Days of Our Lives’ Sami Is Finally Back to Tell the Heartbreaking Story Fans Were Missing
It’s been a hot minute since viewers have seen Alison Sweeney on Days of Our Lives. Though she returned through the revolving door back in April, many were surprised that the character wasn’t present for John’s funeral.
In June, the soap fave explained her absence to us in an interview and promised that viewers would get a true-to-life opportunity on how grief doesn’t have a timeline and how John’s death continues to resonate.
“They arranged for me to do it a week later, maybe two weeks later,” Sweeney shared with Soaps.com. “I do come in and have scenes about John, but my timing was a little bit off after all of that.”
Well fans, that time has come and even though Sami hasn’t been present during her son’s trial, you’ll get to see her back in Salem next week to share an emotional reunion with Marlena. However, it’ll only be for one episode until her next return in November.
Of the mother/daughter reunion, Sweeney told us that these moments that Sami spends with Marlena after John’s death will indeed feel realistic to the audience since “mourning doesn’t always happen [when] everyone gets together on one day. Sometimes, that’s an ongoing thing.
Having Sami come back and share those moments with Marlena,” allows the writers to tell the story and gives Sami the opportunity to honor John. “I’m really glad that I got to be a part of it in the way that I was, it felt very real,” she added.
A pair of popular leading ladies resurface on Days of our Lives this week. Here’s the soap’s latest comings and goings casting news.
Find out which popular actresses are back onscreen, if anyone new is boarding the Peacock drama in contract, recurring, or day-player roles, and if any of your favorite performers are exiting the show.
Casting For The Week Of August 4, 2025
Two fan favorites are back on the Salem scene. Alison Sweeney returns for a quick visit as Sami Brady DiMera on Monday, August 4, to share an emotional reunion with her onscreen mom, Deidre Hall’s Marlena. It’s a one-and-done appearance for Sweeney, but the actress will be back in November.
After a long absence, Leann Hunley finally resurfaces as Anna DiMera on Thursday, August 7. Look for Anna to surprise her husband, Tony (Thaao Penghlis ), with news about Stefano (Joseph Mascolo).
Kennedy Garcia pops in as Felicity Greene on Monday, August 4. She interacts with Raven Bowens’ Chanel, Casey Moss’ JJ, and others.
Stacy Haiduk is back as Susan Banks. She airs on Tuesday, August 5, in scenes with Carson Boatman’s Johnny, Dan Feuerriegel’s EJ, and Deidre Hall’s Marlena
Tina Huang is back as Melinda Trask. The attorney has scenes with Rachel Boyd’s Sophia on Wednesday, August 6.
Adam Chambers turns up as Dave on Monday, August 4. The character, a security worker at Salem University Hospital, has scenes with Billy Flynn’s Chad and AnnaLynne McCord’s Cat.
Karole Foreman gets more airtime as Judge Dabney. The character continues to officiate over Johnny’s trial on Thursday, August 7.
On the exit front, Al Calderon, who portrays Javi Hernandez, has nabbed a role on the NBC primetime series Brilliant Minds. Although Calderon will still appear as Javi into 2026, courtesy of the soap’s advance filming schedule, the role will eventually have to be recast.
