| Sonny Kiriakis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Days of Our Lives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Freddie Smith (2011-20) Zach Tinker (2022-23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Recurring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2011–23 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | June 23, 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Left town after attending Victor Kiriakis funeral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Dena Higley and Christopher Whitesell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fullname | Jackson Steven Kiriakis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Sonny | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alias(es) | Jackson Steven Kiriakis Jackson Sonny Kiriakis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Namesake(s) | Jack Deveraux Steve Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 7, 1991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Former CEO of Titan Industries Former Executive in Titan Industries Former Club Owner Legal Aide Former Website Designer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Salem, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sonny Kiriakis is a character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Freddie Smith. Sonny is the only biological child of supercouple, Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth) and Adrienne Johnson Kiriakis (Judi Evans). Sonny's off screen birth was announced onscreen in 1991. Created under head writer Dena Higley, Sonny was introduced onscreen in 2011 by executive producers Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin as Justin and Adrienne's openly gay son—and the first gay character in the show's history. His major stories included a gay bashing storyline and the development of his romance with Will Horton (then Chandler Massey) who is just coming to terms with his sexuality. Sonny and Will (Guy Wilson) marry in 2014 becoming the first gay male wedding featuring major characters. AMC's Bianca and Reese got married in 2009, and were the first lesbian daytime wedding. Sonny is also known for his friendship and business dealings with Chad DiMera (then Casey Deidrick) -- a relationship that nearly gets him killed when their sports website is taken over by an illegal gambling operation.
Smith permanently returned to the role in late July 2016.
Smith became a fan favorite during his initial stint as one half of the show's first same-sex supercouple with Will Horton. The duo is commonly referred to by the portmanteau "WilSon." Smith also earned two Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 2013 and 2015, the latter of which he won.
In February 2020, it was announced that Sonny is leaving in September along with Will Horton. Their final air-date will be September 18. However, in July 28, Freddie Smith confirmed his final air-date is on September 1.
On August 2, 2021 it was announced that actor Zach Tinker who is known for his role as Fen Baldwin on The Young And The Restless, would be playing a recast Sonny after Freddie Smith announced he wouldn’t be returning to the show. Tinker will make his debut as Sonny on the new spin off show Days Of Our Lives: Beyond Salem.
It was announced in March 2022, that Tinker would return to the series on a contract basis.
Tinker was bumped to recurring sometime in 2022, until his departure from the show.
Tinker returned again in August 2023, to attend the funeral of the late Victor Kiriakis.
Casting and creation
In May 2011 rumors circulated that Freddie Smith — known for his recent portrayal of Marco Salazar, a gay character from the The CW's Teen drama 90210 — was slated to join the cast in another gay role. On June 17, 2011, Entertainment Weekly confirmed exclusively that Smith had been cast in the role of Sonny, an openly gay character—connected to a previously established family. "It's great!" Smith said of portraying the first openly gay character in the show's nearly 50-year history. "I'm very excited to portray him" Smith said of his casting. "I love that I can do a role like this, stand up and speak out on what I believe in. I want to show that it's okay" the actor stated. Smith relished in playing a role "that makes a difference" and said it "makes my job that much better -- and to be apart of history; I'll go down in the history books, I mean it's great!" Smith originally auditioned for the role of Ryan in March 2011—a high school quarterback. After several meetings with the director of casting, Marnie Saitta, Smith learned that he would instead be playing a gay character. Thanks to his experience on 90210, Smith had very little reservations about playing the role of Sonny. Smith screen-tested opposite Judi Evans who would play his mother, Adrienne. "I had an inkling I would get [the role] because Judi and I clicked so well" Smith said of his audition. Smith believed he got the role of Sonny because he can relate to him so easily. Despite being straight in real life, Smith said "When I read the scripts, I just get it instantly." He revealed that the casting department was quite impressed by his audition. In his portrayal, Smith said "I do as much work on the character as I can to make it as real as possible and to tell a good story." To prepare for the role, Smith did a lot of research and also went to his own gay friends for advice. "I started reading through people's personal stories and these feelings, and it brings me that much closer to the LGBT community."
Entertainment Weekly first reported on the plans the for usually conservative Days of Our Lives to introduce its first gay character in March 2011. Co-executive producer Greg Meng gave an interview to Frontiers magazine where he discussed how Sonny came about. "This has been discussed for a long time with a lot of thought. And yes, there were concerns, but it's like, 'Wow. Who are we? What are we thinking? It is time!' We didn’t want to do some gay love story, or just go off on some extreme ripped-from-the-headlines political story, just to be telling a ‘gay story.’ We are looking at a long-term, longtime beloved characters type of situation for Sonny. It is about a character who is now on the show, and who by the way, is gay!" As Sonny hit airwaves, there were rumors of some opposition from certain affiliates who had threatened to stop airing the series if the story continued. Despite the potential push back, Meng said that executives across the board, from both NBC and Sony were in support of the story. Smith explained that the producers "really did not want to go in a stereotypical" direction with the story. "They wanted to show different aspects of the story and that went into the casting of Sonny."
Introduction
What sets Sonny's introduction apart from the introductions of other gay characters is "that he was comfortable, and out, and even his family was accepting of him" Smith said. He continued, "They just wanted to show that when you come out and you are with the people you trust and love—you can finally get out from under that rock, and just be who you are." The openly gay Sonny slowly eases into the canvas as he develops relationships with those he comes in contact with. Unlike most character introductions, Sonny is not immediately thrust into a romance. Already four months into his tenure, Smith insisted that he "legitimately" did not know who his love interest would be but he was excited because it was all people were talking about. Smith added that giving Sonny a love interest would make him much more "dimensional" as a character. "Everyone on the show has a boy or a girl, and I am like the fifth wheel" he joked. However, Smith came to appreciate the waiting period. "It was important for people to get to know Sonny as a person and not just as this gay character on the show, who is dating another gay character." One consistent theme with Sonny is that he is very open about his sexuality. While his parents are worried about how others will react — particularly Sonny's great uncle Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) — "Sonny is very comfortable. He'll tell anyone" Smith said. Smith explained that Sonny "just wants his friends and family to accept him for who he is." Victor's support is something Sonny never questions because of how close they are. While he said it would have been cool to do a coming-out story with Sonny he appreciated how comfortable Sonny is with being openly gay because "It showed that it's great to have a support system. It made it easier for him to come out." Not only does Sonny's introduction make him the only representation of a gay character on daytime television at the time, (as All My Children's iconic lesbian character, Bianca Montgomery made her final appearances when the soap went off the air in September 2011) he was also the first "official" gay character in Days of Our Lives' 47-year history.
Storylines
Jackson Steven Kiriakis, known as Sonny, was born on August 7, 1991, in Texas as the only biological child of Justin and Adrienne Kiriakis. In 2007, Justin and Adrienne (off-screen) move Sonny and their three others sons—Alex, Joey and Victor—back to Salem where he enrolls in Salem High School. However, by January 2008, the family relocated again to Dubai. Justin returned to Salem in 2009, with Adrienne returning the following year.
Sonny returns to Salem in the summer of 2011 and immediately decides to live as openly gay in Salem, Illinois. Sonny comes out to his extended family, including his great uncle Victor Kiriakis. While Victor is supportive of his nephew, he is worried about how others will react. Sonny settles into his life getting a job an internship as a legal aid for the district attorney, reconnects with his family and develops fast friendships with Will Horton, Chad DiMera and Gabi Hernandez, who accept him despite their friend Tad Stevens (Ts) homophobic disapproval. Sonny later partners up with Chad and Will to launch a website for sports fans at Salem University. However, they are forced to shut the website down when criminals begin using it for illegal gambling. The criminals kidnap Gabi, Chad, Melanie Jonas and Sonny's cousin Abigail Deveraux forcing Sonny, Will and Austin Reed to come to their rescue. Sonny and Chad embark on another business venture when they open Common Grounds coffee shop together. Sonny wants the shop to be a place where people from all walks of life can feel accepted. When Will chooses not to be involved, Sonny suspects he is keeping his distance because he is questioning his sexuality. Trying to be supportive, Sonny often invites Will to hang out with him and his friends. When Will confides in Sonny about his feelings in the summer of 2012, Sonny realizes he has fallen for him and kisses him, only for Will to reject him. T accuses Sonny of making Will gay and physically assaults him. Sonny is comforted by his friends and family, and Victor even threatens T. Sonny and Will begin dating when Will officially comes out only for Will's father Lucas Horton to disapprove. However, once Sonny makes it clear that he definitely loves Will, Lucas becomes more accepting. With their relationship going so well, Sonny agrees to lend Will some money. Meanwhile, Sonny notices tension between Chad and the pregnant Gabi, but Chad refuses to give him an explanation. In January 2013, as Gabi is set to marry Will's cousin Nick Fallon, Chad interrupts the wedding by announcing Nick is not the father of her baby, forcing Will—the best man—to reveal himself as the father. A devastated Sonny demands answers from Chad, who reveals that Gabi was behind the scheme to kidnap his then girlfriend Melanie—but he did not know Will was her baby's father. Sonny reconciles with Will but is very wary of trusting Gabi and Nick. Sonny's suspicions prove true when Nick blackmails Will into signing away his parental rights in exchange for Nick keeping quiet about Will shooting EJ DiMera in 2007. Nick and Sonny later get into a fight, forcing Will to go to his mother Sami Brady for help. Sonny supports Will and Sami's plans to ingratiate themselves to crime lord Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) in hopes that he will destroy the evidence against Will. Meanwhile, Sonny and Sami steal Nick's copies of the recordings of Will's confession. In May 2013, Sonny and Will follow Nick and Gabi, who are being held at gun point by an armed gunman. They rescue Gabi, and Will stays behind to rescue Nick. However, Gabi goes into labor, and Sonny helps her deliver her daughter, Arianna Horton, in an abandoned shack. Sonny is distraught when Will gets shot trying to rescue Nick, but, fortunately, he pulls through. After Gabi splits with Nick, Sonny convinces her to move in with them so they can raise Arianna together. Later, Sonny and Will are furious to learn that Gabi is seeing Nick again. Gabi threatens to move out with Arianna if they don't back off. They are relieved when Gabi soon breaks up with Nick on her own. After Nick mysteriously disappears, claiming to have left town—Will realizes Sami, Gabi and his grandmother Kate Roberts are hiding something and Will assumes they are planning a surprise birthday party for him. Sonny listens in on one of their conversations at Will's request only to learn that the three women are covering up Nick's apparent murder having disposed of his body in the river. The three women convince Sonny to keep quiet, insisting that Gabi killed Nick in self-defense. After he convinces Will to keep quiet, Sonny begins having nightmares about Nick. They are all shocked when Nick crashes Arianna's christening in January 2014, appearing to have amnesia. While everyone, including Sonny, remained suspicious of Nick, Gabi falls back into old habits, and Sonny warns her away from him. Meanwhile, Sonny proposes to Will and he rejects him saying he wants to wait for the situation with Nick to be resolved. However, thanks to his grandmother Marlena Evans — Will officially accept Sonny's proposal on Valentine's Day. The duo were married by Marlena on April 3, 2014, at Victor's mansion in front of their family and friends. As the newly weds settle into their life, Sonny and Gabi butt heads over her reconciliation with Nick. While he put on a facade for Gabi, Nick shows his true colors with everyone else threatening to send Gabi, Kate, and Sami to jail for his attempted murder. Sonny goes so far as to steal a gun from Victor's house and keep it for protection, and Will urges him to return the gun only for Nick to be shot to death the following day. Will confesses to the crime fearing Sonny is responsible, but Sonny quickly reveals he is innocent. Gabi later confesses to killing Nick after overhearing his threats to Sonny. With Gabi in prison, Sonny and Will promise to stay in touch with her. As they start their new life, Sonny appeals to Victor, who pulls some strings to get Will hired at True Vista magazine. Sonny is wary when Will's first article focuses on his mother Sami's attempt to destroy her husband EJ because he has cheated on her. Sonny tries to get him to drop the article, but Will refuses. Sonny is furious when the article hits the press, identifying Abigail as EJ's mistress. It is revealed that Sami leaked Abby's identity to the editor. Meanwhile, Chad returns to Salem, and Sonny resents him for abandoning their club. Sonny buys out Chad, allowing him a larger share of the profits, and Chad also agrees to finance a second location for a new club. After EJ's murder, Sonny reluctantly gives Will his blessing to accompany the grieving Sami to Hollywood, where he will work on the screenplay about Sami's life for a film. Tied up n his work, Will neglects Sonny, who struggles to build the new club. He is forced to clear out his and Will's joint savings account to finance the club. Meanwhile, Sonny is reunited with his ex-boyfriend, world-famous baseball player, Paul Narita. The closeted Paul wants to reunite with Sonny, who quickly reveals he is married. Will and Ari return just in time for Christmas, and he starts work on a top secret article for SONIX magazine. Just before the article's release, Derrick, a customer at Sonny's club, inadvertently reveals to Sonny that Will and Paul are having an affair. A furious Sonny goes to confront Will only to be stabbed and left for dead by one of Victor's enemies. Victor and his wife Maggie Horton Kiriakis discover Sonny and rush him to the hospital where he undergoes emergency surgery. Sonny initially wakes up with amnesia from the trauma, but as his memories of the attack return—so does his anger toward Will. Sonny is shocked when he receives a visit from Paul and forces him to confirm the affair and throws him out. Sonny then confronts a defensive Will who confesses that he believes Sonny only married him because Paul had rejected him. Upset, Sonny decides separation is best and goes to Arizona to visit his brother Alex. Sonny later goes to Paris to work for Victor, managing clubs and casinos. In October 2015, Sonny is devastated to learn Will has been murdered and he returns home to attend the funeral. Sonny leaves town again, unable to shake the memories of Will and returns to Paris. In July 2016, Sonny moved back to Salem and, within time, rekindled his relationship with Paul. In 2017, Sonny is named CEO of Titan Industries and also becomes engaged to Paul. Soon after, it is discovered that Will is alive with amnesia and has been living in Memphis with Susan Banks. Sonny ends his relationship with Paul, realizing his love for Will is greater. In August 2018, Will regains his memories and reciprocates his feelings for Sonny. In December 2018, Sonny is blackmailed into marrying Leo Stark, who threatened to turn Sonny and Will into the police for almost murdering him previously (albeit accidentally) if Sonny did not oblige; the marriage is later annulled. In June 2019, Sonny and Will remarried for the second time.
