Dark Secrets Of The Days Of Our Lives Cast

As of this writing, actor Casey Moss has only five credits listed on his IMDb, and of those credits, "Days of Our Lives" is by far the most noteworthy. Moss has appeared in over a whopping 600 episodes of the show, beginning in 2013 when he was only 19. His character, J.J. Devereaux, has been played by multiple actors, but Moss was the first adult to take on the role after the character was aged up — a term for when characters rapidly age from childhood to adulthood, messing with their birthdate and timeline. Moss has left the show numerous times (per Soaps.com) but most recently popped back up for a multi-episode stint in the summer of 2022.

On-screen, Moss has been praised for his work as a young actor and was even nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on "Days of Our Lives" in 2018. His offscreen life has not been as smooth, as the actor was arrested in 2015 after a particularly nasty night out in Scottsdale, Arizona. Per The Republic, Moss drunkenly got into a fight with a bartender at a W Hotel, and he needed to be restrained after he reportedly pushed a hotel staffer. He also tried to punch the bartender and missed, but the most embarrassing part of the story is probably that he called out his acting credits when officers asked his name. "I'm Casey Moss, and I'm an actor on 'Days of Our Lives'," he said, as if that mattered.

By the time Brenda Benet died in her mid-30s, she had already established herself as a prominent daytime star. She appeared on 298 episodes of "Days of Our Lives" between 1978 and 1982, starring as Lee DuMonde Carmichael Williams. She would likely have continued playing the villain if not for her death by suicide (via We Love Soaps), as she was still on the show at the time. Her character was not popular with fans, but villains are, of course, necessary for any soap opera to function.

Benet had famously been married to Bill Bixby, of "My Favorite Martian" and "The Incredible Hulk." Their only child, Christopher was only six years old when he died on a family vacation in 1981. According to reports from the time, Christopher and his mother were at Mammoth Ski Resort when he suffered acute epiglotitis, which required a tracheotomy that led him into a coma and then cardiac arrest (via UPI). Evidently, the pain of losing her son was too much for Benet, and she killed herself the following year.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

This story reads much like — well, a plot from a soap opera — but it is very much the truth. In June 2022, ex-actor Leigh Ann Bauman was arrested after authorities alleged she had paid a hitman $1,500 to take out her mother-in-law (per The Sun). The case has not yet progressed through the courts as of this writing, but it's a damaging accusation that will no doubt impact Bauman's life going forward, even if she is cleared of all charges. It was Bauman's former friend that allegedly tipped off the police, leading to her conspiracy to commit murder charge.

Bauman is now a realtor in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, but was once an actor. She has no active IMDb page, but many credible news outlets such as People have reported that she was on "Days of Our Lives" in the past. Her character may not have been substantial enough to be given a name, but the story is too dark and twisted not to include on our list. In fact, we urge "DOOL" to now write about a cheer mom/realtor who pays a very minimal amount to have her children's grandmother killed, allegedly believing that she can "ask for forgiveness" even though her deeds go against her Christian faith (per The Sun).

Alison Sweeney is one of "Days of Our Lives" most notable stars, not only because of her long history on the soap, but also because of her many Hallmark movies and especially her hosting duties for "The Biggest Loser," which she hosted from 2006 to 2015. The show was an interesting choice for Sweeney, who herself has struggled with her weight. Many have been critical of "The Big Loser" format, its exploitation of contestants, and its promotion of unhealthy weight loss — none of which deterred Sweeney from participating.

Sweeney has described nuggets of her eating disorder, such as when she told the Los Angeles Times that she often judged herself by how well she could restrict her eating. "I was so regimented for so many years with my eating. If I was sticking to my diet, I was good; if I wasn't, I was a failure. But it was that approach that was setting me up for failure. I really had to change my mind-set," she said. 

Notably, Sweeney's "Days of Our Lives" character Sami Brady also suffered from an eating disorder (bulimia) at one point. Between 1987 and the present day, Sweeney has appeared as Sami in over 3,500 episodes, and being on screen for much of her life has no doubt contributed to Sweeney's body and eating issues. "I've been on 'Days' since I was 16, and being surrounded by such thin, gorgeous actresses made me so insecure and self-conscious," she once told Daily Mail.

If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).

Freddie Smith played Sonny Kiriakis on "Days of Our Lives" from 2011 to 2020, with only one small break from 2015 to 2016. His character appeared in 864 episodes over that course of time, and it was also historically important. Sonny was "DOOL's" first gay contract role, per Entertainment Weekly, and a sign that the soap was ready for change. Smith received two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for the role, winning one in 2015.

Smith's past is not all sunshine and roses, however. In 2014, the popular daytime actor crashed his car while driving with his then-girlfriend Alyssa Tabit. Tabit was badly injured, and Smith was found to have been under the influence of alcohol (and speeding) at the time of the crash. Smith pleaded guilty to vehicular assault and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, per Star Beacon. He narrowly avoided jail time, Tabit recovered, and the pair got married. They now host the podcast "The Freddie & Alyssa Show." Smith has not acted since leaving "Days of Our Lives," and since Sonny is now being played by another actor (Zach Tinker), a return seems unlikely.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Cody Longo's dark history may be incredibly triggering, so we want to give you an extra warning here. Longo is an actor with a considerable amount of credits under his belt, including the television series "Hollywood Heights" and guest stints on everything from "Nashville" to "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." The actor starred on "Days of Our Lives" from 2011 to 2012, where he played Nicholas Alamain in 80 episodes of the soap. He somehow has three active projects listed on his IMDb, but given how the rest of his story goes, we cannot imagine those will get made with him in the cast.

Longo's first brush with the law occurred in November 2020, when he was arrested in Tennessee after a fight with his wife. The drunken brawl became physical, and Longo was booked on a domestic assault charge (per Page Six). According to the Daily Mail, Longo pushed his wife in the face after accusing her of cheating on him. Things took an even more sickening turn a week later when Longo was charged with sexual assault of a minor, reported to be a nine-year-old female (per Clarksville Now). These charges stem from a 2019 visit to Colorado in which Longo allegedly molested the young girl. Per Clarksville Now, Longo took a plea deal in early 2021, which allowed him to get off on a misdemeanor assault charge versus a felony sex charge.

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Steve Burton's recent scandal just goes to show that the lives of soap stars are sometimes as messy and outrageous as those of their characters. Burton made the news in July 2022 after filing for divorce from his wife, Sheree Gustin, after nearly 23 years of marriage (per The Sun). This in itself would not be huge news, if not for the small detail that Gustin is expecting another man's child. "Sheree and I are separated," Burton posted online a few months before, in May. "She recently announced that she's expected her 4th child. The child is not mine. We are still co-parenting our three beautiful kids" (the story was captured by The Sun).

Aside from posting many, many shirtless and workout photos on his Instagram, Burton also acts — something he has been doing since 1986. Burton is a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner (with another seven nominations under his belt), and he is best known for playing Jason Morgan on nearly 2,300 episodes of "General Hospital" between 1992 and 2021. Burton also played Dylan McAvoy on "The Young and the Restless" for four years (from 2013 – 2017), and has branched out of daytime on occasion as well. As for "Days of Our Lives," Burton first appeared as Harris Michaels in 12 episodes back in 1988. Recently, he reprised this role for the five-episode miniseries "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem," which aired in summer 2022.

Amy Yasbeck has had a varied enough career that you might know her from any number of things. She has been on primetime shows like "Wings," and appeared in small parts in big movies like "Pretty Woman" and "The Mask." Amongst her dozens of acting credits is the role of Olivia Reed on "Days of Our Lives," which Yasbeck inhabited for 31 episodes in 1987. Beyond her career, Yasbeck's name may seem familiar because of her marriage to TV legend John Ritter.

Ritter and Yasbeck met when they starred in the film "Problem Child," and the two were married for four years when Ritter unexpectedly died in September 2003. According to Today, Ritter died from "an undetected aortic dissection" while on the set of his hit show, "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter." Yasbeck then went on to sue two of Ritter's doctors for wrongful death, asking for $67 million in restitution. Per People, she lost this case in March 2008, when both doctors were cleared of all wrongdoing. She (and Ritter's family) still got $14 million in settlements from other sources, such as the hospital, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, which she also sued.

Nowadays, Kirsten Storms is very much associated with "General Hospital," where she has appeared as Maxie Jones in nearly 1,500 episodes since 2005. She has also appeared in fare like "Kim Possible" and "Clubhouse," but for many daytime fans, she is still Belle Black from "Days of Our Lives." Storms played Belle from 1999 to 2004, appearing in 779 episodes of the show and establishing Belle as a major character. Martha Madison now plays the character, but Storms is the first actor to have played her after she was rapidly aged.

After her time on "DOOL," Storms ran into some issues with the law when she was arrested for driving under the influence. Per People, the then-23-year-old actor was pulled over in 2007 after littering (she threw a cigarette out of her car window) and proceeded to fail a sobriety test. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Storms was sentenced to 90 days of Alcoholics Anonymous and a small fine, as well as three years of probation. Given that she has steered clear of trouble ever since, Storms seems to have learned her lesson — though she is lucky that no one was hurt due to her lack of judgment.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Jay Robinson had 76 acting credits when he died in 2013, and so "Days of Our Lives" is just one of his many endeavors. Robinson appeared as Monty Dolan in 50 episodes of the soap opera back in 1988 and 1989, when he was well into his 50s. In fact, he remained working up until 1998, despite a dark past that at one time threatened his career. And sure, we will never know what trajectory he would have taken had he not been arrested, but he certainly turned his life around from where it was. A household name he was not, but it could have gone a lot worse.

"I remember in 1967 while I was in prison the television premiere of 'The Robe' came up," he told The Washington Post. "I had $10 to my name. I went to the warden and asked for permission to see the movie. He said 'why?' and I said, because I'm the star of it. He said he didn't think he'd ever had such an unusual request. I was allowed to watch it, and I determined then to fight my way back to success." Robinson's imprisonment was due to an addiction to drugs that led to charges for possessing heroin. In his Los Angeles Times obituary, it is explained that Robison was first arrested in 1959, and that his later imprisonment was for "failing to appear for a retrial of his original case."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

John de Lancie has almost 200 acting credits on his IMDb (as of this writing), but is perhaps most associated with the role of Q, which he has played in a variety of "Star Trek" projects including "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek Picard." That is not to say that he has not done other notable work, like the years he spent playing Eugene Bradford on "Days of Our Lives." Between 1982 and 1990, de Lancie appeared in 518 episodes of "DOOL," twice winning Soap Opera Digest Awards for his work.

In recent years, de Lancie has bravely spoken about his struggle with dyslexia, which negatively impacted his experiences in school at a time when learning disabilities were far less openly discussed. "I ended up flunking out of a couple of schools," he admitted to the Dyslexic Advantage, where he also noted that people called him "slow" for years. "The last school I went to, they said 'Oh, no, no, we think he's dyslexic,' but nobody really knew what to do with that. I probably was 14 by that time." The amazing part of the story is that, though he only learned to read at age 12, de Lancie was able to attend the Juilliard School and establish himself as a successful actor.

Dylan Patton began his acting career in 2005, just around the time that he reached his teen years. In 2009, he was cast as Will Horton (also known as Will Roberts) on "Days of Our Lives," and he appeared on the show until 2010. The role was then recast with Chandler Massey, the actor who is most prominently associated with Will. Like far too many child and teen stars, Patton's life took a turn for the worse once he was off the show.

In 2013, Patton was arrested in Agoura Hills, California, after allegedly selling cocaine near an elementary school (via E! News). According to TMZ, the arrest occurred at the actor's home after an undercover cop went in and successfully purchased drugs. Patton was sentenced to three years probation (per Patch) and seems to have left acting altogether (he has had no credits since 2013). Patton was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award during his time on "DOOL," and it is a shame that he never got to fulfill his promise as an adult actor.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

So few celebrities, particularly male celebrities, speak up about mental health issues, and it is a noteworthy thing when anyone in the public eye shares their personal health diagnoses. Actor Casey Deidrick is also supermodel handsome, with a perfectly sculpted beard and a bodacious arm filled with tattoos, so he may not be the type of man you associate with vulnerability and the sharing of feelings. And yet, Deidrick has been an outspoken mental health advocate, sharing his own struggles with bipolar disorder when he was interviewed for A Book Of in 2019.

"I view acting not as a job but a way for me to process and cope with my bipolar disorder and childhood traumas I faced as a child," he said in the interview. "Acting for me is a lot like jumping out of an airplane and gives me the freedom to be who I want to be. I'm just never satisfied, and I am always growing and learning as a person. I've always been a very emotional person and through acting I've learned to control it." When it comes to acting, Deidrick had one of his first roles on "Days of Our Lives," where he played Chad DiMera from 2009 until 2013. He most recently starred in "In the Dark," a CW drama that ran for four seasons up until summer 2022.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

Tamara Braun is a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner (and four-time nominee) who has a long history in daytime television. She started her acting career in 1997, and by 2001, was appearing as Carly Corinthos on "General Hospital." She later played a second character on the show, Dr. Kim Nero, and also appeared in 81 episodes of "All My Children" in 2008 and 2009. On "Days of Our Lives," Braun plays Ava Vitali, a role she began in 2008, reprised in 2015-2016, and reprised again as of 2020 (she is currently in the role).

Despite her glamorous life as a successful Hollywood star, Braun has expressed a history of trauma and a struggle with her mental health. She posted about these issues on her Instagram in August 2021, alongside a flashback photo of her younger self. "This young woman. I look at her now and appreciate her struggles, her dreams, her heartache, her beauty," she wrote. "The voices in her head weren't always kind to her and what she was dealing with back then. She thought her trauma defined her and she was damaged goods." Though Braun did not elaborate on her trauma, it was a powerful message that was repeated on many soap opera news sites.

If you or someone you know needs help with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.