Why did Joey die on his TV show?

Last Modified Mar 6, 2025 13:27 EST
Why did Joey die on his TV show?
Joey in Friends (Source: NBC)


When Joey drastically overstates that he writes the majority of his lines in an interview with Soap Opera Digest, he loses the Days of Our Lives gig. In retaliation, the show's writers "kill off" his role as Dr. Ramoray by having him fall down an elevator shaft.


The American comedy Friends was created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman. It aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting for 10 seasons with 236 episodes. The program revolves around six friends in their 20s and early 30s who reside in Manhattan, New York City, and stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. The initial executive producers were Crane, Kauffman, and Kevin S. Bright.


How did Joey get the lead on his TV show?


Joey's big break comes when he gets his first significant role as Dr. Drake Ramoray on Days of Our Lives, a soap opera that stars Jennifer Aniston's father John, and is set outside of the Friends universe. Joey had originally applied for a one-shot role as a cab driver in the multiverse; it is suggested that he slept with the casting director to land the recurring character of Ramoray. In addition to his role as Ramoray, he plays a tiny part as a deceased man in Jean-Claude Van Damme's Outbreak 2: The Virus Takes Manhattan. His character was initially just dying in the scene, but because Joey overacted, it was altered to show him as already dead.


In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Joey drastically overstates that he writes the majority of his own lines, costing him the Days of Our Lives position a few episodes later. This infuriates the show's creators, who, in a fit of retaliation, have Dr. Ramoray fall down an elevator shaft to "kill off" his character. Joey acknowledges that his part in Days of Our Lives was the best thing that had happened to him, but he takes this personally.


Related: In which episode did joeys parents appear


Joey’s return on his TV show


Joey tries out for the part of Dr. Striker Ramoray, Drake Ramoray's brother and a new character on Days of Our Lives in Season 7, but he is not chosen for the part. After he is given back his position as Dr. Drake Ramoray, Joey's luck finally turns around.


He is even nominated for an award for Best Returning Character, having originally been in a coma before being brought back to life through a brain transplant with another character, Jessica Lockhart (played by Susan Sarandon). He later takes Lockhart's place as Dr. Drake "Jessica" Ramoray in Season 7.


In which episode did Joey appear on Days of Our Lives in Friends?


'Days of our Lives' starred Joey Tribbiani as Dr. Drake Ramoray, a neurosurgeon at the fictional hospital on the show. The character was introduced in 'The One With Russ' and debuted in 'The One With The Lesbian Wedding'.



FAQs about Joey

  1. On Days of Our Lives, Dr. Drake Ramoray (Joey Tribbiani) worked as a neurosurgeon at the made-up hospital. 


  1.  Joey takes Lockhart's place as Dr. Drake "Jessica" Ramoray in Season 7.


  1. Joey, the main character of the spin-off/sequel series Joey, heads to Los Angeles to hone his acting skills after the last season of Friends. 


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