Eli Grant is a fictional character from Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network, portrayed by Lamon Archey. The character made his first appearance on February 23, 2017, and was introduced as the son of established character, Valerie Grant (Vanessa Williams) and the previously unknown grandson of Julie Olson Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes). As Valerie's son with Julie's late son David Banning (Gregg Marx), Eli is the product of daytime's first interracial romance, and the first African-American member of the show's core family, the Hortons.
Though he is embraced by Julie and his new family, it puts a strain on his budding romance with Gabi Hernandez (Camila Banus). However, the relationship ultimately falls apart due to Eli's one-night-stand with his co-worker Lani Price (Sal Stowers) which culminates in the birth of their stillborn son. Eli falls for Lani but she struggles fearing the feelings are only due to their shared grief. After interference from Eli's friend Sheila (Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins), the couple finally make it official and start dating. In 2019, their failed wedding leaves Eli devastated when a vengeful Gabi blackmails Lani into dumping him at the altar. The couple reunite in 2020 and are finally married later that year. They go onto have twins a boy and girl an over year later into their marriage.
While the reception to the writing for the character's introduction was less positive, Archey's portrayal quickly won many fans and critics over. Eli and Lani's romance also became quite popular with viewers. The pair go on to make Days of Our Lives history in 2020 when they become the first African-American couple to marry on-screen.
Storylines In 2017, Eli confronts his mother Valerie about David Banning, his biological father. Furious, Eli reveals he's known about his paternity since he applied to the FBI Academy and Val explains that David wasn't fit to be a father. He later forces Val to tell his grandmother Julie the truth. While Julie and her family welcome Eli, he struggles to forgive Valerie. Eli's cousin Abigail (Marci Miller) sets him up on a failed blind date with Gabi Hernandez. Despite encouragement from Val's boyfriend Abe Carver (James Reynolds) and his daughter Lani Price, Eli still can't forgive Val. He later agrees to use his connections to help his cousin JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) breakup the local mob war. Eli heads up the investigation which doesn't sit well with Lani. He also comforts Gabi as she struggles to get over Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn) and grieves the loss of her dad when goes to prison. Despite warnings from Julie and Abigail, Eli is determined to continue seeing Gabi and wants to help her get over Chad. Eli serves as a federal liaison in a drug investigation when Lani is exposed to a synthetic drug and also helps Lani cope with her withdrawal syndrome in secret. After being ambushed with a breakfast date orchestrated by Abe and Gabi, Eli begins to understand Val's actions but he still needs time work through his feelings. Eli travels to Greece with Lani, JJ and Gabi to apprehend Deimos Kiriakis (Vincent Irizarry) where he witnesses a close moment between Chad and Gabi and breaks up with her. On the way back to Salem, the plane crashes and the group is stranded along with Sonny Kiriakis (Freddie Smith) his boyfriend Paul Narita (Christopher Sean). Eli disappears after he goes to radio for help and returns to reveal that Paul stabbed him. Sonny keeps Eli from killing Paul as they realize he has contracted jungle madness. Eli later serves as a listening ear when Lani has doubts about her relationship with JJ. At Paul's request, Eli agrees to kill him if he tries to harm anyone else but they are soon rescued. Back home Lani convinces Eli to reconcile with Val and he is surprised to learn that she and Julie have also called a truce. Julie then gifts Eli with the Martin House, which belonged to his great-grandfather and plans a welcome home party for everyone from the island. During the party, Eli comforts Lani after she witnesses a close moment between JJ and Gabi. They wake up together and learn that Deimos drugged the party guests and he has been murdered. Later, Eli and Lani arrest Gabi's brother Dario (Jordi Vilasuso) for hacking Countess Wilhelmina Cosmetics and running a counterfeit operation. However, they make enemies with Police Commissioner Lou Raines (Aaron D. Spears) when they shut him out of the case. Dario convinces Eli to grant him immunity and place him into the Witness Protection Program in exchange for giving up his partner. Eli's plan backfires when Dario disappears after a failed attempt on his life that lands Abigail in the hospital and Eli tells his aunt Hope Brady (Kristian Alfonso) that Dario's partner is responsible for Abby's accident. Eli blindsides everyone including Lani and Valerie when he has Abe arrested for conspiring with Dario. Julie even threatens to take back the Martin House if Eli doesn't get Abe released. While Eli tries to keep his loved ones at bay, it is revealed that he and Abe are working together to bring down Dario's real accomplice, Commissioner Raines. Raines later kidnaps Gabi forcing Eli, Hope and Gabi's brother Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) to come to her rescue. Eli takes a risky shot to save Gabi and Raines is arrested. As Eli and Gabi rekindle their romance against Rafe's wishes, Eli gets fired for his actions. Fortunately, Abe recommends him to the Salem PD. Meanwhile, Eli is confronted by Sheila Watkins, an estranged friend from his past, whom he was responsible for sending to prison. Riddled with guilt, Eli agrees to help Sheila get out of town. Eli comforts Lani when her brother Theo (Kyler Pettis) gets shot in a confrontation with her cop boyfriend JJ. When Abe ask for his personal opinion, Eli reluctantly admits that he believes JJ could've handled the situation better. Gabi is irate at Eli for painting JJ as some trigger happy cop and he accuses Gabi of still pining for him. Eli admits that he is afraid to lose Gabi and they are more determined than ever to make their relationship work. After Gabi stands Eli up at the Horton Christmas party, Eli comforts a distraught Lani who reveals that she walked in on JJ and Gabi in bed.
Eli is later horrified to learn Gabi kept JJ from committing suicide. He and Lani agree to put their mistake behind them but Lani tells him she's pregnant. Lani convinces him to let her raise the baby with JJ as they are engaged to be married. When Eli sees Rafe and Hope's marriage implode due to infidelity, a guilt riddled Eli tells Gabi about the affair, but lies about the baby. When Gabi is put on trial for the murder of André DiMera (Thaao Penghlis), Lani and Eli's affair is exposed when she takes the witness stand. Upon discovering that Eli lied about the baby, Gabi dumps him. Lani initially tries to cut Eli out of the baby's life as it reminds her of the mistakes they've made. When Lani is diagnosed with Placenta praevia, Eli promises to support her and the baby. In June 2018, Eli is devastated when Lani goes into premature labor and the baby is stillborn. Through their grief, Eli and he falls for her. When Lani delivers their son's death certificate, a distraught Eli kisses her only to be rejected. However, by December 2018, Sheila's meddling forces Lani to admit her feelings for Eli and they start dating.
In 2019, Eli worries about Lani's infatuation with Jordan Ridgeway's (Chrishell Stause) infant son – David – when Rafe takes him in. Eli's concern grows as Lani starts missing work and spending nights at Rafe's to care for David after Rafe gets shot. When Eli accuses Lani of trying to replace their son and she refuses to hear him out, he breaks up with her. Fortunately they reconcile when Rafe helps Lani see that her attachment to is due to grief. Eli are engaged on July 4, 2019, and they even discuss having more children. Julie suffers a heart attack and needs a transplant and everyone blames Gabi who leaves her for dead. Later, Lani accidentally shoots Gabi's husband Stefan DiMera (Brandon Barash) leaving him braindead forcing Eli and Lani to turn to Gabi to donate Stefan's heart to save Julie. Gabi ultimately agrees and Eli wants to hold off on the wedding until after Julie recovers but she convinces the couple to move forward. However, Eli is blindsided when Lani suddenly leaves him at the altar. A year later, Eli is dating Gabi and working security at DiMera Enterprises when Gabi sends Eli to track down her sister-in-law Kristen DiMera (Stacy Haiduk) in Europe. He finds Kristen living as a nun in Europe but also finds Lani, also ready to take her vows.
Their reunion sends Eli reeling and he impulsively proposes to Gabi upon his return. As Eli and Gabi are set to marry in February 2020, Lani crashes the wedding to expose that Gabi rigged Julie's pacemaker to stop her heart unless Lani left Eli at the altar. A scorned Gabi tries to kill Julie but JJ has already arranged for Julie to receive a new pacemaker. As Gabi is arrested for incriminating herself, Lani professes her love for Eli struggles to process this revelation. While they soon reunite, the couple are at odds when Lani helps Kristen escape police custody. Eli is forced to look the other way and does not arrest Lani. When Eli and Lani get engaged, as they plan for the wedding, Lani realizes she is pregnant. Though she initially questions whether she wants to keep the baby or not, the couple ultimately decide to go through with the pregnancy. Despite multiple interruptions, Eli and Lani are finally married in July 2020 surrounded by their closest relatives. Eli is upset to learn that Lani is helping Kristen who has snuck back into town. He in turn arrest Kristen leaving Lani furious. Soon district attorney Melinda Trask (Tina Huang) threatens to prosecute the heavily pregnant Lani for aiding and abetting unless Eli can get Kristen to confess. A reluctant Eli successfully records Kristen's confession. Instead of taking it to Melinda, Eli goes to Kristen and convinces her to confess before he turns the recording over. But Lani soon uncovers what Eli did and kicks him out of their home. The couple reconcile on Christmas Eve after Julie and her husband Doug (Bill Hayes) intervene. Lani goes into labor during the Horton tree trimming ceremony and on Christmas Day the couple welcomes their twins, Jules and Carver.
Development
Creation and casting
In July 2016, the series had released a casting call for the role, then called "Levi." The recurring role, which could possibly become regular, was due to begin taping in late August and expected to begin appearing by early 2017. In December 2016, it was announced that Lamon Archey, known to soap viewers for his recurring role as Mason Wilder on The Young and the Restless had been cast in an unidentified role. On December 11, 2016, Archey and co-star Susan Seaforth Hayes revealed that he would play Eli Grant. "I was really looking to get back into a stable job where I could really sink my teeth into a character," the actor said in a statement to Soap Opera Digest. Executive producer Ken Corday said "He's a good addition to the cast." Archey had previously appeared on Days of Our Lives in two "under-five" roles which he says lead to his casting on The Young and the Restless. The roles included "Centerville cop" in 2011 and "New Dad" in 2013.