Stefano DiMera is one of the most iconic “Days of Our Lives” characters of all time. The villain, played by Joseph Mascolo, tortured and terrorized the citizens of Salem for decades. However, along the way, he built up his family into a dynasty. Stefano has so many children that they’re hard to keep straight. However, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive into the lives of Stefano’s secret children.
The curious case of Andre and Tony DiMera
“Days of Our Lives” fans who have watched the soap opera for decades know that Andre and Tony DiMera are two very interesting characters. Both roles have been played by actor Thaao Penghlis, and while Tony and Andre are identical, they’re not brothers. It was widely believed that Tony was Stefano’s biological son. Meanwhile, Andre was thought to be Stephano’s nephew.
It turned out that Andre was much more like Stefano than Tony. He had a devilish side and loved to cause chaos. He even got plastic surgery to look exactly like Tony. Andre even kidnapped Tony and had him held captive on a remote island for 20 years. Meanwhile, Andre assumed Tony’s identity and lived in Salem as his doppelganger.
In the end, it was revealed that Tony wasn’t Stefano’s son. However, Andre was the biological offspring of the villain. Andre was eventually killed by Abigail Deveraux while she was dealing with a split-personality disorder. Meanwhile, Tony has continued to be a huge part of the DiMera family. He’s acknowledged by the rest of the siblings as their brother. Tony’s real father was man named Enrico, per Soap Central.
Stefano DiMera was discovered to be the father of three Salem women over the years
Stefano has a plethora of sons. However, he’s also got his fair share of daughters. Throughout the years, the head of the DiMera family has discovered that he fathered three daughters. Stefano was surprised to find out that Renee DuMonde was his biological daughter. Renee was the daughter of Lee DuMonde. After Renee fell in love with Tony DiMera, it was discovered that she was actually Stefano’s daughter. (Thankfully, Tony turned out not to share blood with Renee). Renee was later killed by a serial killer dubbed The Salem Slasher.
In the 1980s, Megan Hathaway was the next woman to find out she was fathered by none other than the rich and powerful Stefano DiMera. Megan originally thought that her father was Maxwell Hathaway. However, upon finding out about her true paternity, she embraced the DiMera lifestyle.
Megan began to help her father with his schemes and helped save his life when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was killed by Larry Welch. However, it was revealed in 2022 that she was still alive. She later rejoined her family in Salem.
When Lexie Carver found out that she was Stefano’s daughter she was stunned. However, after coming to terms with her paternity, she began to grow close to Stefano. Of course, this led to problems with her husband Abe Carver. Lexie also got mixed up with some of Stefano’s evil schemes. Sadly, the DiMeras said goodbye to Lexie after she died from cancer.
DOOL fans were reeling when EJ DIMera and Benjy Hawk were revealed to be Stefano’s sons
Stefano’s secret children have rocked Salem for years. “Days of Our Lives” fans are never truly shocked when another DiMera family member pops up. However, when Benjy Hawk was introduced, he was just a child. Steve Johnson and Kayla Brady fell in love with him, and even wanted to raise him. However, Stefano revealed Benjy was really his son, and put a stop to Steve and Kaylas plans. Benjy eventually went to live with his grandmother. Sadly, Stefano kidnapped Benjy several years later when he needed an organ transplant. Benjy was later found dead in a coffin that was meant for his biological father.
EJ DiMera came to Salem and immediately intrigued viewers. EJ shared a strong and immediate connection to Sami Brady (Alison Sweeney). It was quickly discovered that EJ was the son of Stefano. In fact, fans had seen him before when he was passed off as John Black’s son by Kristen DiMera. An all-grown-up EJ began to take after his father and terrorize many Salemites, including Sami.
However, Sami and EJ eventually fell in love. They went on to have a volatile relationship. However, they remain the love of each other’s lives despite all of the drama.
Stefano had three more secret sons, Jake, Stefan & Chad DiMera
After Chad DiMera became a fan favorite on “Days of Our Lives,” his backstory was revealed. Chad believed he was the son of a cruel man, and he wasn’t wrong. However, that man was actually Stefano DiMera.
It took Chad awhile to come to terms with his true identity. Once he did, he began to acclimate to the DiMera family. Over the years, he’s accepted his father and family. He’s even served as CEO of DiMera Enterprises.
After Stefano’s death, two new DiMera sons were discovered. Vivian Alamain (Louise Sorel) brought Stefan DiMera to Salem one New Year’s Eve. She told everyone that he was her son with Stefano. Vivian explained that she had given birth and was told the child had died. That child was later given up for adoption. After Stefan’s death, his doppelganger came to Salem.
The man, who’s name was Jake Lambert, was revealed to be Stefan’s identical twin brother. The two were separated at birth as Vivian was shocked to find out she gave birth to twins. Sadly, Jake later died and his heart was used to bring Stefan back from the dead.
Stefano adopted Kristen and Peter Blake
In addition to all of his biological children, Stefano has also adopted two others. After taking in Kristen DiMera and her brother Peter Blake, Stefano became their guardian and father figure. Although Peter was sent to jail and is rarely spoken about, Kristen is still very much in Salem. She’s an integral part of the DiMera family and may be more like her father than even his biological children.
Stefano DiMera’s legacy truly lives on in Salem. “Days of Our Lives” fans continue to see new generations of DiMera family members be introduced. The family is one of the most interesting in Salem, and fans love them for it.
Image Credits: YouTube, YouTube, Chris Haston/NBC, YouTube, YouTube.
Kendra Quinn