End of an Era? Days of Our Lives’ DiMera Family Says Goodbye to the Man Who Started It All

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And just like that, the DiMera family looks to have shrunk by one. Days of Our Lives’ Thaao Penghlis, who has played lookalikes Tony and Andre DiMera off and on for more than 40 years, has announced that his time with the sudser is done.

More: Have we seen the last of Harris? 

It wouldn’t be the first time Penghlis has exited the soap, as both Tony and Andre have left, come back, died and been resurrected numerous times over the years. In fact, they could give The Phoenix himself a run for his money in the resurrection department. But this time, from the way Tony’s now-former portrayer is talking, it doesn’t seem that we should expect a return.

On screen, Tony and Anna have been traveling around the world and haven’t been seen for over a year. Off screen, Penghlis spoke with Soap Opera News and when asked point blank if we’ve seen the last of him on Days of Our Lives, answered, “Yes. The fans really like Anna and Tony because they bring humor, charm and romance to the show.”

But, he went on to explain, “things are changing with new characters and budget constraints. Some characters are not there anymore. It’s time to move on and appreciate the time that’s been spent.”

And it doesn’t sound like a hiatus or a break, nor a matter of Tony being “killed off” for a time. “I’m leaving the soap world,” Penghlis explained. “There are changes happening that I can’t discuss right now. It feels like it’s coming from somewhere else, maybe with a different writer. When people start taking you for granted, you change.”

That certainly sounds pretty final.

Though newer viewers may not realize it, the DiMera family originated on Days of Our Lives when Tony came to Salem back in 1981 looking to reconcile with wife Liz Chandler. He was also scoping the town for his father, Stefano, preparing the way for an arrival that wouldn’t happen until 1982. Tony, in other words, was the first DiMera, and Penghlis the first actor to bring the family to Days of Our Lives.

But now, it seems, it’s time for the next generations to take the reigns. Or is it? Penghlis’ quotes seem crystal clear, but when a fan expressed her sorrow that his epic run was over, he replied that she “somehow took it out of context. Nothing is final. There was more of a positive nature to the article.”