Ali's headshot from 1988


Ali's first series regular role was on the short-lived ABC comedy "Family Man" in March, 1988.


"Revolving Door"
Soap Opera Weekly, January 12, 1993
Note: Ali's first mention in a magazine incorrectly spelled her last name as Sweeny.


"Dateline: Salem" by Lara De Losh
Soap Opera Weekly, February 2, 1993
Note # 1: Although the original plan was for Eric Brady to show up in 1993, he ended up not arriving until 1997.
Note # 2: The statement about Joy Garrett was retracted in a later issue. Ms. Garrett never woke up from her coma before she died.


"Late-Breaking News"
Soap Opera Digest, February 16, 1993
**Note: Just like her first appearance in Soap Opera Weekly, Sweeney's last name is listed as Sweeny here.



"Days" Weekly Synopsis: Sami's return to Salem
Soap Opera Digest, February 16, 1993



"Who's New: Growing Up Brady" by Lara De Losh
Soap Opera Weekly, February 9, 1993




Ali's first publicity shot for "Days", Early 1993
 

Ali poses with the cast for the show's 7,000th episode cast photo, March, 1993.

Top Row: Don Frabotta (Dave), John Aniston (Victor), Wayne Northrop (Roman), Michael Sabatino (Lawrence), Ivan G'Vera (Ivan), Wayne Heffley (Vern), Marilyn McIntyre (Jo), Matthew Ashford (Jack), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer), Thyme Lewis (Jonah), Frank Parker (Shawn). Middle Row: J. Cynthia Brooks (Taylor), Robert Kelker-Kelly (Bo), Crystal Chappell (Carly), James Reynolds (Abe), Renee Jones (Lexie), Ariana Chase (Kimberly), Alison Sweeney (Sami), Christie Clark (Carrie), Bryan Dattilo (Lucas). Bottom Row: Louise Sorel (Vivian), Erik vonDetten (Nicholas), Macdonald Carey (Tom), Frances Reid (Alice), John Clarke (Mickey), Suzanne Rogers (Maggie), Drake Hogestyn (John), Patrick Muldoon (Austin).

Ali poses with Christie Clark and Bryan Dattilo at the 7,000th episode party, March 1993.
 

"After School Special" by Diane Bailey
Soap Opera Digest, July 20, 1993






**Update from Jason47. In the above article, it states that Ali was on Punky Brewster, but I happened to find this online, from a September 2000 TV Guide:

Q: Someone once told me that the woman who plays Samantha Brady on Days was on Punky Brewster. Is this true? My sister and I have been arguing about it for a while. Please, settle the conflict!!!
A: I went straight to the source to get you an answer. "I was never on Punky Brewster," says Alison Sweeney. "I did a movie of the week with Soleil Moon Frye for Disney, but I was never on the series."


Cast Photo, 1993


TOP ROW: Wayne Heffley (Vern), Marilyn McIntyre (Jo), Dani Minnick (Rebecca), Robert Kelker-Kelly (Bo), Ariana Chase (Kimberly), J. Cynthia Brooks (Taylor), Thyme Lewis (Jonah), Don Frabotta (Dave), Renee Jones (Lexie), Lisa Williams (Lisa), James Reynolds (Abe), 2ND ROW: Bryan Dattilo (Lucas), Michael Sabatino (Lawrence), Deborah Adair (Kate), Lisa Rinna (Billie), Louise Sorel (Vivian), John Aniston (Victor), Frank Parker (Shawn), Peggy McCay (Caroline), Christie Clark (Carrie), Patrick Muldoon (Austin), Alison Sweeney (Sami). BOTTOM ROW: Crystal Chappell (Carly), Matthew Ashford (Jack), Melissa Reeves (Jennifer), John Clarke (Mickey), Erik Von Detten (Nicholas), Frances Reid (Alice), Macdonald Carey (Tom), Suzanne Rogers (Maggie), Wayne Northrop (Roman), Scott Groff (Shawn-Douglas), Deidre Hall (Marlena), Drake Hogestyn (John).

Daytime TV's Everything You Want to Know About Days of Our Lives, December 1993
  

"Take Two" by Michael S. Rush
Daytime Digest: Inside Days of Our Lives, July 1994


"All American Girl" by Janet Di Lauro
Soap Opera Weekly, August 30, 1994






Ali's First (of over 100!) Soap Opera Digest Covers
Soap Opera Digest, June 20, 1995



Ali joined with other cast members in wishing "Days" a Happy 30th Anniversary!
Hollywood Reporter, November 1995



"Leader of the Pack" by Roberta Caploe
Soap Opera Digest, February 27, 1996






"The Bad Seed" by Robin Sayers
Soap Opera Weekly, March 12, 1996








FYI
Soap Opera Weekly, April 30, 1996



"The Brady Blondes" by Alan Carter
Soap Opera Digest, October 22, 1996








"Playing With Fire" by Deirdre Martin
Soap Opera Weekly, November 25, 1997









"A Day in the Life...of Alison Sweeney"
Soap Opera Digest, December 16, 1997





"Cruise Control" by Stephanie Sloane
Soap Opera Digest, August 18, 1998