Days of our Lives Comings and Goings: Surprising Recasts and Returns

The new year will bring surprising recasts and returns to Days of our Lives. Find out who’s heading to the show this week or in the near future in contract, recurring, or day-player roles and if any of your favorite actors or actresses are leaving the Peacock soap. 

The Week of January 6, 2025

Two roles have been recast. Rachel Boyd will take over as Sophia Choi on February 12. Boyd’s credits include the movie Boot Camp and He’s Not Worth Dying For. She’ll replace Madelyn Kientz, who made her debut in 2024.

Finley Rose Slater is out as Rachel Black. Alice Halsey will make her premiere as Brady (Eric Martsolf) and Kristen’s (Stacy Haiduk) daughter on April 24.  

Meanwhile, two familiar faces will be back in Salem. Kim Coles appears as Whitley, the crazed nurse who kidnapped Abe (James Reynolds) on February 5. And Emily O’Brien resurfaces for another run as Gwen Rizczech on March 10.  

In addition, daytime vet Michael Dietz is joining the soap for a short story arc in April. Soap fans will remember Dietz for his portrayals of Alan-Michael Spaulding on Guiding Light, Joe Scanlon on Port Charles, and Mark Maclaine on The Bold and the Beautiful.

As for this week, Madelyn Kientz returns as Sophia. She airs on Wednesday, January 8 and Thursday, January 9 in scenes with Ashley Puzemis’ Holly and Leo Howard’s Tate. (See who is taking over the role of Sophia next month.)

Shi Ne Nielsen makes another appearance as Sophia’s mother, Amy Choi. She’ll share scenes with Eric Martsolf and Leo Howard on Tuesday, January 7.

Derek Yates pops back in as Kerry. He interacts with Al Calderon’s Javi on Tuesday, January 7.

Finley Rose Slater airs as Rachel on Wednesday, January 8. The precocious kid interacts with Stacy Haiduk’s Kristen and Tamara Braun’s Ava. (See when Slater is out as Rachel.)