John Oliver Makes a Splash on “Days of Our Lives”

Comedian John Oliver appears in a three-episode arc on the long-running daytime drama *Days of Our Lives*. He plays Devlin St. John, the fictional town of Salem’s chief water inspector, debuting early in August and returning later in the same week. The storyline pits him against Salem’s mayor, Paulina Price, and includes flirtatious banter with Rita Lesley, while Oliver also delivers a memorable slap to series regular Dan Feuerriegel. A distinctive, oversized wig—originally Oliver’s own—was tweaked by the show’s hair-and-makeup team for the role.

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Oliver’s foray follows a similar three-episode stint on *General Hospital* a month earlier, where he portrayed Z, head of the fictional World Security Bureau. The *Days of Our Lives* appearance continues a self-initiated “soap-opera summer” that began with a March segment on *Last Week Tonight*, in which Oliver offered himself to any soap willing to host him. He cited the many celebrity guest spots on soaps, from pop star Katy Perry to rapper Snoop Dogg, as inspiration.

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• John Oliver – Host of *Last Week Tonight*; guest star as Devlin St. John.

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• Jackée Harry – Veteran sitcom actress portraying Mayor Paulina Price.

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• Maggie Carney – Actress playing Rita Lesley, who shares on-screen chemistry with Oliver’s character.

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• Dan Feuerriegel – Long-time *Days of Our Lives* star who receives Oliver’s on-screen slap.

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Oliver’s cameo underscores a growing trend of high-profile comedians crossing into daytime drama, blurring the line between satire and traditional storytelling. By demanding a “ridiculous name,” an “outrageous wig,” and a physical slap, Oliver injects his trademark humor into the soap-opera format, generating buzz that may attract new viewers to the series while highlighting the genre’s openness to unconventional guest talent.

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