'Days of Our Lives' Recasts Gay Fan-Favorite Javi Hernandez with Out Actor Jacob Martinez
Photo Credit: Jacob Martinez / Instagram
Days of Our Lives is ushering in a new chapter for fan-favourite gay character Javi Hernandez, confirming that out actor Jacob Martinez will assume the role later this year. Martinez is set to debut as Javi on the Peacock-exclusive soap’s episode streaming Tuesday, 30 June 2026, following months of speculation about who would succeed outgoing actor Al Calderon.
From Calderon to Martinez
The role of Javi Hernandez was originated by actor Al Calderon, who first appeared on Days of Our Lives in late October 2024 and quickly built a following among viewers. Calderon confirmed in August 2025 that he would exit the daytime series after landing a series-regular role on NBC’s primetime medical drama Brilliant Minds, prompting producers to plan a recast of Javi.
Due to the show’s production schedule, which typically runs several months ahead, Calderon has continued to appear as Javi into 2026 even after news of his primetime job became public. Multiple outlets report that Calderon’s final episodes as Javi are expected to air in May 2026, with a short narrative break before Martinez steps in at the end of June.
In comments highlighted by LGBTQ+ outlet PinkNews, Calderon publicly welcomed his successor after the recast was announced, posting “LET’S GO BOYYYYY” under Martinez’s casting news on social media. That visible support comes after Soap Opera Network reported in 2025 that a Days of Our Lives spokesperson declined to discuss contract specifics but reassured fans that Javi as a character remained “alive and well in Salem” amid early recast talk.
Javi’s queer storyline in transition
Javi Hernandez has been established on the series as a gay character whose storylines have included a relationship and marriage with Leo Stark, played by openly gay, Daytime Emmy-winning actor Greg Rikaart. The character also works as an Emergency Medical Technician in Salem, a detail that has factored into both personal and professional plotlines.
Recent episodes have seen Javi moving through turbulence in his relationship with Leo and facing family health crises, including storyline reporting that Javi leaves town after a breakup and learning his father, Gabriel, has suffered a heart attack. PinkNews notes that Javi is expected to temporarily move away amid developments in his marriage to Leo, creating a window in which Calderon’s version of the character exits before Martinez’s Javi re-enters Salem.
Multiple soap-focused outlets stress that the recast is designed to continue, rather than reset, Javi’s queer storyline, with Martinez stepping “right into the middle of plenty of drama” when he appears in late June. While specific plot beats for Martinez’s early episodes have not been formally detailed, reporting consistently frames his arrival as a continuation of Javi’s existing relationships and conflicts rather than a wholesale reintroduction.
Who is Jacob Martinez?
Jacob Martinez is described in casting coverage as a performer with a strong background in the arts who is making his daytime debut with Days of Our Lives. Soap Opera Network reports that Martinez is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy , while Soap Opera Digest notes that his credits include the short film Memory Swim, the musical In Pieces and the play Dog Sees God.
Several outlets add that Martinez brings experience across acting, singing and dancing, with Soap Opera News describing him as a “triple threat” and highlighting his broader performance résumé. Daytime Soaps Top reports that Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska, and began performing at a young age, including appearances at the historic Johnny Carson Theatre.
In addition to his artistic training, Soap Opera Digest notes that Martinez is a registered Emergency Medical Technician, mirroring Javi’s own profession on the show. Coverage suggests that this real-world EMT experience could inform his portrayal of Javi’s work in Salem’s medical emergencies, potentially lending added realism to future storylines.
PinkNews identifies Martinez as an out actor and notes that he is 28 years old, while Calderon, whom he replaces, is 32. The outlet also reports that Martinez shared his casting news on Instagram, where fans and colleagues, including Calderon, responded with messages of support.
Representation and recent casting shifts
The recast unfolds during a period of broader casting changes on Days of Our Lives, with Soap Opera News noting that several performers, including Elia Cantu, Rachel Boyd, Galen Gering and Peter Porte, were recently moved off contract. Martinez’s arrival, therefore, comes as the show recalibrates its ensemble, balancing long-term characters with newer additions and recast roles.
LGBTQ+-focused coverage has emphasized the significance of casting an out actor to play a gay character whose stories are woven through romance, family and professional life in Salem. While Days of Our Lives has featured queer characters across multiple eras, the decision to maintain and expand Javi’s narrative through a recast underscores the show’s ongoing commitment to including LGBTQ+ characters in its core canvas.
Online reactions, as summarized by Daytime Soaps Top and other fan-focused outlets, indicate that viewers are already discussing the recast, with some expressing curiosity about how Martinez will interpret Javi and others focusing on the timing of the transition between actors. Soap Opera News similarly notes that fans are preparing for “a new face in Salem” as Martinez steps into a character many have followed since his introduction in 2024.
What viewers can expect next
Across multiple reports, the production timeline is consistent: Calderon will continue airing as Javi into May 2026, a brief hiatus is expected for the character, and Martinez will then appear beginning 30 June on Peacock. The brief on-screen absence is framed as a narrative device, allowing the show to explain Javi’s temporary move away from Salem before bringing him back in Martinez’s portrayal.
As for how Javi’s romantic and family life will evolve once Martinez takes over, there have been no specific storyline synopses officially released, and coverage generally stops short of revealing detailed future plots. What is clear from reporting is that the character remains positioned within ongoing drama connected to Leo Stark and Javi’s family, setting the stage for Martinez to join an already complex emotional landscape when his episodes begin streaming this summer.
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