Days Of Our Lives
Tamara Braun Reveals Her Exit From Days of our Lives as Ava Vitali
In yet another huge loss for Days of our Lives, now comes word from two-time Daytime Emmy-winning actress, Tamara Braun herself, that she actually stopped taping all-new episodes of the Peacock streamer since back in July of 2024, and that her last airdate is this Thursday, April 3rd.
Braun took to her Instagram to share her news stating, “I wish this was an April Fool’s Joke but it’s not. This is Ava’s last week on Days. Last couple of days really. Sad but true. I’ve been gone since late July of last year but you can still catch Ava on your screens until April 3rd!”
In a photo montage, accompanying her post, Braun added, “I’ll miss being with my Days pals. They are a really good group of caring individuals and being with them was a joy. Thanks for all the #love #kindness and #support during Ava’s latest Salem stint.” Braun was pictures with castmates: Greg Rikaart (Leo), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Tina Huang (Melinda), Brandon Barash (ex-Stefan and Jake) and others.

Photo: JPI
Tamara made her DAYS debut as Ava Vitali in 2008 after her successful four-year run as Carly Corinthos on General Hospital. It was that six-month stint, that in 2009 landed her a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actress category. Braun’s next stop was at All My Children’s as Bianca’s wife, Reese Williams, from 2008-2009. She later returned to DAYS in 2011 now playing a different role, that of Taylor, Nicole Walker’s (Arianne Zucker) sister.
The character of Ava would return to DAYS multiple times thereafter. First, Braun reprised the role in 2015-2016. Eventually, Braun went back to General Hospital in the newly-minted role of Dr. Kim Nero in 2017- 2019, a part which nabbed her a second Supporting Actress Daytime Emmy.

Photo: JPI
Then, Ava returned to Salem yet again in 2020-2022, and by the time she exited the character this time, Ava was put into Bayview Sanitarium, where she later met Harris Michaels played by Steve Burton. Since then in 2023, till now, Ava has been back on the Salem canvas for this last run.
So, what do you think about the departure of Tamara Braun as Ava on Days of our Lives? With the “Who Shot EJ?” storyline to kick-off beginning this week, could Ava be the culprit? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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Darn! I liked her and Brady. Ava is one of my favorite characters. With all these departures you have to wonder if the cancellation rumors might be true?
Not at all, Days is renewed through September of next year. The exits are usually what happens with writing changes. And TB could return.
I’m not surprised; this latest, all-too-long stint has lobotomized the character of Ava from where she began, and it’s such a waste of Tamara Braun’s outstanding talent. It’s just a shame that Eric Martsolf finally had someone worthy of being partnered with!
I have to say sad ! Just love her as Ava and Tamara is such a natural She’s an absolute great actress! She will be very missed !
I know I will miss Tamara but she’s so good that I know she’ll end up somewhere. Wonder if BTG could talk her into going to Georgia to join there show?
That really stinks! I like Ava! With all these exits I’m wondering if the cancellation rumors might be true.
Not sure where you’re hearing those rumors. DAYS is now filming Christmas episodes and is safe – at least through August 2026.
The change in head writers has much to do with the character exits. With a smaller budget than the 4 network shows, DAYS has to juggle cast more than those shows.
DAYS is renewed through 2026.
I love Tamara Braun, She is a wonderful actress. Maybe The Bold And The Beautiful or Y&R can hire her. Recast Kristen Forrester with Tamara Braun. Would love to see this.
Great actress, horrible character and story arcs. They tried everything to make someone so despicable work and be likable.
It always was kind of crazy that Roman would let Ava work at the Brady pub and live in one of the upstairs apartments, considering she caused the plane crash that killed his father
Maybe Tamara could go back to GH and break up Drew and Willow for good. Maybe she had Drew’s baby instead of Julian’s? Tamara is such a great actress, she would be great on any soap!
Bring Dr. Kim back to GH, with her now elementary age son, Andrew, to Port Charles, please…
Brady gets dumped, AGAIN???? They really need to cast me quick, I would never leave him, as Brady, or Eric! Sad to lose her at all.
Kristen’s obsession with Brady is believable. Brady being dumped not so much.
I wish she could come back as Carly. I don’t like Laura Wright’s smug and entitled interpretation of the character Sara Brown so brilliantly fleshed out. Tamara got Carly.
That’s not her fault if that’s how the character is being written for.
I hope they will write a a new romance for Brady Black soon. Don’t waste hottie Eric Martsolf on stories about Brady’s children. He’s too sexy for that.
Days Of Our Lives
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?
Former Y&R favorite, Conner Floyd made his debut as the recast Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives last week on the April 21 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera
Floyd replaced Billy Flynn in the role who is firmly cemented in his old stomping grounds of Genoa City and The Young and the Restless as Chad DiMera. For the last year or two of Chad’s story, he believed his wife, Abigail Devereaux DiMera could be alive, he even thought Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) was Abigail until the story turned.
Now with Floyd taking over the role and Lexie coming back to life after years of being dead, and Chad noting how Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) and his brother, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), could resurrect somehow they all love, he thinks, how about Abigail? The part of Abigail was played by Kate Mansi and then Marci Miller.

Photo: JPI
Speaking with Stephanie Sloane for her new Daytime Dish Newsletter on the matter, Conner shared, “Any kind of idea that she could possibly be coming back, as farfetched as that may seem, he’s stuck on it. The idea gets in his head, and he’s locked in on it.”
CHAD WRESTLES WITH THE FATE OF ABIGAIL
Floyd added that Chad, “He’s asking Theo (Joseph Tyler Andrews) about it. He’s asking EJ about it. It’s one of those things where he loves her so much that the peace in his mind that he’s made with this kind of comes unbroken. So the fact that that she might be able to come back, he’s so bent on it, he thinks it’s going to happen and he kind of spirals away.”
A NEW ABIGAIL ON THE HORIZON?

Photo: ABC
That begs the question, with Days of Our Lives taping ten months in advance, which is already taking them into the beginning of 2027, is it possible that the soap has already recast Abigail and its being kept top secret?
Recently, it was revealed that former General Hospital favorite, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha) has joined Days of our Lives. Back on March 30 it was reported that Mattsson is now taping all-new episodes that will be seen in 2027, but her role was being hush-hush! Could she the new Abby?
If not, the question is, since it seems that Kate Mansi is not coming back as she is firmly entrenched in her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis on General Hospital and other outside projects, and Marci Miller has also been away from soaps for awhile working on other TV and film roles and indie motion pictures, who should play nuAbby?
Now below, let us know, who do you think would make the perfect leading lady opposite Conner Floyd as a recast Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Be our armchair quarterback casting director and drop your pick in the comment section.
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