Veteran soap actor A Martinez (Eduardo Hernandez) will exit Days of our Lives in the coming days. Though his departure was announced way back in September, due to DAYS' production schedule, fans are just now getting ready to see Martinez exit the canvas.
On Thursday, Martinez took to social media to reflect on his time in Salem, offering thoughts on the actors he worked with as well as his thoughts on the character he has played since September 2015.
"As Eduardo is taken 'off the canvas' on DAYS, I want to express my gratitude to all who've supported him -- and me -- over the course of these last eighteen months," Martinez wrote on Facebook. "It's been an honor to come to Salem on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of a show I have followed and esteemed for more than thirty years. The work itself has been a consistent pleasure, partly because of the deliciously wounded guy I've been playing, but mostly because of the multitude of excellent people who pass their days in the ongoing labor of love that is the making of this beloved show."
Martinez went on to praise his costars, saying, "My pleasure in this process has grown steadily over the time I've been at it -- and it's about to come to a memorably emotional peak in the climactic beats of my pivot away. The scenes of failed atonement with Galen [Gering, Rafe], Jordi [Vilasuso, Dario], Camila [Banus, Gabi] -- and Lauren [Koslow, Kate] -- were among the most wrenching of my life, in the most wonderful way possible."
On Twitter, Martinez's DAYS cast mates took turns sharing their thoughts on the actor. Spoiler alert! They loved working with him.
"You will always be Eve's better half #greatrespect #gr8actor," Kassie DePaiva (Eve) wrote.
@KassieDePaiva @nbcdays @laurenkoslow @galengering @JordiVilasuso @camilabanus You and me - from day one: as if they'd barely survived their history & still fought it hard in their dreams. #gr8actor #Courage #Compassion
— A Martinez (@ABoneMartinez) March 31, 2017
"Was an honor to share the screen with you," Billy Flynn (Chad DiMera) shared. "It was a daily acting lesson. Also, who's gonna show Rafe how to be a man nowww? @galengering"
@billymflynn @nbcdays @laurenkoslow @galengering @JordiVilasuso @camilabanus The honor was mine. So glad that we finally got a moment onscreen. Not a coincidence that it played so well - I'll say I knew you when, B.
— A Martinez (@ABoneMartinez) March 31, 2017
"4 those of us who had the pleasure to work with you- we are grateful," Galen Gering replied. "So present. So generous. A Tru gentleman. Hope to c you soon."
@galengering @JordiVilasuso @nbcdays @laurenkoslow @camilabanus Same here, brother. Glad for the chance to thank you again for the way you made it start for us--and cease. You're frigging brilliant, G. xo
— A Martinez (@ABoneMartinez) March 31, 2017
"This breaks my [heart]...working with U is pure joy," Koslow posted on Twitter.
This breaks my [heart] but along with Kate I remain ever hopeful that there is more Keddie story to be told...working with U is pure joy! https://t.co/FkCrPeHqUS
— Lauren Koslow (@laurenkoslow) March 30, 2017
Martinez was introduced to soap audiences as Cruz Castillo on Santa Barbara and later found a wider fan base for his work on NBC's primetime series L.A. Law.
"Two final thoughts: For the record -- Eduardo is not dead. If you care about him, you may choose to remember him," Martinez added. "And further, for those who've felt disappointed that he hasn't conformed to their expectations as a 'villain' -- I'll just say that it has never once occurred to me to approach him that way. What I most clearly carry in him is the knowledge that he was deeply broken as a boy, and that he has done his level best to recover -- ever since. That he has fallen short is regrettable, but not a negation of his humanity. I kinda admire the guy, actually."
Are you disappointed that Martinez will be exiting DAYS? Do you think he will ever be seen on-screen again? What did you think of the character of Eduardo? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
