The Time Days Of Our Lives Fired Legends Drake Hogestyn And Deidre Hall

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In 2008, “Days of Our Lives” fans were stunned when the soap opera announced that the characters of John Black and Marlena Evans would be leaving Salem. “The couple will be happily reunited after a long period of angst and separation and will be off-screen after January for an unknown period of time. It was a very tough decision to make,” executive producer Ken Corday told Soap Opera Digest at the time (via Soap Central). The move to cut Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall appeared to be strictly due to the show’s budget cuts, as they were two of the highest-paid stars.

During the time of Hogestyn and Evans’ firing, their on-screen alter egos were in the middle of a dramatic storyline, which included the pair being estranged and trying to find a way to reunite, as well as John’s son, Brady returning to Salem. The couple officially left Salem together in January 2009, and fans were unhappy about how it all went down, per TV Source Magazine.

However, by 2011, John and Marlena were officially back on “Days of Our Lives,” and Hall was happy to reprise her role on the sudser. “We’re coming back to a different ‘Days of Our Lives.’ The one we knew 20 years ago, for its family core value stories, real romance, and little less science fiction,” the actress said (via WLBT). Of course, Hogestyn and Hall aren’t the only cast members who’ve been fired over the years.