Fans are curious about who Jensen Ackles played in Days of Our Lives. They are also wondering why he left the show, and if he will return to DOOL and reprise his role of Eric Brady. Before Ackles achieved further fame via appearances in leading roles in projects like Supernatural and The Boys, he got his breakthrough role and started with lead characters in Days of Our Lives, where he played Eric Brady. This explains why fans are curious about his role in the NBC soap opera.
So who did Jensen Ackles play in Days of Our Lives? Could Jensen Ackles return to DOOL as Eric Brady? Why did Jensen Ackles leave DOOL? Here are your answers.
Which role did Jensen Ackles play on Days of Our Lives?
Jensen Ackles played Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives. He played the role for three years between 1997 and 2000.
For his role as Brady, Ackles earned three Daytime Emmy Award nominations between 1998 and 2000. He also earned a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1998.
Ackles’ tenure as Brady saw him be dissatisfied with his mother’s relationship with John Black. He was also depicted as a photographer for Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics. Eric Brady was also shown having a romance with Nicole Walker. This romance became strained due to Walker’s shady past. Walker eventually started seeing Lucas Roberts and married him, leading to her breakup with Brady. Brady later fell for an older woman Greta von Amberg. However, Eric and Greta’s relationship fell apart after the latter learned he still had feelings for Nicole.
Ackles’ Eric Brady soon dealt with various problems like Sami Brady’s conviction of murder, which Lucas and Kate Roberts successfully managed to stop. He eventually suffered a near-death experience on the railway. Eric later left Salem in 2000, but not before admitting to Walker he still loved her.
Could Jensen Ackles return in Days of Our Lives?
It is currently unknown if Jensen Ackles will return in Days of Our Lives.
However, following his departure, Ackles thought he would return. (via Soap Central) Later in December 2000, Soap Central reported that NBC had approached Ackles in early 2001 to return to the show. However, the actor had reportedly politely declined the opportunity.
Ackles has, however, occasionally talked about his stint as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives in multiple interviews over the years. For instance, in a Leeza interview in 1998, Ackles explained how he was the subject of a minor prank involving Drake Hogestyn, who played John Black in the series. The prank involved saying “you guys” which was actress Deirdre Hall’s pet peeve line. Hall was shocked and immediately corrected and explained the matter to Jensen, much to Hogestyn’s amusement as per Pop Sugar.
Jensen Ackles also mentioned in another 1998 interview that he could not believe his Emmy nomination for his first year in Days of Our Lives. Moreover, in a Teen People 1998 interview, Ackles revealed getting gifts from fans for his role in the series and expressed appreciation for it.
When and why did Jensen Ackles leave Days of Our Lives?
Jensen Ackles left Days of Our Lives in 2000. As per Soap Central, Ackles left the show because he obtained a development deal with ABC.
Ackles is currently set to star as Soldier Boy in The Boys prequel series Vought Rising alongside Aya Cash’s Stormfront. He will also appear in the Amazon Prime Video crime-drama mystery series Countdown created by Derek Haas.
