Days of Our Lives Villain Orpheus – A Man With a Deadly Past

While many Days of Our Lives fans know all about Clyde (James Read) and Xander (Paul Telfer), since their spread through Salem just last year, there are many who are confused about the third escaped inmate.

After all, Orpheus was a character who wreaked havoc on the good people of Salem about 30 years ago. Many Days of Our Lives viewers weren’t even alive at the time. So let’s take a stroll down memory lane and figure out why people like John (Drake Hogestyn) and Roman (Josh Taylor) are so shocked to see him.

In The Beginning
Roman Brady used to work for the spy agency, the ISA. While there, he was partnered with Orpheus. When Orpheus’s Roman accidentally shot and killed Orpheus’s wife, he went lost his mind and craved revenge. In retaliation, he decided to kidnap Marlena (Deidre Hall). Bo (Peter Reckell), Hope (Kristian Alfonso), Steve (Stephen Nichols), Kayla (Mary Beth Evans) and Shane (Charles Shaughnessy) joined Roman (really John Black at this point, but that’s another story) to find Marlena, but the ISA had already rescued her in Sweden – which only made Orpheus hungrier for more revenge.

At one point, Orpheus was partnered with Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston), but Orpheus double-crossed him. A while later, he made it look like the good doctor had been killed when her house blew up as a devastated Roman watched. In truth, he had Marlena as his prisoner on an island – raising his kids! She agreed to do it in exchange for him allowing her loved ones to live.

Island Living
Orpheus’s wife’s sister, Olivia, sought vengeance for her sister’s death and ended up leading Roman to the island. Orpheus told Roman he was too late – she was on a plane. Roman rushed to the airport and watched helplessly as the plane exploded, but no body was ever found (of course not, since she was alive!). The two men fought and Olivia, who had fallen for Roman, took a bullet meant for him. Roman then “killed” Orpheus…but since he’s now alive, we know that to not be true.

Soap Hub hopes we cleared up any confusion and you can continue watching this villainous trio without scratching your heads.