What’s become of the Days Of Our Lives stars, who’ve become Hollywood royalty? While many of the shows favourites still have recurring roles on the long-running soap, they’ve continued to create headlines away from the set thanks to romance scandals, plastic surgery rumours, salary wars, business ventures, and bizarre lifestyle choices – with one star even becoming celibate and living off ice-cream for a year!
Here we look at their lives now…
Josh Taylor as Roman
The 74-year-old actor shares two sons, Jason and Tristen, with his wife Lisa Tremblay.
Josh, who was working as a barman near Burbank studios when he was spotted by a talent scout, first starred as Chris Kositchek between 1977 and 1987. He returned in 1997 as Roman Brady – and is still on the show. He’s also starred on The Hogan Family, Young And The Restless, Beverly Hills 90210, LA Law and The Secret Life Of Kathy McCormick.
Deidre Hall as Marlena
Deidre is the number-one earner in daytime TV, thanks to her popular role as Dr Evans – which she’s had on-and-off since 1976. Sacked in 2009 because of her huge salary, bosses begged her to return less than two years later.
Her off-camera marriages and romances have often caused a stir. The 70-year-old actress has been married four times and had two children, Tully and David, in her late 40s via a surrogate known as ‘Robin B’.
Kristian Alfonso as Hope
Known as Hope for over three decades to millions of fans, the 54-year-old also has a jewellery line called Faith Hope Miracles.
As a model, she’s graced the cover of many fashion magazines including Harper’s BAZAAR and Vogue – despite being only 162cm – and was once on track to become an Olympic gure skater, before suffering a leg injury. The actress works hard to keep her husband and two sons out of the public eye.
John Aniston as Victor
Despite winding down and moving out of LA, the 84-year-old still appears on the hit soap as millionaire Victor – a role he’s held since 1985. In recent years it was reported that famous daughter Jen Aniston was concerned for her father’s health, following the death of her estranged mother Nancy – who was married to John for 15 years until 1980.
‘John’s less way mobile than he used to be and Jen’s concerned,’ a source told Radar. ‘Jen finds it difficult to see him because of her busy schedule.’
Peggy McCay as Caroline
She’s 90 years old, but Peggy still stars on as Caroline Brady – a role she’s held since 1983. But despite her long career, the actress has suffered serious illness behind the scenes, leading many fans to worry that she will be cut from the show without a final goodbye.
The actress took a leave of absence in 2015 after suffering an injury on the DOOL set, and another extended break after a fall at home in 2012. Since 2016, she’s been missing from the DOOL set due to further illness.
Lauren Koslow as Kate
Conniving Kate is the soap opera villain that fans have loved to hate since 1996. However, it’s her many rumoured plastic surgery procedures that have captivated fans for decades. At age 64, Lauren still looks half her age – leading to whispers she’s had a nose job, lip fillers, Botox and multiple face lifts.
‘Despite being on the series for almost 20 years, Lauren has remained largely the same, without any obvious signs of ageing,’ wrote one report. ‘It’s hard to guess her actual age.’
Mary Beth Evans as Kayla
The wedding of super-couple Patch and Kayla was the highest-rating in daytime TV history. Behind the scenes, the mum-of-three is an active gardener and cook, and has her own mail-order apple pie business. She’s also a very active charity worker.
Mary Beth, 56, has been married since 1984, and returned to DOOL in 2006 after a 14-year break – to the delight of her fans.
Stephan Nicholas as Patch
Thousands of fans named their children Patch and Kayla throughout the ’80s. But behind the scenes, the actor lived a celibate monk lifestyle for years, on a steady diet of ice-cream!
After a 16-year break from DOOL, the 66-year-old returned in 2009 for a three-year stint before resuming his role as Patch for good in 2015. During his hiatus, he had roles in Dallas, Matlock and The Young And The Restless, and directed several TV projects.
Billy Warlock as Frankie
One of the biggest heart-throbs in DOOL history – so it’s no surprise that Billy’s off- camera love life has attracted headlines. Billy has married and become engaged to several of his co-stars over the years.
First engaged to Baywatch co-star Erika Eleniak, he married and divorced soap star Marcy Walker, then married DOOL co-star Julie Pinson in 2006. The couple broke off their earlier engagement amid affair rumours, then married in a hush-hush Las Vegas ceremony.
Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes as Doug and Julie
Doug and Julie Wilson were the only soap stars to appear on the cover of Time magazine. But for Bill Hayes, 92, and Susan Seaforth, 74, that epic on-screen romance turned real-life when they married in 1974, with just 16 friends present – but watched by 16 million viewers.
They remain on the show today, with Susan the only actress to appear on DOOL for all ve decades that it’s been running. But it’s their charity efforts behind the scenes that the couple are also well-known for.
Peter Reckell as Bo
One of the most-loved characters, it was Peter’s long-running off-camera tensions with DOOL bosses that led to his repeated exits. After one exit, he said his frustration over Bo Brady’s character being boring led to his walkout. But his popularity saw him get wooed back to DOOL no less than four times.
Away from the camera, the 62-year-old is father to 10-year-old daughter Loden and spends his days doing yoga, mountain bike riding, martial arts and horseback riding.