Susan Banks - wikipedia Susan Banks Susan Banks Eileen Davidson as Susan Banks Days of Our Lives character Portrayed by Eileen Davidson ( 1996 -- 98, 2014 -- 17 ) Brynn Thayer ( 2011 ) Duration 1996 -- 98 2011 2014 2017 First appearance November 4, 1996 ( 1996 - 11 - 04 ) Last appearance November 21, 2017 ( 2017 - 11 - 21 ) Created by James E. Reilly Classification Former ; guest Profile Other names Kristen Blake Residence Memphis Family Siblings Sister Mary Moira Banks Thomas Banks Penelope Kent Spouse John Black ( 1997 ) Edmund Crumb ( 1998 -- ? ) Sons EJ DiMera Grandchildren Johnny DiMera Sydney DiMera Grace Brady ( legal ) Susan Banks is a fictional character on NBC 's daytime drama Days of Our Lives. She was played by Eileen Davidson from November 4, 1996 to April 8, 1998, and again in 2014 and 2017. Susan is the mother of Elvis `` EJ '' DiMera, and once acted as Kristen Blake 's doppelganger. In November 2011, it was announced that Brynn Thayer would take over the role of Susan, since Davidson was committed to The Young and the Restless. Thayer made her appearance on December 7, 2011. In June 2012, it was announced that Davidson would reprise the role of Kristen Blake, along with her doppelganger, Susan Banks. In July 2012, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed Davidson to reprise the role of Kristen Blake in October 2012. In January 2014, it was announced that Davidson would be returning to Days for three - month story arc after having departed with the show in November 2013. In late September 2014, it was announced that Davidson would reprise her role as Susan Banks ; her first time portraying the character in 16 years. Davidson returned to the role once again on November 2, 2017. She reprised the role of Susan 's sister, Sister Mary Moira on November 21, 2017. Contents 1 Casting 2 Development 3 Storylines 3.1 1996 -- 98 3.2 2011 3.3 2014 3.4 2017 4 Reception 5 References 6 External links Casting The decision to create a storyline in which Stefano hires a doppelganger to impersonate Kristen Blake demanded that the Days producers cast an actress who resembled Davidson. Actress, Brenda Epperson was considered for the role, an actress Davidson suggested to replace her in her role as Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless, due to their uncanny resemblance. Instead of casting Epperson, or any actress for that matter, Davidson suggested that she play both roles : Kristen and her alter. The show ultimately agreed. On rehearsing, Davidson related : `` I had a tape recorder and I would read the scene and turn it off when the character I was supposed to be talked. I ran lines that way. The major way that I knew it was working was because the crew was laughing, and I was laughing, we were cracking up all the time. '' Due to the sixteen - hour work days ( including Saturdays ) Davidson spent on the Days set led to her developing digestive problems and insomnia. `` They worked me to death. I was at the end of my contract, I was going to leave after the first year I played Susan. And they asked me to stay an additional year to finish off the storyline, so I did. '' The gruel from playing upwards of five characters led to Davidson 's departure from the show. Post-Days, head writer James E. Reilly called Davidson personally to apologize for working her ' into the ground. ' He told her that he could n't help it ; he felt inspired by her. `` That 's OK. You know I volunteered to play both characters ! '' Davidson responded. In 2011, Days was unable to obtain Davidson, who was working on The Young and the Restless at the time, to reprise the role of Susan. A recast was made with actress Brynn Thayer filling in. Thayer was asked to research the character by watching old clips of Davidson as Susan on YouTube. The show decided to show only the back of Thayer 's head as Susan, who takes a phone call from Salem. Per Davidson 's agreement in 2012 to return to the soap, a stipulation was included in her contract : Lisa Williams, who acted as her double in her mid-90s Days stint, would be re-hired if need be. Davidson returned to the soap under the assumption that she would be portraying Susan Banks, with just a little bit of Kristen DiMera. Ultimately, Banks would never reappear. However, in September 2013, a tribute of sorts was made to the late James E. Reilly when Kristen, who needs to go undercover, uses Susan 's teeth as a disguise. Davidson had taken Susan 's teeth with her before leaving the soap in 1998. Prior to her 2014 return, Davidson was alerted that her storyline would include Susan Banks. `` They told me, but they also knew that I was up for it. '' Lisa Williams returned as Davidson 's double. Davidson reprised her role in November 2017. In 2017, head writer Ron Carlivati discussed the decision behind having Susan Banks being responsible for Will Horton 's disappearance and resurrection, stating : `` When we went to explore who might have a motivation to initiate Will 's disappearance or Will 's death, Susan came to mind, and we came up with a story that would require ( Eileen Davidson ) involved. '' Carlivati admitted his reluctance to this decision, due to Davidson 's commitment to The Young and the Restless, even considering a recast for the role, however, deemed that `` trickier ''. Davidson announced that her scenes became a collaborative effort as Carlivati was unfamiliar with Susan and was relying on others to fill him in -- `` But who better than, you know, the person that played her ? (... ) ( Ron ) was very open to hearing my input, and when I thought that it was maybe too broad, he would let me change it or cut it or whatever I needed to do. It 's easy to write Susan broad, and it 's easy to play her broad. So it 's always, like, trying to pull it back, but also showing the flavor of her personality. '' Development While James E. Reilly created the character, Davidson was the driving force behind the character 's personality. `` Susan was supposed to be insecure from a small town, not very worldly, basically kind of ignorant. She had an innocence. I based a lot of it on innocence, not necessarily ignorance. But she was very intelligent in a certain way. She was good at getting what she wanted. '' Davidson would have a lot of input into all of the characters she portrayed, including wardrobe and hairstyles. Reilly added Susan 's obsession with Elvis Presley. On Susan 's voice, Davidson states : `` For the voice, I just went up a couple of octaves and threw in a Southern accent. It was easy. '' Besides the characters Kristen and Susan Banks, Davidson would go on to play an assortment of Susan 's family members : Sister Mary Moira ( a nun ), Thomas Banks, and Penelope Kent. Storylines 1996 -- 98 In August 1996, Kristen is hospitalized after an explosion kills her mother and she miscarries her child. Stefano soon reappears in Salem and hires Kristen 's lookalike Susan Banks to carry a child that Kristen would raise as her and John 's. With the help of her father and Peter, Kristen fakes her pregnancy. When Susan goes into labor, Kristen disguised as a nurse is forced to watch as John marries Susan, believing she is really Kristen. Kristen gets custody of the child long enough to name him John Black, Jr. and Susan soon returns to claim her child and husband. Kristen enlists Vivian Alamain ( Louise Sorel ) and Ivan in keeping Susan locked in a secret room but Marlena puts the pieces together and Kristen is forced to lock her away. When Susan discovers the truth, sick of Kristen 's manipulations she locks Kristen inside the room and attempts to marry John until Laura Horton ( Jamie Lyn Bauer ) confronts her at the wedding. After being rejected by John due to her scheming, Kristen 's failed attempt to kill Marlena lands her in jail. After being released on bail, she attempts suicide after hearing about John and Marlena 's engagement. She then reveals Marlena 's presumed dead husband, Roman Brady ( now Josh Taylor ) ; John and Kristen then pretend to marry to keep Roman becoming suspicious. When John and Stefano ruin her attempt to get back Susan 's son, Elvis ( a.k.a. John, Jr. ), she reveals that Roman and Marlena have been seeing one another. Kristen 's attempt to force Susan into giving the child back ends with the death of Susan 's identical sister, Penelope Kent. Fearing she 'll be charged with murder, Kristen pretends to be Susan and is forced to marry Susan 's boyfriend, Edmund Crumb ( Adam Caine ). In the meantime, `` Susan '' and Edmund go on a honeymoon and Laura is arrested for Kristen 's murder. Edmund admits to Kristen 's `` murder '' and they soon run into the real Susan who explains that Kristen sold her into a harem ; it is then revealed that the dead person was Susan 's other sibling, Penelope Kent. To get revenge against Kristen, Susan exchanges her freedom for Kristen to be sold to the harem. 2011 In December 2011, Bo ( Peter Reckell ) and Hope ( Kristian Alfonso ) come across an ornament owned by Alice Horton. Tucked inside it they find a letter written by Susan asking Alice for help with Elvis who was sick and needed a doctor. The letter is to be extended to Stefano. Bo finds Susan 's phone number in England and Hope decides to call her. Hope inquires the significance of the letter to Susan ( Brynn Thayer ) who becomes nervous that Elvis is in trouble. Susan inadvertently reveals that Alice helped Elvis, and Stefano visited her after Elvis was better. Realizing that she 's said too much, Susan pretends that the phone line has a bad connection and hangs up. 2014 Susan turns up on the DiMera Mansion doorstep. She 's come to visit EJ. She 's had a premonition that he 's in grave danger. She attempts to convince him to return to England with her. Susan also does n't think that Sami ( Alison Sweeney ) is the right woman for him to be with ; she sees her as nothing but trouble. She reveals why she allowed Stefano, who she says is evil, raise him : she and Edmund could n't provide the life that he could. Susan refers to EJ and her `` first born, '' suggesting that she 's had more children after him. Susan is left alone in the mansion and decides to pay John a visit in the hospital. She goes to open the door to leave and is greeted by Kristen who is standing there. The two trade barbs ; Susan rushes out after Kristen gets Stefano on the phone. Susan visits an unconscious John in the hospital. She talks about their almost wedding and before going, leaves a photo from the nuptials. 2017 The hunt for Will Horton ( Chandler Massey ) leads Sami, John and Marlena to a house in Memphis occupied by Roger, an Elvis impersonator and Susan Banks. While toting a rifle and standing in a bedroom whose walls are adorned with the initials `` EJ '', Susan reveals that she paid Dr. Wilhelm Rolf to revive Will as part of a revenge plot against Sami. Susan holds Sami responsible for EJ 's death ; it 's caused her to spiral out of control as well as ended her marriage to Edmund. Susan is adamant that Rolf 's revival did n't work. However, Will, identifying himself as EJ, is found alive and working in a bar in Memphis. Friends and family try desperately to convince him that he 's been brainwashed by his `` mother '' Susan and to return to Salem. When Roger confirms that Susan is n't Will 's biological mother, Susan suffers a mental breakdown and is hospitalized. Will decides to return to Salem to learn about his former life. Reception Davidson 's performance earned her her first Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1998. References Jump up ^ `` Brynn Thayer To DAYS ! ''. Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. 2012 - 11 - 18. Retrieved September 21, 2014. Jump up ^ Fairman, Michael ( 2012 - 06 - 26 ). `` Eileen Davidson Rejoins Days of our Lives as Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks ! ''. Michael Fairman On - Air On - Soaps. Retrieved June 26, 2012. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Lelsey ( 2012 - 07 - 05 ). `` ' Days of Our Lives ' Favorite Eileen Davidson Returning ( Exclusive ) ''. The Hollywood Reporter. Thehollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ Logan, Michael ( January 28, 2014 ). `` Exclusive : Eileen Davidson Returns to Days of Our Lives ''. TV Guide. Retrieved January 28, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Fairman, Michael ( 2012 - 10 - 18 ). `` The Eileen Davidson Interview -- Days of our Lives ''. Michael Fairman On - Air - On - Soaps. Retrieved September 25, 2014. ^ Jump up to : Adams 2011, p. 76. Jump up ^ Lipton, Michael A. ( 1997 - 08 - 11 ). `` Daze of Their Lives ''. People Magazine. People.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Comings and Goings ''. Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 36 ( 50 ) : pg. 5. December 13, 2011. Jump up ^ `` One and Done ''. Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 38 ( 34 ) : pg. 28. August 26, 2013. Jump up ^ Logan, Michael ( 2013 ). `` Exclusive : Eileen Davidson Talks About Her Shocking Departure From Days of Our Lives ''. TV Guide. Tvguide.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014. Jump up ^ Logan, Michael ( 2012 ). `` Hot Scoop on Eileen Davidson 's Return to Days of Our Lives ''. TV Guide. Tvguide.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014. Jump up ^ Sloane, Waldron, Stephanie, Robert ( September 29, 2014 ). `` New Beginnings ''. Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 39 ( 39 ) : pg. 35. Jump up ^ Logan, Michael ( October 27, 2017 ). `` Eileen Davidson Dishes on Her ' Funny and Tragic ' Return to Days of Our Lives ''. TV Insider. United States : CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 27, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Comings and Goings ''. Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 42 ( 45 ). November 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Waldron, Robert ( November 13, 2017 ). `` ICYMI : Eileen Davidson Interview ''. Soap Opera Digest. United States : Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved November 21, 2017. Jump up ^ Adams 2011, p. 74. Jump up ^ Adams 2011, pp. 73 - 74. Jump up ^ `` Yearly Update for 1996 ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. 1996. Archived from the original on November 11, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. ^ Jump up to : `` Yearly Update for 1997 ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. 1997. Retrieved July 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 5. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 6. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 7. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Yearly Update for 1998 ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. 1998. Retrieved July 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Famous Plots : Kristen Blake DiMera ''. Sony Pictures Television. Daysofourlives.com. October 11, 2012. p. 9. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved October 12, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Cough Up That Hairball ''. Soaps.com. 2011 - 12 - 07. Retrieved September 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Event : Soap Opera Digest Awards ( 1998 ) ''. Internet Movie Database. February 26, 1998. Bibliography Adams, Alina ( 2011 ). Soap Opera 451 : A Time Capsule of Daytime Drama 's Greatest Moments. Alina Adams Media. ASIN B005NSDZYC. External links Susan Banks at soapcentral.com Days of Our Lives Current characters Vivian Alamain Brady Black John Black Caroline Brady Carrie Brady Reed Ciara Brady Claire Brady Eric Brady Hope Brady Kayla Brady Roman Brady Shawn - Douglas Brady Abe Carver Tripp Dalton Abigail Deveraux JJ Deveraux Andre DiMera Anna DiMera Chad DiMera Stefan DiMera Marlena Evans Eli Grant Valerie Grant Gabi Hernandez Rafe Hernandez Jennifer Horton Lucas Horton Maggie Horton Will Horton Adrienne Johnson Steve Johnson Parker Jonas Justin Kiriakis Sonny Kiriakis Victor Kiriakis Chloe Lane Paul Narita Lani Price Kate Roberts Doug Williams Julie Olson Williams Notable past characters Alice Horton Tom Horton Lawrence Alamain Susan Banks Belle Black Bo Brady Cassie Brady Chelsea Brady Frankie Brady Kimberly Brady Max Brady Sami Brady Shawn Brady Dr. Lexie Carver Theo Carver Liz Chandler Xander Cook Don Craig Neil Curtis Cameron Davis Jack Deveraux Daphne DiMera EJ DiMera Kristen DiMera Johnny DiMera Santo DiMera Stefano DiMera Sydney DiMera Tony DiMera Drew Donovan Eve Donovan Shane Donovan Theresa Donovan Nick Fallon Megan Hathaway Benjy Hawk Arianna Hernandez Eduardo Hernandez Addie Horton Allie Horton Bill Horton Jeremy Horton Laura Horton Marie Horton Melissa Horton Mickey Horton Nathan Horton Sarah Horton Tommy Horton Robin Jacobs Madison James Aiden Jennings Chase Jennings Joey Johnson Stephanie Johnson Daniel Jonas Melanie Jonas Calliope Jones Deimos Kiriakis Philip Kiriakis Paige Larson Bonnie Lockhart Mimi Lockhart Patrick Lockhart Carly Manning Alex Marshall Serena Mason Colin Murphy Tori Narita Celeste Perrault Austin Reed Billie Reed Curtis Reed Jordan Ridgeway Ben Rogers Jan Spears Isabella Toscano Ava Vitali Gina Von Amberg Brandon Walker Nicole Walker Taylor Walker Nancy Wesley Clyde Weston Related information Cast members Producers and writers Awards and nominations 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Doug and Julie Bo and Hope Sami and EJ John and Marlena Jack and Jennifer Steve and Kayla Shawn and Belle Lucas and Sami Will and Sonny Shane and Kimberly Salem Cruise of Deception Fictional families DiMera family Horton family Brady family Kiriakis family Johnson family Roberts family Days of Our Lives characters Present and future characters Hattie Adams Vivian Alamain Brady Black John Black Tate Black Carrie Brady Ciara Brady Claire Brady Eric Brady Hope Brady Kayla Brady Roman Brady Abe Carver Tripp Dalton Abigail Deveraux JJ Deveraux Anna DiMera Chad DiMera Stefan DiMera Thomas DiMera Eve Donovan Marlena Evans Eli Grant Valerie Grant Gabi Hernandez Rafe Hernandez Arianna Horton Jennifer Horton Lucas Horton Maggie Horton Will Horton Adrienne Johnson Steve Johnson Justin Kiriakis Sonny Kiriakis Victor Kiriakis Chloe Lane Paul Narita Lani Price Billie Reed Kate Roberts Doug Williams Julie Olson Williams Past characters Tom Horton Alice Horton Hattie Adams Lawrence Alamain Susan Banks Bart Beiderbecke Belle Black Peter Blake Eugene Bradford Bo Brady Caroline Brady Cassie Brady Chelsea Brady Frankie Brady Kimberly Brady Max Brady Rex Brady Sami Brady Shawn Brady Shawn - Douglas Brady Lexie Carver Theo Carver Liz Chandler Xander Cook Don Craig Neil Curtis Cameron Davis Anjelica Deveraux Jack Deveraux André DiMera Daphne DiMera EJ DiMera Johnny DiMera Kristen DiMera Santo DiMera Stefano DiMera Sydney DiMera Tony DiMera Drew Donovan Shane Donovan Theresa Donovan Lee DuMonde Renée DuMonde Nick Fallon Megan Hathaway Benjy Hawk Arianna Hernandez Dario Hernandez Eduardo Hernandez Addie Horton Allie Horton Bill Horton Jeremy Horton Laura Horton Marie Horton Melissa Horton Mickey Horton Nathan Horton Sarah Horton Tommy Horton Robin Jacobs Madison James Aiden Jennings Chase Jennings Joey Johnson Stephanie Johnson Daniel Jonas Melanie Jonas Parker Jonas Calliope Jones Bradford Alexander Kiriakis Deimos Kiriakis Philip Kiriakis Maxine Landis Paige Larson Bonnie Lockhart Mimi Lockhart Patrick Lockhart Carly Manning Alex Marshall Serena Mason Mia McCormick Jade Michaels Anne Milbauer Colin Murphy Tori Narita Celeste Perrault Austin Reed Billie Reed Curtis Reed Jordan Ridgeway Wilhelm Rolf Jan Spears Isabella Toscano Ava Vitali Gina Von Amberg Brandon Walker Fay Walker Nicole Walker Taylor Walker Nancy Wesley Ben Weston Clyde Weston Character lists 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s Cast members Previous cast members Producers and writers Doug and Julie Bo and Hope Sami and EJ John and Marlena Jack and Jennifer Steve and Kayla Shawn and Belle Lucas and Sami Shane and Kimberly Will and Sonny Salem Cruise of Deception Horton family Brady family DiMera family Kiriakis family Johnson family Roberts family Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Susan_Banks&oldid=811705758 '' Categories : Days of Our Lives characters Fictional characters introduced in 1996 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Nederlands Edit links This page was last edited on 23 November 2017, at 11 : 10. 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Question: who plays the role of susan banks on days of our lives
Answer: Eileen Davidson