The fan favorite actor opens up about his future on the Peacock soap opera.
Key Points
- Carson Boatman hopes to remain on Days of Our Lives for many more years.
- His character Johnny DiMera’s storyline now involves adopting a son, promising more drama.
- Boatman loves performing with Dayplayers band, which will tour ten U.S. cities in 2026.
Carson Boatman, who joined Days of Our Lives in 2020 as the legacy character Johnny DiMera, recently discussed how long he hopes to remain on the soap, what fans can expect from his upcoming storyline, and how performing on the Dayplayers has shaped his life.
Boatman appeared at the Days of Our Lives 60th anniversary celebration, where he spoke with E! correspondent Will Marfuggi during the network’s CreatorCam live broadcast.
When asked whether he expected to still be a part of the Peacock soap five years after joining, Boatman said he “hoped” he’d remain with the show. “I’m glad that I am,” he added, noting he would love “another five years,” and even joked, “I’ll take 25 or 50 if we can get it,” signaling his long-term commitment to playing Johnny DiMera.
Discussing his current storyline, Boatman said, “We just got the baby,” referencing Johnny’s newly adopted son Trey.
The actor hinted that the storyline is far from quiet, adding, “I think there’s going to be a lot of drama that’s going to surround that, as a lot of drama surrounds everything on the show.”
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Boatman also opened up about how the Dayplayers band formed with his co-stars Eric Martsolf, Wally Kurth and Brandon Barash.
“It started because Wally Kirth and I were doing a fan event in February 2021 and it was it was a musical fan event,” he explained. “We were all playing songs and we kind of were just like we should just do this ourselves.”
He added that performing with his castmates has been a highlight of his time on the show. “It’s just a bonus that I also have the honor of being in a band with these three other great guys,” Boatman said. “We have so much fun.”
The band recently announced ten new shows throughout the country for early 2026, beginning with a show on January 24, in Winter Haven, Florida.
New episodes of Days of Our Lives stream weekdays on Peacock.
Life Beyond Salem Is Already Taking Shape
Boatman isn’t simply waiting for the next acting opportunity.
Music has become an increasingly important part of his life. He has performed with The Day Players alongside fellow soap stars, and the group has continued touring for fans around the United States.
Following news of his DAYS exit, Boatman also spoke about focusing more heavily on music and releasing new material. He has described music as another way to explore different characters and stories beyond the limitations of playing one television role.
That gives fans something to look forward to even after Johnny’s Salem chapter eventually comes to an end.
A Bittersweet Goodbye Is Coming
Perhaps the most emotional part of Boatman’s story is that his departure doesn’t appear to have been his choice.
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In January, he described the closing of his Days of Our Lives chapter as bittersweet and expressed gratitude for the years he had spent with the cast and crew. He also emphasized that viewers would continue seeing Johnny for quite some time because of the show’s unusually long filming-to-air schedule.
And that is exactly what makes his current story so bittersweet.
Fans are watching Johnny build a family while knowing that, eventually, the character will disappear from the canvas.
For now, though, Johnny still has plenty to deal with: family secrets, EJ’s schemes, his relationship with Chanel, and the responsibilities that come with being a father.
