If you’ve been watching the DiMeras blow things up in Salem for a few years, you might’ve missed the era when Peter Blake was actually the scariest guy in the room. He wasn't like EJ or Stefan. He didn't have the mustache-twirling vibe of Andre. Peter was something different—a clean-cut, charismatic lawyer who happened to be a total sociopath.
Peter Blake Days of Our Lives history is, honestly, a wild ride through 90s soap opera madness. Most people remember him as the guy who obsessed over Jennifer Horton, but there’s so much more to the story than just a bad breakup.
Who Exactly is Peter Blake?
Basically, Peter arrived in Salem in 1993 with his sister, Kristen Blake. At first, they seemed like normal, high-society siblings. But you've gotta remember who raised them. Stefano DiMera—the Phoenix himself—took them in after their mother, Rachel Blake (the "Woman in White"), supposedly died.
Stefano didn't just adopt them; he molded them. Peter was his favorite "soldier." While the other DiMera kids were out being dramatic, Peter was the one handling the family's legal messes and drug trafficking.
He was the "consigliere."
The legal expert who could make a murder charge vanish.
That Messy Love Triangle with Jennifer and Jack
When Peter fell for Jennifer Horton, it wasn't some sweet romance. It was toxic. Like, "I will frame your ex-husband for murder" toxic.
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Jennifer was the town's darling, an investigative journalist who should’ve seen right through him. But Peter was smooth. He opened a jazz club called The Blue Note and played the hero. He even saved Jennifer and her mother, Laura, from a fire—a fire that, surprise, he probably helped facilitate through his shady connections.
The Aremid Disaster
If you want to know how far Peter would go, look at the Aremid storyline. Peter took Jennifer to this creepy town (which is "DiMera" spelled backward, kinda on the nose, right?) and proposed.
- He teamed up with Stefano to gaslight the whole town.
- He helped frame John Black for Tony DiMera’s "death."
- He manipulated Jennifer into thinking Jack Deveraux was a lost cause.
It worked. Jennifer actually married him. But honestly, the marriage was a ticking time bomb. Jack eventually uncovered Peter's drug ring, and the whole thing imploded. Peter didn't take the divorce well. He tried to kidnap Jennifer and her daughter, Abby, leading to a shootout where Jack finally put a bullet in him.
The Era of Jungle Madness
You can't talk about Peter Blake Days of Our Lives without mentioning the mosquito. Yeah, you read that right.
After faking his death to send Jack to prison (a classic DiMera move), Peter hid out in the jungle. While he was there, he was bitten by a tropical mosquito and contracted "Jungle Madness."
It sounds fake. It sounds ridiculous. But in the 90s, it was peak television.
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This "madness" gave Peter literal super-strength and turned him into a violent monster. He wasn't just a shady lawyer anymore; he was a guy who could flip tables and snap necks. He stalked Jennifer and Jack across the country, eventually cornering them at a traveling circus. It took Jennifer faking her own death to finally lure him out of the shadows and get him arrested.
The Big 2025 Return: What Most People Missed
For almost 30 years, Peter Blake was just a name mentioned in board meetings. He was the guy who still owned shares in DiMera Enterprises but lived behind bars.
That changed in December 2025.
The show pulled a massive "gotcha" on fans. While everyone was hoping for the original actor, Jason Brooks, to return, the role was recast with Dan Gauthier (who soap fans know as Kevin Buchanan from One Life to Live).
His return wasn't a quiet one.
Peter popped up in the DiMera crypt, holding his own family hostage. We’re talking about a guy who sat in prison for three decades, brooding, and came out with a plan to wipe out the entire DiMera dynasty with sarin gas.
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Talk about a grudge.
Why the Jason Brooks vs. Dan Gauthier Debate Matters
There's a lot of backstage gossip about why Jason Brooks didn't come back. Some fans point to old rumors of an off-screen affair with Melissa Reeves (who played Jennifer) back in the day, suggesting it made things too awkward for a reunion. Others think the show just wanted a fresh start.
Honestly? Dan Gauthier’s Peter is different. He’s less "Golden Boy" and more "Grizzled Villain."
The Current State of Peter Blake
As of early 2026, Peter’s fate is hanging by a thread. After his plan to blow up the crypt failed, he ended up in a coma at Salem University Hospital.
- The Life Support Dilemma: Kristen is currently debating whether to pull the plug on her brother.
- The EJ Factor: EJ DiMera is looking for blood after Peter nearly killed his family.
- The Redemption Question: Can a guy who tried to gass his siblings ever be "good" again? Probably not.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the current chaos, here’s how to navigate the Peter Blake return:
- Watch the 1995-1997 Archives: If you can find old clips on YouTube, watch the Aremid and Jungle Madness arcs. It explains why everyone in Salem is so terrified of him.
- Track the DiMera Shares: Peter’s return isn't just about revenge; it’s about corporate control. Watch how Chad and EJ react to his presence on the board.
- Ignore the "Blood" Talk: Characters often say the Blakes aren't "real" DiMeras. Legally, they were adopted by Stefano, but in Salem, "DiMera" is a mindset, not just a DNA strand.
Peter Blake is the reminder that the past never stays buried in Salem. He’s the bridge between the old-school Stefano era and the current power struggles. Whether he wakes up from that coma or not, the shadow he’s cast over the Horton and DiMera families is going to take years to fade. Keep an eye on Kristen—she’s the only one who might actually have a soft spot left for the man who once ruled the DiMera empire from the shadows.