Why Is Sonny Leaving Days Of Our Lives? What Happened?

The fictitious character Sonny Kiriakis was initially played by American television actor Freddie Smith in the soap opera Days of Our Lives, which airs on the NBC network.

The character, created by writer Dena Higley was first introduced to the audience of the show in 2011. Executive producers Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin decided super couple, Justin Kiriakis played by Wally Kurth and Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis played by Judi Evans to give birth to a son in 1991, Sonny Kiriakis.

Sonny is the first consistently appearing LGBT character on the program. His romance with Will Horton, a role portrayed by Chandler Massey who is only recently coming to grips with his own sexuality, and a homosexual bashing plot line were two of his key tales in the series.

Why Is Sonny Leaving Days Of Our Lives? Freddie Smith Departure

Sonny Kiriakis is not leaving Days of Our Lives, but the actor who played the character Freddie Smith left the show in 2020.

He received a nomination for the same category in 2013 before winning the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 2015.

When Smith and Will Horton became the first same-sex couple on the show, they won over many fans. The hyphen "WilSon" has become a widespread nickname for the pair.

According to a story in Soap Opera Digest, Smith decided to depart from the show in 2015. Smith, who wrapped filming sequences in March 2015, confirmed his departure from the series in May 2015 and indicated that his character has a possible return route available to him.

@freddiemsmith and @ChandlerMassey leaving #DaysofOurLives #Days https://t.co/KpAGAn02TY
— Soap Opera News (@SoapOperaNewss) February 12, 2020

A year later, in April 2016, the show officially announced his return. It said for a few months, and Smith has been recording fresh episodes that debuted in July 2016.

Moreover, more twist to the story, Smith revealed that he and Massey had been fired from his show on February 12, 2020. Sonny and Will Horton departed on September 18 after the final airing. However, Freddie Smith stated on July 28 that September 1 would be the day of his last airing.

What Happened to Sonny Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives?

In the popular daytime opera Days of Our Lives, a character named Sonny Kiriakis has endured a lot but never gives up, no matter how low he gets.

Sonny seldom stays away for long after deciding to flee when things become difficult. In June 2011, when Freddie Smith joined the cast of DOL in the role, the character, born off-screen in 1991, made his adult debut.

Days of Our Lives entered a period of stories starring LGBT characters in important positions in 2011 with the introduction of Sonny. As a result, in 2012, the program received the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Daily Drama, and it went on to win the award again for three consecutive years till 2015.

NBC ‘Days of Our Lives’ Stars: Freddie Smith (Sonny Kiriakis), Camila Banus (Gabi DiMera) & Chandler Massy (Will Horton) ( Source : dailysoapdish )

Sonny, the son of Justin and Adrienne Kiriakis, moved to Salem in 2011 to tell his family that he was gay. He made friends with Will Horton, Chad DiMera, and Gabi Hernandez. With Chad and Will, he developed a sports website that had to be shut down because it was being used for illicit gambling.

Freddie Smith said the character would be scrapped from the soap opera in February 2020. Later, Sonny came back for the Days spinoff "Beyond Salem" it was confirmed in August 2021, but Zach Tinker would take up the part.

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Freddie Smith Character And Bio, Where Is He Now?

Freddie Smith, 34, is comprehensively identified for his role in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives as Sonny Kiriakis.

Freddie Smith married Alyssa Tabit on December 31, 2020 ( Source : soapoperanews )

In 2014, the show debuted Sonny's secret first love, Paul Narita, a great baseball player, and a love triangle formed between Sonny, Paul, and Will. Smith left the role briefly in 2015, appeared in 2016, and continued the arc till 2020 before actor Zach Tinker replaced him.

Born in Ashtabula, Ohio, he was sentenced to two years of parole in 2015 following his car accident in October 2014. Smith admitted to vehicular assault and DUI, and on February 18, 2015, he was punished. On December 31, 2020, Smith was married to Alyssa Tabit.