Days of Our Lives has Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) looking back at her time in Salem as Deidre Hall celebrates her 50th anniversary on the NBC soap. This week, her first air date on Days of Our Lives was June 21st, 1976. Can you believe that?
And just a fun side note, the other two current longest-running soap stars are also on Days. Susan Seaforth Hayes has been playing Julie Williams for 58 years off and on. And Suzanne Rogers has been playing Maggie Horton for about 53 years. These are all impressive tenures as soap actors.
And this week we’ve got Marlena looking through a photo album with her and John Black on the cover. His son Paul Narita (Christopher Sean) has come back to Salem this week and he surprises Marlena. If you’ve seen the recent episodes, you know this. And then Belle Black (Martha Madison) shows up too and Marlena says she’s taking a little stroll down memory lane and Belle wants to come along for the ride.
Days of Our Lives: Marlena’s Rise as a Salem Icon (1976-1986)
So, I thought we should take a stroll down memory lane, too. Let’s take a look at some favorite Marlena moments that Days of Our Lives fans have treasured. Starting when Deidre Hall first came on and lasting a decade from 1976 to 1986 was what we’ll call Marlena’s rise as a Salem icon. Marlena Evans came to town as a psychiatrist in June of 1976. She was treating Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at the time and Marlena quickly got entangled with Don Craig (Jed Allan). They were briefly married and she got pregnant and gave birth to but then lost her firstborn son.
And fans may also recall that during her early years on the show, Marlena was also stalked by the Salem Strangler. And she also met and married Roman Brady (Josh Taylor). Roman had been protecting her and they fell madly in love. And then Marlena turned up pregnant with their twins, Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney). But during Marlena’s first decade in Salem, Roman was presumed dead due to Stefano DiMera’s (Joseph Mascolo) interference.
Next, Marlena fell in love with amnesiac John Black, who later thought that he was Roman. The early to mid-80s in Salem was a really dramatic time for Marlena with a horrific window fall, a coma. And a presumed plane crash that led to her exit.
Days of Our Lives: Dramatic Returns and Supernatural Terror (1987-1996)
The next decade for Deidre Hall on Days from 1987 to 1996 was a time of dramatic returns, epic love, and supernatural terror. Because the late 80s to mid-90s was some of the craziest times in Salem. Wilder than many modern soap opera watchers have seen. After Marlena survived the coma and being held captive by Stefano, she returned to an emotional, poignant encounter with John Black.
But this is when the whole love triangle between John and Roman started after it was discovered that the true Roman Brady was still alive. The connection between Marlena and John, though proved to be stronger. Because Marlena and John had a passionate affair. This was while she was still married to Roman. And teenager Sami Brady caught them in the act. And that was when her little sister Belle was conceived.
The paternity scandal rocked the whole family for years to come. And when it came out that Roman was not the dad and John was, that led to an inevitable divorce for Marlena and Roman Brady. But one of the most iconic soap moments that is still talked about until this day, probably the most well-known story arc in Deidre Hall’s tenure on Days of Our Lives were the Queen of the Night story and the devil possession plot.
We saw Stefano drug Marlena and she full-on levitated in the style of horror film The Exorcist. And then finally, there was a dramatic exorcism performed by Father John Black. Lots of chaos, mind control, and possession. But in the end, true love prevailed.
Days of Our Lives: Mayhem, Marriages, and the Salem Stalker (1997-2006)
The next decade for Marlena from 1997 to 2006 saw mayhem, marriages, and the Salem Stalker. This era saw Marlena in an on-again off-again relationship with John. And we also had Kristen DiMera’s (Stacy Haiduk) schemes, multiple weddings, as well as separations, kidnappings. And more DiMera threats.
In 2003 to 2004, the Salem Stalker terrified the citizens of Salem. And Dr. Marlena Evans was framed for deaths that never even really happened. This was all one of Stefano’s tricks. But one of epic proportions. All the serial slayer victims weren’t dead. But were on a private island, Melaswen, which is New Salem spelled backwards. This was a huge rating stunt for Days of Our Lives.
And in the same decade, Marlena had to navigate the continued drama for her adult kids, Belle and Eric and Sami. Plus, Marlena was connected to the rest of Salem in her role as a renowned psychiatrist who specialized in talk therapy with a knack for hypnotherapy as well.
Days of Our Lives: Family, Exits, and Returns (2007-2016)
Deidre Hall’s next era, 2007 to 2016, was one where the focus was on family as well as exits and returns. So in 2008 there were big budget cuts on the NBC soap and that led to firings that caused a lot of fan backlash. So, that saw Marlena and John both leave Salem when Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall were both let go. But they returned in 2011 for the dedication of Horton Town Square. Marlena and John eventually built a beautiful life together, including grandkids and the discovery that Paul Narita was John’s biological son. And of course, Marlena also really loved John’s son, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf), as if he were her own.
Just as Marlena cared for Carrie Brady (Christie Clark), who’s the offspring of Roman and Anna DiMera (Leann Hunley). All this time, through personal issues and family drama, Marlena had to deal with the ongoing feud between the Bradys and the DiMeras. And she came to terms with John’s sketchy past. So, Marlena weathered all these storms with style and grace and dignity. She was always a fierce contender if you messed with her or her family.
Days of Our Lives: Legacy, Tragedy, and 50 Years of Excellence (2017-2026)
The decade that brings us to now is 2017 to 2026 and that includes legacy, tragic loss, a second possession. And Deidre Hall’s milestone 50th anniversary on Days of Our Lives. So the past 10 years for Marlena focused heavily on her super couple pairing with John that at times featured a supernatural bond between them. From family weddings to vow renewals, deaths and disappearance, it has all been part of Marlena’s journey from a young woman eager to help the people of Salem to a beloved town matriarch today.
Now many fans groaned in 2021 when the writers brought back the second devil possession storyline that involved Marlena. Not only was she possessed. But the devil also took over her dear friend Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) and her grandson Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). Once the devil was chased out of Salem again though, then we got the heartbreaking news that Drake Hogestyn had pancreatic cancer. The Days of Our Lives actor lost his battle on September 28th, 2024.
But before he was too sick, Drake had given the thumbs up on a storyline that the Days of Our Lives writers came up with for John Black’s character death. And in fact, Drake was still alive when they taped his character John’s death for Days. That aired on June 2nd, 2025, 8 months after Drake had passed away. So, John Black died on screen with Marlena by his side. But another actor playing the role, his face hidden by thick bandages. And of course, John risked his life one last time. And he died a hero, saving his one-time brother-in-law, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell).
Sad Milestone on DOOL
And just a few weeks ago, Marlena, Brady, and Belle shared a special day when it was the first anniversary of John’s death. And now Marlena, Belle and Brady along with Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) are investigating the chess set that Stefano left to John and Marlena. This is one last sick game that Stefano is playing from beyond the grave.
Marlena’s core evolution from newcomer psychiatrist to legendary super couple queen and supernatural survivor has honestly been tons of fun to watch over the years. Deidre Hall portrays her character as resilient with strong family ties. And although this soap is no stranger to recast, I don’t think anybody could ever replace the actress who plays Marlena Evans. Maybe this will be the year that Deidre Hall finally wins a long overdue daytime Emmy.
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