John Oliver’s public dream of appearing on a soap opera became reality when “Days of Our Lives” executive producer Ken Corday decided to make it happen. After the “Last Week Tonight” host expressed his wish to star in the daytime drama during a March episode of his HBO show, Corday’s creative team sprang into action the following morning to develop a suitable storyline for the late-night personality.
Oliver played Devlin St. John, the city’s eccentric water inspector, across three episodes that aired in early August. The producers crafted the role to leverage Oliver’s comedic talents while fulfilling his specific requirements: being slapped by another character, playing someone’s mysterious long-lost relative, and receiving a dramatic close-up shot. Oliver appeared alongside cast members including Susan Seaforth Hayes and Jacée Harry, fully immersing himself in the soap opera experience despite being primarily known for his comedy work.
Executive producer Corday praised Oliver’s professionalism on set, noting that the comedian arrived as a serious actor prepared to match the show’s demanding production schedule of nine episodes weekly. Oliver’s character ventured into dramatic territory, which the performer handled skillfully while demonstrating complete command of his dialogue throughout filming.
As “Days of Our Lives” approaches its 61st anniversary, Corday remains open to future guest appearances. He expressed interest in potentially welcoming other high-profile actors including Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, and Ryan Gosling to the long-running series.
Originally reported by Variety →
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