Days Of Our Lives Characters We Wish Never Left

Published on September 3, 2020. Updated May 5, 2022

Soap opera fans grow quite attached to the characters in their favorite shows. Storylines change, plots do a twist, and at times audiences will see their favorite characters leave. When it comes to Days of Our Lives (DOOL), Salem residents are known to leave town, fall in a coma, disappear off the face of the earth, go to prison, or sometimes pass away. Below is an overview of DOOL characters we wish never left.

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12. Bo Brady

Why did Bo Brady have to pass away in 2015? This is a question most Days fans ask themselves regularly. While the storyline created some closure for the character and those around him, the finality around his demise made it very challenging for this iconic character to ever return to the land of Salem. Luckily, they’ll get to see him appear (albeit in ghostly form) on the second series of Beyond Salem.
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11. Stefan DiMera

While Jake DiMera is running around in Salem, and fans have the pleasure of seeing actor Brandon Barash on a regular basis, there are many that miss Stefan. While he wasn’t the nicest of characters, the legacy of Stefano DiMera’s evil scheming did live on through Stefan, and he was someone viewers loved to hate.
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10. Austin Reed

Whether it’s actor Austin Peck or Patrick Muldoon, could Austin Reed officially return? A beloved fan-favorite, Austin not only knows how to turn the heat up in Salem, but he also knows how to help save the day as one of the top “good guys” on show. With plenty of roots and history in Salem, many Days viewers simply wish he never left.
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9. Carrie Brady

Speaking of, can’t have Austin return without Carrie. One of the most-loved DOOL super couples of all time, there is no Austin Reed without Carrie Brady in tow. While both pop up every once in a while, Carrie is a legacy character who fans have literally watched grow up over the years. As a Brady, she has family and history in the little town, which still makes it hard to believe she was written out of storylines years ago.
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8. Summer Townsend

Summer strolled into Salem with a very unique storyline in 2016. When Brady Black received Daniel Jonas’ heart, he began dreaming about a mystery woman. The woman turned out to be Daniel’s half-sister, and Maggie Horton’s long-lost daughter, Summer. While the angle was intriguing and there was so much more to be told, Summer ended up leaving Salem later that year, almost as quickly as she arrived. While she has appeared on the show more recently, many would love to see her back full-time.
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7. Kimberly Brady

As the sister to Kayla and Roman, it’s weird that Kimberly Brady has not grown roots back in Salem. In the 1980s and 1990s, she was an integral part of DOOL storylines, along with super couple sidekick Shane Donovan. Kimberly does come back now and again, but many fans wish she never left in the first place.

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6. Theresa Donovan

Speaking of Kimberly, Theresa Donovan exited DOOL some years back in a storyline that saw her leave her son Tate and soulmate Brady behind to protect them. She’d return, but her comeback was short-lived, and the storyline lacked luster. Many Days’ fans were devastated by how she returned and then left, as Theresa and Brady should have reunited but didn’t. The good news is that she never passed away, so the window to return is always open.
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5. EJ DiMera

It’s hard to look back on the years when we thought EJ DiMera had passed away, but even harder to reflect on the years we knew he was still alive but just not being talked about! EJ’s short-lived return to Salem wasn’t all that much of a comeback, so it was a major headline when Dan Feuerriegel was recast in the role. After such a lengthy absence, it’s so good to have EJ back in Salem!
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4. Carly Manning

Carly was a DOOL staple character in the 1990s and even returned to the show in the late 2000s. She was a beautiful, smart, and strong woman who always seemed to be able to get out of any jam. Best known for her “buried alive” storyline with Vivian Alamain, Carly was a dynamic character with solid roots in Salem. Simply put, the little town has never been the same since she left.
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3. Billie Reed

While Hope may have been Bo’s soul mate, Billie Reed certainly gave her a run for her money. Billie strolls in and out of Salem now and again, but many fans wish she would stroll in and never leave. As a long-time character of the show, Billie is smart, sassy, strong, and quite beautiful. Her relationships on the show can be complicated, but they are always interesting to watch.
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2. Melanie Jonas

Fun, smart, beautiful, stubborn, and always a joy to watch! Why did Melanie ever have to leave Salem? Her love affair with Brady had chemistry beyond belief, and her roots in the little town extend quite far. Grandma Maggie is still in town and her friendships could simply pick up where they left off. Melanie is missed by DOOL fans and really should never have left the show in the first place.
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1. Dr. Daniel Jonas

Handsome, funny, and smart, Dr. Daniel Jonas had his fair share of relationships within Salem. He was linked to Chloe, Jennifer, and Carly, yet it was his relationship with Nicole that truly hit home with DOOL fans. Why he was axed off in such a final way is still a question that lingers on many people’s minds.
© Howard Wise/jpistudios.com