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Conner Floyd
as Chad Dimera April 2026
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NewsPatrick Muldoon Dies at 57
Actor Patrick Muldoon, who rose to soap fame when he originated the role of Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives, passed away on April 19 at the age of 57. Deadline was first to report the sad news of the actor’s death, which was caused by a heart attack.
In MemoriamMuldoon was born in San Pedro, California and played football at USC. While still an undergrad, he launched his acting career, making his TV debut in 1990 with a two-episode stint on Who’s the Boss? In 1991, he appeared on three episodes of Saved By the Bell. It was the following year, in 1992, that Muldoon landed the pivotal role of Austin on DAYS. “It was a big cattle call,” he recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2015 of the audition process. “For me, it was simply another audition. I screen-tested with Tracy Middendorf, who was playing Carrie. The main thing I remember is that after we got done, I saw Fran [De Simone], who was our stage manager, mouthing to someone else, ‘No. 4.’ I was No. 4, so I felt really good about that.” During Muldoon’s three years in the role, Austin was at the center of a landmark triangle with Carrie Brady (briefly Middendorf, then Christie Clark) and her scheming sister, Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney). A few months after Muldoon made his first Salem appearance, Lisa Rinna debuted as his on-screen sister, Billie Reed. The actor left the show in 1995 and went on to a recurring role on Melrose Place, villainous Richard Hart, for two seasosn. In 1997, he appeared in the movie Starship Troopers. Austin was recast with Austin Peck, but in 2011, Muldoon returned to DAYS to reprise Austin. “It felt like coming home to family,” he told Digest. He exited again in 2012. In recent years, Muldoon had become a prolific producer. At the time of his death, he was working on the upcoming Chris Hemsworth film Kockroach. In his final Instagram post, posted the day before his death, Muldoon wrote, “So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia Source: Soap Opera Digest CAST SHAKEUP: 4 CAST MEMBERS LET GO
2026 is kicking off in dramatic fashion behind the scenes at Days of Our Lives, where a major cast shakeup is underway. Soap Opera Digest can confirm the news, first reported by The Daily Mail, that the show is saying good-bye to four contract players.
Exit StrategyThe four actors who will be leaving the show are Carson Boatman (Johnny), Raven Bowens (Chanel), Ashley Puzemis (Holly) and Leo Howard (Tate), who returned from the show’s holiday hiatus to the news of their firing. As a result, fans should brace themselves to lose two popular couplings: Johnny and Chanel, Tate and Holly. But, due to the show’s advance production schedule, the departures of the stars won’t take place on-screen until late 2026 or early 2027. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for DAYS shared, “While we don’t comment on individual contracts or casting decisions, we have tremendous respect and appreciation for the actors who bring these characters to life. What may seem sudden is part of long-range storytelling decisions. Our goal is to balance the show’s rich history with where we’re headed creatively. Due to our long tape-to-air gap, any changes won’t be on screen for some time.”Of the four actors, Bowens has the longest tenure on the show, having made her debut as Chanel in March 2021 after she was tapped to succeed the role of Paulina’s (Jackée Harry) daughter from Precious Way. Boatman joined the Salem ranks shortly thereafter, with his first episode as the son of Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) airing on August 18, 2021. Puzemis has played Nicole’s (Arianne Zucker) daughter, Holly, since October 2023, and in April 2024, Leo Howard debuted as Brady’s (Eric Martsolf) son, assuming the part from Jamie Martin Mann. Johnny, Holly and Tate are all legacy characters who were born on-screen and rapidly aged. Bowens and Boatman’s on-screen love story as Chanel and Johnny is a popular one. The characters were first married in 2021, and after a split, they tied the knot again on Valentine’s Day in 2024. Since then, they have expanded their family to include adopted son Trey, and the duo recently learned that Chanel is pregnant. Meanwhile, Holly and Tate have emerged as the show’s most popular young lovebirds. They were first paired in 2023, surviving obstacles ranging from Holly’s overdose to the manipulations of Sophia (Rachel Boyd), who convinced Tate that he was the father of her baby boy. There is no word yet on how the characters will be written out, but viewers can expect dramatic storylines for all four in the many months leading up to their departures. SOURCE: SOAP OPERA DIGEST DAYS IS RENEWED FOR SEASONS 62 & 63 ON PEACOCK
Peacock has renewed “Days of our Lives” for two additional seasons, the streaming service announced on Thursday. The deal keeps the long-running series in production through at least Season 63, or the 2027-2028 television season.
BILLY FLYNN LEAVES DAYS FOR Y&R
Billy Flynn is leaving Days of Our Lives.
The actor who first joined the Peacock sudser in 2014 to play Chad DiMera is moving to CBS’ The Young and the Restless in a new role. He will debut sometime this spring on the daytime drama. Flynn developed a big following because of his romance with the character Abigail Deveraux (played by Kate Mansi and Marci Miller). His final episode of DOOL is expected to air in early 2026. Deadline understands Flynn’s departure is amicable. “I am grateful for my years at Days. It changed my life in the best ways,” Flynn told TV Insider, which first broke the news about his departure. “I’ve always said these stories we tell are like doing a play, and I’ve spent the last 10-plus years playing this amazing character and telling one of the all-time great love stories. And now I’m excited for this opportunity and to test myself in a new way.” Flynn also starred in the Peacock spinoffs Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem and Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas. He earned three Daytime Emmy noms for his work on the Peacock sudser. “We support Billy as an actor and friend, and wish him nothing but continued success and happiness, personally and professionally,” said DOOL EP Ken Corday to TV Insider. “He will certainly be missed in Salem.” Days ' Co-Executive Producer Janet Drucker Retiring
Janet Drucker, Co-Executive Producer of Days Of Our Lives, has announced her retirement after more than four decades with the show. Her final day will be May 2. Senior Producer Noel Maxam will step into the co-exec producer role.
Drucker began her career with DOOL as a production associate. Her contributions have resulted in 15 Daytime Emmy nominations and three wins for Outstanding Drama for the daytime sudser. She is only the fourth woman to hold the title of Co-Executive Producer in the show’s history. Maxam, a multi-Daytime Emmy-winning director, began his daytime career as a writer on As The World Turns in 1995. He went on to serve as a producer/director on The Young and the Restless, where he worked for many years. He moved to Days of our Lives in 2008 and from 2011-2012 served as co-executive producer. "Janet began her career with us as a production associate and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming an integral part of our leadership team,” said Executive Producer Ken Corday. “She has been a guiding presence behind the scenes, and her positive influence has left a lasting legacy. We thank her deeply for her dedication, talent, and heart. Noel brings with him an exceptional blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and leadership experience. His deep understanding of the genre and steady hand behind the scenes make him the ideal choice to help lead us forward,” Corday added. "It has been an honor and the pleasure of a lifetime to make my mark in Salem over the past 41 years,” said Drucker. “I will forever consider this show and everyone involved my second home, but it is time for me to focus on my family." Latest Photo Updates |