| Olivia Price | |||||||||||
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| Days Of Our Lives | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Marla Gibbs | ||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Recurring | ||||||||||
| Duration | 2021–23 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | August 17, 2021 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Created by | Ron Carlivati | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Albert Alarr | ||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||
| Gender | Female | ||||||||||
| Age | 93 | ||||||||||
| Residence | Miami, Florida | ||||||||||
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Olivia Price is a fictional character on the soap opera Days of Our Lives, portrayed by Marla Gibbs. She made her debut on August 17, 2021. Olivia is the mother of Paulina Price, played by Gibbs's 227 co-star Jackee Harry.
Casting
Gibbs actually announced the casting herself during an interview with the New York Daily News as she was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 20, 2021. Soap Opera Digest officially confirmed the casting and character on July 22. "Get excited…," Carlivati said on on social media. Monsters and Critics's Rachelle Lewis revealed the role "will showcase her comedic talent." Gibbs said of her casting to Page Six, "I was [Harry's] mother in ‘The First Family’ and now I’m her mother again in ‘Days of Our Lives.’ I mean, how great is that?"
Daytime Confidential's Carly Silver said "Legends are reuniting on Days of Our Lives!" Amy Mistretta said "Things in Salem are about to be 'movin’ on up!'" "Classic television fans are going to go wild" Kambra Clifford said of the news. Chris Eades of Soaps In Depth said "Another very familiar face is coming to Salem as Marla Gibbs has been cast on DAYS OF OUR LIVES as Olivia Price!" TV Insider's Paige Strout said "viewers are in for a treat" and that Gibbs and Harry's onscreen "reunion will certainly be a must-watch event." Strout felt it would provide "an exciting new storyline" as viewers did not know much about Paulina's mother. Lewis described Olivia as "a vital addition to several storylines" as the Price family's matriarch." Jordan Simon and Jamila Lizete White agreed it would special for 227 fans.
Storylines
Olivia arrives to town to warn Paulina Price not to expose the truth about Lani Price being Paulina's daughter. Olivia feared the truth would come out if Paulina and Abe got together. She and Tamara didn't even want Paulina in the same town as Lani and Abe and wanted her to leave. Paulina admitted she wanted to tell Lani the truth, but Olivia warned Paulina that of she did, she would lose Abe and Lani forever.
Olivia returned to town for Abe and Paulina's wedding, despite her trepidations. Olivia met Abe and his son Theo Carver. Olivia also reacquainted herself with Tamara's old friend Marlena Evans, who she had a bad feeling about. As the wedding got underway, Chanel stood up, and announced to everyone that Paulina was Lani's biological mother and Abe realized he wouldn't be Lani's father.
Paulina tried to deny it, but Olivia stood up and announced it was true since she didn't want her daughter bearing false witness in the house of God. Olivia had a feeling Marlena was the one, who told Chanel that Lani was her sister. Olivia shared her suspicions with Paulina, and Paulina admitted she told Marlena since it was supposed to he under doctor patient confidentiality.