Xander Kiriakis
Days of Our Lives character
Portrayed byPaul Telfer
Duration2015–present
First appearanceMarch 24, 2015 (2015-03-24)
ClassificationPresent; regular
Created byGary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell
In-universe information
Occupation
  • Diamond smuggler
  • Businessman
FamilyKiriakis
FatherVictor Kiriakis
StepfatherTitus Kiriakis
Half-brothers
Half-sistersIsabella Toscano
Spouse
DaughtersVictoria Kiriakis
StepdaughtersHolly Jonas (2018–2019)
Grandparents
  • Yurgos Kiriakis
  • Sophie Kiriakis
Uncles
Nieces and nephews
First cousinsJustin Kiriakis
Other relatives

Xander Kiriakis is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Scottish actor Paul Telfer. Created by head writers Gary Tomlin and Christopher Whitesell, Telfer made his debut on March 24, 2015 as a series regular. Telfer wrapped his first stint on August 25, 2015. Telfer would make a series of sporadic appearances between 2016 and 2019 before he returned as a series regular on April 29, 2019.

Xander comes to town as a diamond smuggler masquerading as a businessman. He blackmails Serena Mason (Melissa Archer) into stealing diamonds from Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan). In the meantime, tries to ingratiate himself to his uncle Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) and becomes smitten with Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). However, Xander tries to kill Eric and Nicole when discovers Nicole only used him to make another man jealous. Xander goes to prison when Theresa Donovan (Jen Lilley) falsely accuses him of rape.

In 2016, Xander escapes prison along with Orpheus and Clyde Weston (James Read) to wreak havoc on their enemies in Salem. However, their plans are foiled and Xander narrowly avoids prison time. Xander resurfaces in Canada in 2017 where he shoots his cousin Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) and kidnaps Nicole and her daughter.

Storylines

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2015

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Xander Cook comes to Salem in early 2015 and blackmails Serena Mason (Melissa Archer) into stealing blood diamonds from Eric Brady (Greg Vaughan) and is immediately smitten with Eric's ex-girlfriend, Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker). Xander is later revealed to be the black-sheep nephew of Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston). Though Victor has seemingly retired from the mob, Xander oversees various criminal enterprises for the Kiriakis clan all around the world, including money laundering. While Xander is happy about reuniting with his estranged family, Victor and his grandson Brady Black (Eric Martsolf) keep him at a distance. Xander realizes Nicole is only using him to make Victor's beloved godson Daniel Jonas (Shawn Christian) jealous and decides to get revenge.

2016

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2017

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2018

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2019–present

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Development

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Creation and casting

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Paul Telfer announced the casting and character on March 12, 2015 on social media. The actor had previously appeared in the short term role of hitman "Damon."[1] Telfer's previous credits included appearances in episodes of The Vampire Diaries, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and NCIS.[2]

Characterization

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Backstory

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  • Episode: 6.3.19 - Xander's dad died when he was young. His mother turned to alcohol.
  • Xander's mother was Scottish, father was Greek.

Personality

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Introduction (2015)

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[3]

[4]

[5]

In May 2015, Telfer announced on Twitter that he had been let go from the series, even before Xander first appeared onscreen. Due to the show's advanced taping schedule, Telfer's departure would air sometime in August 2015.[6] Telfer's released coincided with executive producer Ken Corday's rebranding of the show in which the head writers were replaced and several actors were cut from the cast. Of the casting cuts, Corday said "The cast on the show was no longer recognizable to me and those that were recognizable were doing nothing. So we had to flip that. We had to jettison stories that were not going over well with the audience and we had to give characters on the show who were more recognizable and powerful more story."[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11] [12]

Sporadic appearances (2016–2019)

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Prison break (2016)

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[13]

[10]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

Kidnapping in Canada (2017)

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[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

Summer in Mexico (2018)

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[24]

[25]

[26]


[27]

[28]

Reintroduction (2019)

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[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

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[35]

[36]

[37]

In April 2019, it was announced that Telfer would soon reprise the role of Xander as a series regular.[38]

[39]

[40]

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[42]

[43]

Relationship with Sarah Horton

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Victor's death and paternity

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In the wake of John Aniston's real life passing in 2022, the writers set out to pay homage to the actor and the character. Upon Victor's onscreen death in the summer of 2023, it is revealed that he has another son.

Reception

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Introduction

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[5]

2016 Return

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[44]

2017 Return

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[45]

2019 Return

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[46]

[47]

References

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  1. ^ "DAYS SNEAK PEEK". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. March 19, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  2. ^ "Paul Telfer Joins 'Days of our Lives' as Xander". Serial Scoop. Blogger (Google). March 20, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Goldberg, Michael (April 8, 2015). "'Days of our Lives': Xander Cook is Alexander Kiriakis (Or Not)". Serial Scoop. Blogger (Google). Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  4. ^ Lewis, Errol (April 8, 2015). "Is Paul Telfer's Xander Cook Really Alexander Kiriakis On 'DAYS'?". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Goldberg, Michael (April 9, 2015). "'Days of our Lives' Celebrates 50 Years of History By Changing It: Xander is Alexandros". Serial Scoop. Blogger (Google). Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  6. ^ Fairman, Michael (May 19, 2015). "Paul Telfer Gone From Days of our Lives!". Michael Fairman TV. The Michael Fairman Company. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  7. ^ Sloane, Stephanie (July 13, 2015). "Brand-New Days". On the Cover. Soap Opera Digest. 40 (28). American Media, Inc.: 32–36.
  8. ^ "Days: Xander Attacks Nicole". Late-breaking News. Soap Opera Digest. 40 (25). American Media, Inc.: 10. June 22, 2015.
  9. ^ Fairman, Michael (July 31, 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: Melissa Archer DAYS Exit Interview: How She Was Told She Was Let-Go, Serena's Story With Elephant Statues, Blood Diamonds, Eric, and Xander!". Michael Fairman TV. The Michael Fairman Company. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Who's Coming". Comings and Goings. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (35). American Media, Inc.: 10. August 29, 2016.
  11. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10kERTHchTI
  12. ^ https://daytimeroyaltyonline.com/paul-telfer-tells-bts-stories-on-afterbuzz-t13285.html?amp=1
  13. ^ Fairman, Michael (August 6, 2016). "Three Villains Return To DAYS As The New Season Kicks-Off After The Summer Olympic Break!". Michael Fairman TV. The Michael Fairman Company. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  14. ^ Sloane, Stephanie (August 29, 2016). "Change for the Better". On the Cover. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (35). American Media, Inc.: 32–35.
  15. ^ Fairman, Michael (September 9, 2016). "James Read, Paul Telfer & George DelHoyo Interview – Days of our Lives". Michael Fairman TV. The Michael Fairman Company. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  16. ^ "Days: Behind the Returns of Orpheus, Clyde and Xander". Late-breaking News. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (37). American Media, Inc.: 4–5. September 12, 2016.
  17. ^ "Orpheus Plots Prison Escape". Hot Plots Preview!. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (37). American Media, Inc.: 15. September 12, 2016.
  18. ^ Waldron, Robert (October 3, 2016). "Bad Company". Interviews. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (40). American Media, Inc.: 44–47.
  19. ^ https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/paul-telfer-days-return
  20. ^ SOD May 8, 2017
  21. ^ SOD July 24, 2017
  22. ^ SOD August 14, 2017
  23. ^ SOD December 18, 2017
  24. ^ SOD May 14, 2018
  25. ^ SOD May 21, 2018
  26. ^ "News from Salem's Lot". Ins & Outs. CBS Soaps In Depth. 22 (22). Bauer Media Group: 11. May 28, 2018.
  27. ^ Maloney, Michael (October 12, 2018). "'Days of Our Lives' Star Paul Telfer on Xander & Kristen Teaming Up to Create Havoc for Brady". TV Insider. TVGM Holdings, LLC. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  28. ^ SOD October 22, 2018
  29. ^ Fairman, Michael (November 11, 2018). "Thia Megia Joins The Cast Of DAYS; Paul Telfer Set To Return". Michael Fairman TV. The Michael Fairman Company. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  30. ^ SOD December 3, 2018
  31. ^ SOD December 24, 2018
  32. ^ SOD January 14, 2019
  33. ^ https://www.tvinsider.com/747355/days-of-our-lives-leo-xander-hookup-greg-rikaart-judith-chapman/
  34. ^ "Days: Sarah sleeps with Xander". Late-breaking News. Soap Opera Digest. 44 (4). American Media, Inc.: 9. January 28, 2019.
  35. ^ https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/comings-and-goings/534210/paul-telfer-reveals-days-exit-as-xander/
  36. ^ "Bad to the Bone". Scene & Heard. Soap Opera Digest. 44 (6). American Media, Inc.: 53. February 11, 2019.
  37. ^ https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/535801/interview-paul-telfer-on-xander-leos-hilarious-scenes-new-film/
  38. ^ Bowe, Jillian (April 8, 2019). "Stacy Haiduk and Paul Telfer Head Back to Days of Our Lives". Daytime Confidential. Confidential Media, Inc. (SAY Media). Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  39. ^ Maloney, Michael (April 29, 2019). "Paul Telfer Brings Xander Back To Days Of Our Lives…With A Twist!". Soap Hub. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  40. ^ "Xander Is On a Mission!". Ins & Outs. CBS Soaps In Depth. 23 (19). Bauer Media Group: 11. May 13, 2019.
  41. ^ "Look Who's Back!". Days of Our Lives Bonus Section: Feature Interview. CBS Soaps In Depth. 23 (19). Bauer Media Group: 70–73. May 13, 2019.
  42. ^ "Admiration Society". Scene & Heard. Soap Opera Digest. 44 (21). American Media, Inc.: 53. May 27, 2019.
  43. ^ https://michaelfairmantv.com/days-arianne-zucker-stacy-haiduk-paul-telfer-talk-on-masks-villainy-their-wildest-storyline-yet/2019/05/30/
  44. ^ Sloane, Stephanie (October 17, 2016). "Under Seige". Editor's Choice. Soap Opera Digest. 41 (42). American Media, Inc.: 32–33.
  45. ^ https://michaelfairmantv.com/days-delicious-doppelgangers-chabby-drama-hernandez-bro-conflict-ron-carlivatis-first-three-episodes-raise-the-bar-to-engaging-and-entertaining/2017/07/23/
  46. ^ https://www.soapcentral.com/days/news/2019/0409-stacy_haiduk_paul_telfer_returning.php
  47. ^ https://www.soapcentral.com/days/news/2019/0430-paul_telfer_on_return.php
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