For over five decades, Maggie Horton has been part of the top cast of the NBC/Peacock American television soap opera Days of Our Lives. With an ever-growing audience, Days of Our Lives has entertained soap opera audiences since it premiered on November 8, 1965. With the show still on air, Days of Our Lives now streams on NBC’s streaming service Peacock.
Having over 14,000 episodes, Days of Our Lives is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world. After Frances Reid‘s death Maggie Horton’s character is the current longest-running character on the show, making Horton one of the world’s longest-running characters in scripted television. Maggie Horton is also one of the most prominent characters in Salem, the town where Days of Our Lives is set. Here’s everything to know about Maggie Horton, Days of Our Lives’ longest-running character.
Maggie Horton Was Introduced In 1973
Days of Our Lives aired for about eight years before the Maggie Horton character was introduced in 1973. Maggie Horton first appeared in the August 20, 1973 episode of the Days of Our Lives. The show’s then-screenwriter, William J. Bell, and producer, Betty Corday, created the character. Interestingly, she was introduced as a romantic interest of Mickey Horton (originally portrayed by John Clarke). Although currently playing a business executive, Maggie Horton was introduced as a crippled farm girl. Her backstory was that her paralysis was a result of a childhood car accident that killed her parents. Although she hires farm hands to help on her farm, Maggie lives a lonesome life.
The Same Actress Has Portrayed Maggie Horton Since Its Creation
Since the introduction of the character in Days of Our Lives, television actress Suzanne Rogers has been the only actress to portray Maggie Horton. When a casting call for the role was announced in mid-1973, Suzanne Rogers, who had no previous acting credit, auditioned on July 13, 1973. Although Rogers took acting classes with Stella Adler at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, she was a professional dancer.
Suzanne Rogers’ audition impressed both actress Susan Flannery (originator of the Dr. Laura Horton character) and screenwriter William J. Bell. At the time, Suzanne Rogers’ casting was unusual, especially since the Maggie Horton character would be introduced as a crippled farm girl. The showrunners had hired someone who made a living as a professional dancer to portray an unassuming, crippled farm girl. In the end, it paid off massively as she not only stayed loyal to the show and her character but also became the longest-running character on the show.
Maggie Horton’s Story Arc On Days of Our Lives
For most of Maggie Horton’s time on Days of Our Lives, her storyline often focuses on romance and family troubles. Her romance story begins when Mickey Horton stumbles into her farmhouse, having lost his memory and desperate for food and water. The crippled Maggie Horton sees it as an opportunity to gain company in her lonely life. Soon enough, they kickstart a romance that sees them wed in 1974. Trouble starts when Mickey’s family search finds him on the farm. Despite finally remembering who he was, Mickey and Maggie stay together and officially marry on January 25, 1975.
By the late 1970s, Maggie was overwhelmed by family issues. First, from Linda Patterson (Margaret Mason), who claims Mickey is the father of her child, Melissa. Then, she’s in a legal war with her and Mickey’s adopted daughter’s biological mother, Joanna Barnes, and becomes an alcoholic. By 1981, she agrees to be a surrogate mother, only to have the “anonymous donor” move into Salem, instigating another legal battle. While he threatened her marriage to Mickey, as always, they pulled through it all. With Suzanne Rogers’ Myasthenia Gravis diagnosis in real life, Rogers suggested Maggie be written to also have the disease to help raise awareness. As Rogers went into remission, so also did Maggie Horton.
By the 1990s, with a dwindling storyline, Maggie buys Salem’s Tuscany restaurant and becomes the town’s busybody. In 2003, Maggie was murdered by a serial killer but later brought back with the story that she survived the attack. Maggie’s absence in Salem saw a budding romance between Mickey and Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans). With John Clarke choosing to retire, Mickey’s character was killed off with a heart attack, leaving Maggie a widow. After Mickey’s death, Maggie’s new romantic arc was with Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston). The actor played the character until his death on November 11, 2022, causing the character to also be written off the show in August 2023.
Maggie Horton’s Popularity And Reception On Days of Our Lives
While there’s no arguing the character doesn’t top the list of fan favorites, Maggie Horton would easily make a “Top 15” list. That’s an impressive ranking, especially with the ever-growing number of characters on Days of Our Lives. Maggie Horton’s story arc has captivated soap opera audiences since the 1970s. Despite a dwindling storyline at some point, Maggie has remained relevant to the ever-expanding storyline of Days of Our Lives. Suzanne Rogers, the actress who dedicatedly portrayed the character, won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1979. If you’ve enjoyed watching Maggie Horton on Days of Our Lives, here are 5 Reasons why actors left Days of Our Lives.
Follow Us
