Shawn Christian is no longer on the long-running NBC soap opera Days Of Our Lives . In January 2016, the actor’s character, Dr. Daniel Jonas, died in a tragic car accident. Months later, the Last Seen In Idaho star is now talking about the soap opera and Jonas’ death. He said in an interview that he was blindsided and sucker-punched by how the character was written out of the show.
Daniel’s death on Days Of Our Lives was emotional for viewers. Jonas was killed by his good friend, Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan), who used to be a priest and turned into an alcoholic. That wasn’t the only reason for the tears, though. Daniel was engaged to be married to Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker) and left behind children, one of them being Chloe Lane’s (Nadia Bjorlin) son, Parker, who was just a little boy. There was also the issue of who would receive Jonas’ heart and it was a tough decision because both Eric and Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) were candidates. As fans know, Brady ended up with the organ, which led to another strange storyline.
However, Days Of Our Lives fans were not the only ones crying. It turns out that Shawn Christian also had tears in his eyes.
Bam! RT @DJLisaFoxx : A Dodger-style bday bash w/awesome friends ? luv u @Ari_Zucker n @ShawnC4real my @Dodgers WON! pic.twitter.com/aUQCcPmaPb
— Shawn Christian (@ShawnChristian) August 1, 2016
“I had tears spilling out of my closed eyes, and it was all I could do to stop my chest from heaving,” the former soap opera actor told CBS Soaps In Depth in the latest issue of the magazine. “I was like, ‘Wait, I can’t cry! I’m supposed to be dead! They’re gonna have to cut away because I can’t contain that kind of emotion.”
When news that Christian was leaving the soap opera made its way to fans, it was assumed the actor made the decision. However, a statement by Shawn in the interview makes it sound like the exit was a surprise. He either didn’t leave on his own or didn’t realize Days Of Our Lives writers would kill Daniel Jonas.
“I had no idea it was coming,” Christian said. “so I was part blindsided and part sucker-punched.”
However, Shawn quickly picked himself up and began working on new projects. Last Seen In Idaho is one of them, and Christian’s role in the film is very different than the person he played in Days Of Our Lives . In the movie, Shawn played the head of crime organization. He also didn’t look like Daniel Jonas at all. His hair was styled differently, seemed skinnier, but also had some muscle on him. Soap opera fans were surprised at the new look, but planned on following the actor’s new projects.
Another project Christian worked on his Lifetime’s Hidden Truth . In that TV movie, Shawn played a man who seems perfect to outsiders, but has a dark side that is kept secret. According to Shawn Christian’s Twitter account, he is also part of Famous In Love and one of the writers is Pretty Little Liars showrunner Marlene King.
Grateful to be part of this exciting new show @FamousInLoveTv . Thx for a seat in this talented cast @imarleneking pic.twitter.com/eZTbcnJMkN
— Shawn Christian (@ShawnChristian) August 5, 2016
For Days Of Our Lives fans that miss seeing Shawn Christian, there is some good news. He stars on the Internet soap opera Venice , which is going into Season 5. The actor said he hopes to keep playing Brandon in Venice . Besides acting, producing, and writing, Shawn is keeping busy with other projects, too. One includes Days Of Our Lives co-star Arianne Zucker. The two are part of Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps, located in Los Angeles.
“What’s wonderful is that we know the rewards, but now we’re understanding the day-to-day challenge of keeping these kids entertained and thriving,” Christian explained. “We allow them to have a good time but also fill them with positive virtues like self-worth.”
As for if Shawn Christian will return to Days Of Our Lives , he is open to the possibility. However, he has also accepted the fact that the door is closed and is looking forward to the future.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr , Days Of Our Lives is on a two-week break due to the 2016 Olympics . According to She Knows , Arianne Zucker has some major drama coming up with her character, Nicole Walker. She is still grieving the loss of Daniel, but it looks like she is about to move on with another man, someone who is the opposite of Jonas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldEw1po_s7k
What do you think of what Shawn Christian had to say about Daniel Jonas’ death on Days Of Our Lives ? Are you following the actor’s new projects?
[Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Days Of Our Lives]