Conner Floyd’s arrival as Chad on Days of our Lives came with the usual pressure of stepping into a long-running role, but the way he got there was anything but routine. What started as a delayed flight and a conversation with a stranger turned into an audition, and eventually, the job. It’s the kind of story that sounds made up until you hear him walk through it, piece by piece, and realize it really did come together that way.
Key Takeaways
- Floyd landed the Chad role after meeting casting director Marnie Saitta on a delayed flight.
- The timing aligned as Billy Flynn exited and Floyd came off contract at Y&R.
- Floyd joked about nearly losing his engagement ring during the key conversation.
- Floyd praised the show’s collaborative environment and cast dynamic.
- He views Chad as trying to separate himself from Stefano’s legacy.
A Flight Delay That Changed Everything
Floyd spoke to The Soap Scene and didn’t try to make it a bigger deal than it was. “I got on a plane to Boston to go propose to my now-wife,” he said, before explaining how delays turned the trip into a 12-hour process. Somewhere in the middle of that, he struck up a conversation with the woman seated next to him, who turned out to be DAYS casting director, Marnie Saitta.
“I had just been taken off contract [at Y&R], and Billy had just decided he was going to leave,” Floyd said, noting how the timing lined up. “And so when we left it, Marnie was like, I’m going to call you.” She did, and now he’s officially playing Chad.
There was also the small matter of a missing engagement ring. “I was trying to have this conversation with Marnie that was very professional and focused,” he said. “But I was also scared to death that I had lost the ring,” he hilariously added. It eventually turned up, but by then, he’d already made the impression that led to the audition.
Settling Into Chad And The Show
Once he got to Salem, the adjustment came quickly. “One thing I learned pretty quickly over here is the pace is a lot faster than Y&R,” Floyd said. “As soon as you walk through those doors, it’s game time.”
He also found the set more open than he expected. He fully appreciated the collaborative atmosphere in his new studio, explaining that ideas and adjustments are welcomed once scenes are in motion. That approach carried into his work with Greg Rikaart (Leo), where he said he really enjoys the dynamic between the two characters.
As for Chad himself, Floyd sees a character trying to sort out where he fits. “Chad has just come back to town, and it’s kind of a circus,” he said, before adding, “I think Chad’s M.O. is just to try to do exactly the opposite of what Stefano would do.” For now, that means keeping his focus narrow, even if the story around him is anything but.
