List of Days of Our Lives characters introduced in the 2020s
Days of Our Lives is an American television soap opera that was first broadcast on November 8, 1965. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show during the 2020s, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by show's executive producer, Ken Corday and co-executive producer, Albert Alarr. Greg Meng was subsequently credited as co-executive producer from January to September 2020.
Amanda Raynor, an OB/GYN at Salem University hospital is introduced in January 2020 The next character to be introduced is mechanic Jake Lambert in April 2020, when Ben Weston meets him for a job interview. The next character to be introduced is Gwen Rizczech a mental patient who befriends Claire Brady. In July 2020, Allie Horton gives birth to her son [|Henry]. Charlie Dale joined the soap in October 2020 as an executive intern to dueling CEOs Philip Kiriakis and Xander Kiriakis. On Christmas Eve 2020, fraternal twins [|Jules and Carver Grant] were born to Eli Grant and Lani Price.
In 2021, Jackée Harry joined the cast as Lani's aunt, Paulina Price. Paulina was soon followed by her daughter, Chanel Dupree. Chanel was briefly played by Precious Way before she was replaced by Raven Bowens. In the summer of 2021, it was announced that Marla Gibbs had been cast as Paulina's mother, [|Olivia].
Amanda Raynor
Amanda Raynor, played by Victoria Platt, is a doctor at Salem University Hospital. The character first appeared on January 23, 2020. While she made her debut in soaps in 1996 on All My Children, Platt is best known to daytime viewers for her portrayal of Vicky Spaulding on Guiding Light. Platt revealed that she was familiar with Days of Our Lives growing up as it was her mom's favorite soap opera. "That was one of the joys being sick when I was a kid: staying home on the couch while my mother watched her stories." The actress was especially excited to work with John Aniston who played Victor Kiriakis. The fast-paced production process was a bit daunting. "There were days that I was completely confused. It was all very quick, but everyone was very supportive." Coincidentally, Platt reported to set at the same time that her husband Terrell Tilford began filming the role of [|DA Giddens]. Platt had no idea what the story was when she took gig. "When I auditioned for the role, it was only for one day." However, Platt was told about the possibility that her role could expand. "I was shocked" Platt said of the "terrible" twist as "Dr. Raynor seemed like a really descent woman." Despite the dark turn, Platt relished in playing the role. "I kind of got to have an emotional experience and really get to know other people in the storyline. That was wonderful." Platt last appeared on April 3, 2020, when the character was written out. The actress reprised the role from January 8 to February 3, 2021.In flashbacks, Raynor is revealed to be the doctor that delivers Kristen DiMera's newborn daughter on Mother's Day 2020. As Kristen panics when she suddenly goes into labor, Raynor does her best to calm the expectant mother. Raynor plans a C-section and successfully delivers Kristen's baby girl. That same day, Raynor tells Xander Kiriakis that his newborn daughter is experiencing complications as she was born shortly after her mother Sarah Horton was involved in a car accident. After a thorough examination, Raynor tells Xander that Sarah's baby is dying and there is nothing anyone can do. In March 2020, Raynor runs into Kristen and her boyfriend Brady Black and they thank her for the condolence card she sent them after their daughter's passing. While she assures them it was the least she could do, Raynor is riddled with guilt as she recalls that Xander offered her a bribe to tell Kristen her baby had died. Raynor then goes to the hospital where she oversees the bone marrow transplant as Gabi Hernandez has agreed to donate to help save Sarah's daughter, Mackenzie "Mickey" Horton. After the procedure, Xander orders Raynor to leave town but she refuses as she cares too much for her patients to abandon them. However, Raynor confides in Xander about the guilt she feels upon seeing Mackenzie's real parents – Kristen and Brady. In March 2020, Raynor skips town to avoid questioning about the baby switch. However, Nicole Walker tracks her down and forces Raynor to confess to confirm that Xander and Victor forced her to switch the babies.
In 2021, Raynor is revealed to be behind the abduction of Eli Lani Grant's newborn twins, [|Jules and Carver]. As she absconds with the babies, Raynor runs into Bonnie Lockhart. Raynor begrudgingly hands the twins over to Ivan Marais as he threatened to turn her in for her involvement in the baby switch. Once he pays her for her services, Raynor warns Ivan that Jules and Carver's detective parents would be hot on their trail. She is later contacted by Xander who reveals that Bonnie identified her to the police who assumed he was involved due to their previous dealings. Xander offers to help Raynor disappear and she agrees to meet with him. However, Eli and Lani turn up to the meeting instead and demand answers. While she doesn't have details on Ivan's identity or location, she assures the worried parents their children are safe. As she fills them in on the details, Raynor takes Eli and Lani to the motel where she took the babies. The only thing Raynor can offer is that Ivan made a phone- call to someone called "Madame."
Platt was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series in 2021 but lost to fellow nominee, Cady McClain.
Jake DiMera
Jake DiMera, played by Brandon Barash, is a mechanic who owns a local garage when Ben Weston is job hunting. He first appeared in the episode broadcast on April 23, 2020. Jake was killed off in July 2022 and last appeared on August 2 of that year. He then briefly reappeared on February 20, 2023.Jake meets with Ben and his girlfriend Ciara Brady to get Jake to fix Ciara's motorcycle. Ben is also interested in working at the mechanic shop. However, Ben and Ciara are taken aback by Jake's striking resemblance to the late Stefan DiMera. While the position has already been filled, Jake promises to speak to the owner as he needs more assistance due to a recent surge in business. In town, Jake runs into Stefan's widow, Gabi and she faints at the sight of him. Ben inquires about the job again, and Jake agrees to hire Ben if he can take Ciara's bike apart and put it back together. Jake eventually confides in Ben about his ex-girlfriend who constantly caused trouble for him. Jake looks into Stefan and is disgusted to learn he raped Abigail DiMera. Gabi later accuses him of being Stefan who has faked his death and Jake insist he is not Stefan. However, Gabi is convinced that he is just suffering from amnesia. Gabi later kisses him, but he rejects her.
Shortly after Barash left the series, after his character Stefan was killed off, the actor was spotted in a picture to Galen Gering's social media on November 6, 2019. While the post was quickly deleted, Soaps.com reported that Barash was set to return to the soap. On April 16, 2020, Barash announced on the show's official app that he would return on April 23, 2020.
Candace Young from Soaps She Knows put Jake on her list of the hottest soap opera villains and referred to Jake as "a sexy villainous type" and said that "Whether Stefan or Jake, we’re all in".
Gwen Rizczech
Gwen Rizczech, played by Emily O'Brien, made her first appearance on June 5, 2020. Gwen befriends Claire during their stay at Bayview Sanatarium and is also the ex-girlfriend of Jake Lambert.Speculation about O'Brien's casting start in late 2019 when the actress, best known for her Daytime Emmy Award nominated portrayal of Jana Hawkes on The Young and the Restless, was photographed on set with fellow cast members. The casting and character was officially announced on May 27, 2020. O'Brien stated to Soap Opera Digest "It was for the best because this role feels good. It feels like a puzzle piece." She later said "getting to play somebody" like Gwen "feels extremely comfortable for reasons that I don't know." "When this opportunity came, it was serendipitous. I wasn't used to it. It's a great opportunity and a really wonderful role that I'm enjoying." O'Brien was flattered to learn from executive producer Albert Alarr that Days had been working to get her onto the show for quite some time. In 2018, O'Brien auditioned for the role of Sarah Horton on three separate occasions. She even screen-tested with Greg Vaughan, who would play Sarah's love interest, Eric Brady. However, Godfrey was ultimately cast as Sarah. A year later, the actress was invited to audition for another role. "I remember going in and it was very ominous in the room" she said. Alarr and casting director Marnie Saitta informed O'Brien that she would not be playing the role she just had auditioned for, "'but there's a new role we want to mold around you.' That's when the character of Gwen was born."
Ron Carlivati described Gwen as "mischievous." "Gwen is so colorful" O'Brien said of the role upon her casting. The actress further described Gwen as "wonderfully unpredictable and volatile and she's completely fearless. She lives on the edge and with complete passion." Later that year, O'Brien referred to Gwen as "raw and scruffy." She continued, that Gwen is a "misanthrope who doesn't really fit in very well." Gwen is an "outcast." Gwen is "different" and "much more dangerous. She doesn't look or behave, like most of the people in town."
From January 19–24, 2022, Linsey Godfrey portrayed the role when Gwen masqueraded as Sarah Horton, who Godfrey portrays.
She arrives in Salem, to get revenge on Jack Deveraux for "abandoning" her as a child and favoring Abigail. When it's revealed that Jack didn't about know about Gwen's existence due to Laura Horton's intervening, Gwen tries mend her ways to have a positive relationship with him but remained at odds with Abigail. Eventually, Gwen causes too much trouble for Jack to keep her in his life and severs ties with her. In retaliation, she and Xander Cook blackmail him and Jennifer out of The Spectator, a newspaper the run, in exchange for keeping quiet about Jennifer's drug relapse and running Gwen over while high on pills. She later gets tangled in Dimitri von Leuschner's plan to gain his family's inheritance by marrying her. She learns however, that he is attracted to her best friend Leo Stark and was using her. She steals one of his checks and following Dimitri's arrest for attempted murder on Gabi and Stefan, she leaves Salem to collect the rest of the fortune and get away from the pain it caused her. Later, she gives Chad her share of The Spectator in exchange for money.
Charlie Mason and Richard Simms from Soaps She Knows praised the scenes where Gwen revealed her paternity, calling it the "Best Reveal" in 2021 of American soap operas, writing, "We all knew that Days of Our Lives Gwen was going to turn out to be Jack's daughter. The writing was not only on the wall, it was in a huge-ass font. But that did nothing diminish the impact of Emily O'Brien's beautiful performance in the scenes in which she called out Daddy Dearest for, as she put it, knocking up her mum and waltzing away." In 2024, O'Brien was shortlisted for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Gwen.