Days of Our Lives star Galen Gering opened up about a shocking brush with death during his modeling days. On Maurice Benard’s State of Mind podcast, the soap star shared how a trip to Tunisia almost turned fatal just after he graduated high school.
Days of Our Lives: A Modeling Gig Turns Frightening Abroad
Before his Days of Our Lives fame, Gering pursued modeling. A promising job with an Italian company brought him to a small Tunisian village. At 18, young and enthusiastic, he had no idea the situation would spiral into terror.
During a casual conversation, someone asked him where he was from. When he answered, “Los Angeles,” things took a dark turn. The man became aggressive and screamed, “We hate! We kill Americans!” A crowd gathered around, growing louder and more hostile by the second.
As the crowd closed in, people banged on pots, chanting, “Kill! Kill!” Panic set in. Gering was stunned and had no idea what triggered the mob-like rage. Just when things felt most dangerous, a short man urged him to follow. Galen hesitated, unsure if it was a rescue or a trap.
His fear only grew. Thoughts of being drugged or trafficked flashed through his mind. But the chaos around him left no time to think. The man led him away, hid him under a pile of carpets, and helped him avoid detection while the mob searched.
Galen remained buried under carpets for what felt like forever. In reality, it was 15 minutes. Still, every second under there felt like a lifetime. When the coast cleared, the stranger led him out a back exit, helping him narrowly escape harm.
Shockingly, the crew he worked with turned on him afterward. Instead of offering support, they blamed him for the incident. He was told, “This is no good. You’re in trouble for this thing.” Ultimately, they were forced to flee the village and hide out elsewhere.
The Days of Our Lives actor’s story left Maurice Benard and fans speechless. It was a chilling reminder that actors often carry powerful personal experiences behind their on-screen personas. For Gering, that terrifying moment in Tunisia shaped part of the resilience we now see in Rafe Hernandez.
Fans of Days of Our Lives will surely view Galen Gering’s scenes with new appreciation. His real-life bravery rivals any Salem drama. For more gripping behind-the-scenes stories, stick with Soap Opera Daily.
