Eric Brady is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on NBC/Peacock, played since 2012 by Greg Vaughan, the longest tenured actor in the role. Eric was introduced in the episode of October 16, 1984, together with his twin sister, Sami Brady.
Initially played by a series of child actors, Jensen Ackles was cast in the role of Eric when the character was rapidly-aged from a pre-teen to a young adult in July 1997 under the pen of headwriter James E. Reilly. Ackles' Eric appeared for three years until August 2000, when he departed. Vaughan portrayed Eric from 2012 to 2024, remaining with the serial for 12 years, longer than any other portrayer in the role.
Eric and Sami are the children of supercouple Roman Brady and Marlena Evans. The twins Eric and Sami care deeply about each other, but have completely different personalities. Eric's saintly behavior sets him up as the better half to his very troubled and trouble-making sister Sami. A notable storyline for Eric is his passionate, but frustrated, love affair with Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). Having once been a priest, Eric is a community-orientated person, briefly running the Horton Center, which helps people in need.
Both Ackles and Vaughan's performances have been met with favorable reception from audiences and critics. Ackles received three Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 1998, 1999 and 2000, as well as a Soap Opera Digest Award in 1998. Vaughan received the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2018.
Casting
As a baby, Eric was portrayed by Rory Beauregard (October 19, 1984, to May 30, 1985) and Jesse Davis (December 6, 1985, to March 17, 1986). Child actor Edward Palma appeared briefly when Eric was rapidly-aged about two years (August 7 to September 9, 1986), and then child actor Bradley Hallock played Eric over an almost six-year period (December 18, 1986, to July 1, 1992). In 1997, Scotty Hauser portrayed Eric in a voiceover.
Jensen Ackles took up the role of Eric as a regular player on July 28, 1997. Ackles had auditioned for the role of Eric several times before he was actually hired. The extensive process led to him rethinking his budding career as an actor. In the summer of 2000, during an interview Soap Opera Digest, Ackles revealed he would soon exit from the series after obtaining a development deal with ABC. Ackles' final appearance was on August 23, 2000, but Ackles thought that he might return. In December 2000, it was reported that NBC had approached Ackles to reprise the role in early 2001, but he had respectfully declined. Reports also surfaced that the producers had considered actor Shane McDermott, who was previously known for his portrayal of Scott Chandler on ABC's All My Children to take over the role, but executive producer Ken Corday shot down the rumors, saying there were no plans to recast the role.
In February 2011, it was reported that Greg Vaughan, known for his roles as General Hospitals Lucky Spencer and The Young and the Restlesss Diego Guittierez, had turned down a testing deal with Days. But when in June 2012 Soap Opera Digest announced that Vaughan would star in the Hallmark movie Second Chances alongside Alison Sweeney (who plays Eric's twin sister Sami on Days) rumors abounded that Days might really be interested in Vaughan for the role of Eric, with TV Guide's Nelson Branco reporting that several sources were saying Vaughan had signed on as Eric, despite no confirmation from NBC. The next month, Soaps In Depth confirmed that Vaughan was set to join Days, and on August 8, 2012, Soap Opera Digest revealed he had begun taping as Eric Brady. His first air date was later confirmed as November 13, 2012. Vaughan told soap journalist Michael Fairman that when he initially auditioned for the role of Eric, he was rejected – but now he was happy that he had earned the job instead of having it handed to him.
Vaughan had a short break from Days of Our Lives in 2016, when he took up opportunities to appear on Queen Sugar and Lucifer. Vaughan returned to playing Eric in the episode of January 17, 2017. In July 2020, he announced he wrapped up his run as Eric prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown; he exited during the September 23 episode. He then returned in July 2021, and from December 27 to 29 of that same year. He also appeared on the spinoff movie, Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem Christmas, which premiered on December 16, 2021.
In August 2023, Jason Gerhardt filled in for Vaughan as Eric Brady for five episodes while Vaughan recovered from COVID-19.
On July 30, 2024, Vaughan announced his exit from the role, with his final appearance debuting the day prior. In statements on social media, he cited as his exit as "not my choice". Soap Opera Digest, however, reported the day of Vaughan's final scenes it would not be the "last fans will see of Eric." Vaughan returned to the role in November 2025 in a guest capacity.
Development On April 30, and May 1, 1998, LeAnn Rimes made a two-episode guest appearance in the series as a teenage runaway, Madison, and Eric keeps her from getting arrested when she steals some food. Eric is drawn to Madison because she reminds him of Sami. Eric takes her to his grandparents home and lets her spend the night before his aunt Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) convinces her that living a life on the street isn't what she wants. Eric goes to take Madison to the bus stop so she can return home and she apparently develops some romantic feelings for him. She promises to return to Salem some day.
Eric always appears to be the more level headed of the twins and usually tries to talk sense into his sister, Sami. At the time of Eric's departure in 2000, he is very confused about his life. In mid August 2012, Kristian Alfonso posted a picture on Twitter of herself, Vaughan and a few co-stars, with Vaughan wearing a clerical collar which immediately led to speculation that the character of Eric had become a priest. Greg Vaughan revealed in an interview with Soaps In Depth that "Eric had been at a place in his life where his relationships had all gone awry." Eric needs a more clear cut path for his life and goes off to a third world country to work as a photojournalist. The unstable environment triggers something in Eric and he enters the priesthood. In December 2012, Vaughan revealed to TV Source Magazine that the series would soon delve into Eric's past, and what led to him becoming priest. Vaughan like many others was skeptical about the character of Eric being re-introduced as a priest. However, Vaughan looked at the plot twist as a challenge. "It's been a growing process for the character," said Vaughan. Upon Vaughan's introduction, Eric and Sami are still very close as she is the first person that he informs about his decision to become a priest. Despite him being away, Sami is "confidant and connection" to their family and the rest of Salem. When asked about Eric possibly falling for Nicole again, Vaughan said that Eric was a lot older and wiser, and could see Nicole's schemes coming. However, Vaughan said that the duo would be very platonic friends and praised the writers for the pacing and allowing the relationship to grow organically. Vaughan said that viewers would begin to notice an emotional "tug of war" between Nicole and Eric as they try to work out their feelings.
Storylines Eric and his twin sister, Samantha "Sami" Brady were born in 1984 to Roman Brady and his wife, Marlena Evans. Eric is named after his great uncle, Eric Brady Sr. Following their mother's supposed death in the spring of 1987, the twins are sent to live with Marlena's parents, Frank and Martha in Colorado. However, the twins continue appearing onscreen through frequent visits to Salem. Eric last appears as a child in the summer of 1992, and the twins are rapidly-aged off-screen. Whilst Sami re-arrives in Salem in 1993 as a sixteen-year old in 1993, Eric stays a while longer in Colorado with his grandparents, arriving back in Salem in 1997. Eric and Sami have four half-siblings: their paternal half siblings are Carrie, Rex, and Cassie Brady. Belle Black is their maternal half-sister, and Brady Black is their stepbrother.
Eric returns home to Salem in the summer of 1997, and he is against his mother's relationship with John Black. Meanwhile, he suspects Sami of faking amnesia to get Austin Reed to fall in love with her. With the help of Carrie and her friend, Mike Horton, Eric helps uncover Sami's schemes just before her wedding to Austin. The group also reveals that Sami's son Will was actually fathered by Lucas Roberts, not Austin as Sami has been claiming. Sami is furious with Eric for his betrayal but she soon forgives him when she realizes he did not intend to hurt her. Eric soon realizes he is being stalked by an old schoolmate, Jed Fox. Eric had previously been accused of date rape when Jed was the actual culprit. Jed threatens to kill Sami unless Eric takes responsibility for the rape; however, Eric convinces Jed to admit to his crimes and accept his punishment. Eric later develops an infatuation with the waitress Nicole Walker. Eric begins working as a photographer for Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics and tries to get Nicole hired as a model. Nicole and Eric eventually begin dating, but the relationship is strained thanks to Nicole's checkered past. When Eric focuses his attention on Sami's upcoming murder trial, Nicole falls for Lucas. Eric soon falls for an older woman, Greta Von Amberg, and he breaks up with Nicole when she suddenly marries Lucas in 1999. Sami is convicted of murder and sentenced to death, leaving her family devastated. Fortunately, Lucas admits to the crime to save Sami, and his mother, Kate Roberts, gets a dying man to write a false confession to the murder, freeing both Sami and Lucas. Eric's relationship with Greta is strained because he still has lingering feelings for Nicole. Greta realizes that Eric will never get over Nicole and ends the relationship. After nearly being killed in a railway, Eric decides to leave Salem. Eric leaves town in July 2000 after he admits to Nicole that he will always love her. In June 2008, Sami revealed that Eric had been in a car accident in Colorado. Though he doesn't suffer any serious injuries, Marlena rushes to his side.