Josh Taylor portrayed Chris Kositchek before he became Roman Brady

Salem long past

Days of Our Lives, longtime fans, we are about to take a trip down memory lane to Salem, long past in the late 70s. Younger viewers of the soap know that Josh Taylor has portrayed Roman Brady since 1997, when he took over for Wayne Northrop. Some fans may not realize prior to that, he originated a beloved character named Chris Kositchek and was in the role from 1977 to '87.

He left Chris behind to star as Michael Hogan in the CBS primetime sitcom The Hogan Family. This was a spinoff of the Valerie show starring Valerie Harper, but when she was fired, the series was revamped.

Sandy Duncan came on board as Michael Hogan's sister to help raise the children after the death of his wife. Taylor decided to leave Days of Our Lives to devote more time to the Primetime series, which was eventually renamed The Hogan Family.

Chris was a man about Salem

As Kosicheck, the actor was a ladies' man and involved with several female characters, including Mary Anderson ( Melinda Fee) and Amanda Peters Howard (Krisgten Renton), who was married. Chris was a businessman who later left the corporate world and became the co-owner of Salem's only health club, The Body Connection.

He also began managing a popular nightclub, Shenanigans. Are you feeling nostalgic now upon hearing the names of these two hot spots in long-ago Salem and the names of former characters? If so, read on.

Josh Taylor through the years

Chris had a younger brother named Jake Kositcheck (Jack Coleman), who came to town in 1981 and was later revealed to be the Salem strangler. This was the first serial killer on daytime television.

In 1987, Chris began appearing on a recurring basis. He was reduced to the go-to guy that other characters talked to about their problems. Kosichek decided to go to law school, passed the bar, and became a lawyer but basically faded very quietly from Salem life.

Taylor studied to be a lawyer in real time but later decided to become an actor. His first television role was on Barnaby Jones in 1976 and later he appeared on The Six Million Dollar Man and The Hardy Boys prior to getting the role of Chris Kositcheck on Days of Our Lives.

In 1988, Taylor starred opposite Barbara Eden in the made-for-television movie, The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick, and guest-starred on series including Diagnosis: Murder, Walker: Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, and L.A. Law.

The Hogan Family moved to CBS for its sixth season in 1990, but was canceled by the end of 1990-91 season. Taylor followed this with the pilot of the television version of North Dallas Forty. He played Jack McKay, Dylan's father, on Beverly Hills, 90210 between 1991 and 1993, with occasional appearances in later seasons.

Josh Taylor the Silver Fox

Josh Taylor was born Tommy Tim Taylor on September 25, 1943, in Princeton, Illinois. He attended Dartmouth, where he was an Ivy League athlete. He worked on the Alaska Pipeline and at the Westwood Village, a restaurant that catered to celebrities.

As Roman Brady, he has won the heart of Salem's bad girl Kate Roberts (Lauren Koslow), runs the Brady Pub, and is considered by fans to be a Silver Fox. In the 1970s, he was voted the sexiest man in daytime.

Recently, many DOOL viewers said they appreciated that on Thanksgiving, Roman prayed in the Name of Jesus. Taylor is said to be married, but his wife's name is unknown as he keeps his personal life private. -+