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Alex Kiriakis is a fictional character on Days of Our Lives, an American soap opera on the NBC network, currently played by Robert Scott Wilson. The role was originally played by child actor Jonathan Thornton from 1989 to 1991. He is the first born son of Justin Kiriakis (Wally Kurth) conceived during an affair with Anjelica Deveraux (Jane Elliot). The character first appeared in the episode of February 24, 1989, when his mom gives birth to him. Thornton vacated the role on March 19, 1990 when the character was written out alongside his mother, Anjelica (Judith Chapman). Thornton reprised the role for a few episodes on January 23, 1991 until February 5, 1991. The character was reintroduced in 2022 with Wilson as a recast. Alexander returned on July 26, 2022.

1989–1991
In February 1989, Anjelica gives birth to her son with her former lover Justin by her side. Anjelica's husband Neil Curtis (Joseph Gallison) misses the birth and Justin steps in, not knowing he is the boy's father. Justin's uncle Victor Kiriakis (John Aniston) names the baby Alexander, after Justin's father, behind Anjelica's back. Anjelica warns him that Neil will fight him in court. Meanwhile, Justin and his estranged wife Adrienne are named the boy's godparents. While Neil is distracted due to his gambling addiction, Victor steals a tape of Anjelica confessing Alexander's paternity and plots to raise Alexander as his own. When Victor and Justin have a falling out, Anjelica convinces Neil to adopt Alexander to keep Victor at bay. Victor suddenly pressures Neil to repay his debts and a desperate Anjelica gives Adrienne a copy of her confession tape. Adrienne confronts Justin and while he admits to the affair, he insist on a DNA test to prove Anjelica's claims. The DNA test proves that Alexander is Justin's son leaving Adrienne devastated and Neil furious over being kept in the dark. Justin promises to provide for Alexander but he refuses to give up on Adrienne. In May 1989, Anjelica takes Alexander and leaves Neil. She tries to rent the apartment next door to Justin, but Adrienne wont' allow it. Anjelica later crashes a surprise party for Adrienne's mother Jo (Joy Garrett) begging Justin to take her to the hospital as Alexander is sick. Justin calls Anjelica out for her schemes as Alexander proves to be healthy. When Justin refuses to let her move in with him, she threatens to move in with Victor. Justin calls her bluff and forces Anjelica's hand, so she turns to Victor. Justin legally establishes himself as Alexander's father leaving Adrienne in fear that she'll lose her husband to Alexander and Anjelica. Meanwhile, Anjelica rethinks her decision to raise Alexander around Victor due to his womanizing. Victor offers to marry Anjelica but she rejects him for Justin. Fearing Victor will ultimately turn Alexander against him, Justin schemes to get Alexander, and Anjelica, away from his uncle. A desperate Anjelica accepts Victor's proposal only for Justin to interrupt the wedding and announce that Alexander and Anjelica are moving in with him. Unable to cope with Anjelica and Alexander's presence, Adrienne moves out leaving Justin in turmoil as he cannot choose between his wife and his son. After failing to seduce Justin, Anjelica plans to take Alexander and move out only for Victor to have him abducted from Justin's penthouse. Fortunately, Roman Brady (Drake Hogestyn) rescues Alexander from Victor's henchwoman, Yvette (Lori Hallier). Anjelica starts to spiral as she prepares to move out and Justin ask her and Alexander to stay. In October 1989, Justin moves back to the Kiriakis mansion alongside Alexander and Anjelica just as he and Adrienne are legally separated. In November 1989, Anjelica is worried that Alexander will lose out on his piece of the Kiriakis empire when Victor announces his engagement to Yvette.

When Anjelica's plans to ruin Adrienne's construction business are uncovered, she destroys evidence of her planting a bomb at one of the sights and plans to skip town with Alexander in March 1990. Anjelica and Alexander are believed to have died when their plane reportedly crashes leaving Justin devastated and Victor blaming his nephew. However, Anjelica and Alexander are alive as they were on another flight.

In early 1991, Johnny Corelli (Antony Alda) steals $1 million from Victor to buy information on Alexander and Anjelica. However, he learns mother and son are alive, and tracks them to a private island. Knowing her son needs a better life, Anjelica lets Johnny take Alexander back to Salem. Before he is arrested, Johnny hands the boy over his former sister-in-law April Ramirez (Lisa Howard). Posing as Victor's son, Johnny lures Justin back to Salem from Texas by claiming Victor is sick again. Johnny successfully reunites Alexander with Justin. Justin and Adrienne take Alexander to their home in Dallas.

2022–present
Alex (Wilson) returns to Salem in 2022 to visit with his brother Sonny Kiriakis (Zach Tinker). Alex meets his stepmother Bonnie Lockhart (Judi Evans) for the first time and explains that he doesn't hold a grudge over Anjelica's death. Later, his Uncle Victor hires Alex as the vice president Titan where Sonny is CEO. However, Victor does not tell Sonny and Alex tells him when he learns he's offered the position to his grieving best friend Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn). Alex befriends Chanel Dupree (Raven Bowens) and her girlfriend Allie Horton (Lindsay Arnold).

Creation and casting
On July 19, 2022, TV Insider announced that Wilson had been as Alex. "I think my head spun around about 15 times" said Wilson in reaction to executive producer Albert Alarr telling him the news. In an interview with Jim Halterman, Wilson explained that he was told about the new role in early 2022. "It’s been just the biggest breath of fresh air I could ever imagine, […] I’m having more fun than I think I’ve ever had in any projects."

Reception
In 2015, the soap received criticism for casting Paul Telfer in the role of Alexandros "Xander" Kiriakis, as opposed to having play Alexander. Michael Goldberg said "Why does Days of our Lives insist on inventing characters that didn't exist, when it has 50 years of history to use? Including a nephew of Victor's named Alexander."