Stephen Nichols has been playing Steve “Patch” Johnson for 40 years, and the Days of Our Lives star is a firm believer in his character’s “signature” — his eye patch.
Speaking to Soap Opera Digest in an article published June 16, Nichols, 74, reflected on his tenure on the soap opera, which began when Steve was first introduced in 1985. When he was first hired, he said, he “could never have conceived” he’d still be there four decades later.
Nichols noted that Patch was first introduced as an “expendable villain” and it was “a bit sketchy” if the character would stay on Days of Our Lives long-term.
“I tried my best to bring humor to the character. Harp and humor in fact,” he said. “I think that got me through until the wonderful Mary Beth Evans came along.” Once the writers set Patch with Evans’ Kayla Brady, a new soap super couple was born.
But that wasn’t before Steve lost one of his eyes in a knife fight with Peter Reckell’s Bo Brady. After the loss, Steve donned his now-trademark eye patch. Soap Opera Digest asked Nichols if he’d known then that he’d still wear the patch four years later, if he would have fought for Steve to keep his eye.
“I was always against losing the patch,” Nichols said. “It is his signature, both physically and psychologically. Wearing the patch is one of the reasons I was excited about taking the job, because I knew what an indelible signature it would be for the character.”
Nichols said the patch is “central to the psychology of the character.” It stoked his “hatred toward Bo” and “resentment toward the world,” leaving him “believing that he is a freak and could never have a normal, happy life.” When Kayla eventually removed the patch to clean his wounds, Nichols remembered, “It was the beginning of Kayla teaching Steve to start believing in himself.”
In honor of Nichols’ Days anniversary, some of his cast members shared congratulations in videos posted to the Days of Our Lives Instagram. Evans, 64, said of him in one of the videos, “Darlin Stephen, wow, 40 years. What a ride we’ve had. It’s been so much fun, and you’re amazing, and you always give me everything. Your heart. Your soul. Your love.”
She continued, “What good friends and how lucky are we, and happy, happy anniversary to my sweetest, sweetest friend. I love you.”
Evans herself celebrated 39 years on the show in May. Nichols wrote on Instagram at the time, “Today marks 39 years since @marybeth.evans first walked into Salem—and into my life. From the very beginning, she’s been my partner, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend, collaborator or co-conspirator in all things Steve & Kayla.”
“Through every twist and turn, Mary Beth has brought heart, strength and soul to our story—and to our friendship. I can’t imagine doing this without her!” he continued. “Here’s to 39 years of unforgettable memories, Sweetness — and to the magic we’ve made together.”
Nichols told Soap Opera Digest, “I suppose I am most proud of having been a part of a legacy enterprise like Days. As we know, in our business, there are very few programs, films, that have the staying power or the fan base of daytime television. Any actor who has enjoyed a long career in daytime television will tell you; all the time and effort put into that career was worth the effort and can’t be discounted.”
In addition to his time on Days, Nichols also played Stefan Cassadine on General Hospital and Tucker McCall on The Young and the Restless.
