| Rafe Hernandez | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Galen Gering As Rafe Hernandez | |||||||||||||||||||
| Days of our Lives | |||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Galen Gering | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current status | Present; Regular (Contract) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2008- | ||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | October 31, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Dena Higley and Christopher Whitesell | ||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin | ||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fullname | Rafael Alejandro Hernandez | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alias(es) | Mr. Garcia | ||||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Police detective Nightclub manager FBI agent (former) ISA agent (former) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Hernandez Loft, 4B 25 River Street Salem, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||
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Rafael Alejandro "Rafe" Hernandez is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. Portrayed by Galen Gering and created by Dena Higley, Rafe is introduced in 2008 as the FBI agent assigned to protect the troublesome Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney) during her stay in witness protection. Sami and Rafe's contentious dynamic later develops into romance and the two fall in love and eventually marry. However, their romance is plagued by Sami's supercouple romance with Salem's resident bad boy, EJ DiMera (James Scott). Rafe's disdain for the DiMera family grows when he discovers that EJ is behind the kidnapping and presumed death of Sami's daughter Sydney DiMera and EJ's father Stefano DiMera (Joseph Mascolo) replaces Rafe with a doppelganger. The series also introduces Rafe's younger sisters, Arianna Hernandez (Lindsay Hartley) and Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus) and later his younger brother Dario Hernandez (Jordi Vilasuso). Rafe is very protective of his siblings having helped raise them when their father abandoned the family. Rafe also has an affair with Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow) putting him at odds with Stefano, Kate's ex-husband. He later falls in love with physical therapist Jordan Ridgeway (Chrishell Stause) whom he tries to help overcome her own dark past. In 2015, Rafe is forced to confront his past when his estranged father Eduardo Hernandez (A Martinez) resurfaces. Rafe later falls in love with his longtime colleague Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) and supports her when she loses her true love a brain tumor. When a grief stricken Hope murders Stefano, Rafe helps her cover it up. Rafe's mother Adrianna Hernandez (Alma Delfina) is introduced in 2016 as well.
Casting and creation
In late August 2008, rumors circulated that former Passions star Galen Gering, known for his role of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald was in talks to join the cast of Days. However, news of Gering's casting was not officially confirmed until late September 2008. Gering would take on the newly created role of FBI agent Rafael. Gering made his first appearance on October 31, 2008 on a contractual basis. "It took longer that I had anticipated" Gering said of the casting process. Forbes March, known for his role as Nash Brennan on One Life to Live also auditioned for the role. Gering signed onto the series a few months after shooting his final episode of Passions. While Gering comes from both Jewish and Spanish heritage, he is usually cast in Latino roles. Gering said he didn't not mind being typecast. "It's paying the bills!" Executive producer Ken Corday was unfamiliar with Gering's work so he had to audition for the role but co-executive producer, Gary Tomlin "championed" his casting. Gering and Tomlin worked together on Passions when Tomlin for the series. The actor admitted that he didn't know much about Rafe, but had a meeting Tomlin who assured him that his potential storyline would be a "great" one. Gering said of his casting, "When I joined the soap, it was a weird time at DAYS" as the series had just fired their biggest stars in Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn. They were also unsure of if they'd even still be on the air. Gering noted the irony in returning to the set because he had auditioned for Passions on the set of Days of Our Lives. Gering said of his initial plans for the character, "I didn't want Rafe to be this one-note FBI guy. I wanted him to be quirky." However, he didn't have time to have much input because of how fast the swift production style. He described the character as a "great marriage of acting and writing." In contrast to Passions, Gering said, "It’s clear and concise and well driven and well written, but I really like this character, Rafe."
Relationships
The character of Rafe was first paired with Sweeney's Sami Brady. Gering appreciated the slow burn pacing of the romance. "I think they did a great job allowing the audience to see Sami and Rafe fall in love." "I always liked her personality and her spunky fire, so I'm really excited to be working with her" Gering said of his costar. Rafe is forced to be Sami's new bodyguard in witness protection after she sabotages the first two. However, Sami's usual scheming behavior doesn't fly with Rafe. Gering said "Sami's definitely met her match." Their contentious relationship eventually blossoms into romance, and the duo eventually marries in November 2010. Gering said "I think they are soul-mates." Rafe and Sami "compliment each other very well and support one another." He continued, "I think they definitely have what it takes to last long-term." However, most of their relationship is plagued by Sami's longstanding romance with EJ DiMera (James Scott), the kidnapping and presumed deaths of two of her children, and when EJ's father, Stefano (Joseph Mascolo) replaces Rafe with a doppelganger. It is EJ and Sami's undying love that eventually leads to Rafe and Sami's undoing.
Reception
Dan J. Kroll said Gering's introduction would provide comfort for fans of the cancelled Passions. Gering's debut was mostly well received by viewers. Nelson Branco was "worried" when Gering joined the cast but Rafe soon become one of his favorite characters. Branco likened the character to Peter Reckell's legendary Bo Brady as the resident hero of the series. By 2011, Gering had solidified his place as a "fan favorite." Hayley Farb said "Galen Gering has portrayed every woman's prince charming." Farb also praised Gering's portrayal of Rafe's doppelgänger. "His underestimated talent reached new heights through his dual role."
Storylines
In October 2008, Federal Agent Rafe arrived in Salem to relay information to Sami Brady and her guard, who had been assigned to her as part of the witness protection program. As Sami had become increasingly agitated by her isolation, she had slipped sleeping pills to her guard and knocking her unconscious. As a result, Rafe was permanently assigned to guard Sami, with whom he initially had a combative relationship. As time went on, however, Rafe and Sami began to form a friendship. While Rafe kept fairly quiet about his personal life, he did tell Sami that as a young child, he frequented a local convent due to his troubling behavior. Rafe became one of the very few people to learn that Sami was pregnant with the child of EJ DiMera (James Scott), and agreed to help her conceal this fact. As time went on, Rafe began to develop feelings for Sami and after her stint in Witness Protection ended, he actively pursued a position within the Salem Police Department so he might remain close to Sami and her baby. Rafe also began to reconnect with his younger sister, Arianna (then Felisha Terrell), who had concerns over his involvement with Sami. Despite Arianna's disapproval, Rafe continued to pursue Sami and asked her if he could legally adopt her baby, who they had named Grace. Tragically, several months later, Grace died from complications due to bacterial meningitis, leaving Sami and Rafe utterly devastated.
Following Grace's death, Sami began to observe an emotional distance in Rafe and came to discover him at the graveside of a woman named Emily Hudson. Rafe revealed to Sami that he was once engaged to marry Emily, but she died on the day of their wedding in a tragic accident. When Sami began to investigate Rafe's past, which he would not elaborate upon, she turned up very little. Shortly afterwards, Emily's vengeful sister Meredith arrived in Salem, and after kidnapping Rafe, she attempted to kill him as she held him responsible for Emily's death. Rafe was rescued by Carly Manning (Crystal Chappell), who had recently returned to Salem following over fifteen years away. Following his recovery, Rafe began to actively investigate Nicole Walker (Arianne Zucker), as he developed a theory that she had switched Grace with Sami's biological child. After collecting DNA samples from Sami, and the child, Sydney, Rafe was able to perform a DNA test and confirm that Sydney was in fact Sami's daughter. With Nicole's scheme exposed, she responded by abducting Sydney and leaving Salem. While she was on the run, Nicole encountered Anna Fredericks (Leann Hunley), who in turn kidnapped Sydney from Nicole. Anna began sending ransom notes to Sami, threatening her not involve the police. As a result Sami began confiding in EJ and leaving Rafe in the dark, resulting in Rafe ending their relationship.
Despite the end of his relationship with Sami, Rafe continued to investigate Sydney's abduction and became convinced that Anna was working alongside EJ. Despite his efforts to convince Anna to turn on EJ, Rafe was unsuccessful. By chance, Rafe observed a suspicious conversation between EJ and Nicole on the Salem Pier that seemed to strengthen his theory. Rafe became convinced that EJ had confessed his involvement in the abduction to Nicole and could somehow persuade her to reveal his involvement. In an effort to gain her confession, Rafe attempted to convince Nicole he was interested in her. After a few drinks at The Cheatin' Heart, Nicole and Rafe headed back to her apartment, and stopped short of sleeping together. He remained the night anyway, and used this time to search Nicole's apartment for evidence to incriminate EJ in Sydney's abduction, eventually stumbling upon a recording of EJ admitting to paying Anna to kidnap Sydney. Rafe confronted Nicole with the recording, and assured her immunity from prosecution should she authenticate the recording.
During Rafe's investigation into Sydney's kidnapping, EJ and Sami had reconnected and were engaged to be married. On their wedding day, Rafe aired the recording of EJ's confession at their ceremony, resulting in Sami leaving EJ. Rafe and Sami reunited, resulting in him proposing to her. As they spent the night together, Sami snuck out intent on confronting EJ, whom she found unconscious and holding a gun. Sami used the gun to shoot EJ in the head, and then proceeded to toss it into the river. When Sami's uncle, Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) questioned her about EJ's shooting, Rafe insisted that Sami was with him at the time of the shooting. Sami confessed her involvement in EJ's shooting to Rafe, and despite his dedication to the law, Rafe handed in his resignation to the FBI and swore to protect Sami at all costs. EJ soon discovered Sami's guilt in his shooting, and began blackmailing her for sole custody of their two children, Johnny and Sydney. If she refused his demands, he would turn her, as well as Rafe and her eldest son, Will Horton (then Chandler Massey) in as accessories to attempted murder. With her back against the wall, a devastated Sami agreed to EJ's demands. Rafe assured Sami that he would do whatever he had to help her regain custody of the children, and in order to have one last happy memory before the hard times to follow, suggested they have the wedding that night. Sami agreed, and she and Rafe were married on November 24, 2010.
Following their wedding, Rafe joined the Salem Police Department and began actively investigating EJ, hoping to uncover evidence against him and send him to prison. Rafe's investigation was quickly stalled, when it was discovered that Johnny had cancer. Rafe stood by Sami throughout the cancer ordeal, especially when Johnny needed to have one of his eyes removed. Johnny's cancer was discovered to have spread to his remaining eye, but as the doctors had caught it in time, they were able to treat it and spare his vision. With Johnny's crisis averted, EJ began to allow Sami back into her children's lives. However, Rafe continued to remain in EJ's cross hairs.
Rafe was kidnapped by Stefano and EJ, and imprisoned in a DiMera controlled mental health facility. They hired a man named Arnold Fennigan, and gave him plastic surgery to look like Rafe. He assumed Rafe's life until Rafe escaped and helped Sami take down Arnold. When Sami's stepfather John Black was accused of laundering money from his clients, a target was put on his back. During that time, Johnny went missing and Sami and EJ had grief sex. Rafe found out and broke up with Sami. Rafe became involved with Sami's sister Carrie Brady during her separation from Austin Reed. Carrie and Austin eventually reunited and left Salem.
After Kate Roberts broke up with Stefano, Rafe and her started a sexual relations hip. Rafe was attacked and slipped into a coma. Once he came out of the coma, Rafe fell for his physical therapist Jordan Ridgeway. Jordan initially rejected Rafe's advances, but they soon started to date. However, Jordan started keeping secrets from Rafe, involving her past with Ben Rogers, and Clyde Weston.
Rafe became heavily involved in Gabi's life when she got together with Nick Fallon, especially since Nick has proven to be unstable and untrustworthy during his and Gabi's marriage. Gabi ended up killing Nick, and went to prison for it, but now before she gave birth to Rafe's niece, Arianna Horton. Rafe became romantically interested in Hope Brady, but she got together with Aiden Jennings. Despite having feelings for Hope. Rafe stepped aside and watched as Hope and Aiden for married.
Rafe's long lost father, Eduardo Hernandez, returned to Salem. Eduardo had come back to Salem because of the death of his daughter, Paige Larson, with Eve Donovan. Rafe now had a personal stake in catching the mysterious necktie killer, and vowed to avenge Paige's death. Around the same time, Gabi was pardoned for Nick's murder. Rafe didn't tell Gabi that Eduardo was their father, even though he interacted with Gabi. Rafe wanted Eduardo to stay away from him and Gabi, but Eduardo wanted to make amends with Rafe and Gabi.
Aiden tried to kill Hope on there wedding night, but he was killed by Bo Brady. Hi died soon after from an untreated brain tumor, but gave his blessing for Hope and Rafe. Hope and Rafe bonded when she killed Stefano, and he helped her cover up. [[Andre DiMera set his sights on avenging his father's murder, so Rafe helped Hope frame Andre and send him to prison.
With Andre in prison, Rafe and Hope thought it was over and that they could be together, but it turns out his family was in danger because of Eduardo's past as an assassin. During a showdown with Eduardo's former employer, Eduardo was shot while protecting Rafe. Rafe soon had another reason to be mad at his father as it turned out that his mother had been kidnapped. Dario had also returned to Salem, so the entire Hernandez family, with the exception of Arianna, was together again.
Crimes Committed
- Covered up for Sami Brady when she shot EJ DiMera in the head (Aug 2010)
- Covered for Gabi Hernandez when she was revealed to be involved in Melanie Jonas being held captive; temporarily suspended from the police force (2012-2014)
- Helped Hope Brady cover up Stefano DiMera's murder (Jan 2016-)
- Conspired with Hope to frame Andre DiMera for Stefano's murder (Feb-June 2016)
Injuries
- Stabbed by Anthony Marino's assassin (Feb 2009)
- Attacked by Meredith Jennings and held against his will (2010)
- Hit in the back of the head by Jensen after he confused him for Nick Fallon; rendered comatose for a few months and required physical therapy (2013)
- Hit in the back of the head by Andre DiMera, and chained up (Jul 2016)
- Suffered a leg injury in an explosion orchestrated by Andre
