Days of Our Lives’ Dan Feuerriegel revealed that Stefano’s shadow still calls the shots in Salem.

Lately on Days of Our Lives, EJ has found himself at the heart of ongoing power struggles and has once again driven a wedge between himself and his son, Johnny. He did warn Johnny that he was going to have to resort to ruthless tactics to exonerate the young man, but that blew up in his face when he tried to cast reasonable doubt by framing Chanel for the shooting. But things for EJ are going to get worse as the FBI and ISA have joined forces to find out why he bought University Hospital. Could this all be connected to the possible return from the dead of Stefano, who has died several times before? Dan Feuerriegel weighed in on what’s next for EJ, and maybe his dear departed dad.

The Legacy of Stefano

Feuerriegel spoke with Soaps recently and made it clear that EJ’s late father continues to be a presence in Salem, particularly at the DiMera Mansion. The actor referred to Stefano’s portrait that looms over everyone who has a conversation in the living room. He stated, “Regardless of whether you talk about it or not, the legacy is there.”

In fact, EJ himself often interacts with that portrait in a way that blends character and memory. He noted that EJ is often seen talking to the portrait, explaining, “I always go for it for advice or to get things off my chest. It’s just part of The DiMera family.” For both the actor and the character, Stefano’s (the late Joe Mascolo) shadow looms large, shaping the family’s presence in Salem.

The Weight of Inheritance

Feuerriegel also stressed that Stefano’s influence defined what The DiMeras became. “That is the DiMera legacy,” he said, adding that EJ feels his job is to keep that influence alive. Fans have noticed that Marlena (Deidre Hall) is possibly experiencing psychic dreams/memories that signal the return of Stefano, who Mascolo originally played until his death in 2016. Feuerriegel remarked that without Stefano, the family “wouldn’t be The DiMeras.”

He further noted that while being the son of a ruthless mastermind wasn’t exactly easy, Stefano was a major influence on EJ’s life. According to the actor, EJ has fully embraced who his father was, and that being raised in the shadow of Stefano “made him the man that he is today. Not very well-liked, but it’s made him the man that he is today.”