Days of Our Lives may have been renewed for two more seasons, but we know one handsome troublemaker who won’t be around to see them. The Peacock soap’s Friday, July 25 episode marked Peyton Meyer’s departure as necklace thief-slash-heartbreaker Doug Williams III.
Doug’s final episode began with a well-deserved tongue-lashing from Gabi, who criticized his parade of stupid decisions that ultimately led to her daughter’s kidnapping. “Ari’s great-grandfather took you in, gave you a job, and this is how you repay him?” she asked. Visibly riddled with guilt, Doug took full responsibility for his missteps and handed Gabi an apology letter he wrote for Roman.
During a walk through Horton Square, Doug bumped into a panicked Gwen, who quickly deduced that he must be the one who stole Julie’s necklace – though her pursuit was interrupted by an unfortunate run-in with Gabi. (Then again, has anyone had a fortunate run-in with Gabi lately?)
Doug’s next stop was to Julie’s, where he finally made good on his promise to return her priceless (and pricey!) family heirloom. “I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really sorry, Julie, about everything,” he told her. “You took me in and made me feel so welcome. You showed me so much kindness, so much love. I hadn’t felt that in a long time, and I know that I blew it big-time, and I broke your heart and your trust, and I’ll always regret that. Now, I ought to get going.”
But Julie wouldn’t let Doug go without giving the audience all of the emotional closure we’ve been craving. After helping Julie put the necklace on, the two shared a beautiful moment in which they connected over family, with Doug telling her about his own personal favorite heirloom – a pair of cufflinks that were once owned by his grandfather Robert.
That gave Julie an idea, and she rushed over to the living room to retrieve a pocket watch that Doug carried during his days as a fighter pilot in World War II. “He always said it brought him luck, so perhaps it’ll do the same for you,” Julie told Doug, even promising to wire him the money he needs to pay off his loan shark. “Until you pay off the debt, you’re in danger,” she said. “I wouldn’t want to see you hurt. … It’s what my husband would have wanted. You’re his grandson, and you’re my family.” (Seriously, how did Susan Seaforth Hayes not get a Daytime Emmy nomination?!)
“Would you do me a favor?” Julie asked on Doug’s way out the door. “You have a great deal of potential. You’re loaded with wonderful DNA. You’ve just got to get your life together. And when you do, come back to Salem and show me how well you’re doing.” He promised that he would, then walked out of Julie’s life as quickly as he entered it.
Meyer, whose previous credits include roles on ABC’s American Housewife and Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, joined Days of Our Lives in December 2024, playing a mysterious young man who shocked Julie by revealing himself to be her late husband’s estranged grandson. Unfortunately, he shocked her again when he stole her precious necklace. In addition to his thievery, Doug also made money working as a busboy at the Brady Pub; his brief love interests in Salem included Holly and Ari.
