Fan favorite and Days of our Lives legend Deidre Hall is celebrating her birthday today! The actress, beloved as Dr. Marlena Evans, joined the NBC (now Peacock) soap opera in 1976 as Mickey Horton’s psychiatrist. In honor of Hall’s birthday, Soap Central is taking a look back at the highlights of Marlena’s life!

Happy Birthday, Deidre Hall, Days of our Lives

Rather than try and recast the role of Dr. Laura Horton (originated by Susan Flannery) another time, DAYS, in 1976, brought on the character of another beautiful, blonde psychiatrist — Dr. Marlena Evans, played by Hall.

The actress quickly emerged as a soap opera heroine as Marlena helped Salem citizens with their mental health as she embraced romance. Her marriage to attorney Don Craig (Jed Allan) fell apart following the death of their infant son, D.J. (Don, Jr.), who succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Next, Marlena found herself the target of a serial killer. Enter Det. Roman Brady (Wayne Northrup) and his sleeping bag, who camped out on Marlena’s living room floor so he could protect her. Love blossomed, and marriage followed. Soon after Marlena gave birth to her and Roman’s twins, Samantha “Sami” Gene (Allison Sweeney) and Eric (Greg Vaughan), Roman was presumed dead in battle with Stefano (Joe Mascolo), who was obsessed with Marlena.

The rest is yet unwritten

A few years later, Roman returned, using the name John Black (Drake Hogestyn) — or so everyone thought. Marlena and John had happy times together before her presumed death in a plane crash. She returned from the dead in 1991 — and so did Roman! The writers rewrote history, explaining that John only thought he was Roman.

Marlena and Roman reunited, but she found her passion for John could not be denied. They made love, which resulted in the birth of their daughter, Belle (Martha Madison). Roman and Marlena split, but John had some obstacles before he could remarry Marlena. He discovered he’d been a priest (which came in handy after Marlena had been possessed), and Kristen’s (Eileen Davidson; Stacy Haiduk) machinations kept the couple apart, too.

John and Marlena finally re-wed in 1999. The couple’s next big drama came when a DiMera hoax convinced many that Marlena was the Salem Serial Killer, who had wiped out several key characters on the canvas. It turned out that Marlena wasn’t a killer, and all “her victims” were alive!

John and Marlena faced additional challenges, including his temporary paralysis and the search for John’s true origins. Sadly, John passed away earlier this year after Hogestyn’s real-life death was written into the show.

Now, Marlena is surrounding herself with family and friends. Her next chapter has yet to be read!

Soap Central wishes Hall a happy birthday!

Days of our Lives streams daily on Peacock