Alison Ann Sweeney (born September 19, 1976)"Who's New: Growing Up Brady". Soap Opera Digest. February 9, 1993. is an American actress, reality show host, director, producer, and author. Sweeney is best known for her portrayal of Samantha "Sami" Brady on the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives, a role she played under contract with the show from January 6, 1993 to October 30, 2014. In this role, she earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination, four Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Fan Voted Daytime Emmy Award. After making sporadic appearances since then, she returned as a series regular in 2021. In 2007, she became the host of The Biggest Loser in its fourth season, and left the series at the end of the 16th season in 2015.
Personal life Sweeney is of Irish descent and has two brothers."All American Girl". Soap Opera Weekly. August 30, 1994. pp. 24–26.All The Days Of My Life (so Far). Acknowledgments. July 2005. She studied economics at UCLA but left due to her commitment to Days of Our Lives."Leader of the Pack". Soap Opera Digest. February 27, 1996. p. 44.All The Days Of My Life (so Far). July 2005. Sweeney talks about how she attended UCLA, but left since she couldn't commit at the time. On July 8, 2000, Sweeney married David Sanov, after dating for nearly three years."Ali Chat". Soap Opera Digest. July 11, 2000. p. 38. The couple has two children: a son born on February 25, 2005, and a daughter born on January 12, 2009.Dagostino, Mark, "Meet Alison Sweeney's New Baby!", People, March 19, 2009, Retrieved February 4, 2010 The family once lived in Los Angeles, but moved to Arizona.
Career Sweeney's television debut was at age five in a Kodak advertisement."Alison Sweeney (Sami, Days of Our Lives)", Soap Opera Digest, Retrieved February 4, 2010 A few years later, she was in the episode "I Can't Help Saying Goodbye" of the horror series Tales from the Darkside, playing a young girl who could sense when others were going to die shortly before their deaths. In 1988, she appeared on the short-lived ABC sitcom Family Man, and the following year, was cast as Christy McCray on Brand New Life, a miniseries from future X-Files creator Chris Carter that aired within NBC's Magical World of Disney in October 1989. The miniseries, which co-starred Barbara Eden as Sweeney's mother and Don Murray as her new stepfather, was considered for pick-up as a stand-alone series beyond its Disney tryout, but the regular series never materialized.
On January 6, 1993, then 16-year-old Sweeney first appeared in the role of Samantha "Sami" Brady in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives—a show of which she was a fan. Sweeney was a US dress size 12 (UK dress size 16). She was not overweight by medical standards, but still larger than her television peers. Thus, it became an issue. She documented all the tabloid talk and personal anguish in her 2004 memoir, All The Days of My Life (So Far).
In 2002, she appeared on a celebrity episode of the NBC reality game show Fear Factor. She has appeared in other NBC shows such as Friends, where she played an actress on Days of Our Lives, and Las Vegas."Alison Ann Sweeney" , SoapCentral.com, Retrieved February 4, 2010 In 2007, she joined the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon as a co-host for the live television broadcast."MDA Telethon Raises Record 63.8 Million Dollars" , Medical News Today, September 5, 2007, Retrieved February 4, 2010 She returned to her co-hosting duties for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 telethons."Celebrities Line Up To Co-Host Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon" , Muscular Dystrophy Association, August 15, 2008, Retrieved February 4, 2010"MDA Telethon" , Muscular Dystrophy Association, Retrieved February 4, 2010
In 2007, Sweeney took over hosting duties on The Biggest Loser, replacing Caroline Rhea since the fourth season. She was surprised but happy to be offered the role, where she is able to cheer on contestants and share their victories.
Sweeney has written four books: All The Days of My Life (So Far) (released in May 2004), The Star Attraction (released in May 2013), Scared Scriptless: A Novel (released in June 2014) and Opportunity Knocks (released in April 2016).
In July 2013, Sweeney appeared in Second Chances, a Hallmark Original Movie, alongside Days co-star Greg Vaughan. The movie was filmed before Sweeney and Vaughn became siblings on Days of Our Lives."TWICE AS NICE!" CBS Soaps In Depth. July 29, 2013. Pgs. 84 -87.
On January 20, 2014, Sweeney announced on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that after 21 years of being on the air on Days of Our Lives, she was leaving the show, to focus on spending more time with her family, and to work on her other show, The Biggest Loser. She stated in the interview that she would be on the show throughout 2014, and that she would like her character on the show to have a happy ending with a Breaking Bad twist.
On July 9, 2014, it was announced that Sweeney would be joining General Hospital behind the scenes as a director, starting later that month. On April 26, 2015, Sweeney announced that she will be returning to Days of Our Lives to be part of the show's 50th anniversary celebrations.
On August 25, 2015, it was announced that Sweeney would not be returning to The Biggest Loser.
Beginning on October 13, 2017, Sweeney reprised her long-term role as Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives, over 24 years after her first appearance as a teenaged Sami Brady.
She played podcast host Alex McPherson in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film series Chronicle Mysteries, which started in 2019, with a fifth movie in 2021.
From 2015 to present, Sweeney appeared in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film series Murder, She Baked, based on Joanne Fluke's books.
Filmography Television YearTitleRoleNotes1984Simon & SimonLyla Episode: “The Wrong Stuff”1985St. ElsewhereChrissyEpisode: "Santa Claus Is Dead"WebsterBethEpisode: "The Uh-Oh Feeling"Tales from the DarksideKarenEpisode: "I Can't Help Saying Goodbye"1987, 1993–2015, 2017–2022, 2025–Days of Our LivesAdrienne JohnsonSami BradyColleen BradyRole: 1987 – FlashbacksRole: January 1993 – October 2014; October – November 2015; October – December 2017; August – November 2018; July 2019; June 2020; 2025–present Role: 2007 – September 2007; February 2008 – Flashbacks1988Family ManRosie Tobin7 episodes1989–1990Brand New LifeChristy McCary6 episodes1994Bay StateCasey MillsEpisodes: "Episode #4.4", "Episode #4.5"2001FriendsJessica AshleyEpisode: "The One With Joey's Award"2002Fear FactorHerselfEpisode: "Celebrity Fear Factor"2004American DreamsMiss USAEpisode: "Old Enough to Fight"Las VegasCaroline PzarchikEpisode: "Nevada State"2007–2015The Biggest LoserHerselfHost (seasons 4–16)2010MercyBecky SorensenEpisode: I Did Kill You, Didn't I?2015Beat Bobby FlayHerselfEpisode: "Raising the Bar" Judge / Mentor
FilmsYearTitleRoleNotes1987The Price of LifeYoung AliceShort film1990The End of InnocenceStephanie (12–15 years old)1993Night SinsSami BradyTelevision film2002HappinessGirlfriendShort film2013Second Chances, AKA Hearts on FireJenny McLeanTelevision film (Hallmark) 2015Murder, She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie MysteryHannah SwensenTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Love on the AirSoniaTelevision film (Hallmark) Murder, She Baked: A Plum Pudding MysteryHannah SwensenTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler MysteryTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)2016Murder, She Baked: A Deadly RecipeTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) The Irresistible Blueberry FarmEllenTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)2017Murder, She Baked: Just DessertsHannah SwensenTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)Christmas At Holly LodgeSophie BennettTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)2019Chronicle Mysteries: RecoveredAlex McPhersonTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) First in a seriesChronicle Mysteries: The Wrong ManTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Second in a seriesChronicle Mysteries: Vines that BindTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Third in a seriesChronicle Mysteries: The Deep EndTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Fourth in a seriesTime for You to Come Home for ChristmasKatherine MossTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Executive producer: Blake Shelton2020Good Morning Christmas!Melissa MerryTelevision film (Hallmark)2021Chronicle Mysteries: Helped to DeathAlex McPhersonTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) Fifth in a seriesSweet Revenge: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah SwensenTelevision film (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries)Open By ChristmasNickyTelevision film (Hallmark)Days of Our Lives: A Very Salem ChristmasSami BradyPeacock Original Movie2022The Wedding VeilTracy GoodwynTelevision Film Trilogy (Hallmark)The Wedding Veil UnveiledThe Wedding Veil LegacyA Magical Christmas VillageSummerTelevision film (Hallmark)2023The Wedding Veil Expectations Tracy SerchioTelevision Film Trilogy (Hallmark)The Wedding Veil InspirationThe Wedding Veil JourneyCarrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah SwensenTelevision film (Hallmark)A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery2024Love and Jane Lilly ThorpeOne Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah SwensenA Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen MysteryThis Time Each YearLauren2025Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah SwensenTo Barcelona, with LoveErica OlsenTo Barcelona, ForeverA Pie to Die For: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah Swensen2026Romance at Hope RanchHopeSugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen MysteryHannah SwensenBest Served Cold: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
Awards and nominations +List of acting awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result Young Artist AwardBest Youth Actress in a Soap Opera Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Villainess Days of Our Lives Young Artist AwardBest Performance in a Daytime Drama: Young Actress Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Villainess Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest AwardOutstanding Villainess Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Younger Lead Actress Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Younger Lead ActressDays of Our Lives Daytime Emmy Award America's Favorite Villain — Special Fan Award Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite New Couple Days of Our Lives Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Supporting Actress Days of Our Lives Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Days of Our Lives Soap Hub Awards Favorite Social Media Star Days of Our Lives Just Jared AwardsFavorite Hallmark Channel Star of 2022Herself
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