Stuart Damon spoilers!

Stuart Damon Hits Days of Our Lives
by Michael Logan February 23, 2010 10:32 AM EST


Mark Sanford and Eliot Spitzer have nothing on Days of Our Lives’ Governor Jim Ford. The philandering politico—played by former General Hospital great Stuart Damon—will arrive on the soap March 19 to attend a swanky fundraiser in Salem. But before Ford splits town, he’ll spring snarky sexpot Nicole DiMera (Arianne Zucker) out of jail, where she’s currently serving a 20-year sentence for babynapping. Damon gave TV Guide Magazine all the dirt!

You were terrific as that greasy, cheesy mobster Ralph Manzo on As the World Turns. And now comes this shady Days gig. Not that your GH character, Dr. Alan Quartermaine, didn’t do some rotten stuff over the years, but this is a whole new career direction for you. And it’s tickling us pink!
I had such a blast on ATWT and this Days thing is really good, too. And really classy. This guy I play is ripped from the headlines—one of those politicians who can’t keep his fly zipped. He’s got a lot of secrets. The wardrobe was gorgeous—designer suits, swanky cufflinks, beautiful ties. Definitely more upscale than Ralph!

So how does Ford get mixed up with Nicole?
He grants her a full pardon because he’s being blackmailed by his old flame Anna DiMera [Leann Hunley]. He runs into Anna at the Kiriakis house. She asks Ford to help give this woman a pardon but, when he finds out who it is, he says “You’re out of your mind!” The guy’s got a real edge and there’s very little that’s beneath him, but even he chokes on the idea of pardoning Nicole. He’s desperately afraid she’ll be a menace to society, which could come back to destroy him. But he’s got no choice. Anna has him by the throat.

Sounds juicy. And then?
Then EJ [James Scott] finds out Ford’s been in cahoots with Anna and he is not pleased. However the governor only takes so much from EJ—because EJ is a menace to society as well—so it’s pretty confrontational. They’re both strong characters who’ll go as far as they need to go, and that makes for some good drama.

How long is your run?
Five episodes, and nothing would give me more pleasure than to come back and get some hell for letting Nicole loose. You know, when they asked me to do the part they hadn’t written anything yet. They said, “If you agree to do it, we’ll write the part for you.” And it’s my kind of part, my kind of dialogue. There’s romance and toughness and softness. It’s a very well-rounded, well-constructed role. The writers did me proud. And [Days exec producer] Gary Tomlin treated me so well. I got no complaints.

So it’s better to be bad, yes?
[Laughs] I think so! My ATWT character would kill you as soon as look at you. These character roles are so much more fun. But, I’ll tell ya, the schedule is now a mindblower. It’s only been 18 months since I finished up on GH but since then soaps have gone crazy. They’re shooting eight episodes a week at Days now. The speed is really scary. But give me a part and I can still rip through it!

You’ve come a long way from your big TV break in 1965—playing Prince Charming opposite Lesley Ann Warren in Cinderella. People are still nuts for that special.
You wouldn’t believe the prices the DVD gets on the internet! Yeah, I’m proud to say I’ve lasted pretty well in this business. I can’t fit into those tights anymore but, hey, I’m still here!

BTW, this is our 500th post!