Matthew Paul Bischof

Matthew played Donald Jeremiah Jr. for the first few months of the baby's life in 1980.

Matthew's Gallery

Donald Jeremiah Craig, Jr.

Donald Jeremiah Craig, Jr. was only 2 lbs. 10 oz. at birth. Since Days couldn't cast a baby that small in the role, the first few times we saw D.J, it was just a doll wrapped in a blanket. This was the first time we saw Matthew as D.J. He was wide awake in the incubator.

Don and Marlena continued to watch their son at the nursery window. They couldn't decide if D.J. looked more like a Craig or an Evans. D.J. was first awake, then asleep, then awake again. Looks like bad editing to us!

D.J. has his first visitors. {Left to right:} Donna {Tracy Bregman}, Samantha {Andrea Hall-Lovell} and Chris {Josh Taylor} came to see him in the hospital.

Every time we saw Matthew, it was at the same angle and he was moving the same way. They'd obviously taped some footage of him in the incubator to be used over and over. That kept him from needing to be on the set for a number of days.

D.J. finally came home from the hospital. Don asked if he was supposed to carry them over the threshold. Marlena said he should just make sure that she didn't trip. Don told D.J. that he had a very practical mama.

Marlena asked D.J. how he felt being home. She then answered for him, saying he liked it very much.

Marlena said to D.J., "Just between you and me, I think he's a bigger baby than you are."

Marlena rocked D.J. in her arms and called him her "good boy."

D.J. was an adorable baby. He sure had a lot of hair for a preemie.

Don and Marlena talked to D.J. as he slept. They told him that one of these days they'd buy a new house and have a big backyard. Samantha walked in and thought they were crazy to be having a conversation with a baby who couldn't reply.

Immediately after Samantha came over to look at D.J., she started talking to him too. Don and Marlena teased her about making fun of them.

Marlena said D.J. wanted Aunt Sam to tell him a story.

One of the first family photos: Marlena {Deidre Hall}, DJ, and Don {Jed Allan}.

Julie came to visit D.J. She excitedly said, "He's smiling!"

Marlena described that as his flirt smile, just like his dad's. D.J. was very alert and definitely watching Julie.

Don and Marlena had so many plans for their son and their years together as a family. That was cut short when D.J. died of SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

At first it seemed that D.J.'s crying was dubbed in, but when we saw Matthew, he was really crying. Jed and Deidre were doing their best to adjust the blankets around him to make him more comfortable.

Marlena said that D.J. looked like Don when he fussed. She didn't know what to do for him, so she said, "Come on daddy, fix him."

This was Donna's {Tracey Bregman} goodbye to her young half-brother, D.J. She was leaving town after her behavior had threatened Don's political career.

Marlena said Donna needed to hold D.J. one last time so he could memorize her face. Donna told D.J. to take care of the family because she really loved them.

Marlena's friends visit DJ just after his birth. From left to right: Alice {Frances Reid}, Julie {Susan Seaforth Hayes}, Marie {Lanna Sanders}, Trista {Patty Weaver}, and Marlena {Deidre}

Matthew must have been a little tired in this scene. First he started rubbing his eyes, then he could barely keep them open.

Matthew was asleep in a number of his scenes, but was still showing his personality.

The last family photos. Don was about to leave town on a business trip and was saying goodbye to his son, giving him one last kiss. He returned to Salem after he learned of DJ's death.

This was the last time we saw D.J. Marlena and Don mourned for weeks after he died. Don held Marlena responsible.

To learn more about SIDS {Sudden Infant Death Syndrome} click on the logo below.

Thanks to: Stacy Krugman and Sharon for providing video tapes of DJ.

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