Though soap newbie Mike Manning totally charmed Days of our Lives audiences when he debuted as Charlie Dale last year, the writers took a 180-degree turn with the character when he was recently revealed to be Ava's (Tamara Braun) vengeful son and Allie's (Lindsay Arnold) rapist. The storyline twist pretty much nailed Charlie's coffin shut -- but it was a bullet that actually took the character off the canvas.
Pretty much everyone in Salem threated Charlie's life in the days leading up to his murder last week, giving DAYS fans a murder mystery that has painted everyone from Sami (Alison Sweeney) to Claire (Isabel Durant) to John (Drake Hogestyn) as suspects.
As for Manning, he reports that he's sad to see his time on DAYS come to an end but says, "at least we're having fun with it!"
In a post made to social media, the actor went on to share, "It's been fun Salem. I'll love you all forever. Thank you to NBC, to everyone involved, and most of all to the fans that were along for the ride w/ this crazy character. You're amazing. I'll always be grateful for you."
Manning also promised that he is excited to share what's next for him as soon as he can -- and people are already hoping that his future will somehow involve a return to Salem. And by "people," we mean fans and the actor's on-screen mother, Tamara Braun.
"Are you really dead?" the actress playfully wrote under Manning's farewell post. "Maybe it was tomato sauce on your shirt? Cooking accident? I'm hoping this is one of those soap things & you're not really dead bc I am going to miss working with you. You are a great talent and a lovely human being. Big hugs and kisses from mommy!"
Are you really dead?Maybe it was tomato sauce on your shirt?Cooking accident?I'm hoping this is one of those soap things & you're not really dead bc I am going to miss working with you. You are a great talent and a lovely human being. Big hugs and kisses from mommy! 😘
- Tamara Braun (@TamaraBraun) February 28, 2021
Time will tell if the powers that be at DAYS will decide to bring Manning or his murdered alter ego back to the canvas. As fans of the NBC soap opera know, anything is possible in Salem! In the meantime, the show's head writer, Ron Carlivati, invites everyone to give the actor a round of applause for his work as Ava's son.
"Mike did an amazing job making us care about a very damaged guy and that is a tribute to his talent," he tweeted. "Please join me in saying thanks!"
How do you feel about the way DAYS' writers ended Mike Manning's time as Charlie? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
