Vision Quest

“Days of Our Lives” most distinguishable character, Steven “Patch” Johnson, will get an operation and lose his trademark eye-patch on the June 20 episode of the NBC daytime soap. He also abandons his streetwise character, going undercover as a Fed to infiltrate a crooked church that’s intent on snuffing his childhood buddy.

Not only does actor Stephen Nichols rid himself of the patch that has set him apart from other soap actors for four years, he cuts and lightens his golden locks.

“I always said I’d never take the patch off,” Nichols said. “It’s a part of me. (But) ever since my character got married a year ago, I wasn’t doing much of anything. I was ready to cut out; bye-bye. But the producers assured me that this would be a great story.”

Nichols, who was originally hired for a five-day shoot as a pool hall hustler, said the new story line will probably last about six months. “Then I hope to leave. I have a night-time show in development.”