If you spent any time in front of a TV in the early eighties, you probably remember the hair, the shoulder pads, and that voice. Liz Chandler wasn’t just another face in Salem. She was the soul of Days of Our Lives during a time when the show was finding its footing.
Played by the incomparable Gloria Loring from 1980 to 1986—and making a much-celebrated return in 2024—Liz Chandler lived a life that was basically a masterclass in soap opera survival. She wasn’t a villain. She wasn't a "goody two-shoes" either. Honestly, she was just a woman trying to sing her songs and find a guy who wouldn't lie to her. Spoiler: that was harder than it sounds.
The DiMera Debt and the Tony Problem
Most fans remember Liz for her music, but her entrance into the core drama of Salem was through the DiMera family. It’s kinda wild looking back at it. She was actually married to Tony DiMera, though for a long time, it was a marriage of convenience and, frankly, a bit of blackmail. Tony (the legendary Thaao Penghlis) wasn't exactly the charming rogue we know now; back then, he was much more of a traditional DiMera antagonist.
The drama reached a fever pitch when Liz got involved with Dr. Neil Curtis.
Neil was the love of her life, but the path was messy. She got pregnant, and Tony—convinced the baby was his—refused to give her a divorce. He wanted that DiMera heir. When Noelle was finally born and the blood tests proved Neil was the father, Tony basically tossed the divorce papers at her. It was cold. But for Liz, it was finally a chance at a real life. Or so she thought.
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That Song Everyone Remembers
You can't talk about Liz Chandler Days of Our Lives history without mentioning "Friends and Lovers."
It’s one of those rare moments where a soap opera plot bleeds into real-world pop culture history. Liz was a lounge singer at Doug’s Place. That was her "thing." Gloria Loring, a professional singer long before she was an actress, actually co-wrote the theme songs for The Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes. She brought that talent to the set every day.
When she performed "Friends and Lovers" on the show, the switchboard at NBC supposedly lit up like a Christmas tree. People wanted the record. The problem? There was no record. It took over a year for the song to be officially released as a duet with Carl Anderson.
- It hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986.
- It became the unofficial anthem for soap fans everywhere.
- It remains one of the most successful songs ever to emerge from a daytime drama.
The Shooting of Marie Horton
Soap operas in the 80s loved a "who done it" or a tragic accident. Liz Chandler found herself at the center of a massive one when she accidentally shot Marie Horton.
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It wasn't a cold-blooded murder attempt. It was a chaotic mess involving a gun and a struggle, but it landed Liz in prison. This was a turning point for the character. It added a layer of tragedy that Gloria Loring played beautifully. She went from the glamorous singer to a woman who had lost everything.
Why the Neil Curtis Romance Mattered
Neil and Liz were one of those couples that felt grounded. Joseph Gallison and Loring had this natural chemistry that felt less like "soap acting" and more like two people who actually liked each other. They dealt with Neil’s gambling addiction—a huge storyline at the time—and the constant looming shadow of the DiMeras.
When Liz eventually left Salem in 1986, it felt like the end of an era. Gloria Loring has said in interviews that she was "tired of being shot every two years," which, honestly? Fair.
The 2024 Return: Closing the Circle
Fast forward nearly 40 years. When it was announced that Gloria Loring was returning to Days for the funeral of Doug Williams (Bill Hayes), the internet—well, the soap opera part of it—exploded.
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Seeing Liz Chandler back in Salem was a gut punch of nostalgia. She wasn't there for a long-term contract, but her presence at the funeral served as a bridge between the show's golden era and the modern day. It reminded us that for all the "body doubles" and "back from the dead" tropes, the show is built on these legacy characters.
Real-World Impact: The Diabetes Connection
Something most people don't realize is that Liz Chandler's time on the show saved lives.
Gloria Loring’s son, Brennan Thicke (yes, Robin Thicke’s brother), was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes while she was on the show. She used her platform as Liz to create the Days of Our Lives Celebrity Cookbook. She sold them to fans and raised over $1 million for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of 80s Salem, there are a few specific things you can do to get the full Liz Chandler experience:
- Watch the Duet: Go find the original clip of "Friends and Lovers" from the 1985 episodes. The chemistry between Loring and Carl Anderson is still electric.
- Track the Noelle Storyline: If you’re a current viewer, keep an eye on Sarah Horton. Sarah is Neil’s daughter (with Maggie), making her the half-sister of Liz’s daughter, Noelle. The family ties in Salem never actually break.
- Check the Archives: Look for the 1984 "Benefit Concert" episodes. They feature Liz at her peak, performing for the diabetes fundraiser that mirrored Loring's real-life charity work.
Liz Chandler wasn't just a character; she was the heartbeat of a very specific, very musical time in soap history. Whether she was dodging DiMera bullets or hitting high notes at Doug's Place, she remains one of the most authentic characters Salem ever saw.