Fears as Days of Our Lives is beset by string of tragedies… leaving producers desperately scrambling to save iconic show

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It’s the family friendly daytime soap that has sucked in fans for 50-plus years.

Days of Our Lives is facing potential cancellation, and producers are worried about the health and eventual departure of its older actors.

Days of Our Lives, which premiered on NBC in 1965 and recently marked its 60th year, is known for its long-serving cast members – many have been with the show for three decades or more.

Even though these shows offer familiar faces for longtime viewers, the age of the actors is becoming a worry for those in charge.

A source at the network told the Daily Mail that losing popular characters inevitably leads to fewer viewers and lower ratings.

The show has recently lost several beloved actors. John Aniston, known for his role as Victor Kiriakis, passed away in 2022 at age 89. Last year, Bill Hayes (Doug Williams, age 98), Wayne Northrop (Detective Roman Brady, 77), and Drake Hogestyn (John Black, 70) also sadly passed away.

Recently, the daytime drama world has lost several beloved stars, including Peggy McKay, who played Caroline Brady, Joseph Mascolo, famous for his role as Stefano DiMera, and Frances Reid, who portrayed the family’s matriarch, Alice Horton.

Suzanne Rogers, a beloved actress on the show since 1973, recently shared that she was diagnosed with stage 2 colon cancer. After several months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she happily returned to filming this week.

According to an insider, when the soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives’ started, the Brady and Horton families were the central focus. Bo Brady, portrayed by Peter Reckell, and his wife, Hope Brady, played by Kristin Alfonso, both joined the show in 1993 and have appeared on and off ever since. Many viewers are disappointed that this popular couple isn’t featured more often.

Alison Sweeney and Bryan Dattilo, who both started with the show in 1993 as Sami Brady and Lucas Horton, are also central figures. The show connected their families in 1995 with the birth of their son, Will Horton. However, a source tells us that their storyline isn’t a major focus right now.

The show also lost Arianne Zucker, 51, who had played Nicole Walker for over twenty years. Her contract wasn’t renewed after she sued director and executive producer Albert Alarr, alleging sexual harassment and discrimination. She claimed he would often grab and tightly hug her, and intentionally pressed her breasts against his chest while saying, “Oh Ari!”

Alarr lost his job and they settled last month. He denied the allegations.

A number of viewers believe relocating the show to NBC’s Peacock streaming service in 2022 was a poor decision. While it remained one of Peacock’s most popular shows in 2024, the streaming format isn’t resonating with everyone.

One fan explained that while it’s easy to watch a whole season at once now, the fun of soap operas always came from watching each day’s episode and then discussing it with a friend – like calling them up and saying, ‘Did you see what happened today?’

Streaming shows can make it hard to talk about them with friends right away, because you might spoil the plot before they’ve had a chance to watch it themselves.

The show reliably ended each Friday on a suspenseful cliffhanger, making viewers eager to watch the continuation on Monday. This generated excitement and discussion. However, moving the show to Peacock significantly reduced that ability to build anticipation and create buzz.

For many long-time older fans, the added $10.99 – $16.99 a month is not within their budget.

One viewer shared that they started watching the show with their grandmother around age ten. However, now in their late seventies and on a fixed income, they can no longer afford the subscription.

Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford became the lead writers in July 2024, and their work began appearing on screen in April 2025. Fans generally like what they’ve produced, but the main issue now is securing funding.

Fans on Reddit are begging producers to invest more money in the show, pointing out that sets appear low-budget and cramped. They claim the show is cutting corners, using blankets to hide props instead of real babies and relying on stock photos for outdoor scenes. Actor Paul Telfer, who plays Xander Kiriakis, even revealed the floors are so dirty he sometimes has to hide his hands during scenes where his character is supposed to be active.

The network is pushing for a younger focus with new hires, as they believe attracting Gen Z and Millennial viewers is where the biggest financial gains will be.

A show representative confirmed they’re still prioritizing the original families, but also stressed the importance of adding new and younger cast members to appeal to a wider range of viewers.

We’re always looking for new actors, as the show is constantly changing. However, it’s always centered around a handful of core families, and there are plenty of stories to tell with their children and grandchildren. This gives us a cast that represents multiple generations.

We’re seeing interest from a wide range of ages – preteens, teenagers, and young adults, spanning multiple generations. And we expect that to continue without a doubt.

We’ve heard from a source that the show is trying to cast younger actors, and this has upset some longtime viewers.

From a branding perspective, I’ve always said it’s crucial to remember who your core audience is. What I’m seeing is a disconnect – fans really want to see the actors they’ve loved for years, the ones who built the show’s legacy. It feels like there’s been a shift towards newer, younger faces, and unfortunately, some of the original stars who really made the show popular haven’t been given the spotlight they deserve. It’s about honoring that history and maintaining a connection with the people who’ve been loyal from the start.

The show’s producers are in a difficult situation. They’ve renewed the long-running series for two more years and want to maintain their audience, but they’re facing challenges. With some of the older cast members passing away and advertisers seeking a younger viewership, it’s unclear if their current approach is the best one.

Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Days of Our Lives for comment. 

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2025-11-08 16:34