Days of our Lives star Deidre Hall celebrates the show's 60th anniversary 

Days of our Lives is celebrating 60 years, a milestone that only two other soap operas have achieved! The show's iconic star, Deidre Hall, who plays Dr. Marlena Evans, has been a fan favorite since her 1976 debut on the show!

Deidre Hall, Days of our Lives

Hall recently chatted with TV Insider about her favorite memories on the show. "Being cast on DAYS changed my life,” Hall told the website. “I was doing episodic television, which was fine, and I enjoyed it, but it was a very unpredictable future."

Hall had recurred on The Young and the Restless as Barbara Anderson in the show's early years, but she was looking for something more permanent. Her agent submitted her for a role on DAYS, and the rest is soap opera history.

Hall's agent submitted her for the role of Marlena on DAYS, and the rest is soap opera history! Marlena's first case was to help Mickey Horton (the late John Clarke), who'd had a breakdown. Soon, she was working with DAYS headliners Macdonald Carey (Tom) and Francis Reid (Alice). Hall was bedazzled by them working in a scene with Mary Frann (Amanda, who went on to star on Newhart).

The show worked Hall's real-life twin, Andrea Hall, into the show as Marlena's sister, Samantha. Later, Andrea returned to the show as Marlena’s doppelganger, Hattie Adams.

A surprise twist

Samantha met a tragic end when she was offed by the Salem Strangler in 1982. Viewers mistakenly believed that it was Marlena, and loyal fans picketed outside the studio. Hall was still taping at the studio, as it was not Marlena who died. The show’s then producer had her go out and meet with the fans. Back then, there was no social media, so word of Marlena’s “resurrection” didn’t go viral.

After Marlena’s marriage to Don Craig (Jed Allan) ended, following the death of their son, DJ, from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Marlena needed police protection from a killer. Enter Roman Brady (Wayne Northrup) and his sleeping bag. He parked out in Marlena's living room to keep her safe. The two married, had twins, Eric (Greg Vaughan) and Sami (Alison Sweeney), named after the late Samantha, but their happiness was short-lived as Roman was killed in a battle with Stefano (Joe Mascolo).

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He returned twice. In a way. First, Drake Hogestyn played a man whom he thought was Roman, but when Northrup returned to the show in 1991 as Roman, it was revealed that John only imagined that he was Roman. He took the name John Black, and he and Marlena had a daughter, Belle (Martha Madison), numerous adventures, marriages, and a great love story!

Catch all-new episodes of Days of our Lives weekdays on streaming service Peacock

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