Ryan Quan is reportedly returning to “Days of our Lives” as co-head writer of the long-running Peacock-exclusive series.
According to Daytime Confidential, which is reporting the news as a rumor, though has cited multiple sources as confirming Quan’s hiring to the outlet, the veteran writer is said to be replacing outgoing co-head writer Paula Cwikly, who has reportedly decided to retire after returning to the soap opera in July 2024 to work alongside Jeanne Marie Ford, following Ron Carlivati’s departure as head writer. The pair’s material began appearing on-screen with episodes aired in April 2025.
Reached for comment, a rep for the show told the outlet, “No comment.”
If the rumor proves true, material written by Quan would not appear on-screen for some time as the series is at least one year ahead in terms of writing and tapes episodes ten months before their release on Peacock.
A graduate of the University of Los Angeles (UCLA), Quan had previously been a part of the writing team at “Days of our Lives,” starting as a writer’s assistant in April 2007, the same position he held from 1999-2005 at “Passions,” before working his way up, holding several other positions at the soap throughout his tenure, including dialogue writer, breakdown writer, and, was credited as the show’s co-head writer from September 2016 to July 2017, working alongside Dena Higley, following the exit of Josh Griffith (current head writer at “The Young and the Restless”).
With Carlivati taking over from Quan and Higley as head writer with episodes that began airing on July 19, 2017, Quan moved into the role of story consultant on the show, a position he held until he left to join the writing team at “General Hospital,” led by head writers Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten. He began his run at the ABC soap as a breakdown writer, starting with an episode that aired in March 2025.
Throughout his writing career, Quan has won three Emmy Awards as a member of the “Days of our Lives” writing team, receiving his first recognition in 2012. He also won in 2018 and 2022.
The Los Angeles native received his first Writers Guild Award in 2014 for his work on “Days of our Lives” in 2013, led by then-co-head writer Christopher Whitesell. He received subsequent award wins in 2021, for calendar year 2020, 2022 (for 2021), 2023 (for 2022) and 2024 (for 2023).
