Alison Sweeney says goodbye next week to Days of Our Lives with a mix of gratitude and sadness. Sweeney is moving on to bigger and better things, her exit from the long-running show, was first announced in January.
Alison Sweeney is leaving NBC’s soap opera, Days of Our Lives after 21 years. Sweeney’s last air date is set for Wednesday, October 29. Sweeney started bringing the character Samantha Gene “Sami” Brady DiMera to life on January 22, 1993, when the talented actress was only 17 years old.
Sami was played by several child actresses before Sweeney took on the role as a teenager. Sweeney had previously appeared on Days of Our Lives as a child in 1987, portraying Adrienne Johnson. Throughout the years, Sweeney witnessed the growth of her character from a troubled young woman to a mother who had to deal with dramatic changes in her four children’s lives.
To some extent, Alison Sweeney also grew with her character, she joined the program as a teenager, she is leaving it as a married mother of two. Sweeney wed husband David Sanov in 2000. Their two children, Benjamin, 10, and Megan, 6, are among the reasons why she has decided to leave the daytime drama that turned her into a major TV star.
On January 20, 2014, Sweeney appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show to announce her departure from Days of Our Lives. Here is what she had to say about what lead her to this decision. The 38-year-old actress explained:
“I’ve been on Days of Our Lives for 21 years. I have never had more than a two-week vacation in that whole time. I just have worked so much. I don’t even know what happens next. I’m really just excited to be with my kids and be with my husband and have fun.”
Alison Sweeney says goodbye next week to Days of Our Lives, but her fans can still catch her on The Biggest Loser. In July, Sweeney also signed as a director on General Hospital. The reality show host recently told TV Guide, how she felt shooting those final scenes, few months ago. Sweeney states:
“We shot those scenes more than four months ago and it still hurts. But everybody needed closure — including the fans. Counting down the final months and weeks and days was so hard. I was, like, “This is Sami’s last disagreement with her mother!” “This is her last catfight with Nicole!” “This is the last time she’ll say ‘I do’!” No matter where I go in my acting career, I’m sure I will never play a schemer who’s had 15 weddings and kept all her dresses.”
Alison Sweeney says goodbye next week to Days of Our Lives; however, she seems to leave the door opened for a return next year, the show will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015. Sweeney adds:
“Sami desperately needs something to look forward to so she’s taking the kids off on a new adventure but the writers made sure it’s not anything permanent and that Sami can come back to Salem any time she wants. Are you kidding? Days celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. No way am I missing that!”
Things will no longer be the same in Salem. What are your thoughts on Sami and Sweeney leaving next week?
