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Days Of Our Lives

SAW star Tobin Bell Cast as John Black's Father For Short Story Arc On Days of our Lives!

By Michael Fairman

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Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

One of the most convoluted and complex paternity storylines in the history of soaps appears to be getting some closure!  John Black (Drake Hogestyn) has for years been searching for his true identifty and where he came from on Days of our Lives.

According to EW.com on Friday, Tobin Bell, one of the main stars of the horror flick franchise Saw, has been cast as John’s dad.  The storyline marks the culmination of John Black’s search for his father – a war hero who supposedly died in Korea three weeks before his son was born , and who went by the name, Yo Ling.

Bell will appear in a five-episode arc beginning on the March 11th episode of the NBC daytime drama series.

As well as playing Saw’s Jigsaw, a.k.a. John Kramer, Bell has also had many TV episodic roles including guest star turns on 24, ER,  Seinfeld, Criminal Minds and Wilfred.

So, are you looking forward to seeing how John reacts and gets closure upon learning of his biological father?  Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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John’s been moaning and groaning and squinting at Marlene in that raspy voice of his for so long about his biological parents that I can honestly say frankly my dear I don’t
give a damn.
They need to come up with something really interesting on this show….and this ain’t it.
People (characters) leave this show without a word. Eve left town, we don’t really know to where or why. Maxine, who must have extended leave at the Hospital and is head of Nursing, appears to be gone. Of course, we don’t know this for certain as her absence at the Hospital is never explained. Kayla and “Patch” are still deliberating their love even though they are far too long in the tooth to be having these teeny bopper romance problems. “I slept with Ava only to save your Life, baby!” screams Patch to Kayla. Honestly? What is so Hot about him anyway and what’s so great about Ava?
The storyline about Brady (oh yes, he just had a heart transplant) diving into the ocean to save some nitwit from drowning (because he had a dream about her) is beyond ridiculous. The last three months have been tedious to endure – they should NOT have gotten rid of Will – if they weren’t that happy with the actor, they could have attempted a recast – and if the actor who portrayed Sonny wanted to move on, they could have done a recasting of Sonny.
JJ is a nice young male character but he certainly made it through the Police Academy quickly (??) while other storylines drag on for an eternity…..including John’s search for his true biological parents.
Geez I hope the writers get on the stick and come up PLEASE WITH something more compelling than this –

I agree with you Jim, the storylines on Days need to improve. I am losing my mind, with the weak writing and horrible plots.

Lol tell us how you REALLY feel. .although I hate to admit it you are spot on correct

Wished I had a like button for every last bit.

Forget Johns closure…let this story end so i can have my own closure…i was in my 20s when it started and now i’m getting senior discounts but knowing Days IS this REALLY the END of John learning his TRUE identity…this convoluted mess of a story is old as i am…meanwhile, i hope Summer(who acts and looks somewhat like Anne) IS’NT Maggie’s daughter but someone scheming to get her hands on Victors money…dream or know dream of Brainless Brady…Maggie has two daughters they could bring back…why couldn’t Sarah suffer mental issues or something…or even Melissa…does Days forget them-i guess out-of-sight, out-of-mind.

Summer is going to turn out to be Anne’s “good” sister, and now that Anne has left her job at the secure Hospital to join a new Design Team (because everyone does that) Summer will take over the Hospital.
Yes I’m kidding but this show is getting so inane on so many levels that anything is possible.

actually, i think i would like that as the plotline for her-no kidding.

Tobin Bell’s upcoming DAYS visit is certainly “buzz”worthy news!!!!! The “jig” was up a while back when I “saw” this casting on IMDb.

LOL! That is too punny!! You should be on Day’s writing team and lighten up the place!

Who do you think you are…me?…lol

LMAO!! Oh Jim, you’re so funny!! That comment made my night. So did your points about John Roman Brady Black Alamain Dimera Brady Now Who?

Again Ben kidnaps Abigail who disappears until a new actress is found to take over the role!

Oh dear. DOOL has been chasing this storyline for what, two decades?

Will Pops arrive with two wooden elephants?

The fans (and Mr. H!) deserve better.

Honestly, they need to resolve it already – good grief who gives an
elephant’s tusk at this point –
Revamp this writing team and come up with something interesting.
The last 3 months have been dreadful, really atrocious. Belle arguing with her whiny daughter just doesn’t cut it, and when John and Marlene appear on screen I need to take a No-Doze caplet.
Kayla and Patch still having the same stupid problems that teenagers have, please get on with it.
Bring back Sonny and Will and Paul – well Paul is there yes I know but he has absolutely nothing to do except that stupid modeling job. Even watching Ben go crazy with Abigail was far MORE interesting than the dull, mundane storylines – if you can call them that – that are appearing presently.

They kind of look alike.

He looks more like Luke Spenser in that picture…imho.

Or Fluke…..LOL!

Frankly the whole who is John Black question jumped the shark eons ago– at this point I no longer care, and find this whole ending to his tale rather anti-climatic. This guy at least looks a bit like John to make it believable, but honestly a five episode arc to end a story that started in the eighties seems pointless. The should have stopped with him being Stefano’s brother or left his real identity a mystery never to be solved.

Hi Mary. ) I agree. The last John switcheroo was thrown in hastily so Theresa and Brady could get horizontal. But that makes no sense…they could have done it anyway because they would have been what…like fourth cousins twice removed? Guiding Light had Tammy and Johnathan, who were FIRST cousins, and they were a supercouple on that show…and they got married. On second thought, the show was cancelled two years later…lol. And because NO ONE knows who John is really related to, half the town could be related, married, procreated, etc. His daughter Belle could be her husband Shawn’s cousin…who knows? LOL. Gotta love the soaps. Is there NOT a private clinic OUTSIDE of Salem city limits where they do DNA, and NO ONE is there with motive and opportunity to tamper with the results?? I also chuckled handily when the end of an episode recently had Ava all breathlessly and dramatically declarng to the airport clerk on the phone…”I need a one way ticket…to Salem…USA.” LMAO. I burst out laughing, and imagined the clerk on the other end of the phone “Uh, lady…could narrow that down and be a bit more specific. This happens with Springfield too!”

It’s about time DOOL provided John with the answers.

Yes! I’m so excited to see this storyline kick off in March!

Yes but we’re the ones who have to endure his squints…

And his greatest huskily whispered, greeting of all time….”Hey, doc”….

Every single actor has mannerisms, that are a part of their personality or physical mannerisms they bring to the character. Every single person has mannerisms too, they are what make us individuals. I can not stand it when people make fun of people’s mannerisms.

Drake is an awesome actor and I for one appreciate the fact he is a method actor, willing to change his appearance for his storyline. Very few actors will do that.

And viewers.

So the endless, mind-numbing plot of “Who is John Black’s daddy?” is going to end with a 5-episode arc? Talk about little payoff for something years in the making!

“Closure”? Really? Give them another five years (and another headwriter) and they’re come up with another paternity story.

Exactly, because it had been answered years ago with that ghastly Irish story.

LOL, this is gr8! The guy who burns people alive in ovens and makes people where face crushing traps … is John’s father, LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!

*wear* geez, I know how to spell

Perfect casting! Dream casting that becomes reality. How can you not watch the SAW movies and start to think….when you see Tobin Bell’s performance.

I agree…it is perfection! I love that John’s mom and dad have his blue eyes too!

This is one reason why I hate the retconning on soaps when new writers come in… Back in the day we were told, “The true reason for the feud between the DiMeras and the Bradys… the real reason why Stefano has had it in for John… it’s because he’s the product of a love child between Stefano’s dad and Grandpa Shawn’s sister, who just happened to look like EJ and Sami when they were young! Final answer!” Then, oops, “No, that was all wrong, we thought of something ‘better’ featuring day players not connected to anybody.” I think I liked it best when John was Forrest Alamain, going up against Lawrence and Vivian….

Drake Hogestyn has said he’s used Jason Bourne as a template for his character. What happened to Bourne kind of holds true here: Learning his true identity was kind of a let down. There’s something to be said, story-wise, for never finding out. The search is the fun part.

…Er, he *is* the love child, I should say….

IKR. I liked it better when it was Aunt Vivian…

He’s been everything from a Roman Brady, Catholic Priest, Soldier of Fortune… honestly I don’t care who he WAS I want him to be something Now.

Ugh.

Auntie Viv was just whacked!! I need about 1500 milligrams of whatever she was on!! Daily.

I for one couldn’t be happier! After all of these years, John is finally going to find out who his dad is and be able to fill in more missing pieces of his past! This is a story that needed to be told, after the former writers rewrote John’s past again when Drake wasn’t even on the show at the time. I love that it goes back to his mercenary past. The show has had a really bad February Sweeps, so I’m more than ready to see some of the actors that have been overused lately, to be benched a bit so actors like Drake can work out their acting chops! I’m looking so forward to March when this story gets going…finally, DAYS will be worth watching again.

This casting is brilliant. Put a hat on this guy to hide his hair and he seriously could pass as Drake’s father in real life. Two thumbs up to DAYS casting! I’m looking so forward to seeing Drake and Tobin in scenes together!

I am beyond excited that Drake Hogestyn will get to be front burner again. He and Deidre Hall are brilliant actors who have unfortunately been underutilized. Closure for this story is necessary and welcomed by many fans. I have no doubt that Drake will give a phenomenal performance as he always does and that Deidre Hall’s Marlena will stand by her man while adding another layer to the amazing relationship that is John and Marlena. Their decades of portraying these characters has been the reason to watch Days of Our Lives and I couldn’t be more excited! #Jarlena all the way!

Honestly? How are they “brilliant actors”? Every episode (well not EVERY episode) she turns to John and seems to ask “did you find your parents?” or “this should make you happy knowing who your parents are” always in that deadpan expression of her’s and John squints back in his raspy voice “yeah, Doc”.
Geez, really? To me, “brilliant acting” is comprised of portraying interesting, complex characters and utilizing different accents.
Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying, you are most certainly more than entitled to your opinion, but to me, “brilliant acting” requires more than what John and Marlena bring to the TV screen.

I am sorry you don’t agree with me. I would challenge you to watch the relationship of John and Marlena from the beginning until today to understand the brilliant acting that I am referencing. Neither Drake or Deidre can change the writing and storyline that they are given. If you don’t like the lines they are given to play I can certainly agree with you on that as of late. I stand by my post that they are brilliant actors, especially when given a storyline worthy of their skills!

I’m really excited to see how John FINALLY finds out who his father is next month!! I’ve been waiting for years, just like John,to find out. Apparently his Dad didn’t die before John was born. It should be REALLY exciting to watch! John deserves the truth! Drake Hogestyn does a marvelous job as John! I look forward to seeing John on my TV screen as much as possible every week! #DAYS

I thought his dad was dead.

I can’t wait to find out about John’s real dad. Any story line John related is worth watching to me.

Great casting. Excited to see him and Drake in scenes together. I’m excited for this story to get underway…Drake and Deidre have been virtually MIA lately.

Exactly! It’s time to get them back on our screens in a major storyline!

About bloody time

I cannot wait for this exciting story to begin. Happy to see Drake Hogestyn & Deidre Hall in front burner story. John & Marlena are the reason I watch.

#Jarlena all the way!!!

Drake’s true identity has been withheld for 30 years. His character has searched and found betrayal and disappointment too many times. The true Drake fans are so excited that he will finally uncover his true story. To have Tobin Bell playing the part of Drake’s dad was a great choice by TPTB. It will be great to see them interact. Drake’s acting abilities have been so unchallenged for way to long. I do hope the writer’s do not butcher it with only a 5 day arc. Personally, I think John is going to feel a lot of pain and further disappointment.

Exactly. I have a feeling nothing will come out of this….so I do not care. I am tired. I will bite my tongue if I am wrong. I just don’t think John will find closure. Could it be because we waited for so long?

I do not care for the Ciara and Chase storyline. I don’t care about Theresa. I don’t care about Brady and the mystery woman, summer. Days of Our Lives has been miserable to watch this week. Too many flashbacks and dream sequences. It’s like the writers don’t know what else to write for the days episode, so they start filling in time with dreams and flashbacks.
I am enjoying the Andre storyline and hoping Hope and Rafe will finally be sent to jail. The only way Rafe and Hope are going to get off on this rap is if Stefano comes in through the door dancing or popping a wheelie in his wheel chair.
It’s fun to watch Hope be under the thumb.
I will watch Tobin Bell (the SAW franchise) play John’s father. It’s going to be interesting.
Rumors of Freddie Smith (“Sonny”) being on the set have peaked my interest.

Yup…ridiculous. Not in a million years will I get interested in this Summer-woman-story-mystery and Brady’s dreams through Daniel’s heart. Bah!!

I’m so glad John & Marlena is finally getting some Air time , can’t wait to see them performing..Love those Guys….Love it!

I’m actually quite excited about this, though I’m not sure how seriouly I’ll be able to take him in this role, I’ll be expecting him to keep saying ‘Wanna play a game’ lol

Days has been through a lot lately…new writers, comings and goings etc. Yet, it is still here!! I say celebrate what is and do not frown upon what should have been. I am looking forward to the new castmate and storyline for John…let him FINALLY be able to find his true family. They need to stay with the cast (veterans…including Drake and Deidre) that made Days what it is and will continue to be..the best!!!

Aren’t they the same age?

But….Tobin Bell is ELEVEN years older than Drake

I am so happy that John will finally know who he is and that story will bring him back to his hero roots. This is what Drake does best. Play hero with a heart. Drake has been doing such a great job with this story so far, esp in his confrontations with his mom. And Drake always said he played john like jason Bourne. This backstory fits perfectly.

Days Of Our Lives

‘Heated Rivalry’ Star Franco LoPresti Opens Up About ‘Days of our Lives’ Debut as Dante Vitali

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Next week on Monday, September 14 will mark the first appearance in Salem of Franco LoPresti in his new Days of our Lives role of Dante Vitali.

Heated Rivalry fans now LoPresti very well from his part as hockey player Cliff Marleau in the series first season. (No word yet if Cliff appears in season 2).

Now in a conversation with TV Insider, DAYS fans will learn that LoPresti is on the soap for a limited run. No timetable was given.

Dante Vitali

Photo: Corday Productions, Inc

When LoPresti does burst onto the scene come Monday, Dante makes quite the impact as Franco LoPresti explains. It seems that viewers will first see him in scenes in Monte Carlo at a poker table with none other than Gabi Hernandez (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip Kiriakis (John-Paul Lavoisier).  However, Dante will come to Salem to talk to the Brady family about his supposed fiancée Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney).

Franco shared, “Dante was born and grew up in Italy and educated at this pretty top-tier English boarding school. He then went on to build his own dynasty in finance, all the while trying to distance himself from the Vitali name (as viewers know Tamara Braun played his cousin Ava Vitali).”

“But at the core of Dante, there’s definitely an old-school quality to him”, continued LoPresti. “He’s super passionate, he’s sincere and incredibly generous, but he’s also someone that you probably shouldn’t underestimate. Loyalty is something that means a lot to him. As Dante enters Salem, I think the audience will get to slowly peel back those layers and discover what’s really driving him. So, I’m excited for Days fans to go on that ride with Dante.”

Photo: Almay

As it turns out, LoPresti taped his episodes of DAYS starting back in November 2025 which happened to be weeks before Heated Rivalry became a smash hit.

Franco recalled, “It’s so funny because I thought my episodes would air in a month (on Days of our Lives). But I found out it was nine to 10 months and I was like, ‘I gotta wait that long?!’ So, I’ve been biting my nails, trying not to think about it, and I think it’s actually kind of helped because now it’s here and it’s all coming at me from all different angles. I’m nervous. I’m excited, and I just can’t wait to see it all come together. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had for sure.”

In his personal life, Franco just had his first child with wife, actress Emily Alatalo, just a weeks ago on August 23rd when they welcomed their daughter, Stella into the world.

So, looking forward to seeing Franco LoPresti’s debut come Monday? What do you think about the fact that it’s being reported as a limited run? Do you think Dante and Sami have a chance on-screen or off-screen to be a happy couple? What do you really think brings Dante to Salem sans Sami? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Reveals ‘Class of Season 62’

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Days of our Lives

In a metaphor for the start of the school year and their upcoming anniversary in November, Days of our Lives revealed its “Class of Season 62,” with a very clever yearbook montage on their social media handles, welcoming new cast members, while paying respect to the veterans and “class”-iying the other characters in Salem.

The official Days of our Lives Instagram account shared on the posting, “The Class of Salem Season 62 has arrived. Familiar faces, new names and plenty of personality. Flip through our yearbook for a peek at this year’s class.”

Let’s take a look at how they broke it all down: The Salem Yearbook starts with saying “another unforgettable season,” with some group pics, and then we dovetail into Salem’s new class which features: Sydney Malakeh (Sydney DiMera), Brandon Butler (Mason Whitfield), Angelica Nero (Victoria Kiriakis), Cole Gersmeyer (Thomas DiMera) and Lorelei Olivia Mote (Rachel Black).

Photo: Days of our Lives

Next up, are the likes of: Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez), John-Paul Lavoisier (Philip Kiriakis), Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) and LeeAnn Hopkins (Joy Wesley). Then, in the “Drama Club” section are: Dan Feuerriegel (EJ DiMera) and AnnaLynne Cipriani (Cat Greene).

Following the ‘Recess” section with some group snaps, comes “Homeroom Highlights” with: Abigail Klein (Stephanie Johnson), Eric Martsolf (Brady Black), Rob Scott Wilson (Alex Kiriakis), Lamon Archey (Eli Grant) and Sal Stowers (Lani Price Grant).

The “Salem Spectator” section features: Conner Floyd (Chad DiMera), Greg Rikaart (Leo Stark), Stowers again, and Ashely Puzemis (Holly Jonas). In the “Afternoon Sweets” section look for: Paul Telfer (Xander Kiriakis) and Linsey Godfey (Sarah Horton), Emily O’ Brien (Gwen Rizchech), Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera/Susan Banks), Brandon Beemer (Shawn Brady), plus Jackée Harry (Paulina Price).

Towards the end of the yearbook, veteran performers such as: Mary Beth Evans (Kayla Johnson), Stephen Nichols (Steve Johnson), Lauren Koslow (Kate Roberts) and Josh Taylor (Roman Brady) are featured, plus Deidre Hall (Marlena Evans), James Reynolds (Abe Carver) and Matthew Ashford (Jack Deveraux), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie Williams) and Suzanne Rogers (Maggie Kiraikis) with her on-screen daughter, Linsey Godfrey.

The Salem Yearbook comes to a conclusion noting “Big things happening in Salem” and to tune-in on Peacock, where we also find Jacob Martinez (Javi Hernandez), Maggie Carney (Rita Lesley), and a host of other favorites previewing what’s to come this fall.

So, what do you think of the Days of our Lives Class of Season 62? Looking forward to seeing what happens in Salem? Did you like the yearbook concept for promotional tune-in? Let us know via the comment section below.

 

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Days Of Our Lives

‘Days of our Lives’ Head Writers Give Fall 2026 Preview: Marlena and Stefano’s Chess Mystery, The Arrivals of Dante and Sydney, Romance Drama for Sarah and Others

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Chad and Belle

As summer comes to a close with Labor Day weekend, the former Days of our Lives co-head writing duo of Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford have given their annual fall season preview in episodes taped some 10-11 months ago.

As previously reported this past July, Ryan Quan returned to Days of our Lives and is now co-head writing the show with Ford, while Cwikly is now a consultant. The new co-head writing teams stories will not be seen till late spring/early summer 2027.

So for now, the stories pick up from where we left off with Cwikly and Ford promising via TV Insider, “Fall in Salem is full of twists and turns and secrets and surprises. Dots connect in unexpected ways as seemingly unrelated threads converge.”

Deidre Hall

Photo: JPI

CHECKMATE?

In one of the top mystery’s, Marlena is still having troubling memories and she will have another one on the Monday, September 7 episode. Meanwhile, her daughter Belle (Martha Madison) has gotten very close to Chad DiMera (Conner Floyd) and as pictured here, the two smooch while in Italy searching for answers to the chess set that Stefano DiMera gifted th the late John Black and Marlena (Deidre Hall) that has some significance.

The head scribes share, “The (chess board) mystery and its fallout are central to the fall stories. Chad and Belle follow the clues to a discovery that changes both of their families, and Salem, forever. Marlena worries that their investigation/the chess set may be a Pandora’s box that has been opened. And she is right…”

Newcomers are also the order of the day for Cwikly and Ford, this fall. We have already seen the debut as Brandon Butler as Mason Whitfield, and next week you can add as previously reported Sydney Malakeh on the Thursday September 1o episode as Sydney DiMera, followed by the the Monday, September 14 arrival of Franco LoPresti as Dante Vitali.

Philip, Belle and Sydney

Photo: Corday Productions

Paula and Jeanne Marie expressed on the incoming Dante, “The arrival of a stranger who will set the whole town on its ear. The character has several strong ties to the current canvas and impacts many storylines.” What will Dante be up to? We know Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) had mentioned in 2025 she got engaged to the man, but that was off-screen.

LOVE THE ONE YOU’RE WITH OR THE ONE YOU WANT?

In the romance department, the triangle between Brady/Sarah/Xander heats up with a very conflicted Sarah (Linsey Godfrey). The head writers reveal, “When Sarah faces attacks personally and professionally, Xander (Paul Telfer) and Brady (Eric Martsolf) work together to help and protect her. Sarah’s new love for Brady is challenged by her lingering love for Xander. Xander risks everything for Sarah.”

In addition look for, “Gabi (Cherie Jimenez) and Philip (John-Paul Lavoiser) to draw closer as he tries to save the family company and home.”

Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) will also be returning at some point this fall and she won’t be alone. Who might she bring with her? And from the looks of the Peacock promo for next week’s DAYS, someone is wearing Stefano’s ring around their finger, but who … and how does it all tie in this fall?

So, what do you think about some of the highlights coming up this fall on Days of our Lives per the series head writers? Does anything float your boat or pique your interest? If so, what? Let us know via the comment section. But first, check out the action next week on DAYS in the promo entitled “Bag of Tricks” below.

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