Justin Kiriakis

Justin Kiriakis
Wally Kurth as Justin Kiriakis
Days of our Lives character
Portrayed by	Wally Kurth
Duration	1987–91, 2009–
First appearance	February 3, 1987
Created by	Leah Laiman
Introduced by	Betty Corday Ken Corday Al Rabin
Classification	Present, recurring
Profile
Occupation	Attorney Head Legal Counsel for Kiriakis Enterprises
Residence	Kiriakis Mansion 13201 Glen Oaks Drive Salem
Family Parents Alexander Kiriakis Christina Kiriakis Spouse Adrienne Johnson (1987–90, 1990–2010, 2011–) Children Unnamed Child (miscarriage) Alexander Kiriakis II Joey Kiriakis Victor Kiriakis II Unnamed Child (miscarriage) Sonny Kiriakis Grandparents Yurgos Kiriakis Sophie Kiriakis Demetrius Kiriakis Antonia Kiriakis Aunts and uncles Victor Kiriakis Aristotle Kiriakis Athena Kiriakis First cousins Isabella Toscano Bo Brady Philip Kiriakis Daniel Jonas (step) Other relatives Brady Black Shawn-Douglas Brady Chelsea Brady Zack Brady Ciara Brady Tyler Kiriakis Parker Jonas Claire Brady

Justin Alexander Kiriakis is a fictional character on the NBC daytime soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Leah Laiman, he is portrayed by actor Wally Kurth from February 3, 1987 to February 5, 1991. From 2007–2008, Justin was mentioned but not seen on screen. Kurth reprised the role since August 10, 2009.^[1][2] Justin is the nephew of Greek tycoon Victor Kiriakis.^[3] Justin married Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis, and together they have three sons while Justin has one by a past romance.^[3]

Casting and characterization

Wally Kurth joined DAYS in 1987 and was successfully paired with Judi Evans, who played his wife Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis. After having studied music atal theater at Loretto Heights College in Denver and theater arts at UCLA, Kurth spent a number of years working as a horse ranger, meat packer, telemarketer and appeared in several theater productions before landing his first daytime role on the NBC soap opera. Kurth was also nominated for "Hottest Male Star" at the 1996 Soap Opera Digest Awards.^[4] He remained with the show until 1991 and soon joined ABC's General Hospital as Ned Ashton that same year. He found great success in the role and remained on the show until 2007, later accepting the short-term role of Sam Hutchins on the CBS soap opera As the World Turns from 2007-2008. Outside of acting, Kurth ventured into hosting duties with his reality show 1 Day With on SOAPnet from 2004-2005, which feature him documenting the daily lives of soap stars.^[5] Kurth most recently appeared on NBC's primetime drama Law & Order: Los Angeles on April 11, 2011, which coincided with the final episode starring Skeet Ulrich.^[6] Kurth has also made a name for himself in music as the lead singer and guitarist of "Kurth & Taylor." He also won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Song for his song "Barefoot Ballet" on GH in 2002, which he shared with his bandmate Christian Taylor and lyricist Debi Cochran.^[5]

Storylines

1987–91

Justin Kiriakis arrived in town to become reacquainted with his uncle Victor Kiriakis, from whom he had become estranged since the death of his parents. Justin became accustomed to the family's questionable conduct as he ran his construction company. He soon met the love of his life Adrienne Johnson.^[7] Adrienne was unlike anyone Justin had known since she had not grown up in a privileged family, but instead was raised in poverty by an abusive father and ineffectual mother. Victor objected to their relationship but they eventually married. They had their share of issues, primarily Justin's affair with Angelica Deveraux which resulted in a son, Alexander Kiriakis. Adrienne also had a relationship with Emilio Ramirez,^[3] whom Justin tried to have killed only to get caught in his own trap and become paralyzed from the waist down.^[8] Justin and Adrienne divorced and she opened a rival construction company before they remarried. The reunited couple had trouble conceiving a child, however their housekeeper, JJ Bagwood, allowed them to adopt her twins which they named Victor and Joseph. Following a custody trial with the biological father (Stanley), Justin and Adrienne were livid when the biological mother kidnapped the twins. After they were found, Adrienne learned she was pregnant and so she, Justin and their three children left town before the birth of their son Jackson (Sonny).

2009—

Justin returned to town after he became a lawyer and told his cousin Bo Brady and his wife Hope Williams Brady that he and Adrienne were on the brink of divorce. Bo and Hope were also not getting along and so Justin and Hope soon developed feelings for one another until ending any possibility for a relationship. Adrienne soon returned to town and after they struggle with their divorce the couple found their way back to another and remarried.^[3][9] The couple soon welcomed their son Jackson "Sonny" Kiriakis back to town and it is revealed that he is gay. They support him as he comes out to his uncle Victor and as he makes a home for himself with his new life with Will Horton as his boyfriend.^[10]

References

Bibliography

• Ken Corday (2010). The Days of our Lives: The True Story of One Family's Dream and the Untold History of Days of our Lives. Sourcebooks. p. 272. ISBN 1402242220. 
• Maureen Russell (1995). Days of Our Lives: A Complete History of the Long-Running Soap Opera. McFarland & Company. p. 286. ISBN 0525943021. 
• Lorraine Zenka (1999). Days of Our Lives: A Tour Through Salem. Dutton Adult. p. 288. ISBN 0786401125.