Days of our Lives Performer of the Week: Dan Feuerriegel 

EJ DiMera, played by Dan Feuerriegel, is a master at masking his emotions when he's around other people, and it serves his purpose on Days of our Lives. Recently, we saw him in some private moments in which he feared that he'd been shot by his very own son, Johnny (Carson Boatman). For his powerful work, Soap Central is bestowing Performer of the Week for Days of our Lives honors on Feuerrriegel.

Days of our Lives Performer of the Week: Dan Feuerriegel

Feuerriegel brings a regal quality to his role as EJ DiMera. Whether he's out having cocktails with his brothers Chad (Billy Flynn) and Tony (Thaao Penghlis) or bantering with Dr. Kayla Brady (Mary Beth Evans), Feuerriegel plays EJ controlled and in charge. Even in more personal settings with girlfriend Belle (Martha Madison), EJ, while sometimes playful, is always careful not to reveal too much.

Recently, he was determined not to let anyone in on his secret that he believed his very own son, Johnny (Carson Boatman), was responsible for shooting him, which could have sent the young man to prison for years. Feuerriegel brings complexity to his on-screen persona. Beneath the suits that cost more than what some people make in a year and the colorful paisley ties, we see a vulnerable side to EJ whenever he's concerned about his son.

Fathers and sons

After running into Johnny in Horton Square, EJ was miffed that Johnny went to Rafe (Galen Gering), his ex-stepfather, with a problem. "You should have come to your real father," snarled EJ with a hint of protectiveness. Thinking that the same distance between them that caused Johnny to shoot him was still present, EJ whispered to his son, "No one has to know you shot me."

That's when the two men cleared the air, which enabled EJ to breathe better than he had in months. "You thought you were protecting me," a grateful Johnny marveled to his father after letting him know he hadn't tried to kill him.

Then, a vulnerable EJ threw his arms around his son, grateful to have learned that his flesh and blood hadn't tried to send him to that great soap opera in the sky. EJ focused on the positive when Johnny wondered how he could feel protective towards him after Johnny had wished his father were dead.

Taking his boy's face in his hands, EJ proclaimed, "Because you are my son! Because you forgave me for my terrible misdeeds, and I will always be grateful for that. I love you, son."

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After giving his son another hug, EJ composed himself and returned to a pressing matter. If Johnny hadn't shot him...who did? And while EJ is convinced that Johnny didn't try to kill him, the police are not that certain. Johnny's going to need a lawyer. He has one in EJ, but what's even better is he has a father who loves him. Bravo to Feuerriegel for showing EJ's fatherly tender side.

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