Brady Black

Brady Black
Eric Martsolf as Brady Black
Days of our Lives character
Portrayed by	Kyle Lowder (2000–05) Eric Martsolf (2008—) (and others)
Duration	1992–2005, 2008—
First appearance	May 19, 1992 (May 19, 1992)
Created by	Richard J. Allen Beth Milstein
Introduced by	Ken Corday Al Rabin
Classification	Present, regular
Profile
Aliases	Brady Kiriakis
Occupation	CEO of Titan Industries Partner in Basic Black Former Vice CEO of Titan Industries Manager of Blue Note Manager for Chloe Lane Employee at Basic Black
Kyle Lowder as Brady Black
Family Family Kiriakis Parents John Black Isabella Toscano Stepparents Marlena Evans Siblings Belle Black Sami Brady (step) Eric Brady (step) D.J. Craig (step) Spouse Chloe Lane (2005–08) Grandparents Victor Kiriakis Loretta Toscano Leopold Alamain (adoptive) Philomena Alamain (adoptive) Aunts and uncles Bo Brady Philip Kiriakis Nieces and nephews Claire Brady Will Horton (step) Johnny DiMera (step) Allie Horton (step) Sydney DiMera (step) First cousins Shawn-Douglas Brady Chelsea Brady Zack Brady Ciara Brady Tyler Kiriakis

Brady Victor Black is a character on the NBC Daytime soap opera Days of our Lives. He is the son of John Black and Isabella Toscano^[1] and an heir to Greek tycoon Victor Kiriakis. Widely recognized as portrayed by adult actor Kyle Lowder, the role of Brady has been portrayed by Eric Martsolf since 2008.

The character is notable for being related to many of the most powerful (and notorious) individuals and families in Salem. Brady Black is the son of John Black, the stepson of Marlena Evans, the grandson of Greek mobster-turned-business tycoon Victor Kiriakis,^[2] and the nephew of Philip Kiriakis.

Casting

The character was initially played by Alex, Max, and Dash Lucero from May 1992 to September 1994, and subsequently by Eric and Brandon Billings from October 1994 to July 1999. The character was then announced to be re-introduced as a teen with actor Kyle Lowder who debuted in August 2000.^[3]

In September 2008, it was announced that NBC has passed on renewing Lowder's contract with Days of our Lives.^[4] He last aired September 15, 2005. Lowder later went on to become the third adult actor to portray Rick Forrester on the CBS Daytime series The Bold and the Beautiful.^[5] Lowder first aired on the series in 2007, until he was let go from the CBS soap due to lack of storyline.^[6]

In August 2008, it was announced that Brady would return to the series. Former Passions actor Eric Martsolf was cast to bring the character back to Salem.^[7][8] He first aired in the role on November 13, 2008.

Storylines

Backstory

Brady is raised during the first years of his life by his widowed father, John Black. After the death of Brady's mother, John Black embarks on a tempestuous affair with his former wife, Marlena Evans, which results in the birth of Brady's sister, Belle named after his mother, Isabella Toscano. Roman Brady divorces Marlena after discovering her affair with John. Though John by then is involved in a troubled relationship with the duplicitous Kristen Blake, John and Marlena opt to raise Brady and Belle together. Kristen's lies are eventually exposed, and John and Marlena happily remarry. Despite a happy childhood, Brady becomes bitterly resentful toward Marlena, the only mother he has ever known.

2000–05

Brady returns to Salem as a spoiled, disrespectful teenaged loner who lashes out at everyone. As a result, he is distrusted by many, including his stepmother Marlena, as well as his uncle, Philip Kiriakis, who considers him a freak. However, Chloe Lane, Philip's girlfriend, sees a glimmer of her once ostracized-self in Brady and develops a friendship with him which eventually turns into something more. The couple marry in 2005, and move to Vienna. By then, Brady had long-since resolved his animosity toward his step-mother, Marlena, becomes a loving son and brother, as well as a responsible, promising executive in his father's fashion and publishing company, Basic Black.

Leaving the safety of Salem for Vienna in 2005 however, Brady becomes addicted to drugs. Blaming Chloe for his addiction, Victor kidnaps Brady and places him in a drug rehabilitation clinic. Brady blames Chloe for his addiction and subsequently files for divorce.

2008–10

Brady returned to Salem in November 2008 after beating his addiction. Divorced from Chloe Lane, he comes back to Salem to talk things out with her and reunite with his troubled family. Brady and Chloe eventually come to terms with the end of their marriage and decide to remain friends. Brady sensitively deals with a father who does not remember him. Supporting Marlena in her quest to help John regain his memory, Brady foils the plot for revenge leveled against his stepmother, and masterminded by none other than his father's therapist, Dr. Charlotte Taylor.

Brady also makes peace with his old flame, Nicole Walker, who was pregnant at the time with EJ DiMera's child. As a peace offering, going through his own recovery, he offered to be her shoulder if she needed help with not drinking while carrying the child. When Nicole suffers a miscarriage, she confides in Brady about it, deeming she would continue to fake her pregnancy, something Brady was not taking kindly to. Brady soon enters into a relationship with Arianna Hernandez, sister of Rafe Hernandez. After proposing to Arianna, she was blackmailed by Nicole for the Salem muggings. Unable to convince Brady of her innocence, she broke off the engagement. Determined to reconcile her relationship with Brady, Nicole begins to romance him and they rekindle their broken relationship. Brady soon began drinking once again, providing worry for his close family and friends. Brady's life continued to downward spiral when Arianna was killed in a hit-and-run car accident. Nicole and Brady subsequently ended their relationship once again when Nicole made an arrange with EJ, in order for visitation with his daughter, Sydney. But when EJ cheated on Nicole with Taylor, Nicole and Brady realized they both still loved each other, and reunited. However, the relationship ended when both of them felt like they had "fizzled out", and they decided to be good friends as Nicole vowed to be independent. However, Nicole eventually reunited with EJ.

2011—

In 2011, Titan acquired Mad World Cosmetics, and with it came the feisty CEO of the company, Madison James (Sarah Joy Brown). After fighting the sexual tension between them, the two eventually sleep together and begin a relationship. Brady also reconciled with his father, John, who returned to town in September at the new Horton Town Square ceremony. In early 2012, Brady decided to leave Titan to go back into business with his father at Basic Black. After proposing and it being turned down, Madison's husband Ian McAllister arrived in town, causing a further rift between Madison and Brady.

References