Returning to the set of “Days of Our Lives” for another story arc centered around the late John Aniston and his character, Victor Kiriakis, is a bittersweet experience for actress Louise Sorel, who played Vivian. Sorel, who shared many scenes with Aniston as one of Victor’s many wives, has fond memories of their time together.
However, his absence casts a long shadow.
A Haunting Reminder: Facing John Aniston’s Absence Head-On
In a recent interview, Sorel shared a particularly moving experience from her return to the show.
“When I came back [to film for the first time since Aniston died], I had an incredibly strange experience,” she recounts. “They put me in John’s dressing room, and that was chilling for me. I’d had the room next to him, but they put me in his room, and it was emotional.”
The emotion was palpable, as Sorel explains.
“That was the room that John had for years, and he was such a sweetheart,” she says. “He was just so witty and gentle and lovely to work with, but gone. And you just have to deal with it. You have to put it somewhere. I’ve lost very close friends recently, and it’s a horrible loss.
And then we go on.”
A Touch of Irony: Dick Van Dyke Takes Over John Aniston’s Dressing Room
While Sorel’s initial return to the set was filled with bittersweet emotions, another memorable event occurred as she prepared to wrap up filming.
“The last day I worked, I came into my room, which had just a couch, a table, and a chair in it, and there was a bed in there,” Sorel recalls. “I thought, ‘Wait a minute. That can’t be for me. I don’t need a bed. I’ve never had a bed in my dressing room.’ Then I thought, ‘Somebody important must be coming here.
Sorel’s instincts were right. A very important “somebody” was moving into Aniston’s old dressing room: Dick Van Dyke, who was joining the show as Timothy Robicheaux, John’s father. Van Dyke would later win a Daytime Emmy Award for his performance as John’s father.
“It was Dick Van Dyke,” reveals Sorel. “But I never got to meet him, because I was finished and gone before he started.”
A Glimpse into the Past: Louise Sorel’s Parisian-Inspired Dressing Room
Sorel had a truly unique dressing room during her previous time on “Days of Our Lives.” It was beautifully decorated, and she even hired an artist to paint a Parisian mural on one of the walls.
Unfortunately, the mural no longer exists.
“It was erased… gone,” Sorel notes. “Actually, Suzanne [Rogers, who plays Maggie] has that room, and she’s done a lovely job with it. It’s warm and comfortable. She’s got great taste. DAYS sometimes gives me that room when I’m there, if Suzanne’s not there.
Sorel’s experiences on “Days of Our Lives” serve as a reminder of the show’s enduring legacy and the impact that actors like John Aniston have had on its history. While his absence is felt deeply, the show continues to honor his memory with heartfelt tributes and the continued stories of the characters he brought to life.
