Days of our Lives comings and goings: Thaao Penghlis is back on set

Longtime Days of our Lives star Thaao Penghlis is back at work bringing his alter ego Tony DiMera to life and couldn't wait to tell us all about it on social media.

Thaao Penghlis shares his joy

Penghlis took to X on October 27 to post a behind-the-scenes photo of himself and Billy Flynn, who plays Tony's brother Chad DiMera.

"So good to be back at Days working with one of my faves," Penghlis wrote. "Billy is so special to work with. Since he’s had his two boys his heart has become more open. Thank u my friend for ur warm embrace. The new writers are making a difference. DiMera is back."

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Chad and Tony have a close big brother/little brother relationship, so we can expect to see some bonding moments between Penghlis and Flynn on-screen. With DAYS filming more than half a year in advance, Penghlis' new scenes won't air until 2025. However, he's already singing the praises of the new writing team that penned his latest story.

DAYS fans are still watching material written by Ron Carlivati, who was fired from the soap in July. Paul Cwikly is the soap's new head writer whose work will begin airing in a few months.

Tony DiMera's long Days of our Lives history

Thaao Penghlis and Leann Hunley as Tony and Anna | Image Source: JPI Studios

Penghlis first debuted as Count Anthony DiMera in 1981, the apparent lone son of Stefano DiMera. At the time, he was still legally married to Liz Chandler. Liz was famously played by Gloria Loring, who will return to Salem for Doug Williams' and Billy Hayes' memorial episodes in December.

Tony's lineage has changed several times over the decades, with confusion over whether Stefano was really his biological father. In recent years, Tony has solidified himself as one of Stefano's heirs as he's resumed his romance and marriage to Anna DiMera, a woman he fell in love with in the 1980s.

Penghlis has also doubled as Tony's lookalike cousin (and sometimes brother), Andre DiMera. Abigail killed Andre in 2018, which led to her developing dissociative identity disorder. A year later, Penghlis was back on DAYS when Tony was revealed to be alive and well. Anna wondered whose ashes she had been carrying around in an urn for years but was happy to have her beloved Tony back in her arms.