If there’s one ironclad rule in Days of Our Lives, it’s this: death is never permanent in Salem—especially if your last name is DiMera. Over the decades, the notorious family has turned resurrection into an art form, with elaborate retcons, mad science, devilish interventions, and enough fake deaths to fill an entire cemetery. As the new year approaches and yet another major return from the grave is teased, it’s time to look back at the most infamous DiMera resurrections, why they mattered, and which ones perhaps should have stayed buried.

Megan Hathaway DiMera: Frozen, Revived, and Still on the Run

Few DiMeras embody operatic villainy quite like Megan Hathaway DiMera. Originally presumed dead in 1985 after a scheme to murder Hope Brady via hot tub electrocution went fatally wrong, Megan’s demise seemed definitive. Larry Welch struck her down, dumped her into the hot tub, and she was declared dead—ironically by the very method she intended for Hope.

Decades later, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem rewrote history with a classic DiMera twist. Stefano DiMera, never one to accept death as final, had Megan frozen and later revived using mystical prisms and Dr. Rolf’s questionable science. Her return reignited her signature blend of brilliance and cruelty, culminating in an audacious plot involving Kate, Marlena, Kayla, and a rare orchid capable of restoring youth and life.

Perhaps Megan’s most shocking act was resurrecting Bo Brady, a move that sent emotional shockwaves through Salem and fans alike. Last seen after being shot, Megan somehow overpowered Gabi, swapped places with her in a hospital bed, and escaped with Dr. Rolf in a submarine. Wicked, clever, and dangerously fun, Megan remains missing—and undoubtedly plotting her next move.

André DiMera: The Master of Fake Deaths

If survival were an Olympic sport, André DiMera would have a trophy case full of gold medals. Known for impersonations, elaborate ruses, and dramatic reappearances, André has been presumed dead at least five times. Sometimes the deaths were exposed quickly as schemes of his own making. Other times, he vanished for years, making his returns all the more unsettling.

His most definitive death came in 2018 when Abigail struck him down, seemingly ending his reign of terror. Yet even that wasn’t enough to keep André gone. In 2022, during the second devil possession storyline, André was summoned back from hell itself—because in Salem, even the underworld isn’t a permanent residence.

After tormenting Johnny and Ben Weston and masquerading as Tony once again, André met a fiery end when Susan Banks stabbed him, reducing his demonic form to ashes. Still, fans continue to speculate. With suspicious behavior surrounding DiMera Enterprises, some wonder if André may once again be lurking in the shadows.

Stefan DiMera: Love, Loss, and Mad Science

Stefan DiMera’s resurrection is one of the most emotionally charged and morally twisted stories in modern Days. Introduced in 2017, Stefan was shot while protecting his mother Vivian Alamain and declared brain-dead. His heart was donated to Julie Williams, a move that seemed to seal his fate.

Behind the scenes, however, Dr. Rolf kept Stefan’s body alive. When Stefan’s newly introduced twin brother Jake was later killed, Rolf transplanted Jake’s heart into Stefan, resurrecting him in a grotesque blend of science and soap opera logic. Brainwashing, romantic manipulation, and corporate power plays followed, straining Stefan’s relationship with Gabi and dragging Li Shin into the chaos.

Though Stefan and Gabi eventually remarried, betrayal and kidnapping followed. Now, Peter Blake claims Stefan is dead—information allegedly confirmed by Vivian herself. Given the source, fans remain skeptical. In Salem, death rumors are often greatly exaggerated.

EJ DiMera: Gone, Bandaged, and Back Again

Compared to his relatives, EJ DiMera’s resurrection count is modest—but no less dramatic. Shot in 2014 and dying in Sami Brady’s arms, EJ’s death devastated fans. Years later, he resurfaced in Kristen DiMera’s infamous warehouse of not-quite-dead captives, heavily bandaged and hidden from view.

After an explosion destroyed the warehouse, Sami rescued EJ and took him to Italy, where he remained unseen until his full return in 2021, now portrayed by Dan Feuerriegel. Since then, the show has continued layering retcons onto EJ’s survival, including secret encounters and off-screen recoveries.

Recently shot again, EJ emerged from his coma alive, proving once more that DiMeras are nothing if not resilient.

Stefano DiMera: The Phoenix of Salem

No discussion of DiMera resurrections would be complete without Stefano DiMera himself—the undisputed king of coming back from the dead. Presumed dead a staggering 13 times, Stefano’s resurrections defined an era of Days of Our Lives. Assisted by Dr. Rolf, body doubles, memory transfers, and cutting-edge technology, Stefano cheated death repeatedly from the 1980s through the 2010s.

His final storyline was handled with reverence following the death of actor Joseph Mascolo. Rather than a definitive corpse, Stefano was given a legendary exit, culminating in the infamous “Stevano” arc, where his consciousness was implanted into Steve Johnson’s brain. When the microchip was destroyed, Stefano was gone—again.

One More Resurrection Looms

Now, with whispers of a DiMera preserved in a test tube, fans are bracing for yet another return. Could it be Lexie Carver? Or another long-lost DiMera ready to rise? In Salem, resurrection isn’t just possible—it’s inevitable.

Love them or loathe them, the DiMeras’ defiance of death is part of what makes Days of Our Lives endlessly unpredictable. As history has proven, in this family, the grave is rarely the final chapter.