Days of Our Lives’ Arianne Zucker Exits After More Than 20 Years as Nicole Walker — Here’s How She Left Salem
Just in time for the Paris Olympics, Days of Our Lives has sent two of its own power players to the City of Light.
Monday’s bittersweet episode ended with Nicole (Arianne Zucker) and Eric (Greg Vaughan) saying goodbye to Salem, as they prepare to begin a new life together in Paris with baby Jude. It was a relatively low-key affair, an intimate gathering of friends and family at the Brady Pub, where the newly reunited couple was celebrated with a champagne toast.
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“You have weathered so many storms just to be together,” Marlena reminded her son as she raised a glass to him and Nicole. “You are strong, you are resilient, and we are so proud of you. Eric, we know how long you’ve wanted to be a father, and you finally have your beautiful baby boy. And now you have the woman you love, who happens to be happily the mother of that baby. Who said dreams don’t come true?”
If you haven’t been keeping up with the Peacock soap in the past year, you might be a little confused right now, so here’s what you’ve missed: It was recently revealed that Eric is the biological father of Jude, the baby Nicole was raising with her on-again husband EJ. When Nicole learned that EJ had been concealing the truth about Jude’s paternity, she left him on the spot and agreed to move to Paris with Eric, who accepted a new job overseas. Despite EJ vowing to make Nicole’s life miserable, a fresh start in France with the love of her life certainly feels like a happy ending, a luxury that few Salem residents are afforded.
Nicole’s daughter Holly will not be joining her in Paris; the rebellious teenager will stick around to finish high school in Salem, where she will live at the Kiriakis Mansion under Maggie’s watchful eye. Zucker’s final episode also included a tearful goodbye between the mother and daughter, whose occasionally fraught relationship has also been patched up.
Now for the tricky part. “On a personal note, I do hope that you get to come back sometime soon,” Marlena told Eric and Nicole. And while it’s certainly possible that Eric will return to Salem for a visit in the future, we’re less confident that Nicole will join him — not without a polarizing recast, anyway.
Zucker is currently involved in a lawsuit against Corday Productions Inc., Days executive producer Ken Corday and former EP Albert Alarr, alleging that Alarr — who was fired in 2023 following multiple allegations of workplace misconduct — sexually harassed her and several other female employees on the show, leading to a contentious exit from the soap.
Frankly, it’s difficult to imagine Days of Our Lives without Nicole, an iconic character Zucker has portrayed regularly since arriving on the scene in 1998. But unless a different actress picks up the mantle, it’s a reality that fans just may have to accept.
Do you feel that Days gave Zucker a satisfying send-off? Grade Nicole’s final episode below, then drop a comment with your hopes for the character’s future. Would you like to see her again someday, even if played by a different actress?
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