| Vivian Alamain | |||||||||||||||
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| Louise Sorel As Vivian Alamain | |||||||||||||||
| Days of our Lives | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Louise Sorel Marj Dusay (temp. 1993) | ||||||||||||||
| Current status | Former, Recurring | ||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1992–2000, 2009–11, 2017-18 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | March 2, 1992 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | May 23, 2018 | ||||||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Last seen awakening from a back from the dead injection. | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | Richard J. Allen and Beth Milstein | ||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Al Rabin (1992) Ken Corday and Gary Tomlin (2009) | ||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||
| Alias(es) | Vivian Kiriakis Vivian Jones Vivian DiMera | ||||||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Socialite Bollywood Actress Businesswoman | ||||||||||||||
| Residence | DiMera Mansion in Salem (2018–) Mumbai, India (before 2017) | ||||||||||||||
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Vivian Alamain is a fictional character from the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Louise Sorel from 1992–2000, 2009–11, and again from 2017-.
It was announced in August 2017 that Sorel would once again return to the soap first airing December 29, 2017, and last airing May 10, 2018 when the character is killed off. Vivian reappeared alive on May 23 after being injected with a serum (presumably Dr. Rolf's return from the dead serum) awaking in the morgue.
Casting and characterization
Louise Sorel, who was previously best known for playing Augusta Lockridge in NBC soap opera, Santa Barbara, was cast in the role of Vivian in 1992. The Days of our Lives casting director contacted Sorel's new agent about the role of Vivian and described her. Sorel's agent explained that they managed the actress to the casting director, who was familiar with Sorel's work in Santa Barbara. Other actresses were being considered for the role, but Sorel was eventually cast as Vivian. Sorel signed an initial one-year contract with the show. Sorel was released from her contract after only five months. However, producers reversed their decision after learning that they would have to continue paying Sorel despite her departure. In 1993, it was announced that Vivian's nephew, Lawrence Alamain (Michael Sabatino), and her nemesis, Carly Manning (Crystal Chappell), were to both leave Days of our Lives. Sorel's future with the show was subsequently in doubt. However, it was confirmed that Sorel would remain on the show regardless. In December 1993, The Herald Journal reported that Sorel had signed a new multi-year contract. In 1995, Sorel signed a third contract term with the show.
Vivian is described as "conniving, stubborn, selfish, flamboyant, manic, childish, seductive and vindictive, all with a core of evil humor". Sorel told The Free Lance–Star that she loves the role of Vivian because she is "so horrible". Sorel opined that Vivian is similar to Augusta, saying "She's sophisticated; she's rich. She's a good, strong character." Sorel said that Vivian is a "little more gothic" than Augusta, calling her "darker". The actress added that Vivian would become humorous in the future. Sorel later revealed that Vivian was never intended to be "funny" and that the characteristic was developed after the appointment of new head writer, James E. Reilly. Sorel later thought that the writers "went overboard" with Vivian's humor, making the character "ludicrous" and "like a caricature". Vivian was labeled a villainess by viewers, which Sorel said was "appalling". She told the Chicago Tribune "Vivian happens to be very devious and cunning, yet a woman who ultimately has not learned how to behave. She always wants to get her way." Sorel said she "fight[s] like hell" with the writers "to present [Vivian] on several levels". Upon her 2009 return, Sorel described Vivian as "passionate and fearless". During an interview with Soaps.com, Sorel said of Vivian: "She is certainly on her own track and she’s arrogant, well traveled, and has a peculiar sense of morality. Vivian is very brave and is probably someone that you would want to have on your side."
Development
In October 1999, it was announced that Sorel was to leave Days of our Lives when her contract expires in January 2000. Of Vivian's departure, executive producers, Ken Corday and Tom Langan, said "We love the character of Vivian, and hopefully she will return sometime in the near future." Producers confirmed that the role would not be recast. Vivian and Sorel were axed from the show and the actress admitted that it felt "horrible". Vivian departed on February 22, 2000.
In July 2009, it was announced that Sorel would be reprising the role of Vivian. Executive producer, Gary Tomlin, contacted Sorel and invited her to return to the show. Sorel was surprised as Tomlin invited her to return over the telephone without seeing her current appearance. Sorel told TV Guide "[Tomlin] didn’t ask me how I’m looking these days. For all he knew, I’ve gained 250 pounds." The actress commutes from New York to California, where Days of our Lives is filmed, for the role. Sorel signed an initial one-year contract. Sorel was initially planning to sign a longer contract, but since relocating to New York, she could not speculate on her long-term future with the show. Sorel returned to filming in September 2009. Vivian's return was broadcast on October 30, 2009.
Sorel's return coincided with the return of Chappell as Carly. Vivian returns to Salem to wreak revenge on Carly for murdering Lawrence.
Storylines
Vivian, the aunt of Lawrence Alamain arrives in Salem on March 2, 1992. She is determined to take over Alamain corporations, but is foiled when John Black inherits them. Vivian looks to be rich, and powerful, so she pursues wealthy crime lord, Victor Kiriakis. Vivian marries Victor for business purposes, but the marriage is short lived. After Victor leaves her for Kate Roberts, Vivian sets out to destroy Carly Manning. Vivian is taking herbal pills from Dr. Wu, which makes her loopy. She begins to target Carly's patients, by injecting them with cleaning fluids. The police begin to investigate Carly for murder. Carly learns Vivian is the one killing off her patients, and sets out to prove it. A crazed Vivian gives Carly a strong dose of morphine to put her in a very deep sleep.
Vivian and Ivan prepare to bury Carly alive
Vivian is released, and sets her sights on destroying Kate and Victor's marriage. She finds out that Kate can't produce a male heir, so she steals and has herself implanted with Kate and Victor’s fertilized egg. Vivian is now pregnant with their child, and tries to seduce Victor who doesn't fall for her tricks. Vivian gives birth to Philip Kiriakis, and Kate tries everything to get custody. Vivian also tricked Victor into marrying her by replacing Kate during the wedding rehearsal and made it the real deal. When Kate finds out, Vivian drugs Kate's coffee, but the coffee is given to the pilot of a plane Kate is on. The plane crashes, but Kate lives although they can't find her body. She and Victor make love, after they can't find Kate's body. Kate returns, and wants custody of Philip, and gets it. Victor later divorces Vivian, and Vivian takes comfort in Rudolfo.
Vivian receives bad news when she learns she is fired from Titan. She meets Steven "Jonesy" Jones, an elderly man whom she thinks is wealthy, but is merely a caretaker for Stefano DiMera. She marries him after a brief romance, and he dies on their wedding night after making love to her. She inherits his belongings, which makes Stefano romance her in order to get his possessions back. He implants a device in her tooth allowing him to control her moods. After they are married, she discovers what he did and files for divorce. He gives her the townhouse and money in exchange for her silence. She begins to look for alternative methods to cure Victor after he suffers a stroke. Once Victor recovers, he returns to Kate. Vivian leaves Salem with her sidekick Ivan to get a fresh start. They travel around the world, and live off Ivan's lottery winnings.
Vivian vows revenge on Carly for killing Lawrence
Hope arrives and stops Carly from killing Vivian by revealing that Melanie is fine. Victor discovered Vivian's scheme and switched the poisoned comb with a safe one. Hope begins to cuff Vivian and arrest her, but Gus awakens behind a stack of crates and topples them onto Hope and Carly. Vivian returns to the wedding at the Kiriakis mansion and lures Melanie to the rooftop terrace to hurl her off. Carly follows with Hope's gun and is about to shoot Vivian but Melanie steps in front of Vivian and is shot and fall into a coma. Victor scolds Vivian for defying him and threatens to turn her over to the police if Melanie dies. If Melanie lives however, he will get her off and ensure that Carly is sent to prison for the shooting. Vivian and Carly are both arrested after Hope's statement implicates Vivian. Bo interrogates Vivian to no avail. Victor has hidden all evidence pointing to Vivian's involvement and she is freed. Phillip and Daniel Jonas, who has recently learned that he is Melanie's father, also threaten Vivian. Melanie lives and Victor warns her that he will hand the police the evidence against her if she makes another attempt on Melanie.
Vivian, nevertheless, makes another attempt on her life, but Melanie wakes as Vivian is about to suffocate her in her hospital bed. The dazed Melanie tells Vivian to kill her, and reveals her tormented childhood to Vivian. Vivian is moved and relents. She tells the vision of Lawrence that she refuses to kill the young woman and, with Victor's encouragement, she focuses on Carly. Gus is arrested and questioned by Bo and Hope, but does not give up his mistress and is released. Vivian moves out of the mansion temporarily when Phillip tells Victor that he will not return with Melanie while Vivian is there. She soon returns, however, and makes a deal with Carly. She will leave Carly and her loved ones alone if Carly will plead guilty to shooting Melanie. Melanie, angry at finding out that Carly is the mother who gave her up, does not help and is hateful towards Carly, to Vivian's delight. Hope, however, brings Melanie around, and as Carly is about to be sentenced, Melanie exonerates her by telling the judge that the shooting was an accident. Vivian is not pleased, and threatens to kill Carly, and continues to torment her, even in spite of Bo's warning to leave her alone.
Bo goes to Vivian and threatens to kill her, even if it means jail time, in order to protect Carly. Victor, who does not want Bo in jail or Vivian dead, offers to marry Vivian if she will stop her vendetta, and she agrees. She learns, however, that Carly has been threatening to ruin Chloe Lane's relationship with Daniel due to an affair Chloe had with Phillip. Vivian offers her support to Chloe in dealing with Carly. Vivian is married to Victor in a somber ceremony, both Victor and the attending guests are bitter and cynical about the bizarre proceedings. Chloe, however, turns to Vivian for help. Vivian gives Chloe the number of one of her past henchmen and tells Chloe to ensure that Carly is in an elevator at the hospital when the henchman instructs. Chloe is uncomfortable with killing Carly, but Vivian convinces her that it is the only way. When the time comes, however, Chloe attempts to stop the killing several times, finally pushing Carly from the elevator and ending up being dropped herself when the cable malfunctions.
Vivian, meanwhile, is on her honeymoon and Victor notices her preoccupation. He threatens to end the marriage and make her life very difficult if anything happens to Carly. Vivian, however, discovers that Chloe was in the elevator and has survived. She vows to punish Chloe for failing to kill Carly. Now, Vivian wants to get rid of Maggie, whom she thinks Victor has eyes on. Her evil plan is similar to Carly's but putting her in a sarcophagus and try to bury her alive. With her henchmen, Gus, she may be able to pull it off, but Melanie thinks Maggie is leaving town. Under the ruse of creating a celebration of Isabella Toscano's (Brady's mother and Victor's daughter) life, Vivian commences her plan to kidnap and entomb Maggie in a new sarcophagus, which has supposedly been purchased to contain Isabella's remains. Vivian gets overly confident, and, hence, sloppy in the final stages of her plan. Her trusty assistant, Gus, gets cold feet and quits. Brady happens upon her plan and discovers what Vivian has planned and that she has deposited his mother's remains in a pet cemetery. Brady ends up interring Vivian in the sarcophagus rather than Maggie, to Vivian's horror. Vivian is freed by Gus and they entomb Maggie. Victor frees Maggie and plans for Vivian to be arrested but Brady decides she deserves to be free. Vivian and Gus are then dropped on an island but Brady rescues them in June.
Vivian with her son Quinn
Vivian returns
Vivian and Andre are working together
Later, It’s revealed that Vivian and Andre are secretly working together. Vivian and Stefan are revealed to be playing Andre while he remains unaware of it. Vivian tries to have Andre get Chad to back off when he finds out that Chad has hired John to snoop into their business. Andre is forced to fire Gabi and steal GabiChic from her, so DiMera Enterprises could thrive and get all the profits.
The next morning, Andrè is murdered and his family blames Vivian and Stefan for it. Stefan and Vivian were in Andre’s office the night he was murdered, but it was after Andre was already dead. Stefan had the security footage of him and Vivian entering Andre’s office, so they could not be blamed for the murder, but that only makes Chad and Kate even more suspicious.
Vivian encounters Abby wearing a dark haired wig, and calling herself “Gabby”. Stunned and confused, Vivian ends up angering Gabby to the point where she tries to attack her with a fire poker. Stefan diffuses the situation and explains to Vivian that Abby has DID and that Gabby was the one who killed Andre, though it is later revealed Abby is the one that killed Andre and that caused the altar’s to appear.
Vivian attempts to proposition Victor into joining TITAN with DiMera Enterprises, and even tries to seduce him. That seduction fails though when Vivian flashes Victor, and he screams “Oh My God! My Eyes!”. So, Vivian hires a man named Leo to seduce Sonny, and get a job at TITAN. Sonny breaks up with Leo when he finds out Leo will be working for him, but Vivian encourages Leo to get back into Sonny’s bed, presumably damaging TITAN by creating a scandal.
Vivian becomes worried as Stefan and Gabby get closer, and refuses to let Stefan run away with Gabby, so Stefan locks Vivian in Gabby’s hideout where Kate and Marlena Evans are already locked up. There, Vivian reveals that Abby has DID and that she is the one who killed Andre Kate refuses to believe it, but Marlena already knows Abby has DID and thinks murdering someone she loved could cause her to split. The women start to run out of air and all pass out. They are rescued by John, Paul, and Hope.
Vivian rushes to the hospital when she finds out Stefan was there after Chad nearly beat him to death. Though Vivian is upset that Chad attacked Stefan, she also feels he somewhat deserved it for locking her up like that. Vivian heads to the mansion where she hears Kate talking to Stefano’s portrait, and taunts her that talking to ghosts is a sign of mental ill. Kate then reveals to Vivian that she knows that Andre was feeding her and Stefan inside information to take over DiMera, and declared that she would take what she knows to the board. She also brings up Kate’s plot with Leo. Vivian says Leo refused to help her, but then Leo shows up after Vivian had text him. Kate interrogates Leo about Vivian’s plot to have him frame Sonny for sexual harassment.
Leo leaves, and Kate declares that she can now send Vivian to prison, and get her out of her life for good. Vivian tries to convince Kate to team up with her, so they can finally take Victor down for good. Kate admits the offer is tempting, but refuses to work with Vivian. Vivian pulls a gun on Kate, but Kate manages to grab the gun and they struggle over the gun. Vivian gets shot and later appears to die in the hospital with Stefan vowing revenge on Kate, who claims the gun went off. However, gun residue is found to be on Kate’s hands as well. Later, Vivian is given a mysterious injection in been neck.
On May 24, Andre appears to Kate, claiming to be a figment of her guilty conscious. He encourages Kate to come clean about what really happened with Vivian. Kate flashes back to how she had wrestled the gun away from Vivian, and then shot her in cold blood. At the same time, Vivian comes to in a dark and dingy room. The door opens and Vivian recongnizes her visitor.Crimes & Misdeeds
- Killed Alphonse LeBequeto protect Lawrence [Mar 1992]
- Helped cover up Lisanne Gardner’s accidental death [1992]
- Purchased a fake birth certificate for Nicholas Alamain; claimed she adopted him [circa 1992]
- Blackmailed French doctors to say that her nephew Lawrence and Carly Manning’s son had died [prior to and until 1993]
- Killed several of Carly Manning's patients with cleaning fluid (while under the influence of mind-altering drugs) [1993]
- Buried Carly Manning alive (while under the influence of mind-altering drugs) [1993]
- Stole Kate and Victor's fertilized egg, had it implanted, and eventually gave birth to their son, Philip [1994 to Feb 21, 1995]
- Tricked Victor into marrying her; blackmailed him to stay married [1995–97]
- Drugged coffee that Kate Roberts's pilot drank, causing Kate's plane to crash and Kate to be presumed dead [1995]
- Blackmailed Kristen DiMera [1996]
- Assisted with Kristen’s illegal baby swap [1996–97]
Maladies and Injuries
- Buried Alive by Brady Black [Nov 2010]
- Lightly strangled by Brady [Feb 2018]
- Falsely inprisoned by Stefan DiMera and Abigail Deveraux’s altar, Gabby [April 2018]
- Passed out from lack of oxygen [May 2018]
- Shot by Kate Roberts even though she claimed it was an accident [May 10, 2018; revealed May 24, 2018]
