“Days of our Lives,” the long-running scripted television drama that aired on NBC for nearly 57 years, and has been airing exclusively on Peacock since September 2022, is celebrating its 60th anniversary today, November 8.
Created by Ted Corday and Betty Corday, “Days of our Lives” debuted with its very first episode on November 8, 1965. TV Guide Magazine described the show as Macdonald Carey starring as Dr. Thomas Horton, a professor of medicine in a New England college town, with Frances Reid appearing as his on-screen wife, Alice.
Set in Salem USA, the show expanded to one hour on April 21, 1975, and continues to feature a daily dose of drama, romance, mystery, and suspense, while following the core principles of life, love, and conflicts with stories revolving around the Hortons, as well as the Brady, DiMera, Kiriakis, and Hernandez families and their many friends and colleagues.
In addition to its dedicated audience in the U.S., “Days of our Lives” is also enjoyed by millions worldwide, including in territories such as Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and Australia.
Earlier this year, the series was nominated for 13 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, marking the highest number of nominations the series received since its exclusive debut on Peacock.
Paul Telfer, a mainstay at the show since 2015, won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor for his portrayal of Xander Kiriakis. He is only the third actor in the show’s history to have won the award in the category. Marnie Saitta took home the Emmy for Outstanding Casting, marking her third win out of 14 nominations throughout her career, and the third overall for her work as casting director for “Days of our Lives.”
The current head writers of the show are Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford. Their material began airing in April, following the exit of former head writer Ron Carlivati, who won the series four consecutive Writers Guild Awards for Daytime Drama (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024).
Ken Corday, son of Ted and Betty, has been the show’s executive producer since the passing of his mother in 1987. Noel Maxam is currently co-executive producer, although his name will not appear in the credits as such until at least early next year, due to the show’s advanced tape-to-air schedule, which was 10 months ahead at one point this year. Janet Drucker, who retired in May 2025, is credited as co-executive producer in episodes currently airing.
Earlier this week, the show unveiled its first cast photo in several years, which you can scroll through below.
In July, Peacock renewed “Days of our Lives” for its 62nd and 63rd seasons, extending the run of one of television’s most iconic and trailblazing drama series through at least the 2027-2028 television season. Corday Productions Inc. produces the soap opera in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Watch a clip from an early episode of “Days of our Lives” featuring Macdonald Carey and Frances Reid, among others, below.
On This Day in 1965, Days Of Our Lives first premiered.
Also glad to see the show's first family The Hortons and its last two original living characters, Marie and Julie, and actress Maree Cheatham being honored for the 60th anniversary next week.#DAYSpic.twitter.com/sMQkePNNFT
Several familiar faces from the show’s 60 years will reprise their roles on the daytime drama series during the week of November 10-14, 2025. Watch a preview clip below.
“Days of our Lives,” the long-running scripted television drama that aired on NBC for nearly 57 years, and has been airing exclusively on Peacock since September 2022, is celebrating its 60th anniversary today, November 8.
Created by Ted Corday and Betty Corday, “Days of our Lives” debuted with its very first episode on November 8, 1965. TV Guide Magazine described the show as Macdonald Carey starring as Dr. Thomas Horton, a professor of medicine in a New England college town, with Frances Reid appearing as his on-screen wife, Alice.
Set in Salem USA, the show expanded to one hour on April 21, 1975, and continues to feature a daily dose of drama, romance, mystery, and suspense, while following the core principles of life, love, and conflicts with stories revolving around the Hortons, as well as the Brady, DiMera, Kiriakis, and Hernandez families and their many friends and colleagues.
In addition to its dedicated audience in the U.S., “Days of our Lives” is also enjoyed by millions worldwide, including in territories such as Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel, South Africa, and Australia.
Earlier this year, the series was nominated for 13 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, marking the highest number of nominations the series received since its exclusive debut on Peacock.
Paul Telfer, a mainstay at the show since 2015, won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor for his portrayal of Xander Kiriakis. He is only the third actor in the show’s history to have won the award in the category. Marnie Saitta took home the Emmy for Outstanding Casting, marking her third win out of 14 nominations throughout her career, and the third overall for her work as casting director for “Days of our Lives.”
The current head writers of the show are Paula Cwikly and Jeanne Marie Ford. Their material began airing in April, following the exit of former head writer Ron Carlivati, who won the series four consecutive Writers Guild Awards for Daytime Drama (2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024).
Ken Corday, son of Ted and Betty, has been the show’s executive producer since the passing of his mother in 1987. Noel Maxam is currently co-executive producer, although his name will not appear in the credits as such until at least early next year, due to the show’s advanced tape-to-air schedule, which was 10 months ahead at one point this year. Janet Drucker, who retired in May 2025, is credited as co-executive producer in episodes currently airing.
Earlier this week, the show unveiled its first cast photo in several years, which you can scroll through below.
In July, Peacock renewed “Days of our Lives” for its 62nd and 63rd seasons, extending the run of one of television’s most iconic and trailblazing drama series through at least the 2027-2028 television season. Corday Productions Inc. produces the soap opera in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Watch a clip from an early episode of “Days of our Lives” featuring Macdonald Carey and Frances Reid, among others, below.
Several familiar faces from the show’s 60 years will reprise their roles on the daytime drama series during the week of November 10-14, 2025. Watch a preview clip below.
Note: The post ‘Days of our Lives’ Celebrates 60th Year on Television first appeared on Soap Opera Network.
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