| Tony DiMera | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Days of our Lives | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Thaao Penghlis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current status | Recurring | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1981–85, 2007–09, 2019–23, 2025-present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | November 6, 1981 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | Pat Falken Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Betty Corday and Al Rabin (1981) Ken Corday and Stephen Wyman (2007) Ken Corday, Albert Alarr and Greg Meng (2019) Ken Corday and Janet Spellman Drucker (2025) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances | Chad and Abby in Paris (2019) Days of Our Lives: The Digital Series (2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fullname | Anthony DiMera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | Tony Antony (by Stefano) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ethnicity | Italian-American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gender | Male | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Businessman Owner of DiMera Advertisement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title | Count | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Residence | DiMera Crypt Formerly DiMera Mansion Formerly Unnamed deserted island Formerly Europe | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Count Anthony "Tony" DiMera is a character from the soap opera Days of Our Lives and has appeared on its web series spin-off Days of Our Lives: The Digital Series, played by actor Thaao Penghlis on and off from November 6, 1981, until October 24, 1985, and from July 19, 2007, till April 1, 2009.
After 10 years, Penghlis reprised the role in a guest capacity in March 2019, before returning in a recurring capacity later that July. Thaao reprised the role of Tony DiMera in July 26, 2019, to November 2019 when the character was revealed to have moved to Europe. However he comes to visit Salem from time to time.
Tony is the first DiMera to be introduced in the series. He is very well known for being among the very few "good" DiMeras and for his relationship with his beloved, Anna Fredericks DiMera. Despite his legendary antagonistic relationship with his adopted father, Stefano DiMera, he still cared for him and the family he was raised in. Upon his recent return from death, he took on the mantle as the new patriarch of the DiMera family.
Casting
One of the character's main storylines includes being impersonated by fellow character André DiMera, at various points in the characters tenure. However, both roles were played by Penghlis.
Due to Andre impersonating Tony for twenty years, his reputation was marred and he was known as a villain to the people of Salem until 2007 when he was rescued off an island that Andre and Stefano had held Tony prisoner on all that time. Rather like Renee, Megan and Peter, Tony was not in Salem for very long; his first stint consisted of nearly five years and his second stint only consisted of nearly three year.
Penghlis reprised the role in a guest capacity in March 2019, before returning in a recurring capacity later that July. After 10 years, Thaao reprised the role of Tony DiMera in July 26, 2019. In 2024, Penghlis had once again confirmed he had left the role of Tony after not being onscreen for several months; however, a few months later, Penghlis announced he would be returning to the show as Tony, presumably because the show had gotten a new head writer. His return date was initially announced to be June 12, but that was later changed to June 20. Penghlis also confirmed that Tony would be involved in a new storyline.
Background & Legacy
Count Anthony DiMera’s portrait
Upon his arrival in 1981, Tony DiMera was officially the first DiMera to appear in Salem. Tony was thought to be Stefano DiMera's biological son until he started a relationship with Renee DuMonde, who would be revealed to be Stefano's daughter. To get around this, Daphne DiMera, Tony's mother, claimed that her lover Enrico, the DiMera family gardener, was Tony's real father and blood tests in the early 1980s supported this as fact.
When Tony returned in 2007, it was never referenced that he wasn't Stefano's biological son. He referred to Stefano as his father, and EJ DiMera and Lexie Carver as his siblings. For all intents and purposes, Tony was Stefano's son, but the show could never recon Enrico being his father due to his past relationship with Stefano's biological daughter.
It should also be noted that Tony presumably never met his legal siblings Kristen DiMera or Peter Blake, and he certainly never met Chad DiMera; Chad arrived in town mere months after Tony's death, Kristen and Peter arrived in town during the 90's period that Andre was impersonating Tony.
Count Tony DiMera met a bloody end during a fight with Philip Kiriakis in March 2009. Tony fell through a large splinter of wood and suffered internal bleeding as well as a heart attack, thus killing him. Many viewers were stunned at the casual way the character of Tony was killed off.
When Andre returned in 2015, and was revealed to be Stefano's son, and not his nephew as previously thought, Andre claimed he and Tony were similar because they were both Stefano's sons, and Kate Roberts even said that Andre must have some of Tony's traits because they were brothers. Though Roman Brady reminded Andre, he and Tony were nothing alike.
Dating back to presumably Tony's funeral, Anna Fredericks DiMera carried around Tony's ashes in a cocktail shake as an urn. Marlena Evans, Carrie Brady, Rafe Hernandez and Steve Johnson all confronted Anna on her inability to let go of Tony and speaking of him as if he were still alive, although Anna could see no problem and would often polish the cocktail urn in respect. In January 2018, André DiMera met a gruesome end after being struck across the head with Tony's urn. It was quickly established as the murder weapon and in an act of irony, Tony theoretically killed Andre in death; with Andre's death, Tony had finally been avenged of the man who stole his identity. Since the ashes had been spilled and because the lid was missing and the urn was now murder evidence, it is unknown what happened to Tony's ashes afterwards, but Anna left Salem again in the aftermath of her breakdown, without the cocktail shaker. It was later revealed that Tony and countless others had been avenged by Abigail Deveraux DiMera, who had stolen the lid to Tony's urn. Anna finally put Tony's death into the past later that year by getting engaged to Roman, the man who had always been Tony's competition to his marriage with Anna and also the man who admired Tony the most for his defiance of Stefano.
In 2019, Tony returned to Salem after a decade in recovery. He became the new Patriarch of the DiMera family and was hell bent on helping his sister Kristen (whom he met during his decade long recovery) in taking back the company from their newly found brother Stefan DiMera and his wife, Gabi Hernandez. On October 14, Tony was made CEO of DiMera Enterprises. However, he was removed not long after. A year later, Tony discovered he had another sibling named Jake DiMera, who is Stefan's twin. He has accepted him in the family, though he holds him in no high regard, as like his other siblings see him as a pretender like his twin before him. When EJ returned to Salem, he worked with him and Chad to oust Jake from DiMera, as he recently became CEO after Chad resigned. In June 28, the coupe succeeded after Kate betrayed Jake during the corporal votes and voted to remove him as CEO of the company. After a short debate on who would be running DiMera, Tony was able to convince EJ and Chad to become Co-CEOS.
Storylines
Count Tony DiMera arrived in Salem in 1981 with two purposes. He wanted to win back his wife, Liz Chandler, whom he had never officially divorced. He also wanted to scope out Salem on orders from his father Stefano DiMera to see if it was suitable to relocate the DiMera family business. Setting up his penthouse with hidden cameras, Tony throws a big party with invites sent to all of Salem's finest. After the party, Tony shows the videos to Stefano. Learning that the Brady family is alive and well in Salem, Stefano has Tony plant roots in the business community in order to continue the vendetta against the family that is the DiMeras sworn enemy, the Brady's.
Tony and Renee tell Lee about their relationship
In 1982, Tony proposed to Renee DuMonde, who accepted. However, Renée discovered Lee DuMonde's diary. Reading the diary she learned that Lee was really her mother and that Stefano DiMera was her father, making Tony her half-brother. Renée quickly broke things off with Tony, not telling him the real reason in order to spare his feelings. Tony refused to let Renée go, and when she told him the truth he refused to believe they were siblings. Tony blamed Stefano for breaking them up. When Tony tried to leave town Stefano faked a heart attack.
Daphne tells Tony he isn’t Stefano’s son
Tony later learned that he and Renée were in fact not related due to a death-bed confession by his mother Daphne DiMera and had the blood tests to prove it. Renée had moved on and was married to David Banning when Tony learned the truth. Despite the evidence that they were not related, Renée refused to leave David. She was later killed by André. Around the same time Liz became pregnant with Neil Curtis' child, though Tony believed it was his. Tony would grant Liz her divorce, but only after the baby was born, because wanted the baby if it proved to be his. Liz gave birth to her baby, and when Tony realized it was Neil's child he quickly divorced Liz.
Andre holding Tony prisoner
Tony tries to save Andre from quicksand
Tony and Anna are reunited
In June 2007, it was revealed that the Tony that had been terrorizing Salem for the past twenty years, was really Andre. The real Tony was stranded on a deserted island. John Black, Marlena, and Anna all flew to the island where they encountered the real Tony. Tony was thrilled to see his old friend, Marlena, but refused to return to Salem with them. When Anna saw him, she thought he was Andre, and pulled a gun on him. Anna remembered quizzing Tony back in 1984 when they were stranded on Stefano’s island, and asked Tony some questions, but Tony’s memory and Anna nerves made it hard for her to trust him. Anna got momentarily distracted and Tony wrapped his arms around Anna and kissed her. Anna was finally convinced that he was Tony, and Tony decided to return to Salem with them. On the plane, Tony spoke of a key that Stefano kept in him that he said would end the feud.
And which son are you referring to, Stefano? It's not clear how many sons you have hidden away, sons that maybe nobody knows about, sons that have been missing for 20-odd years.
On July 23, Tony shows up at the hospital to confront Stefano just as he referred to Andre as his son. Tony sarcastically wondered what son Stefano was referring to, since has so many of them. Stefano is shocked to see Tony. Tony smiled and says he is back and that it is so good to be home. Tony was tricked by Andre into taking his place when they tried to set a trap for him. Tony was arrested, but cleared when Roman was found to have been stabbed. Tony tells Andre that it’s been awhile, and notes that doesn’t look good well. Stefano asks him not to make fun of Andre, who may never walk again. Tony tells Stefano that paralysis has never kept him from making mischief. He calls Stefano and Andre psychopaths, and notes that Anna, John, Marlena, and Roman are gaining strength. Tony says he won’t rest until Stefano and his minions get what’s coming to them, and declares that their reign of terror is over. Stefano laughs and claps for Tony’s dramatic performance, saying he always had a Claire for the theatrics. Roman comes in and tells Stefano that his plan to kill Sami and Lucas Horton, and blame it on EJ failed. Roman says Andre is going to prison soon, and he and Tony exit the room. Tony asks Roman if he can do anything to help, and Roman told him to get his hands on the key to ending the feud.
Tony accidentally walks into a trap set for Andre
On July 30, Tony meets Lexie on the pier after receiving a text that said Stefano wanted to meet with him. Cops surround Tony and arrest him. Bo Brady calls him Andre, and Tony protests that he is Andre. He says he thought Lexie was setting him for Stefano since last he knew, she was helping the DiMera’s. Bo Brady asks how he got the message meant for Andre, and Tony says that Andre must have forwarded the message to him. Bo calls to check with Roman, who he suddenly loses contact with. Bo takes Tony to the station where Roman lies after being stabbed by Andre. Tony checks on Roman, who calls him Andre. Tony verifies who he is, and Roman says that he has to stop this.
Tony confronts Bart
Tony vs Andre
bo holds Tony at gunpoint thinking he is Andre
Tony with Stefano in the hospital
Tony, EJ, and Lexie are called to the hospital by Stefano. Tony can’t help , but gloat that he isn’t a match for Stefano and Lexie refuses to help him. EJ decides to get tested and will give Stefano a part of his liver if he is a match. Stefano is grateful and vows EJ will inherit everything. Tony wishes then luck and leaves. Tony conspired with the Brady family to fake Stefano's death and lure Andre out of hiding. He faked a reconciliation with Stefano, so he could be by his side to inject him with a drug that made Stefano appear to be dead after it looked like Steve had stabbed him. Tony attended Stefano's fake funeral, and they waited for Andre to show up. Instead, Andre left them a tape recording of him laughing maniacally.
EJ confides in Tony
On October 8, EJ confides in Tony about his relationship with Sami. EJ doesn’t think Sami loves him, even though they are supposed to be getting married. EJ blames his grandfather for turning his son into a vengeful person, who made EJ do things he is ashamed of. Tony jokes about the DiMera curse, and EJ wonders why it is the DiMera that always suffer. He wants it to end.
Tony learns about Andre’a death
Tony argues with Stefano
Tony introduces Anna to Lexie
After the funeral, Tony introduced Anna to Lexie, who notes that they aren’t really family. Tons disagrees since they were both raised by Stefano, and wants to invite Lexie and Abe over for diner sometime.
Tony was finally free to be his own man after Andre's death, and he tried to help EJ get away from Stefano. After Stefano went into a catatonic state, Tony and his siblings decided to send Stefano to a long term facility. Tony started DiMera Advertising, but a mishap with Anna left them estranged for a bit. John Black, who was thought to be Tony's maternal half-brother, revealed that he was Stefano's paternal half-brother, making him the legal heir to the DiMera Empire. Tony and Anna eventually reunited and remarried shortly before Stefano came out of his coma and returned to Salem.
Tony and EJ teamed up to fight Stefano, but eventually Stefano and EJ reconciled, and Tony felt like the odd man out. Seizing a chance to get of of Stefano's shadow, Tony bought the alternative fuel's project from Melanie Jonas. Tony also found out from Mia McCormick that Nicole Walker had miscarried her and EJ's son, and was passing Mia's baby off as her and EJ's.
Tony listens as Stefano tries to convince him to stay
With the alternative fuels project on hands, Tony prepares to leave Salem. Stefano walks in as Tony is packing up to leave, and is angry that Tony is going to walk out on the family. Tony reveals he has acquired the alternative fuels project, enraging Stefano. Tony also subtly taunts EJ about Nicole’s secret. Stefano tries to make Tony see that they should work together, but Tony refuses, so Stefano disowns Tony.
Philip confronts Tony
Tony lays wounded as Philip tries to get Nicole to call 911
Tony is taken to the hospital where surgery is performed on his wounds. As Tony recovers, he is put on a incubator, and is unable to talk. When Tony wakes up, he sees Nicole standing at the end of the bed. Nicole says she is glad Tony is awake and menacingly tells him that they need to have a talk as Tony looks worried. Nicole tells Tony she feels bad about his accident, but says if it didn’t happen, he would have told EJ the truth and enjoyed watching his world crumble. Nicole says she will find a way to keep Tony quiet.
Nicole threatens Tony
Tony tries to expose Nicole
Stefano says goodbye to Tony
In 2009, Anna helped EJ kidnap Sydney DiMera as a way to make Stefano suffer for Tony's death. During this time, Anna was holed up in a cabin and had a picture of Tony on her mantle. In 2015, Andre was revealed to be alive, and the citizens of Salem hoped he was Tony, before Andre clarified who he really was. Andre also revealed he was Stefano's son, and acknowledged Tony as his brother, claiming they were similar because they were both Stefano's sons. Andre also struck up a friendship with Tony's friend Kate Roberts. Kate has been encouraging Andre to "channel" Tony, especially if he seeks any kind of redemption, since Tony was loved by all in Salem.
In January 2017, Anna was found to be trailing Stefano, planning to murder him for Tony. Anna carried Tony's ashes around in an container. Anna later confronted Andre in Salem and plopped Tony's ashes die in front of him. Andre asked Anna to put it away and Anna surmised that Andre was bothered by the fact that he was alive is Tony wasn't dead. She asked Andre if he was going to honor Tony with his life. Andre said he is sure Tony would approve of the way he is handling family matters. Anna said Andre has always had Tony's face, but not his heart. Andre said he always keeps Tony close to him in his heart.
Andre was murdered in January 2018, with the makeshift urn that contained Tony’s ashes Anna admitted she tried to attack Andre because she found a note, that claimed Andre had murdered Tony. Andre furiously confiscated the urn, and it was revealed that Hattie Adams has forged the note to try and get Anna to kill Andre. In May 2018, flashbacks showed Andre regretfully lamenting to Tony about betraying their family. A confession that his sister-in-law Abigail Deveraux heard that led to an argument between the two of them, and when Andre grabbed Abigail and refused to let her go, she hit him with Tony’s urn.While the world believed Count Antony DiMera to be dead, his body was preserved and kept in a warehouse where Kristen DiMera and Dr. Wilhelm Rolf worked to revive him off-screen. They finally succeeded and let him recover behind the door with the initials “A.D.” on it. Tony was almost fully recovered when the warehouse caught fire, and Kristen had to get him out. She hid Tony in Chicago for him to recover.
Tony encourages Marlena to fight for her life
On March 19, 2019; Tony appeared in Marlena’s mind where he exposed Andre and Gina Von Amberg, who were trying to take Marlena into Hell with them. Tony thought Marlena was going to let Andre and Gina take her to hell with them, but then Marlena shoved Andre and Gina through the door and slammed the door on them. Tony hugged Marlena and told her that Andre had lied when he told Marlena that she was dead. He showed her the door that she could use to escape, but she had a hard time opening even though Tony cheered her on. Tony showed Marlena all she had to live for, and opted to show Marlena the future without her. Gina re-emerged and joined them as Marlena saw that her death would cause her grandson Will Horton to be arrested for Leo Stark’s murder, and her granddaughter Claire Brady to be arrested for selling her aunt Ciara Brady’s and Tripp Johnson’s baby. Belle Black would give up on both her nephew and daughter and let them go to prison while Brady Black and Eric Brady would sever ties after a drunken argument, and Marlena’s ashes would end up spilled in the floor and stepped on by Brady.
Tony and Gina show Marlena the hourglass that shows her time is running out
Tony was pained to see the future while Gina delighted in taunting Marlena about her fate. She also showed Marlena an hourglass that showed her time was running out. Finally, Tony and Gina showed Marlena that John would marry Hattie Adams because of her resemblance to Marlena. Seeing this finally gave Marlena the strength she needed to pull open the door. Tony asked Marlena to give Anna his love when she sees him.
On July 26, 2019; Tony is seen to be alive sitting in a wheelchair in a location that was known only to Kristen DiMera who entered while disguised as Nicole Walker. Tony grabs his cane, frightened of “Nicole”. He soon wonders how she got in there as only he and Kristen have the key. Kristen removes her mask, and she talks about how she likes Antony, but Tony said he prefers Tony. They talk about how he is recovering and was close to recovering before the warehouse burning down. Tony thanked Kristen for saving his life, and Kristen suggested it was time for him to rejoin the living. Tony talked about Anna and how staying away from her was the hardest thing he had to do. Kristen suggested he rejoined the living and get back to her. She brought up DiMera Enterprises, and they talked about Stefan DiMera, and how someone else should run DiMera.
Tony assumed she wanted him to run DiMera, but said he wasn’t interested. Kristen assured him that she wanted to run DiMera disguised as Nicole, but she needed to become a legal DiMera as Nicole, and suggested a marriage of convenience. Tony recalled how Stefano has groomed them to be husband and wife, and that neither of them were blood relatives. He admitted that Kristen’s plan was clever, but said he couldn’t because he was already married to Anna. Kristen reminded Tony that he was legally declared dead, and so was no longer married to Anna. Tony said that he remains married to Anna in his heart. Kristen rages at Tony for being difficult, but Tony said he couldn’t go out back into the world married to another woman as it would devastate Anna. Kristen said once she has control of DiMera, they will divorce and he can be with Anna. She threatens to kick Tony out into the street if he doesn’t agree. Tony laughs and agrees to her proposal.
After Kristen returned to Salem as Nicole, Tony phoned her having second thoughts. He also wondered how she would explain his resurrection from the dead. She told him to let her worry about that, and that her plan is already in motion. Kristen later phoned Tony back, acting like she was talking to the hospital that he had brought “Nicole”. Kristen pretended she wanted to find Tony to thank him for saving her from the warehouse when it caught fire. Tony played along and heard Brady asking for the phone. Tony told her to put him on, saying he can do impressions very well and that Brady won’t know it is him. Kristen ignored them both, and Tony once again voiced his reservations, but Kristen ignored that too and hung up.
Brady and “Nicole” arrived in Chico at the apartment that Tony was staying in, but he had gone out for a walk. When Tony returned, Brady couldn’t believe he was alive. Tony said he was one of Dr. Rolf’s patients in the warehouse. Brady wondered how he could have rescued Nicole, and Tony said it must have been a rush of adrenaline. Brady wondered if he saw Kristen. Tony admitted he did, but from a distance. He called out to her, but she didn’t respond as she walked into flames. Tony said he doesn’t even think a DiMera could survive that. “Nicole” then “convinced” Tony to marry her to save DiMera Enterprises, and he “agreed. They got married in the hotel room with Brady as a witness and then returned to Salem.
Eric saw Tony, and assumed it was Andre. Tony said it was him, and Eric was stunned to learn that he not only alive, but that was married to “Nicole”. Eric raged at Brady and attacked him for letting Tony marry “Nicole”. Rex and Sarah broke up the fight, and Rex was also surprised that Tony was alive. When they were alone, Tony warned Kristen that she had to stop fawning over Brady since she was a married woman, but Kristen brushed off the warning.
Tony and “Nicole” showed up at the DiMera mansion where Gabi Hernandez also thought she was Andre. Tony introduces himself to Stefan DiMera as his brother. Despite the marriage, Wei Shin still made Gabi the CEO and Kristen thought killing Gabi was her only option. As Tony tried to talk Kristen out of it, Ted Laurent showed up to talk to “Nicole”, and shared his belief that Kristen was alive and may have been behind Holly’s disappearance. Both Tony and “Nicole” tried to talk Ted out of investigating Kristen, but he wouldn’t listen and as he went to leave, Kristen revealed herself. Kristen planned to shoot Ted, but he went to grab the gun. Tony intervened and Ted was fatally shot in the process.
After a fight with Kristen, she kicked Tony out and he ran into Kate, who fainted when she saw Tony, believing he was Andre. Kate learned Tony was married to “Nicole”, but Tony said his heart was with Anna. Kate said she wished Andre had been that loyal to her. Tony wondered why she married a snake like Andre, and Kate said she needed to become CEO. Tony clarified that is why he married “Nicole”, so she could become a legal DiMera. The two have a drink and catch up, and Kate then let’s Tony stay in her suite.
Tony becomes even more determined to get out of his marriage to Kristen, but Kristen won’t budge and even threatens to murder Anna if Tony double crosses her. She also threatens to send Tony to prison for Ted’s murder. Tony says it was an accident, but Kristen says the police don’t know that. Tony leaves in a huff and runs into Anna. Anna slaps Tony three times. The first for not telling Anna he was alive, the second for spending the night with Kate, and the third for marrying “Nicole”. Tony and Anna sit down and he explains he married “Nicole” to try and save DiMera. He explains that he still loves Anna, and they kiss.
Anna realizes it really is Tony, and is happy he is alive. She briefly wonders whose ashes she has been carrying around, before deciding it doesn’t matter and all that matters is that he is alive. Anna says she and Tony are now together and that he can divorce “Nicole”. Tony tells her he can’t. Anna is confused, and Tony says he made a promise to “Nicole”. Anna tries to get Tony to walk away, but he won’t do it. He tried to hint at Kristen’s threat by saying there would be severe repercussions, but Anna doesn’t understand. Tony asks for Anna to be patient, but she refuses and walks away, telling him to figure it out. Tony curses Kristen to himself.
In July 2019, Kristen was exposed publicly when John figured it out her true identity. Anna was shocked that Tony would marry his own sister. Kristen was arrested and decided to drag Tony down with her by saying he killed Ted. Tony was subsequently arrested, but and a bargaining chip as he knew that Kristen had locked up Gabi and Stefan in the cellar. He feared they would run out of time, so he sacrificed his only chance of freedom and told Will and Sonny where they were.
In September 2019, Tony was freed when Kristen had all charges dropped and admitted Tony killing Ted was an accident. After his release, Tony went to visit Chad and Abigail DiMera]] in Paris where they mistook him for Andre. Tony said he wasn’t Andre and wasn’t there to avenge him as he is sure he provoked Abigail. Tony tried to talk Chad into coming back as the CEO of DiMera, bud Chad refuses, so he took the job when Shin offered to him much to Anna’s chagrin.
As of 2020, Gabi was back in charge of DiMera Enterprises, and Tony and Anna were in Europe. Flashbacks that took place on January 21, 2020; revealed that Anna worked with Gabi to oust Tony as CEO. Though Tony was initially angry, Chad reminded him that now he can enjoy the rest of his life. Tony remembered his promise that Anna would never lose him again, and left town with her.
When John and Steve were looking for Stefano in Europe, they met up with Tony and Anna. Anna badmouthed Stefano, which caused Steve to lash out in anger and confused everyone. Tony also admitted that he was grateful that Stefano gave him a chance to be revived.
A couple of months ago, Tony and Anna were summoned back to Salem by Steve, who had been revealed to have had Stefano's A.I. implanted with in him; explaining why Steve appeared react in anger at Anna badmouth Stefano.
Chad brought Tony and Kristen to the DiMera mansion where Stefano made his intentions to marry Marlena clear. When Chad and Marlena didn't object, Tony and Kristen realized Stefano had brainwashed them. Stefano forced his children to share in his happiness.
After the wedding, Stefano took Marlena up to consummate their union, but John arrived with Brady to rescue her. In the commotion, John was subdued and Stefano returned to the living room where Tony tried to talk him out of his plans. When Tony went to intervene, Stefano held a gun on him. Tony refused to believe Stefano would shoot his own son, but then Anna came in and jabbed her stiletto into Steve's eye.
Stefano was subdued easily due to his injuries and taken to the hospital where Kayla got the legal authority to remove the microchip with Stefano's AI. Stefano asked for a chance to say good bye to his children. He apologized for threatening Tony's life and complemented Anna for the lengths she's go through to protect him. Stefano encouraged his children to stick together and reaffirmed his love for them.
Tony and Anna left town again soon after, but returned for Christmas where Tony met his new half-brother Jake DiMera, and Anna became suspicious of the new nanny Gwen Rizczech. Tony and Chad also went to visit Kristen in prison, who had received a photo from Rolf of her, Chad, and Stefano. Chad remembered it was after he had beat Stefano at Chess, and Tony was surprised Stefano still spoke to him after.
Tony was dismayed when Chad was forced to step down as CEO after sleeping with Gwen. Tony suggested to Kate that he could step in temporarily, but Kate said Jake had been chosen as Chad's successor. Tony was vehemently against the idea of the classless Jake running the company, but Kate defended Jake. When EJ returned to Salem, in June 2021, he worked with him and Chad to oust Jake from DiMera, as he recently became CEO after Chad resigned. In June 28, the coupe succeeded after Kate betrayed Jake during the corporal votes and voted to remove him as CEO of the company. After a short debate on who would be running DiMera, Tony was able to convince EJ and Chad to become Co-CEOS.
In June 2025, Tony returns to Salem alongside his wife Anna to attend the funeral of John Black.
He stays in town and asks EJ to help him take back DiMera from the Kiriakis family. EJ declines and says that the family's future is in the hospital.
Tony employs Gabi to help get DiMera back. Gabi plants a bug in Xander Kiriakis's office leading to Tony and her discovering that Philip forged the letter that made him co-CEO.
Tony brings Theo back to Salem and offers him a CEO position at Titan-DiMera which he accepts.
Tony interrupts a press conference for One Stormy Night, announcing that he has filed a lawsuit contesting the merger on account of fraud. He meets with Philip and Xander at the DiMera Mansion and demands all of Titan-DiMera or he'll take them to court and bankrupt Titan. Maggie meets with Tony and fails to get through to him.
While alone in the mansion, Tony looks up at Stefano's portrait and says "It's almost time, Father." Maggie, Philip, and Xander meet with Tony and agree to give back DiMera but keep Titan.
Tony betrays Gabi and tells her that she is never going to be CEO while knocking over a chess piece. He says it's because she brought a gun to the mansion the night EJ was shot with the intention of shooting him and because, no matter how many of his brothers she beds, she isn't family. She asks who is going to be CEO and Tony introduces Theo as the new CEO.
Having accomplished his goals, Tony and Anna leave and go on a cruise.
EJ gets a call from Anna telling him that Tony disappeared following a meeting. Apparently, when Tony finished his meeting he never made it back onboard and was kidnapped.
Tony is taken to the DiMera Crypt, where he meets Kristen who has been kidnapped from prison. Kristen says that EJ likely kidnapped them so when he consolidates DiMera and the hospital, he doesn't have to deal with them. Tony realizes that Stefano's empty coffin is no longer in the crypt and tells Kristen that whoever put them in the crypt likely took the coffin. Kristen says that she can still feel his presence. Tony says that she sounds like Susan Banks.
As Tony and Kristen continue to stay in the crypt, they start bickering, and Tony accuses Kristen of being a bad mother for letting Rachel testify at Johnny's trial knowing she was the one who shot EJ. He says Rachel will one day realize she is better off without her, which infuriates Kristen.
As Tony apologizes, he notices Andrè's plaque, and says he can see why Andrè was drawn to Kristen because of her strength and her tenacity, saying they were cut from the same cloth. Kristen snaps that Andrè was a sadistic maniac who their father forced her to marry cause he thought it would make her a better DiMera.
Kristen starts digging trying to find a way out of the crypt while Tony sits back and watches. Kristen hits something solid, so decides to take a break.
On Thanksgiving, Tony and Kristen are eating tuna and lamenting how their families are spending on thanksgiving. Tony assumes EJ will be spending it alone since Johnny wants nothing to do with him. Kristen admits she would rather be back in prison eating their food, and assumes Rachel would be spending thanksgiving with Brady and Marlena.
She briefly has hope that someone will visit the crypt on thanksgiving, but Tony shatters her hope by pointing out no one will visit the crypt, so Kristen says the police have to be looking for her. Tony points out that since they think she escaped from prison, they'll assume she left Salem while the Greek authorities would be looking for her in Greece.
Kristen tries digging in a separate spot and cuts her hand. She is infuriated by Tony's refusal to help even after she cut her hand, so Tony begrudgingly tears a strip off of one of his favorite shirts.
As Tony comforts Kristen, the door opens and a man with a bag over his head is shoved in. Kristen removes the bag and they discover it's Chad.
They wake Chad up and he realizes that Tony and Kristen were both kidnapped and Kristen didn't escape from prison. Chad realizes it is the day after Thanksgiving and he is missing his custody hearing and worries that Jennifer will try to use it as an excuse to take his kids away.
Kristen says that Chad's absence could led to them being found if EJ uses his security team to find them.
Kristen asks Chad how Rachel is doing and learns that Rachel and Thomas launched a pumpkin at Alex on Halloween while trying to hit Cat Greene. Kristen says it was probably because Rachel lost her grandpa John and because her mother was arrested. She says that Rachel probably thinks she abandoned her and starts to get upset.
