BREAKING NEWS | Judi Evans’ Shocking Departure from Days of Our Lives After 20 Years – Is This the End of Adrienne and Bonnie Forever?

For Days of Our Lives fans, the past few weeks have been a swirl of uncertainty, heartbreak, and speculation. The absence of Judi Evans—an actress who has embodied not just one but two unforgettable characters in Salem’s history—has left a void as gaping as any shocking death or long-lost twin twist. Now, whispers across fan forums and social media suggest Evans may be stepping away from the iconic soap after two decades of captivating performances. If true, this marks the end of an era for DOOL, and the consequences could forever alter the Kiriakis family and Salem itself.

A Void in Salem

The Peacock screens feel dimmer without Evans’ presence. The Kiriakis mansion—normally a battleground of loyalty, love, and betrayal—has grown quiet, missing the unpredictable spark of Bonnie Lockhart. For months, Bonnie’s brash humor and chaotic energy have been absent, and Adrienne’s absence, still haunting years after her tragic death, echoes louder than ever. Fans are asking the same gut-punching question: is Judi Evans truly gone for good, or is this just another carefully orchestrated soap misdirection designed to keep viewers on edge?

Adrienne’s Death: A Turning Point That Shook Salem

To understand why Evans’ potential exit feels so devastating, we must revisit her characters’ seismic storylines. In 2020, Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis—beloved matriarch, survivor of abuse, and unshakable heart of the Kiriakis family—met a tragic end in a car crash. It wasn’t just another soap death. Adrienne’s demise struck like a thunderclap. Her final moments, filled with fear, heartbreak, and unfinished words, were portrayed by Evans with such raw, visceral emotion that fans openly wept in their living rooms.

The fallout was immense. Justin Kiriakis was left shattered, his grief spilling into every storyline. Sonny, Adrienne’s son, was forced to navigate life without his fiercest supporter. And for the audience, it was a wound that never fully healed. Adrienne wasn’t simply another character—she was a cornerstone, a symbol of resilience.

The Resurrection of Bonnie Lockhart

But in true Salem fashion, Adrienne’s death didn’t mean Evans was gone. Instead, she reemerged in the role of Bonnie Lockhart, Adrienne’s scheming, outrageous doppelgänger who had long lurked in Salem’s shadows. With bleach-blonde hair, a wicked sense of humor, and a knack for chaos, Bonnie was Adrienne’s wild opposite.

Evans slipped into the role seamlessly, delivering campy charm and razor-sharp comedic timing while still grounding Bonnie with vulnerability. From her outrageous scams to her ill-fated elevator plunge earlier this year, Bonnie brought levity and unpredictability to Salem. Her marriage to Justin—once unthinkable—was both a shocking twist and a testament to Evans’ ability to transform even the wildest storylines into heartfelt drama.

Yet now, Bonnie too has disappeared from screens. And the silence surrounding her absence is deafening.

Behind the Scenes: Silence and Speculation

As of late September 2025, there has been no official confirmation from NBC Universal or the Days production team. No press release. No farewell post from Evans herself. Her social media, usually filled with behind-the-scenes glimpses and cheerful reflections, has been unusually quiet.

This silence has only fueled speculation. Some fans suggest contract disputes may have played a role, pointing to the industry’s turbulent shifts post-strike and Peacock’s evolving streaming strategy. Others whisper of creative burnout—after decades of pouring herself into Adrienne and Bonnie, perhaps Evans needed a break from the relentless emotional intensity of daytime storytelling.

Whatever the reason, the uncertainty itself has become its own storyline, gripping fans with as much intensity as any Salem murder mystery.

Ripple Effects in Salem

If Evans’ departure is permanent, the impact on Days of Our Lives will be monumental.

• Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth) will be left adrift once again, losing both Adrienne and Bonnie in different ways. His heartbreak could open the door to darker storylines—grief, anger, or even dangerous entanglements.
• Sonny Kiriakis will face the painful reminder that the Kiriakis family matriarch is gone, forcing him to step into a leadership role sooner than expected.
• The Kiriakis Legacy itself is at risk. Without Adrienne’s grounding presence or Bonnie’s chaotic charm, the family’s dynamic will shift dramatically, potentially leaving Victor’s empire vulnerable to rivals.
• Salem at Large loses one of its most versatile figures. Adrienne’s resilience gave voice to real-world issues like domestic abuse, while Bonnie’s antics provided comedic relief amid tragedy. Without Evans, that delicate balance of drama and levity will be harder to maintain.

Judi Evans: A Life in Drama

Part of why this departure feels so seismic is the actress herself. Judi Evans has been a daytime staple since her teenage years, winning a Daytime Emmy at just 19 for her role on Guiding Light. She has lived, breathed, and redefined what it means to be a soap actress—shifting seamlessly between vulnerability and strength, heartbreak and humor.

Offscreen, Evans’ life has been marked by triumphs and unimaginable tragedy. From her circus beginnings to her celebrated career in daytime, and through the heartbreaking loss of her son in 2019, she has shown resilience and grace that mirror her characters’ journeys. That resilience made Adrienne’s strength and Bonnie’s defiance all the more believable.

Is This Really Goodbye?

And yet, in Salem, goodbye rarely means forever. Fans know the soap gods love a resurrection. Stefano returned countless times. Bo Brady’s death didn’t last. Characters have washed ashore, risen from the grave, and returned from the shadows more times than fans can count.

Could Bonnie’s silence be the setup for a dramatic return? Could Adrienne herself—thought dead for years—be revealed as alive after all, hidden away in a twist no one saw coming?

The possibilities keep fans glued to their screens, hoping against hope that Evans’ story isn’t truly over.

The Final Curtain—or Just Another Act?

For now, all we have is silence, speculation, and the memory of Evans’ indelible performances. But one thing is certain: whether or not she returns, Judi Evans has left an unshakable mark on Days of Our Lives. Her ability to embody both Adrienne’s heartbreaking strength and Bonnie’s chaotic fire is unmatched, and her absence leaves a hole in Salem that no one else can fill.

In soaps, absence often signals the beginning of something bigger. Maybe this is a farewell. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the setup for an encore worthy of Salem’s most unpredictable leading ladies.