When it comes to soap operas, Days of Our Lives has always thrived on unexpected exits and jaw-dropping twists. But 2025 has been something else entirely. In a year that blended real-life career decisions with explosive storylines, several of the show’s most beloved (and infamous) characters took their final bows—leaving fans gasping, grieving, and, in some cases, outraged. From emotional deaths to mysterious disappearances and quiet farewells, here’s a closer look at the exits that shook Salem to its core.
When news broke in March that Billy Flynn would be leaving the role of Chad DiMera—a character he’s inhabited for over a decade—it sent tremors through the DOOL fandom. Chad’s impending exit was written as a slow burn, with the character taking on a secretive mission overseas and bidding an emotional goodbye to his children and family legacy.
But behind the scenes, Flynn had signed on with The Young and the Restless, citing a desire to explore new creative territory and challenge himself beyond the DiMera mansion. For fans, the reaction was immediate and intense.
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