How Retired Days Of Our Lives Stars Live Today
"Days of Our Lives" is one of the longest-running soap operas on television. The NBC series was first created and shared with fans back in 1965 when it appeared on the network as a 30-minute drama. The sudser follows the citizens in the fictional midwestern town of Salem and focuses on the town's prominent families, the Hortons, Bradys, DiMeras, and Kiriakis (via Soap Hub).
In the show's more than 55 years on air, there have been unforgettable moments, fan-favorite characters, epic romances, and jaw-dropping twists. Fans have grown to love the characters, and even have their favorites. Of course, when those characters exit, it can be hard for viewers to deal with the loss. Over the years, there have been some surprising departures from the series, including Alison Sweeney as Sami Brady, Kristian Alfonso as Hope Brady, and Greg Vaughan as Eric Brady, who all opted to leave their characters behind, per Us Weekly.
Other stunning character exits have come in the form of deaths, as iconic characters such as Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Lexie Carver (Renee Jones) said their heartbreaking goodbyes for good. So, what are the retired "DOOL" actors up to now?
Peter Reckell is focusing on family
"Days of Our Lives" fans were heartbroken when the character of Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) died in the arms of his wife, Hope (Kristian Alfonso), and left the soap opera for good in 2015, per Soap Hub. The actor revealed that he wanted to spend more time with his family, including his daughter, Loden. "I just wanna enjoy this time with my daughter before she's off and running with her own life," Reckell explained.
He also admitted that he's currently playing chauffeur to his daughter, and has become her kung fu partner since leaving "DOOL." He and his family currently reside in New Zealand. However, when asked if he would consider reprising the role of Bo Brady, he teased fans, revealing "I never say never."
Of course, fans miss seeing Bo on their TV screens each day, but it appears that Reckell is more than happy with his decision to step out of the limelight and focus on his family.
Renee Jones had big plans for retirement
Meanwhile, Renee Jones, who is best known for playing Lexie Carver on "DOOL," opted to leave the soap back in 2012 after setting the record for the longest-running female African-American character on a soap opera, per TV Guide. After announcing her retirement, Jones admitted that acting no longer brought her joy and that she wanted to get back to enjoying her life. "I was raised on a farm in Georgia and I want to get back to that silence, that solitude. I want to spend all day enjoying nature, experiencing God," she told the outlet.
"I want to hike, read books, take yoga classes. And then I'll think about what I want to do with my life," the actress admitted. "I would love to do charity work, especially something where I'm working with sick babies, holding them, just giving them love, helping them heal. That would be a dream," Jones added.
So, it seems that these retired "DOOL" stars are living life to the fullest and haven't looked back.