Mascolo brings Stefano back to Salem
by Dan J Kroll
Posted Monday, May 07, 2007 10:27:31 AM


In an effort to stop the show's declining ratings, Days of our Lives is focusing on some of the show's most popular characters in its upcoming stories. That change means that Joseph Mascolo will be returning to reprise the role of Stefano DiMera -- and the rest of the DiMera clan isn't far behind.


Joseph Mascolo (Stefano DiMera) has signed on to return to Days of our Lives next month. The news comes nearly six months after the actor nixed a return to the NBC soap because contract talks had reached an impasse.

Are you glad that DAYS is bringing back the DiMera family?  It's great news. The DiMeras add something special to DAYS.    45%   I like that the DiMeras are returning, but I hope the storyline is good.   28%   I want DAYS to focus on love not the gloom and doom of the DiMeras.   26%   Other   0%   I don't have an opinion about the return of the DiMeras at this time.   0%   I'm a newer viewer and not too familiar with the DiMera family.   0%     Poll Posted: May 7th, 2006

When talks broke down last year, a show source indicated that the sticking point in the talks was the term of Mascolo's contract. Mascolo had wanted to return to work in a long-term storyline. Show execs, however, only wanted Mascolo to return for a short-term engagement. This time around the term of Mascolo's contract with Days of our Lives was not revealed. It is, however, known that the actor will be with the show through at least the summer.


Determined to tell a story with or without Mascolo, DAYS' scribes last year penned a story for Stefano but limited the character's on-screen exposure to shots that did not show the character's face.


After leaving Days of our Lives, Mascolo surprised many by joining the cast of CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful in August 2001. Last year, however, Mascolo and B&B reached a stalemate during contract talks and the actor opted to leave the show. Again Mascolo cited his lack of work as the reason for his departure.


"Joe has not been happy with the direction of his character and the lack of story [for Massimo]," a setside source told soapcentral.com at the time.


Mascolo returns to Days of our Lives on June 6th. He appeared previously appeared from 1982 to 1985, returned briefly in 1988 before making a permanent return in 1993 and exited the show in 2001.

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Related Information
News Archive: Mascolo makes a Bold move -- to B&B [Aug 13th, 2001] About The Actor: Learn more about Joseph Mascolo. Who's Who: Read a biography of Stefano DiMera. Family Trees: Scan the many branches of the DiMera family tree. More Archived News: Review more past DAYS news headlines. News and More: Return to soapcentral.com's DAYS FrontPage.