Days of Our Lives’ Dan Feuerriegel: ‘I Was Wildly Out of Shape’ — Man, But Look at Him Now!
Sunday, June 12th, 2022
It’s never too late to make some positive changes in your life.
Days of Our Lives fave Dan Feuerriegel (EJ) is being featured front and center in the latest issues of MAXIM Australia and MAXIM New Zealand, along with his “badass” trainer Alexa Towersey, “who has gotten peeps camera ready for such movies as Thor: Love and Thunder and Mortal Kombat.”
The NBC soap actor shared photos from the issue and talked about how Towersey “worked [his] ass off after the COVID downtime.” Feuerriegel went on to explain that he was “wildly out of shape, had shoulder and back issues,” but said her expertise got him back on track just in time to be cast as EJ.
More: View soap vet’s son’s adorable life in pictures
Not only did the issue introduce fans to the man behind the soap role but you too can see how Feuerriegel was snapped back into tip-top shape with a step-by-step workout using kettlebells, which also included a top tip for the exercises.
While it’s clear, just from the magazine photos that Feuerriegel received quite the workout, his Salem character seems to be gearing up for one as well! First, EJ and Belle shared a kiss, which led his mind to race with thoughts of taking Sami’s sister to bed, and as teased in the Days of Our Lives spoilers, things are about to heat up even more!
Though he has Belle on the mind now, he and Sami have a long history… look back on some of their highlights in our photo gallery below filled with everything you need to know about EJ.
Most Popular
Advertisement
Image: John Paschal/JPI
1/20
<p>EJ was born in 1997, with mom Susan Banks (then Eileen Davidson) believing <em>the</em> Elvis Presley was his father. Spoilers: He wasn’t. Stefano had been impersonating the late legend to create a child for Kristen — by sleeping with his daughter’s look-alike. Ew. But Susan messed it all up and ran off with beau Edmund Crumb to raise EJ in the UK. </p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
2/20
<p>James Scott first showed up in Salem in 2006, going by “EJ Wells,” Sami’s sympathetic, just slightly creepy neighbor. But sketchy never stopped Sami from romance, and sparks started flying between the two. And for once, we can’t blame her!</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
3/20
<p>EJ, though, wasn’t who he seemed. It turns out that instead of being raised by Susan, Stefano had snagged little Elvis, raised him in New Orleans and educated him in a British boarding school. He came to town to kill John, which, shockingly <em>did </em>put an end to his romance with Sami! </p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
4/20
<p>While on the run after shooting John, EJ ran into Sami who needed his help saving an injured Lucas. EJ agreed, in exchange for her having sex with him. That rape resulted in Sami getting pregnant with his child, Johnny — while also pregnant with Lucas’ daughter, Allie!</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
5/20
<p>Not only was Sami forced to have sex with EJ, but she was also coerced into marrying him to end Stefano’s vendetta against the Brady family. It almost worked… but then Will shot EJ at the altar! </p>
Image: Paul Smith/JPI
6/20
<p>Despite their problematic start, EJ and Sami eventually grew close. EJ even severed ties with his father upon discovering John was being held captive in the DiMera mansion tunnels. Murder and rape were all well and good, but brainwashing? Perish the thought! </p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
7/20
<p>EJ made a go of a normal life with Sami, going so far as to work as a lawyer at Mickey Horton’s firm. But just as they fell in love, Sami reunited with Lucas and EJ turned to Nicole for solace. Cue feud in three… two…</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
8/20
<p>Eventually, EJ returned to the family fold as the DiMera lawyer. Nicole became pregnant, but lost the baby — not that she told him! Conveniently, Sami was also pregnant with EJ’s child, so Nicole just stole her rival’s baby and passed it off as her own. As one does.</p>
Image: Paul Smith/JPI
9/20
<p>After learning about the baby swap, EJ won Sami back by kidnapping and “rescuing” their own baby, Sydney. And he would have gotten away with it too, if it wasn’t for that darn Rafe outing EJ’s baby-napping scheme and putting an end to his and Sami’s wedding plans!</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
10/20
<p>Next up, EJ survived Sami shooting him and he married Nicole to help his custody case against his ex. But then, EJ fell in love with Nicole’s sister, Taylor, hired a Rafe doppelgänger to ruin Sami’s relationship and… well, it’s never a dull moment for the Brit!</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
11/20
<p>Once you get mixed up with someone dubbed “Robo Rafe,” it may be time to rethink prioritie.! So in an attempt to change his ways, EJ signed over custody of his kids to Sami and ran for Mayor. But a DiMera does as a DiMera will, and he was soon using dirty tactics against his opponent, Abe!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
12/20
<p>Unable to resist each other for long, Sami and EJ reunited. Together, they faced Nick blackmailing Will, Chad taking a bullet meant for EJ and Sami trying to kill Nick. They got through all that mostly unscathed, but then EJ had to go and have an affair with Abigail (then Kate Mansi)!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
13/20
<p>Sami found out about EJ’s affair, but went through with their wedding anyway. But, this being Sami, it was all part of her revenge plan. Just as they took their first dance as husband and wife, she orchestrated it so EJ was arrested for tax evasion!</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
14/20
<p>Alas, EJ made bail and won Sami back, but he had no money or job due to her machinations. So, that kind of backfired… Eventually, he turned to illicit dealings, which led him to Clyde Weston and his men. And that, of course, got him shot and killed — temporarily!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
15/20
<p>Thanks to Kristen, who injected her brother with Dr. Rolf’s <span style="text-decoration: line-through">magical</span> highly scientific drug, EJ actually survived. Though believed dead by everyone else, Sami spent years searching for him. She finally found him in 2018 amongst the rubble of Rolf’s blown-up lab. Bandaged and incapacitated, Sami took EJ to Rome for treatment.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
16/20
<p>After rehabilitating, EJ finally returned to Salem in 2021 (now played by Dan Feuerriegel) and quickly became embroiled in DiMera business. He was also there to repair his marriage to Sami, but promptly threw her out of when he found out she cheated on him with Lucas!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
17/20
<p>…Out of mind! Unbeknownst to EJ — or anyone else in Salem — Sami was kidnapped almost immediately after he threw her out of the house. But what did he care? He was too busy shacking back up with Nicole! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
18/20
<p>When Sami escaped captivity, she and EJ planned to reunite — after she informed him she’d never leave him alone or sign his divorce papers! Super healthy relationship there. But his arrest for Sami’s kidnapping put a crimp in those plans — despite Lucas being the guilty party!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
19/20
<p>Proving he’s got a thing for blondes, EJ’s stint in jail got him <em>real</em> close with his lawyer (and Sami’s sister!), Belle. And Shawn was not taking that sitting down. But he was taking it standing up!</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
20/20
