Something will look a little different on Days of our Lives starting next week. The role of Eric Brady will be played by a new actor.
But fear not, DAYS fans, the recast is only temporary.
Jason Gerhardt (ex-Cooper Barrett, General Hospital) will sub for Greg Vaughan in a handful of episodes.
Vaughan took to social media to explain that an illness sidelined him for a period of time and he was unable to shoot some pivotal Sloan/Eric scenes.
"Unfortunately, I tested Positive for Covid & TPTD had to keep moving forward," Vaughan said in explaining his upcoming absence. "Thanks to our incredible #marniesaitta casting; my old friend / Castmate Jason Gerhart stepped in that week for 4/5 shows.
The scenes in question were taped back in February, according to a DAYS rep.
Vaughan originally took on the role of DAYS' Eric in 2012. He was briefly written off the soap opera in 2015 but returned when the writers decided they wanted to incorporate Eric back into storylines. In 2020, the actor shocked viewers when he announced that he had decided to walk away from DAYS, citing the then-uncertainty about the show's future and his feeling that his "time was coming to an end, anyways."
Vaughan later returned to DAYS in May 2021 and remained with the show through the end of the year. Vaughan's most recent DAYS return began in April 2022.
Prior to his DAYS run, Vaughan played Lucky Spencer on General Hospital from 2003 to 2009 and Diego Guittierez on The Young and the Restless from 2002 to 2003. His other TV credits include Queen Sugar, Charmed, Malibu Shores, and Beverly Hills, 90210.
Vaughan was awarded an Outstanding Supporting Actor Daytime Emmy in 2018.
In addition to appearing on GH, Gerhardt also appeared on the show's primetime spinoff, Night Shift. He also had a featured role on Mistresses as well as numerous guest stints on other primetime series.
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