Thaao Penghlis (Tony DiMera) has returned to his old stomping grounds for a third time.

Penghlis' two previous stints ended with his characters' demise -- or so it seemed. The last time DAYS fans saw Penghlis was in 1995 when Tony DiMera, dying of a rare disease, killed himself with a self-inflicted gunshot. His other alter ego, Andre, was seen drowning in quicksand in 1984. Somehow, one of Penghlis' alter egos cheated death.

According to online chatter, the show has managed to twist history to explain how Tony survived his gunshot wound -- he wasn't really shot. Penghlis reveals that during his final scenes, Tony was seen smoking a cigarette -- something that character never did.

Talk of Penghlis' return to Days of our Lives first popped up in March. At the time, some imaginative fans thought that the actor would play Chloe's biological father.

Penghlis amkes his first return appearance on June 21st.