‘Days of Our Lives’ Comings and Goings: Marla Gibbs Enters as Several Cast Members Exit

Days of Our Lives has always had a rotating cast of characters. But this week, several cast members have announced they’ll be making their exit from the show. This announcement comes hot on the heels of the return of a legendary actress to daytime television.

Marla Gibbs finally arrives on ‘Days of Our Lives’

Fans of Days of Our Lives were thrilled when it was announced that Marla Gibbs would be joining the cast. Gibbs will be portraying Olivia Price, Paulina’s take-no-guff mother. The role reunites Gibbs with her onetime 227 co-star, Jackée Harry.

This is the week that Gibbs finally makes her debut, and fans couldn’t be more excited. Ron Carlivati previously said that Gibbs’ character will shake up the show.

“This is the mother that takes no guff from her daughter,” he said. “Olivia has basically come to town like, ‘What are you doing here? You never should have come here. We made an agreement years ago and you broke it.’ She comes to school her. It’s great to see Paulina on the other end of it for once.”

Melissa Reeves is back on the canvas

Melissa Reeves is one of the more controversial Days of Our Lives characters. According to Soaps @ SheKnows, Reeves came under fire back in September 2020 when she was caught “liking” a bunch of anti-Black Lives Matter posts. Then, when production shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reeves chose to quarantine with her family in Tennessee rather than return to New York for filming.

But now, according to SoapHub, it’s been confirmed that Melissa Reeves will be returning to Salem as Jennifer Horton Deveraux. The outlet reports that Reeves’ return will be during the holiday season.

Cady McClain has been playing Jennifer since Reeves has been in Tennessee.

Other ‘DOOL’ comings and goings

Sadly, however, there are several cast members who are leaving Days of Our Lives.

Isabel Durant and Cameron Johnson are leaving the show, which means that Claire Brady and Theo Carver’s storylines will be wrapped up for now. Durant had been playing Claire since 2020.

And while Aaron and Griffin Kunitz will no longer be playing Johnny DiMera, Carson Boatman will be assuming the role of an all-grown-up Johnny later this season.