Kimberly Brady

Casting

Patsy Pease originated the role of Shawn and Caroline Brady's eldest daughter on July 24, 1984, remaining until her first departure on March 12, 1990, when Anne Marie Howard stepped in temporarily from March 13 to August 13, 1990, and again briefly from July 17 to August 14, 1991. Pease returned for a couple stints from December 21, 1991 to January 22, 1992, and July 14 to December 22, 1992, until Ariana Chase took over full-time from December 29, 1992 to June 25, 1993. Pease again returned to the role of Kim (and has remained the character's only portrayer since) with stints lasting from June 28 to July 4, 1994, November 1 to 15, 1996, April 16 to 30, 1997, October 28, 1997, to September 23, 1998, May 30 to June 3, 2002, November 20, 2003 to January 16, 2004, February 27 and 28, 2008, June 24 to July 5, 2010, November 18 to 20, 2013, December 2014, and May 22 to 29, 2015. Casey Wallace appeared as the character for newly created flashbacks in 1992.

Storylines

Kimberly returned to Salem in 1984. She had left 5 years earlier for reasons that were unclear to the rest of the Brady clan. Kimberly is the second oldest child of Shawn and Caroline Brady. While Kimberly was absent from Salem she had been working in Europe as a high class prostitute and sometimes photographer. It would be eventually revealed that Kim had fled Salem as she had endured years of sexual abuse by her Uncle Eric (Shawn's brother). Shane Donovan was assigned by the ISA to spy on Kimberly as she had incidentally taken photographs of Stefano Dimera's secret Island in the Caribbean. Shane & Kim began to fall in love. Shane invited Kim to go to England to Donovan Manor where they declared their love for one another. It was at this time Kim began to experience attacks of temporary blindness. While in England they were shocked to find Shane's supposedly dead wife Emma alive. She had been brainwashed by the Dragon to kill Bo and Hope. Kim then decides to return to Salem to get on with her life. Shortly after arriving back in Salem Kimberly becomes blind.

Shane & Emma return to Salem, and Shane is shocked to learn Kim was blind. He once again declares his love for her but Kim backs away from the now married Shane. Victor Kiriakis befriends Kimberly and Caroline does not approve as she is afraid that Victor has ulterior motives. Kimberly receives news from Neil Curtis that the disease that caused her blindness is in remission however she is still physically blind. Neil explains that the cause of her blindness is now emotional. The news devastates Kimberly and Victor uses this to his advantage and invites Kim to live with him which greatly angers Shane as he is now investigating Victor for the ISA. Once Kim regains her eyesight she realises that Victor is heavily involved in crime and agrees too help Shane bring him down. He and Kim resumed their relationship.

In 1985, Kimberly came into possession of a roll of film that contained some prints to the location of a treasure that Victor, and Stefano Dimera were after, which again would come into play years down the road. In Miami Bo, Hope, Kim, and Shane were all out to destroy Victor's plan. Shane had been imprisoned by Victor, but Kimberly slept with Victor in order to spare Shane's life. Shane escaped, and managed to free Bo and Hope who were trapped with an explosive that was meant to kill them. Later Victor Kiriakis, Savannah Wilder, and Steve Johnson were arrested for their crime. They were all freed when Victor blackmailed Larry Welch into taking the fall for everything. Victor knew Larry killed Megan and used it against him.

In 1986 Kimberly hid the fact that she thought her child was Victor's. It was also at this time that Kim discovered that her mother had years earlier had an affair with Victor and thought that Victor may in fact be her biological father. However it was later revealed that Bo was Victors son. One day Shane heard Kimberly talking about her fears and quickly broke off the engagement. Later when tests were done to determine the father, Emma Donovan Marshall switched the results, so everyone believed that Victor was the father. During a trip to West Virginia, in hopes of reuniting, Kimberly went into labor in a remote cabin in the woods. Shane delivered the baby, and he pledged his love for Kimberly and the child, they planned.to marry even though they believed Victor was Andrew's father. The news infuriated Emma, who tricked Kimberly into signing adoption papers.