| Jake DiMera | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||
| Days of Our Lives | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Brandon Barash | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Contract | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2020–2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | April 23, 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | February 21, 2023 (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cause/reason | Appeared in the afterlife | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Ron Carlivati | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday Albert Alarr Greg Meng | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Fullname | Jacob DiMera | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Jake Grease Monkey (by EJ) Jakey (by Carmine) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Alias(es) | Jake Lambert (birth name) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | December 11th, 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | July 26, 2023 (on-screen July 27,2023) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Age | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Cause of death | Shot while protecting fiancée Ava Vitali during a confrontation with a robber Greg. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Employee at Titan Industries (formerly) CEO of DiMera Enterprises (formerly) VP of DiMera Enterprises (formerly) Mechanic (formerly) Vitali Mob Enforcer/Hitman (formerly) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Hernandez House Salem, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Jacob "Jake" DiMera was a character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Brandon Barash on April 23, 2020. Barash previously portrayed the character Stefan DiMera from March 20 to October 11, 2019.
On July 27, 2022, Brandon Barash didn't renew his contract and his character Jake was killed off by a robber Greg during a confrontation when he was protecting his fiancée Ava Vitali.
Casting
On November 7, 2019, Soaps.com confirmed that Brandon Barash, who previously portrayed Stefan DiMera, would be making his way back to Days Of Our Lives.[1] It was unknown if he would be portraying Stefan or someone new.
On April 14, 2020, it was revealed that Barash will return during the week of April 20 as a new character named Jake Lambert.[2]
According to sources, Barash considers Jake to be the exact opposite of his previous role, Stefan DiMera.
He made his first appearance on April 23, 2020.
In September 2020, it appears that Barash has been upped to contract status.
On July 27, 2022, It revealed that Brandon didn't renew his contract with Days of our lives and his character was killed off just like Brandon previous portrayal of his twin brother character Stefan DiMera.
Background
Jacob was raised by the Lambert family. While living in Philadelphia, he met Gwen Rizczech and the two of them became on and off lovers, while working for the Vitali mob organization as an enforcer with Luca as his supervisor. He enforced business owners to pay up for the Vitali’s protection. One day, he and his partner, Carmine Merlino, went to scare Jed Zanetti, who was late on his payments. Jake roughed him up a little. When Carmine went too far, and Jed was beaten to death. This incident is what motivated Jake into wanting to leave the business. Jake stole a vital book from the family that contained important names and numbers to be used as leverage against them, but it was later stolen by Gwen.
Stefano's reaction to the idea of having children with Vivian: "God Forbid."
In 2020, when Jake came to town, everyone believed he was a resurrected Stefan DiMera with amnesia, due to looking exactly like him. However, on July 15, 2020, Vivian Alamain's closest ally Ivan Marais revealed that Jake is Stefan's long lost identical twin brother, who was thought to have died at child birth, that not even Vivian knew about. The Alamain twins are the only one of his children Stefano has never met and most likely he wouldn't have accepted them given their mother is Vivian, a woman he greatly despised. In 2011, Stefano himself expressed his horror on the idea that he and Vivian having children. Clearly indicating he would never have accepted Vivian's twins.
At first, Jake seems to be a decent man as he befriends Ben Weston and hires him at his garage, though he's unaware of his criminal past. He's proven to be very much likable. He is appalled by his late twin brother's widow Gabi Hernandez, especially after learning of all the atrocious crimes she committed.Despite being Stefan's twin, he's not deluded or sick-minded as he was, he's fully aware of the kind of monster his brother was and became more horrified upon learning that Stefan sexually assaulted their sister-in-law, Abigail DiMera. He didn't mourn for Stefan as he admitted to Gabi that he wouldn't have liked him, given the abominable acts he committed. However, his identical appearance to Stefan, is what caused some strains between him and his half-brother Chad DiMera, who greatly despised Stefan for nearly destroying his family and taking advantage of his then mentally ill wife. In terms of intellect, Jake is even less intelligent than his twin ever was, filling himself with delusions of grandeur, he actually believed that DiMera Enterprises was thriving under his leadership, when in fact it was suffering greatly due to his inexperience and only kept stable thanks to Kate Roberts' help, in addition he's been constantly out maneuvered by his adversaries, highlighting his sheer incompetence.
In the Fall of 2020, he began to fall for Gabi, feeling a connection with her. They got together the following year and he became her stooge. In 2021, despite his lack of business expertise, Jake was made CEO of DiMera by Li Shin after Chad resigned. In June, his older brother EJ DiMera came to town and a long with his brothers Chad and Tony DiMera, they formed a coupe to have Jake removed from the company. In June 28, EJ's coupe succeeded thanks to Kate's betrayal during the corporal votes, who voted to remove Jake from the company. Feeling disgusted for being a DiMera, he realizes that he'll always be an outsider like Stefan before him. At his request, he and Gabi left the mansion and moved in with her brother Rafe to be away from everything DiMera. Months later, in September 23, after having lost the mansion to EJ, Gabi and Jake were forced to stay indefinitely with her brother. In another scheme, they worked together on trying to take over Titan Industries by having Philip Kiriakis fired and removed from his position as CEO, but all their plans were foiled when Ava Vitali exposed their corporate espionage crimes. Both Jake and Gabi were both fired.
Storylines
On April 23, Ben Weston brought Ciara Brady to a mechanic shop. He called out for someone, and Jake emerged from the bottom of the car he was working on. Ben stares at Jake in shock, and Jake says Ben looks like he has seen a ghost. Jake learned about Stefan DiMera and snarks he must have been quite handsome. Jake assures Ben that his name is Jake and not Stefan, wondering what kind of name that even is.
Still in shock, Ben hands Jake the list of part he needs for the bike, and also is here to inquire about the mechanic job. Jake tells Ben he filled the position this morning, but says he'll talk to the owner since business is booming and he could use more help. Ben wonders why Jake would take a chance on him since he barely knows. Jake repeats that he needs all the help he can get, and reminds Ben that he isn't his old boss Stefan. Ben thanks Jake and leaves the shop.
Later, Jake walks by the window of GabiChic, just missing it's former owner and Stefan's grieving widow, Gabi Hernandez. A couple days later, Gabi spotted Jake and fainted because of his resemblance to Stefan. Jake went to check on Gabi, who briefly came to before fainting. Jake left once a crow of people gathered around.
Ben returned to the shop, and Jake said he got the part for Ciara's bike. Ben thanked him and asked about the job. Jake said if he can take apart the bike and put it back together, he'll hire him. As they worked, Ben asked Jake about his past
Jake ended up snapping at Ben and then apologized. He started taking about his ex, who drove him crazy to the point that he didn't know whether to strangle her or kiss her. Ciara came by and was also shocked by Jake's appearance. Jake learns that Stefan died after being shot in the neck and wondered if he was a bad guy. Ciara didn't think he was a good guy, but Ben defended Stefan for giving him a job.
Jake eventually learned more about Stefan, and resented him for raping Abigail Deveraux-DiMera. Jake eventually ran into Gabi, who slapped him thinking he was Stefan and has faked his death. Jake did his best to make Gabi realize he wasn't Stefan, but she was convinced he was Stefan and had amnesia.
Gabi showed up at Jake's garage where they continued to argue. As Jake tried to lead Gabi out, she slipped and fell on some grease in the garage. Jake took her upset and put a bandaid on her arm and then Gabi kissed him. Ben was attacked in the garage and found badly beaten by Ciara. The cops were called and Eli Grant was surprised by Jake's resemblance to Stefan.
Jake tried to call off the goons of his old boss, promising he would get them want they wanted. Ben demanded that Jake tell him what is going on, and when Jake refuses, he quits. Gabi jabs Jake with a syringe, claiming it will help him remember that he is Stefan. Gabi is arrested, and Jake finds out that she jabbed him with the stuff that was making Abigail mentally ill.
Gabi is napped by the thugs at Jake's apartment, so Jake goes to Ben and Ciara for help. He tells Ben that he used to work foe the mob and stole an important book for leverage. It was a first edition copy of Crime and Punishment, but their were names written that could bring down the organization. Jake got into a fight with his ex Gwen Rizczech, and she stole all his stuff including the book and headed to Salem.
Ciara and Ben agreed to help Jake find Gwen, but it was Ciara's niece Claire Brady that knew where Gwen was. Claire had been in Bayview where Gwen was currently hiding out. When Ben and Marlena Evans went their, Gwen was gone. Jake, Ben and Ciara were forced to break into the Kiriakis mansion that belonged to Ciara's grandfather Victor Kiriakis where they found an exact copy of the book. They first had to wrestle the book away from Xander Kiriakis much to his confusion and anger.
Jake brought Victor's copy to the meet up, but Eli and Lani arrived and in the confusion, and a shootout occurred that ended with Gabi's rescue. Gwen confronted Jake and made him confess to being wrong before handing over the book. Jake delivered the book to Luca, the boss's right hand, ensuring that he would never be targeted again. Both Gwen and Gabi pursued Jake, and Jake gravitated more towards Gwen. Stefan's mother Vivian Alamain returned to town, and was arrested. Vivian saw Jake and thought he was Stefan as well.
Vivian's associate Ivan Marais arrived in town and revealed that Jake was Stefan's twin brother, who was presumed to have died at the hospital. Jake's mother phoned and confirmed he was adopted. Gabi was heartbroken, and Jake tried to comfort her. Jake went to the DiMera mansion where he also saw the portrait of his father Stefano DiMera.
When Gwen found out Jake was a DiMera, she pushed him to move into the DiMera mansion, but Jake and Gabi started getting close again and Gabi even stated to get Jake involved in The family business. The board member Li Shin took a liking to Jake, who turned out to he quite good at making business deals. This caused conflict between him and his brother Chad DiMera.
Jake slept with Gabi and eventually broke up with Gwen, but then Gabi had to suddenly leave town, and she told Jake that she was just using him. Jake was heartbroken, and Gwen arrogantly thought he would want her back, and planned to make him beg, but Jake surprised her by telling her they wouldn't be getting back together.
Jake started to grow suspicious of Gwen, especially after he overheard her talking to Stefano's portrait. Chad's wife Abigail Deveraux returned to town, and she and Jake got along fine. Abigail even encouraged a compromise between the brothers, but Jake's idea if compromise was becoming Co-CEO's while Chad wanted Jake to start from the bottom and work his way up. Eventually, Li decided to make Jake VP of DiMera.
Jake became close with Kate Roberts and they started sleeping together. Kate didn't want to tell Chad about her relationship with Jake, so they kept it quiet. Gabi returned to town and saw Jake and Kate in bed together. Gabi revealed that she had lied about the reason why she left town, and wanted to get back together with Jake. Jake had developed real feelings for Kate and decided to stay with her.
Gwen found out about Jake and Kate sleeping together, and used it to fill Chad's head with insecurities about Jake and Abigail. At Christmas and New Years, Jake met Tony DiMera and his wife Anna. On New Years Eve, Abigail put the pieces together, and realized Jake and Kate were secretly together. Jake admitted, but it was too late: Chad allegedly slept with Gwen, who made the story public. Chad stepped down as CEO, and Li made Jake the CEO.
Jake wondered if he should give GabiChic back to Gabi, and Tony told him that while GabiChic is a profitable acquisition for DiMera, the decision is ultimately up to him. Jake decided to give GabiChic back to Gabi, so she could do what she wanted with it.
Kate ended up going blind and Jake and Gabi gave into their feelings and started sleeping together. Kate found about Jake and Gabi and even regained her eyesight, but still continued to be blind.
When EJ DiMera returned to town, he made a power play for DiMera with Tony and Chad backing him up. Jake and Gabi struggled to secure votes and ultimately managed to gain enough from other members of the DiMera family to tie it up with Kate being the deciding vote.
Kate voted with EJ and Jake was removed as CEO. Jake furiously lashed out his brothers asking if this is how you treat family. Later, Jake confronted Kate and she revealed that she knew about him and Gabi, and that she he was lying to her. Kate then revealed she had regained her eyesight.
Jake and Gabi were so disgusted they left the mansion, and moved in with Rafe. During this time, Jake and Gabi came into possession of a letter from Kristen DiMera to EJ saying his wife Sami Brady had slept with her ex Lucas Horton.
Jake was over the moon to use this info to hurt EJ, but Gabi considered Sami a friend and didn't want to hurt her like that. Gleefully, Jake brought the letter to the mansion, intending to show it to EJ, but ultimately didn't want to betray what Gabi wanted.
Jake and Gabi decided to move back into the mansion to stick it to Chad and EJ since she still owned it, but EJ managed to reclaim the mansion under his ownership and threw Jake and Gabi out. Jake and Gabi next got jobs at TITAN, but then schemed to undermine the current CEO Philip Kiriakis, so they could be in charge.
Philip eventually found out what they were up to and teamed up with Ava Vitali, who had the goods on Jake cause it turns out Jake's mystery boss was Ava's cousin Angelo Vitali, currently running the family since she had stepped down.
Jake was faced with his past when his former associate Carmine came to town. Jake and Carmine had assaulted a business owner named Jed Zanetti, who owned the Vitali's protection money. Ava claimed Jake had beaten Jed to death, but Carmine had been the one to do it.
During their standoff, Mayor Abe Carver happened by, and Carmine shot him. Jake stayed with Abe to put pressure on the wound while Carmine fled. Jake was ultimately arrested, and then later kidnapped by a zombie Nick Fallon and buried in his grave.
Gabi rescued Jake, who Nick then tried to kill, but Gabi knocked him out, and she and Jake reburied him. Gabi and Jake lost their jobs at TITAN, but Jake was eventually released from police custody. Jake and Gabi then schemed to get EJ's son Johnny DiMera on their side as they attempted another power play at DiMera.
Jake and Gabi had a plan to for Jake to become DiMera's CEO while Gabi became CEO of TITAN. However, Gabi believed Jake had betrayed her since the devil had possessed Johnny, and wanted Gabi, so he morphed into Jake and made sure Gabi heard a conversation between "Jake" and Maggie that said it wouldn't be a problem if Gabi didn't get what she wanted.
Gabi then turned the tables on Jake and voted for herself as CEO of DiMera. Jake was confused and Gabi revealed she heard what he said to Maggie. Jake was confused, and Johnny taunted him. After Gabi left the room, Jake got into an altercation with Johnny and saw that he was possessed. He quickly realized why Gabi thought he had betrayed her and that it was the devil's handiwork.
The devil easily overpowered Jake and left him unable to remember what had happened. Jake eventually remembered what happened and relayed this information to Ben, which was ultimately helpful in realizing the devil's machinations. Jake also had a run in with Evan Frears, who the devil had broke out of prison. The devil then knocked Jake out, and made Ciara believe it was Ben as a way to trick Ciara into thinking Ben was dead.
Then the whole truth was revealed, Gabi tried to apologize, but Jake refused to forgive her, saying they didn't trust each other enough. Instead, he commiserated with Ava, who had recently broken up with Rafe. Jake invited Ava to stay with him and they shared the bed. Gabi came to talk to Jake and was furious to find Ava was there. Ava tried to provoke Gabi by claiming she and Jake slept together, but he denied it.
Jake agreed to work with Gabi at DiMera to help prevent another power play by EJ and Chad. EJ and Chad did try again, but this time, the tide turned in Gabi's favour when both Kristen and her twin brother Peter Blake voted against EJ and Chad. Later, Kristen called Jake and said she wanted to work together and Gabi may run the company for now, but she is not a DiMera.
Despite starting our platonically, Jake and Ava developed feeling for each other and got into a relationship while Gabi moved on with Li Shin. Jake decided to make his relationship with Ava officially and bought her a ring. Ava didn't like it at first cause it was the ring Xander Kiriakis had bought Gwen before their break up. Ava ultimately decided to keep the ring.
A mugger named Greg approached them, and demanded the ring at gunpoint. Ava was ready to hand it over, but Jake refused and approached Greg, who then shot Jake in the chest. Jake fell to the ground and Ava was saved by Jada Hunter, who shot Greg fatally. Rafe helped Ava tend to Jake while they waited for paramedics to arrive.
Jake was brought to the hospital, but died before he could get into surgery. As Ava stood over Jake's body, she imagined Jake's spirit approaching her. Ava was furious with him for leaving her after he promised her he wouldn't. She wondered what she would do, and "Jake" said she could grieve for a very long time and then move on.
Rolf and Kristen took Jake's body back to his lab in the basement of the DiMera mansion. Rolf tried everything to revive Jake at Kristen's urgency, but it all failed cause Jake had no brain activity. However, his heart was still beating, so Rolf revealed that he also had Stefan on life support after reviving most of his body.
Kristen was stunned that Rolf had Stefan in the basement of the mansion the whole time. Stefan was hooked up to machines and breathing with a device that helped keep him alive without a heart. Rolf's new plan was to transplant Jake's heart into Stefan and bring him back to life.
On February 21st, 2023; Jake showed up before Nick could banish Kate, Marlena, and Kayla to Hell. Kate was shocked that Jake made it into Heaven, and Jake said the good outweighed the bad. Jake revealed that the three women weren't really dead, and Nick was trying to steal their souls before they fully passed on.
