| Theo Carver | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Days of Our Lives | |||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Kavi Faquir (2006–08) Terrell Ranson Jr (2008–15) Kyler Pettis (2015–18) Cameron Johnson (2020–23) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current status | Former; Recurring | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2003–04, 2006–18, 2020–23 | ||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | May 29, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Dena Higley | ||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ken Corday and Stephen Wyman | ||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fullname | Theodore Brandon Carver | ||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | Salem, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||
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Theodore "Theo" Brandon Carver is a character from the soap opera, Days of Our Lives, portrayed by child actor Kavi Faquir from 2006-08, and child actor Terrell Ranson Jr from 2008-15. Kyler Pettis took over the role when the character was aged, from 2015-18. Cameron Johnson then took over the role, beginning in 2020.
Casting
In 2008, Terrell Ransom, Jr. relocated to Los Angeles with his family so he could pursue his entertainment career. The family hadn't been living in California long when he signed with an agent and landed the role of Theo only a couple of months later. Ransom made his debut on May 20, 2008. While Ransom did not have a personal acting coach on set, his mother Katrina assisted him with reviewing his scripts. "His mannerisms that you see on-screen just comes naturally." Ransom also picked up a lot from his cast mates. After seven years with the series, Ransom made his final appearance in the role of Theo July 9, 2015.
In March 2015, it was reported that Days had released a casting call for the role of Elijah, a 16 year old "sweet" and "gorgeous, African American male". Jamey Giddens of Daytime Confidential reported that Dena Higley who had just been rehired to write the show's 50th anniversary wanted to continue telling Theo's story. On August 12, 2015, it was reported that actor and model Kyler Pettis had joined the cast of Days of Our Lives as a recast of Theo Carver. Pettis had recently made a guest appearance on Showtime's Ray Donovan and also appeared in the web series, Old Dogs & New Tricks. Pettis made his debut on November 3, 2015. Pettis auditioned for another Days role months earlier. The actor described the character as "motorcycle dude" and assumed it was a just a "guest spot." His manager kept in touch with the casting director which led to Pettis being brought back to audition for Theo. Pettis competed against several other actors for the role. Pettis, who had also previously auditioned for CBS's The Young and the Restless, tested for the role of Theo opposite his on-screen dad, James Reynolds. He got a little bit of information about the character, specifically Theo's autism to prepare for the screen test. Pettis revealed that he was a bit nervous when he first booked the role but has since settled into his job. "It's awesome to be one of the new youngsters on the show" Pettis remarked to Soap Opera Digest. At the time, Pettis was also auditioning for The Bold and the Beautiful and it had come down to him and one other actor. Pettis was approached about meeting the producers of Bold when he finally booked Theo.
Cameron Johnson portrayed the role in the Fall of 2020.[1]
Storylines
In the summer of 2002, Abe Carver announces his plans to divorce his wife Lexie Carver for her attempt at kidnapping a child and trying to pass it off as their own. On the rebound, Lexie sleeps with Brandon Walker. Lexie later reveals she is pregnant and a paternity test proves Abe is the baby's father. Abe and Lexie reunite and as she gives birth to her baby on May 29, 2003, Brandon is revealed to be Abe's long lost son. Brandon's new wife and Lexie's rival Sami Brady later reveals that she tampered with the baby's original paternity test to make sure Abe believes he is the child's father. Fortunately, a paternity test confirms Abe as the boy's father. On June 2, Lexie and Abe officially name their son Theodore Brandon, after Brandon and Abe's late brother Theo.
In September 2003, Abe is presumed dead when he is shot on the day of Theo's christening. Fortunately, Abe is revealed to be alive in 2004 and the family is reunited. After Lexie's latest affair, in 2006, Abe wants to divorce her and sue for custody of Theo. However, Lexie is presumed dead in January 2007 before the divorce is final leaving Abe to raise Theo on his own. Fortunately, Lexie is revealed to be alive several months later.
In early 2008, Lexie is appointed to the chief of staff position at the hospital. In June 2008, a 5 year old Theo (Ransom) is diagnosed with autism which puts a strain on the Carvers' marriage. Lexie later walks away from her position at the hospital to spend more time with Theo. In the fall of 2008, Abe decides to run for mayor and the parents struggle with the idea of forcing Theo to live a life in the public eye. In December 2008, Theo runs away from Lexie and gets lost. Fortunately Abe and Lexie's friend Bo Brady tracks the boy down and brings him home.
In 2009, Theo starts making progress with his condition when he acknowledges Abe and Lexie as his parents for the first time. Over the years, Theo forms bonds with his grandfather Stefano DiMera and his uncles EJ DiMera, Chad DiMera and Cameron Davis as well as his cousins. He is also very close friends with Bo Brady and Hope Williams mischievous daughter Ciara Brady. In 2012, Lexie passes away leaving Abe to raise their son alone. Theo later reveals that he has been communicating with his late mother.
In November 2015, a 16-year old Theo attends Hope's wedding with his father and spends most of his time with Ciara Brady. During the reception, Theo is with Joey Johnson when Joey passes out. Theo initially panics, but eventually calls Lani Price for help, and Joey is rushed to the hospital. Later, during the fireworks for the Salem bicentennial, Ciara kisses Theo. Theo bonds with Lani over baseball and is quite shocked when Abe reveals that Lani is his half-sister. He confides in Joey because he doesn't know how to react and Ciara assures him that having a sister can be a good thing and Joey later accuses Theo of having a crush on Ciara. Theo comforts Ciara when her father Bo passes away from a brain tumor. Theo later starts receiving insulting text messages from an anonymous bully and he tries to hide it from Ciara. Lani later finds out and he swears her to secrecy. Theo then confides in Abe and Lani about his crush on Ciara.
When the bullying continues, Lani lets it slip to Abe and demands answers from Theo. Theo pleads with Abe to leave it alone but questions why people are so cruel. Theo is shocked when Ciara reveals that her stepbrother Chase Jennings is the one bullying him and he furiously confronts him. Ciara comforts him and encourages him to forgive Chase. In March 2016, Theo is shocked when Ciara confesses that Chase raped her and she swears him to secrecy. Theo, Joey and Claire Brady later abduct Chase and force him to confess so he can be arrested. Ciara and Theo later attend his Uncle Chad's wedding to her cousin Abigail Deveraux where Theo serves as best man. A drunken Ciara later kisses Theo after her 18th birthday party.
Meanwhile, Abe is uneasy about Theo and Ciara's growing intimacy fearing he will get hurt. While they are preparing for prom, Mark McNair forcibly kisses Ciara which leads to Theo attacking him. During the prom, Mark puts on a slide show to humiliate Theo and Ciara. Theo later defends Ciara and his friends after they spray paint Mark's car for revenge and get arrested. A furious Theo refuses to stop seeing Ciara despite Abe's pleas with him. Theo is devastated when Ciara agrees with Abe and breaks it off with him.
In the summer of 2016, Theo serves as a listening ear for Claire and also rekindles his friendship with Ciara. When Abby is killed in a plane crash, Theo and Claire find comfort with one another and begin dating. Theo temporarily moves into the DiMera mansion when a prison break puts the lives of several Salem citizens in danger and comforts Claire when her grandfather gets shot. Theo and Ciara console one another when Claire and Joey are kidnapped by the escaped prisoners and she inquires about his feelings for Claire. After his father is shot during a press conference, a distraught Theo pulls a gun on Abe's shooter, Clyde Weston allowing Clyde to avoid getting arrested when Theo freezes up. Theo is unnerved by the sudden return of Abe's ex-girlfriend Doctor Valerie Grant and blames her when Abe's condition worsens after she operates. Fortunately, Abe recovers but Theo is not supportive when they rekindle their romance. To calm his fears, Claire helps Theo spy on Valerie and they plant on a recording device on Christmas.
In early 2017, Valerie discovers the bug and confronts Theo—he apologizes and she agrees not to tell Abe. Valerie later offers Claire and Theo when they experience some social media backlash because of their interracial romance. Theo moves out on his own and shares an apartment with Claire, Ciara and Joey.Theo returns for a short visit in December of 2020, and again in late March 2021, until April 28, 2021, when he leaves town with Ciara Brady. Theo and Ciara both return in 2021 and announce there getting married. Claire Brady and Ben Weston come up with a plan to not make that happen and ben kidnaps Ciara. After Ciara gets her memories back, Theo leaves town. Theo returns again in October 2021 when his father Abe is shot.
