Brandon Barash Reveals He Is Exiting Days of Our Lives After Playing Stefan for 5 Years: 'Gut Punch'

Brandon Barash is saying goodbye to Days of Our Lives sooner than expected.

In an interview with Soaps.com, Barash, 45, revealed that Oct. 28 would be his last episode as Stefan DiMera on the popular soap. Explaining that he got word he wouldn't be continuing to play the role seven months ago, Barash recalled the moment the news came.

“I knew exactly what was happening as soon as I was called up to [the boss’] office,” he said. “And she said, ‘Look, this is not my doing. I don’t like it. And this is no reflection on you or your abilities. You’re very talented. We know your work ethic is very high, but it’s just where we’re deciding to take the character.'”

Barash said it was a “surprise” given the fact that he “was in the middle of a contract, and it was the writers’ decision” to let him go. Being on the show for five years, the actor described the feeling as a “gut punch.”

“Of course, the ego is like, ‘Oh, okay, that hurt,'” he said. “But I walked out of the office equal parts shocked and excited about what was around the corner.”

As for whether he would return if asked, Barash admitted he is unsure.

“This is the second time this has happened to me on Days of Our Lives,” he told the outlet. “And, you know, it would have to be very, very right. The terms would have to be right. The story would have to be right. The contract would have to be right. And I would have to be able to trust them. And I’ve lost that. I’ve lost that ability to trust that team, quite frankly.”

Going forward, Barashs said he is “a spiritual man,” who believes he will find where he is meant to be. 

“It was, ‘I don’t belong here right now, let’s see where I do belong, let’s do the work and see what happens,’” he said. 

Barash took over the role of Stefan from Tyler Christopher (who died suddenly in 2023) in 2019, and the character was killed off the following year. He then came back as Stefan’s twin brother Jake, who was also written off in 2022; however, Stefan was revived using Jake’s heart and Barash returned again in the original role.

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With his free time after exiting Days, Barash said he is focusing on his family — including his baby Joaquin, who was born in September 2023. Calling himself “a dad first,” Barash said he is happy he got to spend most of his son’s first year with him.

“The most important role I will ever play is a father to my children,” he said. “Hands down, I don’t care if I’m up for Oscars, the most important role I have is as a father and a husband.”