“Patrick Muldoon’s Shocking Comeback: The Secret Role That Will Change ‘Days of Our Lives’ Forever”
Update: When Soap Opera Digest sought comment from Days of Our Lives regarding Patrick Muldoon’s apparent return to the show as Austin, a spokesperson for the show clarified that the actor is not, in fact, making an on-screen comeback. Rather, he was visiting the studio and providing a tour to a friend, and the show’s video post touting his presence at the studio was tongue in cheek. Soap Opera Digest deeply regrets jumping the gun and not waiting for official verification from the show about Muldoon’s Salem status before we reported it as fact. Below is the original article in full:
Austin is coming home to Salem again, but this time it’s Patrick Muldoon returning to Days of Our Lives to reprise the role. The soap shared the news in an Instagram video of the actor at the studio. “Studio four,” he mutters in the clip as he walks through the door and checks the sign, snapping his fingers as though trying to remember something. “It’s gotta be… Is it studio two?” Then Muldoon looks at the camera to talk directly to the fans. “Listen,” he says. “I just got off the 101 South in Burbank and studio two and four…” Then it all clicks into place. “Oh!” he exclaims. “Oh my God, I’m in Salem!” The actor then dons his sunglasses and smiles as he walks off. “Oh, it’s good to be back,” he declares.
Muldoon originated the role of Kate’s son back in 1992 and played the character until 1995. “It was a big cattle call,” he recalled to Soap Opera Digest in 2015 of landing the role. “For me, it was simply another audition. I screen-tested with Tracy Middendorf, who was playing Carrie. The main thing I remember is that after we got done, I saw Fran [De Simone], who was our stage manager, mouthing to someone else, ‘No. 4.’ I was No. 4, so I felt really good about that.”
By the end of 1992, Christie Clark returned to the role of Carrie Brady, changing the dynamic of the Austin and Carrie pairing. “It was an adjustment because Christie was younger than Tracy,” Muldoon recalled. “I tested with the actresses for both Carrie and Sami. Denise Richards [ex-Shauna, Bold and Beautiful] was also up for Carrie. We were friends since we were teenagers, and then later became boyfriend and girlfriend. I think they always wanted to bring Christie back, but they were waiting for her to get older.
