Leann Hunley Leaves Days of Our Lives.
It’s official: Leann Hunley will be following Thaao Penghlis off of Days of Our Lives!
As has been widely anticipated since Thaao’s (Tony DiMera) departure was announced last month, his on-screen partner in love, Leann Hunley (Anna DiMera), will also be leaving Salem behind. Although her official final dates have yet to be released, Anna is expected to leave around the same time that Tony makes his exit.
On March 4, she announced on her website that she finished her last day of shooting for the series. She didn’t reveal much about her finale, but said there was a lot of crying involved and offered a sincere thanks to all of her fans for their support.
Although her appearance have been few and far between, Soap Opera Fan Blog will still miss her presence terribly, but we wish her all of the best on her future endeavors. We shall keep you informed of further developments as information becomes available. Until then, enjoy this little fan made montage of some of her sweetest moment with Tony.
Please be sure to check out our Days of Our Lives daily summaries, news, actor Bios, appearances, video clips, polls, comings and goings!
Photo Credit: NBC
Fun fact! Matthew Purvis wrote this story just for you on March 5th, 2009 |
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Another great actress which was not utilized well. I’ll miss both her and Tony and the others. Days this could be a big mistake – hopefully they will survive and rebound.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Another fan favorite bites the dust! I quit watching Days when Drake and Deidre left, but check the Web occasionally – just to prove to myself that Days continues to lose the best and brightest. Thao and Leann – you will be missed!
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
shame once again…seems DOL is going down the drain. I love Anna & Tony- always have been a fan since day 1…My guess is Steve & Kayla next
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I believe Steve and Kayla is already gone???
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
with all of the vets gone now except for Bo/Hpe and Abe/Lexie it is obvious that DOOL only cares about the “young” viewers, too bad that they don’t have the “buying power” nor the long term investment that we “older” viewers have. I quit watching DOOL on the 23rd of January when John and Marlena left – this after watching since it’s inception more than 40 years ago. Way to go TPTB, thanks for ruining one of the best shows on daytime and losing those of us who stuch with it through thick and thin. IMHO the changes to save money have tolled the death knoll for this show. RIP DOOL.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I read in Soap Opera Digest that Steve and Kayla are gone. Their last day was last month sometime. the fans didnt even know it.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Tony and Anna….absolutely classic. They had the greatest chemistry literally for years. I often wondered if they really were in love with each other in real life. They could be so tender, so passionant, angry, and most especially hilariously funny. Oh my gosh, I will miss them terribly. What is the deal with DOOLs anyway? Big mistake….same with John and Marlena.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
thanks for the memories when you came back.
too bad is was for such a short time.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
NBC and Sony should be ashamed. Where is the market research, do they have any idea who watches DOOL’s? Obviously not! Or they wouldn’t contintue to let seasoned actors go. However you have given me a reason to drop cable. I will no longer need a DVR.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
we will miss you
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I haven’t watched Days in over two weeks now and you know what…I DON’T MISS IT…I never thought I would say that, but I don’t even Tivo it now…Just catch up on this website and I’m good to go…Days is going down,,,just like the economy!
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
It is such a sad time for DOOL.
It’s like what goes on in Washington D.C., no one listens to the people. I used to rush after dinner to catch up on Salem and my favorite characters. I now realize I have 5 episodes that I need to watch and that when I do, I will be fast-forwarding. I have no problem with some of the younger actors, but they don’t have the quality of the veteran actors. DAYS used to be mystery, excitement, danger, and romance. Now all you find is sex and ridiculous plots that have been so overdone. Thank you Deidre, Drake, Stephen, Mary Beth, Thaao, and LeeAnn for all the wonderful years
of your lives!
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Well you’ve done it again..taking 2 more great actors away. I agree with the ones that have watched DOOL for 40 yrs..you have ruined the show. How long til Bo and Hope leave the show. I guess it is all about the young viewers.
Sad, sad.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
The biggest problem at Days is their writters. For years I have been waiting for Tony and Anna and for Patch and Kayla to return. They finally get them back and give them stupid, pointless, going no where storylines. It is really a shame. I am just like you Sally, I used to come home and watch and now I have a weeks recorded and hardly miss it.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
DOOL sucks. All the great actors are getting the boot. Why can’t they fire _____? He may be “hot”, but to me he’s nothing but an _____
Edited for actor bashing. Please view our guidelines! SOF Admin
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
This soap needs to just die already.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
I wasn’t aware she was even still on the show! She hasn’t shown up in Salem since at least christmas, if not before.
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I feel the same as Sally. I been watching for 35+ years ..I feel like im losing friends i had for years the show is doing away with every one.Im over the show also its getting so crazy ..I feel so bad that no one from dool care about the loyal fans!!!!!!!!!!
Comment added March 5th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I feel the same as Sally and Nancy. I have been watching over 40 years ever since it aired. I feel like the show is going down the tubes. All the vets are being let go and without the vets you really don’t have a show. Just look at the other soaps they have their vets and they help to balance the soap. Days is just getting to about the young actors and actress this it not a balanced show anymore and you have lost your edge which is what the vets offered to the show.I have to agree with Sally that the writers and management doesn’t listen to the people that watch, who they do who knows because who ever it is they don’t know what is going on and they are runing the show into the ground. GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE VETS THAT HAVE LEFT GO WE WILL MISS YOU VERY MUCH.
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 9:07 am
I am so thankful to Deidre/Drake, Stephen/Mary Beth and Thaao/LeeAnn for all the years of your fine acting and entertainment. Like so many others I have been watching for over 35 years and I will miss you all. You were the backbone of this once great show and now it is nothing but a VERY “sad little” joke of a SOAP. Who are all these silly young people and WHY, OH WHY, do they just keep on coming? I am thoroughly disgusted with it and have seen my last show. I wish you all above happiness and success in whatever you end up doiong and to the execs SOON you will be on the unemployment line too!
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
I agree with ALL of you!! I watch DAYS from the very beginning, and I don’t care now if I see it or not. Unfortuately lettint the vets go ain’t just happening in TV. I have a personal connection! I was let go from my job of 34 years last June so I REALLY know how they must be feeling! The whole business world has gone mad and cowardly with the economy tanking. Just throw the “old folks” out and that will fix everything!! I DON’T THINK SO!!!! No companies or businesses are stepping up and trying to use original or creative thinking!
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I had posted some time ago that I believe TPTB want the show to end and it is one of the reasons they are letting the veterans go. If they anger the viewers and they stop watching the show then it will be canceled by the network because lack of viewership. TPTB will get what they want. The show is over.
I, too, am disgusted with the treatment of the veteran actors. If it wasn’t for them TPTB wouldn’t have had a paycheck.
Yes, Days was once a show of love, romance, adventure and mystery. It kept viewers tuning in day after day. The stories were wonderful. Now I don’t know where these writers are coming from. They sure don’t have any imagination with repetitive storylines, and trying to get the teen and twentysomethings to carry the show. The show needs a balance of young, mature and older actors. That’s what makes the stories like real life and what viewers can relate to.
If I had to have made a choice of cutting the mature actors it would have been Abe and Lexie. They have little personality and to me are a boring couple.
But it doesn’t matter what the viewers want. Days will soon be over and will be replace with another talk show or game show. I won’t be watching anymore daytime shows or much of anything else for that matter.
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
I agree with most of you “oldies bur goodies” fan of over 40+ years. This show is slowly sinking into the toilet by getting rid of the backbones of this show…the vets. Just having “the younger generation” on a show doesn’t cut it on a long-running show like this. The vets ARE THE SHOW to support the younger ones. If Ted Corday thinks his firing/letting all these people go will help his show suceed, he’s in for one RUDE AWAKENING. He should read all the soap message boards and see HOW MANY OLDER, LOYAL FANS HE HAS LEFT!!!
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Watching DOOL with my grandmother is one of my most earliest childhood memories. I have watched faithfully for 40 years. It sickens me what has happened to this show. Shame on the producers, the writers and NBC!!! Such a sad thing!!!
Comment added March 6th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
Have already stopped watching. It’s a shame as I’d watched since college. My last day was when John and Marlena left. The additional firings- Steve, Kayla, Tony, and Anna are just more of the same. Just couldn’t take the prospect of Sami-E.J., Melanie, Nicole, Lucas every day. Still check this website every once in a while to see who’s been fired lately.
Comment added March 7th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Not only have they ruined Patch and Kayla / Tony and Anna – they have a bad habit of taking once “rebel/tough guys” and turning them into wimpy, butt kissing, shells of what they once were ala Bo and Steve. This show has really ticked me off – I’ve been watching since 1978 and I’ve about had it.
Comment added March 7th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I will be the dissenting voice
While I like when they brought back the likes of Tony, and Steve and the rest of the “old cast” I think it was time for them to make the move to a younger cast.
Alot of you say this shows that NBC and the like want this show to wither on the vine, but I disagree, IMO they would have kept the older cast to let it die.
There are just so many times you can see Steve in danger, or Tony going bad, or good. The same cast for 20-30 years in the same stories simply gets old IMO.
Let the “new” blood be put in the spin cycle of Soap stories, let them grow a legacy and that is how IMO you keep the soap alive, with the transition of the older been there done almost every story possible to the young stars now in the storyline.
Plus we ALL know that most will show back up at some point.
Comment added March 7th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I agree 100% Libby. I quit when Drake and Deidre were let go. DOOL dug their grave. I had watched from day one in 1965.
Comment added March 7th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Here’s the deal…
NBC is in a fiscal mess (as is their parent company, GE). Days had their contract extended one year, but the way things are going. This will probably be the last year of the show. It costs a ton to put on a soap. Look how many people are in the credits. The salaries for the old timers are huge. The ratings are sinking as well. The firings aren’t dooming the show, the fact that ALL television programs are loosing viewers is the reason.
Comment added March 7th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Ever since Frances Reid did not show up on the Christmas eppy, we knew Days was numbered. Now with Jarlena and patch n kayla gone, Tony and Anna going to be gone, We can expect more of the firings to happen. Its sad enough to see they allowed the show to turn to crap,theres been only one storyline worth listening to that was the austim storyline, now since the firing days has manage to ryuin everything in thier wake.TPTB will never be able to showrespect nor understandinfg how we pour our hearts to watch this show for over 40 years i’m the 3rd generation in this family to watch this show hit a downward spiral, i have turned to two other shows cuz of thier fast paced story line. lets see days end on a better not with the proper send off. good luck days you’ll need it .
Comment added March 8th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I’ve watched this show since it’s beginning and can’t believe that I no longer care about it. The changes this past year have been the ruination of the show. Surely Bo, Hope, Maggie and Sami are next to go. They are the only reasons any long time viewer would have any interest in this once grand soap opera. Then the suicide of the show will be over.
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 4:02 am
I don’t care what they chose to write here.
I choose to believe that Tony and Anna are in Switzerland being good friends to John and Marlena during John’s recovery.
The person who was killed is really Andre.
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 4:04 am
I don’t care what they chose to write here. I choose to believe that Tony and Anna are in Switzerland being good friends to John and Marlena during John’s recovery. Tony, after all, is not a real DiMera.
The person who was killed is really Andre.
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I’m not surpirized by this at all. Like I said a while back, it’s not Days anymore. I haven’t watched the show for 3 weeks now and at first I missed it, but I turned it on Friday and remembered why I haven’t watched. This is such a shame getting rid of all the people that make Days and bringing in so many new faces. The must not realize how many viewers their going to lose in the long run and the show will be hit hard by the ratings. NOT COOL!
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I bid farewell to Days Of Our Lives! You will be missed.
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I have watched since 1965 and I have watched the writers make mistakes over and over again. That is what they are doing now. What they are doing to the vets is just plain wrong.
I was in the entertainment business for years and found that when money is tight, they hire the newbies and fire the vets.
Reason, for the salary of one vet you can hire three newbies. So to cut budget, that is what the show is doing. Get rid of the high paid actors and replace them with a bunch of low priced ones.
Watch out Abe & Lexie, you will be next and then Bo & Hope. No one is safe. If the new actors wants to protect their jobs, don’t ever ask for a raise.
Sorry, but that’s life in the world of show business.
Comment added March 9th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
By the way, what ever happened to Phillip? Have we all forgotten the war hero that lost his leg for his regiment? He sure does not act like any hero and his leg I guess grew back with a mircle?
I don’t like what they have done with Philip. They should have let him go and keep Marlena & John.
Comment added March 14th, 2009 at 6:38 am
DOOL is just another sad story in our country’s state of affairs. They are doing exactly what businesses all over are doing, pushing out the older, dedicated workers. So we are down to about six characters and the story never switches to other plots. Good for these actors since they seem to work everyday, how boring it has become. We won’t change their minds since it’s all about the money, not people or quality.
Comment added March 18th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I’m really not happy with the firings of Thaao and Leann. When they are gone, I’m gone as a viewer.
My website is the fan site Leann posted on. Feel free to leave a guestbook post for Leann. Thanks!
Comment added March 24th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
I’m with you ladies! The producers, writers, NBC, and Sony have killed a wonderful show. You youngsters better watch out, our beloved “Days” is going to be short-lived. I also stopped watching, just check the website a couple times a week to see what Bo,Hope,Maggie, and Sammi are up to. “Days” must have “pork in the barrel” just like the big wigs in Washington!!
Comment added March 26th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
So sad to see the best and brightest go. Tony was always suave, sexy and just dangerous enough to be even more sexy. Please save the “Real” cast of Days…. the ones we’ve loved for years. This is not Beverly Hills 90210, Dawsons Creek, or any of the other teenie shows. Life does not end at 20!!!!
Comment added April 1st, 2009 at 8:20 pm
First episode I ever watched? When Bo kidnapped Hope from her wedding to Larry and wisked her away on his motorcycle. I was instantly hooked. Now we have boring predictable plots that are continually recycled acted out by characters I have no emotional investment in. Why bother