These Actors Have Been Switching Off As Shawn-Douglas Brady On Days Of Our Lives
Longtime "Days of Our Lives" fans have watched the character of Shawn-Douglas Brady grow up right before their eyes. The legacy character is the oldest child of "DOOL" super couple Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso), per Soap Central. The character has been on the canvas for much of his life, although there were times when Shawn was absent from Salem. However, he was never forgotten and has become a huge fan favorite over the years.
After Shawn D's birth, multiple child actors portrayed the role (via Soaps). Noel Bennett Castle was the first to play the character in 1987. Paul Zachary also had a turn as Shawn in 1990 before Scott Groff landed the part and portrayed Shawn until 1995. Collin O'Donnell later took over the role until 1999 when the character was aged to teenage status and began to be the center of much of his own drama, along with his friends, Belle Black, Mimi Lockhart, Philip Kiriakis, and Chloe Lane.
Jason Cook and Brandon Beemer are both beloved by fans
Many young "Days of Our Lives” viewers were thrilled when Shawn-Douglas Brady was rapidly aged into a teenager in 1999. The NBC soap opera cast actor Jason Cook in the role, and the fans seemed to love him and the romance that he struck up with John Black (Drake Hogestyn) and Marlena Evans' (Deidre Hall) daughter, Belle Black (then Kirsten Storms), per Soap Hub. The two quickly captured hearts as one of the sudser's most beloved young couples. Cook stayed in the role of Shawn D until 2006 when he exited the soap in hopes of growing his career.
"DOOL" was forced to recast the role of Shawn and did so with actor Brandon Beemer (via Nine). Beemer portrayed the character until 2008 when Shawn and Belle left Salem with their daughter, Claire, to sail around the world. Shawn has been in and out of Salem since that time, with Beemer in the role. However, as a special surprise for fans, Cook returned to play Shawn in 2015 for the soap opera's 50th anniversary. He shared scenes with his on-screen parents, Peter Reckell and Kristian Alfonso, before leaving again and handing the role back over to Beemer.
Together, the duo have created a beloved character whom the fans have come to love.