Days of our lives hair Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall) looks back on her time in Salem as Deidre Hall celebrates her 50th anniversary on the NBC soap. This week marks her first air date Days of our lives was June 21, 1976. Can you believe it?
And just a fun side note, the other two current longest-running soap stars are also on days. Susan Seaforth Hayes has played Julie Williams for 58 years back and forth. And Suzanne Rogers has played Maggie Horton for about 53 years. These are all impressive positions as soap actors.
And this week we’ve had Marlena look through a photo album with her and John Black on the cover. His son Paul Narita (Christopher Sean) has come back to Salem this week and he surprises Marlena. If you’ve seen the latest episodes, you know. And so Belle Black (Martha Madison) also shows up and Marlena says she’s taking a little trip down memory lane and Belle wants to go along for the ride.
Days of Our Lives: Marlena’s Rise as a Salem Icon (1976-1986)
So I thought we should take a trip down memory lane as well. Let’s take a look at some favorite Marlena moments Days of our lives fans have treasured. Starting when Deidre Hall first came along and lasting a decade from 1976 to 1986, was what we’d call Marlena’s rise as a Salem icon. Marlena Evans came to town as a psychiatrist in June 1976. She was undergoing treatment Mickey Horton (John Clarke) at the time, and Marlena quickly became entangled with Don Craig (Jed Allan). They were briefly married and she became pregnant and gave birth, but then lost her first born son.
And fans may also remember that during her first year on the show, Marlena was also stalked by the Salem Strangler. And she also met and married Roman Brady (Josh Taylor). Roman had protected her and they fell madly in love. And then Marlena showed up pregnant with their twins, Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney). But during Marlena’s first decade in Salem, Roman was presumed dead due to Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) interference.
Next, Marlena fell in love with amnesiac John Black, who later believed he was Roman. The early to mid 80s in Salem was a really dramatic time for Marlena with a horrible window fall, a coma. And a suspected plane crash that led to her exit.
Days of Our Lives: Dramatic Returns and Supernatural Terror (1987-1996)
The next decade for Deidre Hall on days from 1987 to 1996 was a time of dramatic comebacks, epic love and supernatural terror. Because the late 80s to mid 90s were some of the craziest times in Salem. Wilder than many modern soap opera viewers have seen. After Marlena survived a coma and was held captive by Stefano, she returned for an emotional, poignant encounter with John Black.
But this is where the whole love triangle between John and Roman started after it was discovered that true Roman Brady still was alive. However, the bond between Marlena and John proved to be stronger. Because Marlena and John had a passionate affair. This was while she was still married to Roman. And teenager Sami Brady caught them in the act. And that’s when her little sister Belle was conceived.
The paternity scandal rocked the whole family for years to come. And when it came out that Roman wasn’t the father and John was, it led to an inevitable divorce for Marlena and Roman Brady. But one of the soap’s most iconic moments, still talked about to this day, probably the best-known story arc of Deidre Hall’s tenure on Days of our lives were they Queen of the Night history and the demon possession plan.
We saw Stefano drug Marlena and she levitated in full horror movie style The Exorcist. And then finally there was a dramatic exorcism performed by Father John Black. Lots of mayhem, mind control and possession. But in the end true love prevailed.
Days of Our Lives: Mayhem, Marriages, and the Salem Stalker (1997-2006)
The next decade for Marlena from 1997 to 2006 featured chaos, marriages and the Salem Stalker. This era saw Marlena in an on-again off-again relationship with John. And we had that too Kristen DiMera’s (Stacy Haiduk) schemes, multiple weddings, as well as separations, kidnappings. And more DiMera threats.
In 2003 to 2004, the Salem Stalker terrorized the citizens of Salem. And Dr. Marlena Evans was considered for deaths that never even really happened. This was all one of Stefano’s tricks. But one of epic proportions. Not all of the serial killers’ victims were dead. But was on a private island, Melaswen, which is New Salem spelled backwards. This was a huge ratings stunt for Days of our lives.
And in the same decade, Marlena had to navigate continued drama for her grown children, Belle and Eric and Sami. Plus, Marlena was connected to the rest of Salem in her role as a famous psychiatrist who specialized in talk therapy with a knack for hypnotherapy as well.
Days of Our Lives: Family, Exits and Returns (2007-2016)
Deidre Hall’s next era, 2007 to 2016, was one where the focus was on family as well as exits and returns. Then in 2008, there were major budget cuts on the NBC soap and that led to layoffs that caused a lot of backlash from fans. So it saw Marlena and John both leaving Salem when Drake Hogestyn and Deidre Hall were both let out go. But they returned in 2011 for the inauguration of Horton Town Square. Marlena and John eventually built a beautiful life together, including grandchildren and the discovery that Paul Narita was John’s biological son. And of course Marlena also loved John’s son, Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) as if he were her own.
Just like Marlena liked Carrie Brady (Christie Clark), who is the offspring of Roman and Anna DiMera (Leann Hunley). All this time, through personal issues and family drama, Marlena had to deal with the ongoing feud between the Bradys and the DiMeras. And she came to terms with John’s sketchy past. So Marlena weathered all these storms with style and grace and dignity. She was always a tough challenger if you messed with her or her family.
Days of Our Lives: Legacy, Tragedy, and 50 Years of Excellence (2017-2026)
The decade that brings us to now is 2017 to 2026, and that includes inheritance, tragic loss, another possession. And Deidre Hall’s milestone 50th anniversary on Days of our lives. So the last 10 years for Marlena focused heavily on her super couple with John, who at times had a supernatural bond between them. From family weddings to vow renewals, deaths and disappearances, it’s all been part of Marlena’s journey from a young woman eager to help the people of Salem to a beloved town matriarch today.
Now, in 2021, many fans groaned when the writers brought the second demonic possession storyline involving Marlena. Not only was she obsessed. But the devil also took over her dear friend Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) and her grandson Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman). However, when the devil was chased out of Salem again, we got the heartbreak news that Drake Hogestyn had pancreatic cancer. The Days of our lives actor lost his battle on September 28, 2024.
But before he was too ill, Drake had given the thumbs up to a story that Days of our lives writers made up John Black’s character death. And in fact, Drake was still alive when they filmed his character John’s death for days. It aired on June 2, 2025, 8 months after Drake passed away. So John Black died on screen with Marlena by his side. But another actor plays the role, his face hidden by thick bandages. And of course, John put his life on the line one last time. And he died a hero saving his former brother-in-law, Bo Brady (Peter Recell).
Sad milestone on DOOL
And just a few weeks ago, Marlena, Brady and Belle shared a special day when it was the first anniversary of John’s death. And now Marlena, Belle and Brady along Chad DiMera (Connor Floyd) and Theo Carver (Tyler Joseph Andrews) examines the chess set that Stefano left for John and Marlena. This is one last sick game that Stefano is playing from beyond the grave.
Marlena’s core development from newly minted psychiatrist to legendary super couple queen and supernatural survivor has honestly been tons of fun to watch over the years. Deidre Hall portrays her character as robust with strong family ties. And while this soap is no stranger to reworking, I don’t think anyone could ever replace the actress who plays Marlena Evans. Maybe this will be the year Deidre Hall finally wins a long-awaited Daytime Emmy.
