DiMera family
Encyclopedia
The DiMeras are an upper-class Italian
Roman Catholic family on the soap opera Days of our Lives
. Over the years, the nature of the family itself has been retcon
ned several times; although never directly and overtly, it's been represented as old-line Italian nobility, a relatively self-made European business dynasty, and a stereotypical Mafia family. Its current incarnation appears to be a sort of combination of these: a fairly wealthy Tuscan family with roots in ancient Italian nobility, which had at various points in its history fallen on hard times and rebuilt itself, through both legitimate and illegitimate means, and currently has ties to traditional Italian organized crime (and at times, various terrorist elements). It has intermarried with the Brady, and Kiriakis families over the years.
Over the years it's been revealed that the DiMera family shares a long history with both the Bradford and the Brady
families of the fictional midwestern American city of Salem
. Currently (as of 2007), the show has been exploring the DiMeras' connection to the Brady clan, dating back at least 50 years in the Bradys' ancestral home of Galway
, Ireland
, and the roots of a feud between the two families. This is actually a retcon, as the tension between the two families was originally the result of detective half-brothers Roman
and Bo Brady
and their constant attempts to thwart the various schemes of DiMera family patriarch Stefano DiMera
.
In 2007, the family was revealed to originally hail from Tuscany
, although patriarch Stefano DiMera
has at various times headquartered the family in Rome
, New Orleans, Venezuela
, various uncharted islands in the Caribbean
, and of course, Salem. A 1988 storyline revealed some family activity in the Far East
, but through the years the family has consistently been portrayed as having significant legitimate business holdings, criminal activities, and even political control throughout Latin America
as well as the United States
. Although never shown onscreen, the family is also mentioned to have been involved in terrorism
and political assassinations in such places as Thailand
, Israel
, and Iraq
. Storylines in 2008 indicate the core of the family business is shipping
. Nevertheless, the family has always appeared to be extraordinarily powerful in the criminal underworld
, and the name "DiMera" consistently strikes fear in the hearts of other criminals. In fact, the family and the crime syndicate it controls are so powerful as to be a major focus of several high-level law enforcement and intelligence agencies throughout the world, including the fictional ISA
.
The Italian translation of DiMera is "Of the sea," or "From the ocean."
is an international, undescripted family-ran crime syndicate. In Europe, DiMera Enterprises were behind many hostile takeovers, drug operations and organized crimes. In early February 1982, Santo's son Stefano DiMera
moved the "family business" to midwestern Salem to build a family there. It originated in Tuscany, but branch offices in various parts of the world, including Rome, New Orleans, Venezuela, various uncharted islands in the Caribbean, and of course Salem.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
Roman Catholic family on the soap opera Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
. Over the years, the nature of the family itself has been retcon
Retcon
Retroactive continuity is the alteration of previously established facts in a fictional work. Retcons are done for many reasons, including the accommodation of sequels or further derivative works in a series, wherein newer authors or creators want to revise the in-story history to allow a course...
ned several times; although never directly and overtly, it's been represented as old-line Italian nobility, a relatively self-made European business dynasty, and a stereotypical Mafia family. Its current incarnation appears to be a sort of combination of these: a fairly wealthy Tuscan family with roots in ancient Italian nobility, which had at various points in its history fallen on hard times and rebuilt itself, through both legitimate and illegitimate means, and currently has ties to traditional Italian organized crime (and at times, various terrorist elements). It has intermarried with the Brady, and Kiriakis families over the years.
Over the years it's been revealed that the DiMera family shares a long history with both the Bradford and the Brady
Brady
Brady is a surname derived from the Irish surname Mac Brádaigh.In a listing by the U.S. Census Bureau of the Brady is ranked at #411.-Notable Bradys:*Alice Brady , American silent-film actress, Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner...
families of the fictional midwestern American city of Salem
Salem (Days of our Lives)
The town of Salem is the setting for the U.S. soap opera Days of our Lives. It is located in the Midwestern United States, though the state is never mentioned. It was built and named in 1802, since Salem celebrated its 200-year birthday in 2002. Originally set in New England, the vague setting was...
. Currently (as of 2007), the show has been exploring the DiMeras' connection to the Brady clan, dating back at least 50 years in the Bradys' ancestral home of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and the roots of a feud between the two families. This is actually a retcon, as the tension between the two families was originally the result of detective half-brothers Roman
Roman Brady
Roman Augustus Brady is a fictional character on the television drama Days of our Lives. Roman was played by Wayne Northrop from 1981 to 1984 and 1991 to 1994, and has been played by Josh Taylor since 1997, with a brief hiatus in early 2004, when he was a victim of the show's now-infamous serial...
and Bo Brady
Bo Brady
Beauregard Aurelius "Bo" Brady is a fictional character on the NBC Soap Opera, Days of our Lives, the youngest of the series' Brady family. Created under head-writer Margaret DePreist, the role was originated by actor Peter Reckell on May 2, 1983. Robert Kelker-Kelly briefly stepped into the role...
and their constant attempts to thwart the various schemes of DiMera family patriarch Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera is a fictional character, a villain on the American soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he is portrayed by Joseph Mascolo...
.
In 2007, the family was revealed to originally hail from Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, although patriarch Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera is a fictional character, a villain on the American soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he is portrayed by Joseph Mascolo...
has at various times headquartered the family in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, New Orleans, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, various uncharted islands in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
, and of course, Salem. A 1988 storyline revealed some family activity in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
, but through the years the family has consistently been portrayed as having significant legitimate business holdings, criminal activities, and even political control throughout Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
as well as the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Although never shown onscreen, the family is also mentioned to have been involved in terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
and political assassinations in such places as Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Storylines in 2008 indicate the core of the family business is shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
. Nevertheless, the family has always appeared to be extraordinarily powerful in the criminal underworld
Underworld
The Underworld is a region which is thought to be under the surface of the earth in some religions and in mythologies. It could be a place where the souls of the recently departed go, and in some traditions it is identified with Hell or the realm of death...
, and the name "DiMera" consistently strikes fear in the hearts of other criminals. In fact, the family and the crime syndicate it controls are so powerful as to be a major focus of several high-level law enforcement and intelligence agencies throughout the world, including the fictional ISA
ISA (Days of our Lives)
ISA is an initialism for International Security Alliance, a fictional intelligence agency on the soap opera Days of our Lives. A highly secretive organization, its agents have been operating in the small Midwestern town of Salem at least since its first appearance on the show in the early 1980s...
.
The Italian translation of DiMera is "Of the sea," or "From the ocean."
Members
Characters currently on the show are noted in bold; family members through marriage are in italics.Second generation
- Six Unnamed Brothers (deceased)
- Stefano DiMeraStefano DiMeraStefano DiMera is a fictional character, a villain on the American soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he is portrayed by Joseph Mascolo...
- Kate Roberts
- John Black
- Marlena EvansMarlena EvansDr. Marlena Evans Black is a long-running fictional character on the NBC daytime drama, Days of our Lives, a long running serial about working life in the fictional town of Salem. She was played by actress Deidre Hall since 1976, with a few minor breaks in between from 1987 to March 1991 and...
- Marlena Evans
Third generation
- Andre DiMera (deceased 2007)
- Tony DiMeraTony DiMeraCount Antony "Tony" DiMera is a fictional character from the American soap opera Days of our Lives, played by actor Thaao Penghlis on and off from 1981 until 2009. One of the character's main storylines includes being impersonated by fellow character André DiMera, at various points in the...
(deceased 2009)- Anna DiMera
- Kristen BlakeKristen BlakeKristen Blake is a fictional villainess on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Although raised by villain Stefano DiMera after the death of her parents , Kristen and Peter were never legally adopted by him...
- Renée DuMondeRenée DuMondeRenée DuMonde is a fictional character on the television soap opera Days of our Lives. The role was portrayed by Philece Sampler from 1980-1983.-External links:*...
(deceased 1983) - Megan HathawayMegan HathawayMegan Hathaway is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. She was played by Cheryl-Ann Wilson from 1984 to 1985.-Character history:...
(deceased 1985) - Peter Blake (adopted son of Stefano)
- Kristen BlakeKristen BlakeKristen Blake is a fictional villainess on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Although raised by villain Stefano DiMera after the death of her parents , Kristen and Peter were never legally adopted by him...
(adopted daughter of Stefano also second wife of Andre posing as Tony) - Lexie Carver
- Abe CarverAbe CarverMayor Abraham Washington "Abe" Carver is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera Days of our Lives. Actor James Reynolds has played the character since he originated it on the series in 1981. The character was created by head writer Pat Falken Smith. Abe is the husband of...
- Abe Carver
- Benjy HawkBenjy HawkBenjamin "Benjy" Hawk is a fictional character from Days of our Lives. He was played, on a recurring basis, by Darrell Thomas Utley from 1988 to 1990, and by Jim Lunsford in 2006 and 2007.-Character's background:...
(deceased 2007)- Sonia Hawk
- EJ DiMera
- Nicole WalkerNicole WalkerNicole DiMera is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera, Days of our Lives, a long running series about working-class life in the fictional town of Salem. She was introduced in 1998 by head writer Sally Sussman Morina, and executive producer Ken Corday...
- Nicole Walker
- Chad DiMera (1990 - )
- Belle Black Brady
- Shawn-Douglas BradyShawn-Douglas BradyShawn-Douglas Brady is a character on the television soap opera Days of our Lives. He is the son of supercouple Bo Brady and Hope Williams, and one half of the supercouple Shawn Brady and Belle Black. Jason Cook is most identifiable in the role, portraying the character from 1999-2006...
- Shawn-Douglas Brady
- Brady BlackBrady BlackBrady Victor Black is a character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He is the son of John Black and Isabella Toscano and an heir to Greek tycoon Victor Kiriakis. The character was initially played by Alex, Max, and Dash Lucero , and subsequently by Eric and Brandon Billings...
Fourth generation
- Theo Carver (born 2003)
- Claire Brady (2005 - )
- Steven Hawk (2007-)
- Johnny DiMera (October 23, 2007- )
- Sydney DiMera (January 29, 2009 - )
- Grace Brady (2009; deceased)
Family tree
DiMera
- Santo DiMeraSanto DiMeraSanto DiMera is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He was portrayed by James Scott from July 9, 2007 to September 28, 2007. Scott reprised the role on August 20, 2008 as a figment of John's imagination....
(deceased)- m. Unnamed woman [dissolved] (deceased)
- c. Stefano DiMera
- a. Lee DuMonde (deceased)
- c. Renee DuMondeRenée DuMondeRenée DuMonde is a fictional character on the television soap opera Days of our Lives. The role was portrayed by Philece Sampler from 1980-1983.-External links:*...
(deceased)- m. David Banning [divorced]
- c. Unnamed Child (deceased)
- m. Alex Marshall [dissolved]
- m. David Banning [divorced]
- c. Renee DuMonde
- a. Unnamed woman
- c. Megan Hathaway (deceased) {given up for adoption}
- a. Beauregard Aurelius BradyBo BradyBeauregard Aurelius "Bo" Brady is a fictional character on the NBC Soap Opera, Days of our Lives, the youngest of the series' Brady family. Created under head-writer Margaret DePreist, the role was originated by actor Peter Reckell on May 2, 1983. Robert Kelker-Kelly briefly stepped into the role...
- c. Unnamed Child (deceased)
- a. Beauregard Aurelius Brady
- c. Megan Hathaway (deceased) {given up for adoption}
- a. Celeste Purralt (Affair)
- c. Alexandra "Lexie" Brooks Carver {given up for adoption}
- m. Abraham "Abe" Washington Carver [married]
- c. Theodore "Theo" Brandon Carver
- m. Abraham "Abe" Washington Carver [married]
- c. Alexandra "Lexie" Brooks Carver {given up for adoption}
- a. Ellen Hawk (deceased)
- c. Benjamin "Benjy" Hawk (deceased)
- m. Sonia Hawk
- c. Steven Hawk
- m. Sonia Hawk
- c. Benjamin "Benjy" Hawk (deceased)
- i. Susan Banks Crumb
- c. EJ DiMera
- r. Samantha Gene BradySami BradySamantha Gene "Sami" Hernandez is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives. She was born onscreen on October 16, 1984, though was later SORASed to October 16, 1977. Created by head writer Margaret DePriest, Sami has been portrayed by Alison Sweeney since January 22, 1993...
- c. John "Johnny" Roman DiMera
- c. Sydney Anne DiMera {born January 29, 2009}
- a. Nicole WalkerNicole WalkerNicole DiMera is a fictional character on the NBC soap opera, Days of our Lives, a long running series about working-class life in the fictional town of Salem. She was introduced in 1998 by head writer Sally Sussman Morina, and executive producer Ken Corday...
- c. Baby Girl DiMera (miscarriage; November 25, 2008)
- m. Nicole Walker (divorced)
- r. Samantha Gene Brady
- a. Madeline Peterson Woods (deceased)
- c. Chad DiMera (born 1990)
- a. Mia McCormick
- c. Grace Brady (born 2009; deceased 2009)
- a. Mia McCormick
- c. Chad DiMera (born 1990)
- m. Vivian AlamainVivian AlamainVivian Alamain is a fictional character on the NBC Soap Opera, Days of our Lives, head of the series' Alamain family. Created by writer Richard J. Allen, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Louise Sorel. In 2000, Sorel departed from the series and the role was not recast with another actress...
[divorced] - m. Katherine Elizabeth Roberts (married September 24, 2009)
- c. EJ DiMera
- a. Lee DuMonde (deceased)
- c. Stefano DiMera
- a. Colleen BradyColleen BradyColleen Mary Brady was a fictional character on the U.S. soap opera Days of our Lives. Her story was seen in flashbacks through the correspondence between Santo DiMera and herself...
(deceased)- c. John Black {given up for adoption}
- m. Marlena Evans Black [invalid; first time]
- m. Isabella ToscanoIsabella ToscanoIsabella Beatrice Black was a fictional character on the NBC soap opera Days of our Lives. Originally appearing in 1989, Isabella was portrayed by Staci Greason in both the character's three-year run as well as in subsequent episodes when Isabella appeared as a ghost.-Character history and...
[dissolved] (deceased)- c. Brady BlackBrady BlackBrady Victor Black is a character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He is the son of John Black and Isabella Toscano and an heir to Greek tycoon Victor Kiriakis. The character was initially played by Alex, Max, and Dash Lucero , and subsequently by Eric and Brandon Billings...
- m. Chloe LaneChloe LaneChloe Lane is a fictional character on the American NBC soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Tom Langan, she is portrayed by actress Nadia Bjorlin...
[divorced]
- m. Chloe Lane
- c. Brady Black
- a. Marlena Evans
- c. Isabella "Belle" Black Brady
- m. Shawn-Douglas "Shawn" Brady
- c. Claire Brady
- c. Unnamed child (deceased)
- m. Philip KiriakisPhilip KiriakisPhilip Robert Kiriakis is a character on the American soap opera Days of our Lives He has been portrayed by Brandon Tyler from October 21, 1999 to December 24, 1999, then by Jay Kenneth Johnson from December 27, 1999 to December 25, 2002 and Kyle Brandt from May 14, 2003 to October 12, 2006,...
[divorced
- m. Shawn-Douglas "Shawn" Brady
- c. Isabella "Belle" Black Brady
- a. Kristen BlakeKristen BlakeKristen Blake is a fictional villainess on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Although raised by villain Stefano DiMera after the death of her parents , Kristen and Peter were never legally adopted by him...
- c. Unnamed child (deceased)
- m. Susan BanksSusan BanksSusan Delilah Crumb is a fictional character on NBC's daytime drama Days of our Lives. She was played by Eileen Davidson from November 4, 1996 to April 8, 1998. In November 2011, it was announced that Brynn Thayer would take over the role of Susan, since Davidson is committed to The Young and the...
[invalid] - m. Marlena Evans Black [invalid; second time]
- m. Marlena Evans Black [divorced; third time]
- m. Marlena Evans Black [married; fourth time]
- c. John Black {given up for adoption}
- m. Unnamed woman [dissolved] (deceased)
DiMera Enterprises
DiMera Enterprises, founded by Santo DiMeraSanto DiMera
Santo DiMera is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. He was portrayed by James Scott from July 9, 2007 to September 28, 2007. Scott reprised the role on August 20, 2008 as a figment of John's imagination....
is an international, undescripted family-ran crime syndicate. In Europe, DiMera Enterprises were behind many hostile takeovers, drug operations and organized crimes. In early February 1982, Santo's son Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera
Stefano DiMera is a fictional character, a villain on the American soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he is portrayed by Joseph Mascolo...
moved the "family business" to midwestern Salem to build a family there. It originated in Tuscany, but branch offices in various parts of the world, including Rome, New Orleans, Venezuela, various uncharted islands in the Caribbean, and of course Salem.
Current Employees
- Stefano DiMeraStefano DiMeraStefano DiMera is a fictional character, a villain on the American soap opera Days of our Lives. Created by head writer Pat Falken Smith, he is portrayed by Joseph Mascolo...
, currently CEO of the DiMera Enterprises - EJ DiMera, Attorney for DiMera Enterprises
- Rolf, Henchman, Jack of all trades
- Chad DiMera, Intern at DiMera Enterprises
Former Employees
- Andre DiMera, Henchman (1983–1984, 2007), associate (posing as tony) (1993–1996), Former CEO of the DiMera Enterprises (posing as Tony) (2002–2005)
- Kristen DiMeraKristen BlakeKristen Blake is a fictional villainess on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Although raised by villain Stefano DiMera after the death of her parents , Kristen and Peter were never legally adopted by him...
, temporarily CEO of the DiMera Enterprises between 1995–1997 - John Black, temporarily CEO the DiMera Enterprises (2008)
- Peter Blake, former attorney for DiMera Enterprises (1992–1998)
- Patrick LockhartPatrick LockhartPatrick Brian Lockhart was a fictional character on the television drama Days of our Lives.The character of "Patrick" was played by actor Brody Hutzler from 2004 to 2007.-Character history:...
, Henchman (on and off from 2004–2007) - Colin Murphy, former Dimera doctor, hitman (2002–2003)
- Bart Beiderbecke, former associate (1997–2007)
- Petrov, former henchman