Here are a list of Days of Our Lives characters that appeared in the 1970s. For other characters listed by decade, see List Of Minor Characters (2020s), List Of Minor Characters (2010s), List Of Minor Characters (1990s), List Of Minor Characters (1980s), List Of Minor Characters (2000s), and List of Minor Characters (1960s).For characters that are mentioned, see List Of Characters That Are Mentioned.
Amanda Howard Peters
Amanda Howard Peters was portrayed by Mary Frann from 1974-79. Amanda Howard was a patient of Dr. Greg Peter's. Amanda was guilt stricken and depressed over the fact she had had an affair with Dr Neil Curtis, but never revealed his name to anyone. In 1975 Neil proposed to Amanda, who accepted. On the night they were to marry Amanda found Neil with a prostitute, and tried to commit suicide. The attempt failed, but it brought her closer to Dr. Greg Peters. In 1976 Amanda Howard learned she had a brain tumor and would be dead in six months if she did not undergo surgery. Amanda was afraid to have the surgery because her mother had died while having the same operation. With Neil and Greg's encouragement she had the surgery and survived, though she lost her memory for a short time. Eventually she married Dr. Greg Peters in 1976 after he divorced Susan Hunter Martin. In 1979 Amanda and her husband Greg left Salem after Greg got a better paying job in Chicago. Eventually Greg and Amanda spit up and she returned to Salem and moved in with Chris Kosnitchek, however she soon moved out after Mary Anderson wanted to win back Chris. When Amanda learned she was pregnant Chris proposed to her. Amanda went to Chicago to divorce Greg, who refused thinking the baby was his. However Amanda learned her pregnancy was a tubal one, and she lost the baby and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy. Greg quickly divorced Amanda, and a depressed Amanda broke off her relationship with Chris and left town.
Annie Peters
Anne Peters was portrayed by Jeanne Bates from 1972-75.
Billy Barton
Billy Barton was portrayed by Stephen Manley from 1977-78.
Eric Peters
Eric Peters was portrayed by Stanley Kamel from 1972-76. Eric Peters was Greg Peters brother, and a writer. Eric was the man who had Susan Martin Hunter believed raped her in the park, but upon being confronted by Susan about the rape Eric claimed to Susan it was a mutual act, and she only became distraught and terrified after they had had sex. Susan and Eric decided to keep this information between the two of them.
Eric sought out an answer to his encounter with Susan, and after Susan had left town Laura Horton told Eric that Susan had selective amnesia. Though Susan slept with him she thought it was David Martin. Upon understanding Eric tried to have the chapter about the rape incident deleted from the novel he had just written entitled "In My Brothers Shadow." However it was to late, the book had already been published, and upon reading the rape chapter Eric's brother Greg angrily attacked, and hospitalized Eric. Later Susan returned to Salem after hearing about Eric's condition, and Susan was sorry and told Eric she would explain everything to Greg. Susan continued to visit Eric in the hospital, and later brought his daughter Annie to see him.
In the years to follow Eric continued to see his daughter Annie more and more, and eventually developed feelings for Susan. In 1976 after Greg divorced Susan, Eric and Susan became an item and left for California with their daughter Annie.
Frank Evans †
Frank Evans was played by Ford Rainey from November 9, 1977 to December 26, 1977, and th then again from June 2, 1978 to June 5, 1978. He was then played by Frank Schofield from February 24, 1979 to March 6, 1979. Frank was the husband of Martha Evans and the father of Marlena Evans and Samantha Evans
Frank taught Marlena how to play chess when she was a child. He and his wife lived out of town and made sporadic visits to Salem to visit Marlena. Marlena remained close with them over the years and was there for Frank on his death bed. Frank passed away a few years prior to 2018.
Greg Peters
Greg Peters was portrayed by Peter Brown from 1972-79. Dr. Greg Peters worked with Susan Hunter Martin at the David Martin Clinic. Eventually the two fell in love and became engaged to be married. Greg had full knowledge Susan was pregnant with another man's child. Days before his February scheduled wedding Susan left her son with Greg's mother and ran off. Greg didn't understand why Susan had left, but when he read a chapter about "The Girl in the Park" in his brother's book he realized Eric was the man who had "raped" Susan many months ago. Angry Eric attacked and brutally beat his brother to the point of hospitalization. When Susan returned to Salem a few months later she explained to Greg what had happened, and Greg went to his brother's hospital room and apologized. In 1973 Greg Peters and Susan Martin would finally be married.
In 1974 Greg and Susan's marriage began to dissolve, and when Greg joined Dr. Neil Curtis' private practice tension began to build. In 1975 Greg became heavily involved with his patient Amanda Howard, though he remained faithful to Susan. In 1976 Susan and Greg divorced, and Susan moved to California with Greg's brother Eric and their daughter Annie. Later that year Amanda Howard learned she had a brain tumor and would be dead in six months if she did not undergo surgery. Amanda was afraid to have the surgery because her mother had died while having the same operation. With Neil and Greg's encouragement she had the surgery and survived, though she lost her memory for a short time. Dr. Greg Peters and Amanda Howard eventually married in late 1976.
In 1979 Greg got a better job offer in Chicago and he and Amanda left Salem. Amanda eventually left Greg, but when she became pregnant she went to Chicago to divorce Greg, who refused thinking the baby was his. However Amanda learned her pregnancy was a tubal one, and she lost the baby and was forced to undergo a hysterectomy and Greg quickly divorced Amanda.
Hank Wilson
Hank Wilson was portrayed by Frederic Downs from 1973-80.
Jack Clayton †
Jack was married to Jeri Clayton and was often very affectionate to his step daughter Trish. In 1976 Jack revealed to Trish that her mother had been a hooker, and that her real father was a man named Jim Stanhope. In 1977 Jack began to become obsessed with his stepdaughter Trish. One night he went to Trish's apartment while she was alone and attacked her. Mike Horton arrived home in time and broke down the door. The two men began to fight until Trish hit her stepfather over the head with an iron, killing him.
Jeri Clayton
Jeri Clayton was married to Jack Clayton and arrived in Salem with her daughter Trish and the two became singing sensations at Doug's Place. In 1976 after Jeri's husband Jack revealed her former life as a prostitute to her daughter Trish, Jeri left Salem for a brief period of time. In 1977 when Doug's Place fell on hard times Jeri Clayton asked to be let out of her singing contract. She also began to become romantically involved with Larry Atwood, who was new in town and was helping Julie out with the club while Doug was away. When Jeri began to notice Julie spending more and more time with Larry she became convinced the two were having an affair. Jeri wrote Doug a letter in which she accused Julie of cheating on him with Larry. Doug confronted Julie about the letter and she confessed to Doug that Larry had raped her. Soon after Larry was found dead, and Julie was accused. At Julie's trial the truth came out about Julie's rape, and that it was Larry's assistant who killed him. Jeri was so horrified by what she had done she attempted suicide by overdosing, but was discovered by Marlena in time. Jeri left Salem forever in 1979.
Joanna Barnes
Janice's real mother Joanna returned to Salem in 1978 and secretly began to see her daughter. The two planned a trip to Disneyland, and one night they ran off. Mickey and Maggie searched desperately for Janice without any clues as to what happened. Luckily Janice had mentioned to Hope about her trip to Disneyland with Joanna, and the FBI found the two in Florida after Joanna had a heart attack. Joanna returned to Salem to have surgery, and afterwards she took a job working at Bob Anderson's house as a maid and came to know her daughter better. Later that year after Maggie had crashed her car and Janice was injured Joanna started legal proceedings to take Joanna away from Mickey and Maggie. In 1978 Janice had an accident on the docks while playing with Melissa, she fell into the water, and was rescued by Chris Kosnitchek, but fell into a coma. Janice's mother Joanna would battle with Maggie over Janice, and in the end Joanna would win custody of her daughter.
Jordan Barr
Leslie James
Leslie James was portrayed by Dianne Harper from 1979-80. Leslie was the secretary of Chris Kositchek. The two moved in together, but Leslie quickly left town after she was threatened by Jarvis Maxwell, a business associate of Alex Marshall's who had plans to take over Anderson Manufacturing.
Martha Evans
Martha Evans was played by Diana Douglas from November 7, 1977 to November 21, 1977; ;June, 2 1978 to June 5, 1978; February 12, 1979 to February 16, 1979; and on May 28, 1982. Martha was married to Frank Evans and was the mother of Marlena Evans and Samantha Evans.
Martha and her husband lived outside of Salem and made sporadic visits to see Marlena. Marlena remained close with her parents until Martha passed away, leaving Frank a widower until his passing a few years prior to 2018.
Marty
Marty was portrayed by Marty Davich from 1977-93.
Paul Grant
Phil Peters
Phil Peters was portrayed by Herbert Nelson from 1972-75.
Phyllis Anderson
Rebecca North
Robert LeClair
Robert LeClair was portrayed by Robert Clary from 1972–73, and 1975–83, and again from 1986–87 but Robert Clary passed away in 2022. He was Doug Williams best friend.
Rosie Carlson
Rosie Carlson was portrayed by Fran Ryan from 1976-79.