, Nadia also shared that it was with a heavy heart she turned down a chance to come back to Salem, adding, “It hurt my heart to have to say ‘no.’ So, I guess I can confirm that it will not be me playing Chloe, if there’s a Chloe that comes back.”

As for Sofia Mattsson, she joined the cast in March of this year in an undisclosed role, and with DAYS tape schedule almost 10-11 months in advance of streaming new episodes, it would appear for now, she won’t be seen on-screen until early 2027. The mystery of if she is indeed playing a recast Chloe, Abigail, or a new character, continues.

Photo: JPI

FOND MEMORIES OF SALEM

Moving forward with her life post-Chloe, Bjorlin acknowledged to her longtime fans that she is alright with her decision. “I guess, it’s just sort of a different chapter of my life. I wish another actor all the best, obviously, and whatnot if that was their (Days of our Lives) decision. It’s okay. I’m okay, because they did ask me and I said ‘no.'”

Knowing at least the producers of DAYS came to her first before a possible recast, makes the situation bittersweet for Nadia. “At least, they did that and didn’t feel like, ‘Oh, my goodness!’ But of course (it’s hard), I grew up there. I feel like those were my high school college years and that’s like my family.”

The last time Nadia was on-screen on Days of Our Lives was back in 2023 when Chloe left Salem with one of her great loves, Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier). The pair headed to New York City to give their romance another whirl, only it didn’t work out. Philip returned to Salem in 2024 with no Chloe in tow.

You can check out the livestream chat with Nadia and Kyler Pettis discussing their time on Days of Our Lives and their new movie, Veronica & Julian below.

Now let us know, are you sad to learn that Nadia was asked to return as Chloe, but things could not work out to make it make sense for her now that she lives in Ireland? Do you think Sofia Mattsson is playing a recast Chloe or another character? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums and ‘Veronica & Julian’ Stars Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

Published

14 hours ago

on

August 31, 2026

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Nadia Bjorlin, Kyler Pettis

Two Days of Our Lives favorites, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver) are starring in the new indie feature Veronica & Julian and now on Monday, August 31 beginning at 3pm ET/12pm PT, they will visit You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat to discuss their film roles and time in Salem and much more.

Kyler Pettis appeared on Days of Our Lives as the grown-up autistic son of Abe (James Reynolds) and Lexie Carver (Renee Jones and more recently Nikki Crawford) from 2015-2018. He won a Daytime Emmy for his work on DAYS in 2019 in the Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Nadia Bjorlin is best known for her role as Chloe Lane. Bjorlin appeared in multiple runs on the show from 1999-2023. In addition, she has been featured in Crystal Chappell’s Venice the Series since 2009 in the role of Lara.

Photo: VeronicaandJulian

VERONICA & JULIAN CONFRONTS MODERN ROMANCE

Now in 2026, the two are featured in the romantic drama of Veronica & Julian. In story, a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis).

From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City. with obstacles along the way. Does it work? Does love conquer all, or do they go their separate ways? Veronica & Julian examines what happens when an unexpected romance forces the characters to confront the realities of age, timing, and love.

The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry.  Look for Veronica & Julian to be released later in the fall.

The films director Otoja Abit shared this statement: “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”

QUESTIONS FOR THE DAYS ALUMS

If you have a question for Nadia and Kyler, make sure to join us in the live chat and we might just ask it during the live broadcast. If you can’t be with us live and can catch the repla, but have something you would like posed to our guests, you can drop it in the comment section here.

Now, check out the official Veronica & Julian trailer below.

So, intrigued by the story of Veronica & Julian? Do you miss seeing Nadia and Kyler on Days of Our Lives? Let us know in the comment section too.

 

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Days Of Our Lives

Suzanne Rogers Returns to ‘Days of Our Lives’ in All-New Episodes

Published

1 day ago

on

August 30, 2026

By

Suzanne Rogers

Daytime Emmy winner and Gold Circle Honors Inductee, Suzanne Rogers will be on your screens this week on Days of Our Lives, when Maggie Kiriakis is back in action beginning with the Monday, August 31 episode. Previously, Maggie was written-off the canvas in April of this year when she left Salem to visit her daughter, Melissa.

Back in October of 2025, it was revealed that Rogers was battling stage II colorectal cancer. Then in November 2025, Suzanne told PEOPLE that she was now in remission.

Suzanne shared, “I’m feeling so much better. I mean, my summer was rough. I had cancer removed, radiation, that was tough. But I didn’t lose my hair. I guess I got it early. I was stage two, and it was a certain kind of chemo that they gave me, it was pills and the radiation, and it didn’t affect it so that was good.”

Photo: JPI

SUZANNE ROGERS JOURNEY BACK TO DAYS OF OUR LIVES

Now, official Days of Our Lives spoilers indicate that Julie (Susan Seaforth Hayes) will reach out to Maggie on the Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Due to Days of Our Lives’ advance taping schedule of 10-11 months in advance of streaming new episodes on Peacock, Suzanne’s reintroduction to the story will play out this fall.

In a interview with TV Insider last year, Rogers shared that as of July 31 2025, she had completed cancer treatment and was headed back to work to continue the story of Maggie Horton.

Rogers explained, “I start back to work next week, so we’ll see how that goes. Now, I’m feeling anxious like I do any time I get scripts because I want to do my very best and you don’t want to hold up anybody.”

As Days of Our Lives fans know, Rogers has been with the soap opera as of last week for 53 years having debuted back on August 20, 1973. Then in 1979, Suzanne became the first actress ever to win the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the Daytime Emmy Awards.

In 2024, Rogers was honored with induction into the Emmys’ Gold Circle by The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. This award recognizes individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on television for 50 years or more.

Before her recent health scare, Rogers has battled myasthenia gravis starting in 1984, which also has gone in remission.

So, happy to know Suzanne is back as Maggie this week on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives? Have you missed seeing this Salem staple for the past many months? Let us know via the comment section.

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