Days of Our Lives has fired four actors following a holiday hiatus, while announcing five major recasts set to debut in spring 2026. The changes involve key characters like Johnny DiMera and Chanel Dupree, potentially altering ongoing storylines. This marks the largest casting upheaval since a 2023 controversy.
Days of Our Lives, the long-running NBC Peacock soap opera, is experiencing significant behind-the-scenes turbulence with four abrupt firings and five upcoming recasts. The firings occurred after the production returned from its Christmas and New Year's break, echoing the scale of the March 2023 dismissals under former executive producer Albert Alarr, which affected actors including Arianne Zucker and Camila Banus.
The dismissed actors are Carson Boatman, who portrays Johnny DiMera; Raven Bowens, playing Chanel Dupree; Leo Howard as Tate Black; and Ashley Puzemis as Holly Jonas. These characters, including the new parents Johnny and Chanel, and the teen couple Tate and Holly, are expected to exit the show around late 2026 due to the nine-to-ten-month tape-to-air delay. Potential storylines for their departures include dramatic scenarios such as Chanel's high-risk pregnancy complications or a family move to Hollywood, though no official plots have been confirmed.
On the recasting front, Billy Flynn is exiting his role as Chad DiMera, with his final episodes airing soon after he began filming on The Young and the Restless in May 2025. Connor Floyd will debut as the new Chad on April 21, 2026, following a brief gap. Other changes include a recast for Thomas DiMera after Christopher Cary's departure in April 2026 for an Amazon series; Alice Halsey leaving Rachel Black early in 2026 for a lead role in the Little House on the Prairie reboot; Al Calderon exiting Javi Hernandez in May 2026 for the NBC drama Brilliant Minds, with a replacement in late May or early summer; and Marissa Reyes departing Arianna Horton in March 2026, succeeded by an unnamed actor in April.
These shifts coincide with executive producer changes at the soap, which may influence future directions. No recasts have been announced for the fired roles, highlighting Days of Our Lives' history of revolving door casting.
