Stephen Schnetzer Reveals What It’s Like to Revive Steve Olson On Days of Our Lives After Decades

There’s another Steve on Days of Our Lives. No, it’s not a clone of Steve Johnson or someone wearing a Steve mask. It’s Steve Olson, who was played by Stephen Schnetzer from 1978 to 1979. His short run was memorable as Julie’s younger brother who always caused some kind of trouble, and he left Salem when his crimes started catching up to him. Schnetzer recently reprised his role so Steve could attend Doug’s funeral, and the actor explained what it was like to get back into the part.

He’s a Charming Rogue

Schnetzer told TV Insider that returning to play Steve after 46 years had passed was like riding a bicycle, and it all came back to him. He explained his character as “A charming rogue, a schmoozer, a charmer, a manipulator,” and added, “but there was a heart there, and the heart showed up in the relationship with Susan’s character, Julie [Susan Seaforth Hayes].” The character re-entered Susan’s life by climbing up to her bedroom and entering through the window as they had done as kids. (Find out how Julie honored Doug [Bill Hayes] at his funeral.)

Schnetzer was honored to be asked back and raved about working with his on-screen sister again: “It was so sweet to work with Susan again, and I really love that they gave me a couple of interesting episodes to play.” Transitioning from a theater background to a daytime serial was a huge learning curve for him back then, but when he knew he was returning, he contacted Hayes and, “Reminded her how important she and Bill were to me.”

Will He Stay in Salem?

Schnetzer was used to projecting his voice for a loud auditorium and admitted that it was hard to break that habit when he was in front of the camera. Of course, Seaforth Hayes was kind and friendly to him during his original run on the soap, and he remarked, “That didn’t change when I returned.” He also praised the writers for summoning several characters from the past who were important in Bill’s life…a move that he greatly respected.

Steve told Julie he was a changed man and reformed his grifter ways. Schnetzer commented that his recent appearance will have fans and other characters suspecting he may not be as reformed as he stated. But without giving any spoilers away, he remarked, “Julie will remain steadfast in her feeling about his integrity.” (Check Schnetzer’s reminiscing about other soaps he’s been in.)