It’s been reported that Kristian Alfonso (Joshua Tree, Falcon Crest) will be leaving the long-running and beloved daytime drama Days Of Our Lives, according to Deadline. The series initially aired in 1965, now having aired 55 seasons. It is set in the fictional town of Salem, following the lives of the families that live there: the Hortons, Kiriakis, Hernandezes, and DiMeras. The show encompasses all their family drama, including love triangles, switched identities, custody battles, and murder investigations. Alongside Alfonso, the soap also features Deidre Hall (Our House), Drake Hogestyn (Generation), Suzanne Rogers (Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story), Melissa Reeves (Summer Camp Nightmare, Santa Barbara), Chandler Massey (16-Love), John Aniston (Search For Tomorrow), and Alison Sweeney (Chronicle Mysteries).
Alfonso has played Hope Williams Brady on the show since 1983, with two short breaks. Her role eventually earned her a Daytime Emmy Award nomination. Her character married Bo Brady, played by Peter Reckell (Street Dreams); she left the show and returned briefly in 1987, then returned once again from April to July 1990. These absences caused the entire town to be led to believe that Hope had died. However, in 1994 Alfonso returned to the show as Gina, an amnesiac who bars a striking resemblance to Hope. As it turns out, Alfonso had actually reprised her character as Hope; It was later discovered that the evil Stefano DiMera, played by Joseph Mascolo (Jaws 2), had brainwashed Gina into thinking she was Princess Gina Von Amberg. This eventually led to his death by Hope.
In a statement to Deadline, she says, “I feel blessed and honored to have been invited into people’s homes for over three decades. However, it is now time for me to write my next chapter.” Just this past week, it was announced that Days Of Our Lives has officially set date for their production restart following the industry-wide shutdown due to the novel coronavirus. In another statement, Alfonso reports, “I will not be returning to Days when it resumes production in September. I’ve already filmed my last episode several months ago.”
Days Of Our Lives was renewed in January for 56th season and will resume production starting on September 1. Alfonso’s official statement to her fans was made on Instagram, which can be read below.