By Soap Dirt – Your Inside Scoop on Television Entertainment

For loyal fans of Days of Our Lives, the world of Salem has always been full of drama—but behind the scenes, some of the biggest stories involve the actors themselves.

In recent years, several beloved stars have exited the NBC soap under circumstances ranging from personal struggles to contentious firings and even legal battles.

Today, we dive into the real reasons why some of your favorite DOOL actors left, revealing the complicated truths behind these departures.

Camila Banis – Gabby Hernandez

Camila Banis, who portrayed Gabby Hernandez from 2010 until 2023, was the second and longest-running actress in the role. Fans followed her journey from her breakout performance through to her final episodes in November 2023. But while her exit may have seemed like a simple career move, the story behind it is far more layered.

Back in 2020, tensions backstage reportedly began to surface. Camila was seen distraught in her car after a grueling day of shooting—tears flowing as she processed the pressures she faced. Looking back, some speculate that this moment may have been connected to troubling allegations regarding executive producer Albert Allar, who was later fired for reported mistreatment of female cast members.

On top of that, the transition of Days of Our Lives from NBC to Peacock Streaming prompted Camila to reevaluate her career. She recognized it as an opportunity to explore new professional avenues. Coupled with personal reasons—like honoring her late father, who passed away before she landed the role of Gabby, and focusing on starting a family with her husband Marlon Ainho—Camila made the difficult but empowering choice to step away and chart a new path.

Tyler Christopher – Stefan DiMera

The story of Tyler Christopher is one of talent, tragedy, and heartbreaking loss. Known for originating the role of Stefan DiMera on Days of Our Lives, as well as Nicholas Cassadine on General Hospital, Tyler’s career was marked by brilliance and personal struggle. His battles with alcohol addiction ultimately dictated his departure from both soaps.

Tyler himself admitted that his personal demons caused the loss of roles he cherished. Released from General Hospital due to sobriety issues, he was later given a second chance on DOOL by showrunner Ron Carlot, a longtime colleague. Tragically, his struggles with addiction persisted, leading to his contract termination from Days of Our Lives.

Tyler’s final episode as Stefan aired on March 20, 2019. He openly discussed his battles with addiction and bipolar depression on the State of Mind podcast, reflecting with remarkable honesty: “Nobody took it away from me. I dropped it.” On October 31, 2023, Tyler Christopher passed away at age 50 due to positional asphyxia, a death ruled accidental—a devastating loss for fans and colleagues alike. Tyler was remembered as a humble, kind, and gentle soul, whose talent was only matched by his authenticity.

Greg Vaughn – Eric Brady

Greg Vaughn’s tenure as Eric Brady was punctuated by in-and-out appearances, influenced largely by storylines involving his scene partner, Ari Zucker, who played Nicole Walker. By 2020, Greg publicly announced he was ending his run on DOOL, citing frustration over limited screen time and underdeveloped storylines. He explained that he and Ari Zucker weren’t being given material befitting their talent, essentially leaving him feeling like “a glorified extra” in others’ arcs.

Although DOOL wanted him to stay, Greg decided to move on. His intermittent appearances through late 2021 were primarily tied to storylines with Nicole, meaning that Ari Zucker’s eventual departure also reduced Eric’s presence in Salem’s forefront.

Victoria Connifal – Sierra Brady Weston

Victoria Connifal’s exit from DOOL was partly influenced by the global pandemic. Initially leaving in 2020 to pursue other projects, Victoria’s plans were disrupted by the industry-wide shutdown. While the show offered her a contract return, she declined full-time participation, stating that the soap no longer aligned with her artistic vision. Since then, her appearances have been limited to key events, such as family funerals and comas, keeping her mostly in the background.

Christian Alfonso & Peter Reckell – Hope & Bo Brady

Some exits hit fans hardest because they involved legacy characters. In 2015, Peter Reckell’s Bo Brady was written off with a terminal brain tumor—a storyline intended to accommodate the actor’s desire for a break. Though Salem has a history of resurrecting characters, Bo’s death devastated fans.

Five years later, Christian Alfonso announced her departure as Hope Brady, seeking to explore life beyond Salem. While she briefly returned for the Beyond Salem spinoff in 2022, the storyline eventually phased her back into sporadic appearances, solidifying her choice to focus on new chapters outside the soap.

Brandon Barash – Stefan DiMera / Jake Lambert

Brandon Barash’s tenure as Stefan and Jake Lambert was marred by abrupt firings. Initially stepping in after Tyler Christopher’s struggles with sobriety, Brandon seamlessly took over the role and earned fan approval. However, the writers’ decision to kill off Stefan, only to later resurrect him through a secret twin plot, created confusion and instability.

By October 2024, Brandon revealed he had been fired mid-contract for the second time. Frustrated by the lack of trust and clarity, he announced he would not return to the soap, citing repeated dismissals as a dealbreaker.

Drake Hogestyn – John Black

Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black for nearly 40 years, left the series due to a brave and private battle with pancreatic cancer. His final episode aired on September 9, 2024, though filming had ceased months earlier. Less than three weeks after the episode aired, Drake passed away on September 28, 2024. The show honored his legacy by employing a body double to complete his storyline posthumously, preserving his final moments on screen while paying tribute to his extraordinary career.

Ari Zucker – Nicole Walker

Perhaps the most contentious exit involved Ari Zucker. After speaking out against inappropriate behavior by executive producer Albert Allar, Ari was initially written out and later constructively fired during contract negotiations with lowball offers. Her ongoing lawsuit against Allar, Ken Corday, and Sony underscores the high-stakes conflict behind the scenes. Ari’s courage in advocating for herself and other actresses highlights the personal cost some performers face in the entertainment industry.

Conclusion

The exits of these stars from Days of Our Lives reveal a mix of personal choice, professional frustration, tragic illness, and systemic issues within the soap opera world. From the heartbreaking struggles of Tyler Christopher to Camila Banis’s quest for growth, Greg Vaughn’s pursuit of better storylines, and Ari Zucker’s fight against alleged misconduct, the lives of Salem’s stars often mirror the drama on screen—but with real-world consequences.

These departures remind us that behind every plot twist and cliffhanger, there are actors making difficult choices, confronting personal challenges, and sometimes enduring tragedy. Days of Our Lives continues to evolve, but the legacies of these performers remain etched in the hearts of viewers worldwide.

Stay tuned to Soap Dirt for all the latest updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and exclusive coverage of your favorite daytime dramas. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and more—you won’t want to miss a single moment of Salem’s ongoing story.