Eric Brady is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on NBC/Peacock, played since 2012 by Greg Vaughan, the longest tenured actor in the role.

Initially played by a series of child actors, Jensen Ackles was cast in the role of Eric when the character was rapidly-aged from a pre-teen to a young adult in July 1997 under the pen of headwriter James E. Reilly.

[5][6][7] In the summer of 2000, during an interview Soap Opera Digest, Ackles revealed he would soon exit from the series after obtaining a development deal with ABC.

[10] In February 2011, it was reported that Greg Vaughan, known for his roles as General Hospital's Lucky Spencer and The Young and the Restless's Diego Guittierez, had turned down a testing deal with Days.

[16] Vaughan told soap journalist Michael Fairman that when he initially auditioned for the role of Eric, he was rejected – but now he was happy that he had earned the job instead of having it handed to him.

[18] In July 2020, he announced he wrapped up his run as Eric prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown;[19] he exited during the September 23 episode.

"[25] On April 30, and May 1, 1998, LeAnn Rimes made a two-episode guest appearance in the series as a teenage runaway, Madison, and Eric keeps her from getting arrested when she steals some food.

Eric takes her to his grandparents home and lets her spend the night before his aunt Kimberly Brady (Patsy Pease) convinces her that living a life on the street isn't what she wants.

Eric goes to take Madison to the bus stop so she can return home and she apparently develops some romantic feelings for him.

[27] Greg Vaughan revealed in an interview with Soaps In Depth that "Eric had been at a place in his life where his relationships had all gone awry."

[28] In December 2012, Vaughan revealed to TV Source Magazine that the series would soon delve into Eric's past, and what led to him becoming priest.

However, Vaughan said that the duo would be very platonic friends and praised the writers for the pacing and allowing the relationship to grow organically.

Vaughan said that viewers would begin to notice an emotional "tug of war" between Nicole and Eric as they try to work out their feelings.

Following their mother's supposed death in the spring of 1987, the twins are sent to live with Marlena's parents, Frank and Martha in Colorado.

Eric soon falls for an older woman, Greta Von Amberg, and he breaks up with Nicole when she suddenly marries Lucas in 1999.

Eric reluctantly begins working with Kristen DiMera (Eileen Davidson) on his new school project for the community.

He finally finds a distraction when his ex-girlfriend, Serena Mason, comes to Salem in the winter of 2014 to do medical research for a story that she is working on.

Their relationship moves quickly, but Serena is also in town for other motives, as she has orders to retrieve a piece of artwork that Eric acquired when the two of them were in Africa that contains smuggled diamonds.

In January 2016, while driving drunk, he caused a car accident, injuring himself, Brady, Jennifer Horton, and his best friend, Daniel, who died.

When Nicole is kidnapped by Xander, on the orders of Deimos Kiriakis, Eric hatches a plan to save her with Brady.

In September 2020, Eric leaves Salem to return to the Congo in an effort to help residents after a string of misfortunate events.

Eric is led to believe that Jude is an adopted baby until he learns that the child was Nicole's and he ends his relationship with Sloan.

Once the truth is out, Nicole serves EJ with divorce papers and the her and Eric leave for Paris with baby Jude.

Later in fall 2024, Eric returns to Salem to help Brady who relapsed his addiction and is involved in a car accident that paralyzes Sarah.

[26] Ackles received three Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series in 1998,[33] 1999[34] and 2000.

[37] Jamey Giddens scolded the series for offering a veteran actor like Vaughan, with a huge fanbase, a testing deal as opposed to an actual role.

[11] The picture of Vaughan wearing a priest's collar stirred up some controversy among fans and critics, with some believing it would limit the kind of storylines that Eric could be involved in.

Jillian Bowe responded to the picture with this statement: "Bless Me Father: Why is Greg Vaughan Wearing a Clerical Collar on Set of Days of Our Lives?!

Speaking of their exchange, Vaughan stated: "The character is near and dear to his heart and he said, 'Greg, it just gives me a little more gratification knowing that somebody I respect in the business is playing the part.

"[38] In 2020, Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows placed Eric at #16 on a list of the 35 most memorable characters from Days of Our Lives, saying "It’s hard to be a good guy among Salem’s lot.