Is Stefan leaving Days of Our Lives for good? Details explored

Days of Our Lives has been a staple of daytime television for nearly six decades, bringing viewers a mix of romance, intrigue, and family dynamics. It originally premiered in 1965, and since then, this iconic soap opera has been known for its complex storylines and memorable characters. One such character is Stefan DiMera, portrayed by Brandon Barash since 2019.

In Stefan’s final storyline, his mother Vivian Alamain plots against him, believing he’s a threat to her plans. Her henchman, Ivan Marais, drugs Stefan and leaves him unconscious, with plans to transport him away in the trunk of a car.

Yes, Stefan DiMera is leaving the daily soap for good. Barash shared in a recent interview that his departure is writers' decision. Whether this marks a permanent exit for Stefan from Days of Our Lives is not yet known.

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What happened to Stefan DiMera in his final scenes on Days of Our Lives?

Gabi Hernandez (played by Cherie Jimenez) and Stefan have had some kind of romantic relationship with her on-again, off-again kind of scenario going on for months now.

Last week, Stefan had conflicting feelings about his bond with Gabi. Bringing her flowers into the hospital room, he suggested wanting to save their marriage and start anew. But just when Stefan was poised to move on to a new chapter, his exit was set in motion by none other than his mother, Vivian Alamain, played by the scheming legend Louise Sorel, whose nefarious ways have led to more than one shocker.

In Monday's episode, set to air on October 28, the plot will finally hit the climax when Vivian's henchman, Ivan Marais, drugs Stefan DiMera and pushes him into a car trunk. Fans will keep guessing whether Stefan is indeed gone or simply left. Ivan drives off while the fate of Stefan cannot be known. This allows for recasting or maybe even a return if possible.

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Why is Brandon Barash leaving Days of Our Lives?

Brandon Barash, who plays Stefan on Days of Our Lives, recently spoke about being dismissed despite being under contract. He recalled his discussion with the show's team during an interview with Soaps.com on October 18, 2024 and shared that it came as a "surprise" to him.

Barash added that he was called in to see executive producer Janet Drucker to inform him about the show's intention to "write off" his character.

"I knew exactly what was happening as soon as I was called up to [the boss’] office," Barash said.

He continued:

“And she said, ‘Look, this is not my doing. I don’t like it. And this is no reflection on you or your abilities. You’re very talented. We know your work ethic is very high, but it’s just where we’re deciding to take the character.'”

It happened at a time when Barash had just shot what he called a "bittersweet" scene with Jimenez, feeling pretty good about where his character's arc was going. Barash added that he was disappointed despite having an ongoing contract with the show.

He further mentioned that his professional life is like marriage because mutual trust is essential. According to him, this is the second time he is being let go from Days of Our Lives.

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Will Brandon Barash return as Stefan DiMera?

Although Barash said that he's not comfortable returning to the soap, he didn't totally rule out the possibility. In speaking candidly about his exit, he stated that it felt he didn't belong there.

In the same interview with Soaps.com, he said:

“Of course, the ego is like, ‘Oh, OK, that hurt.'"

Barash continued:

“But I walked out of the office equal parts shocked and excited about what was around the corner.”

In a concluding statement, he mentioned that for him to possibly come back, the storyline and contract would have to be "very, very right."

Fans have started speculating if Barash would have been more receptive to returning if new writers had come aboard with an interesting storyline. For now, it seems Stefan DiMera will not be part of the show.

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Interested viewers can catch the episodes of Days of Our Lives on Peacock every weekday.