1976
Dr. Marlena Evans arrived in Salem and counseled Mickey Horton through a mental breakdown...She dated lawyer Don Craig.

1977
Marlena was kidnapped, committed to a mental institution and impersonated by her twin sister, Samantha...Don rescued Marlena from the institution and insane Samantha was locked away...Don and Marlena were engaged...Marlena reconciled with Samantha.

1978
Don's ex-girlfriend Lorraine showed up in town with his daughter Donna...Don and Marlena were the victims of tabloid smear campaign...The Evans/Craig wedding was prevented first by Donna's suicide attempt, then by her pregnancy.

1979
Marlena and Don married...Marlena became pregnant.

1980
Wealthy politician Kellam Chandler hired Don and Marlena to work on his campaign, hoping to break them up...Marlena gave birth prematurely to Don, Jr. (D.J.), who died of SIDS... Marlena left Don when he blamed her for D.J.'s death.

1981
Marlena was raped by Kellam (who was later killed)...A serial killer began calling in to Marlena's radio show and threatening her...Police officer Roman Brady camped out in Marlena's house to protect her.

1982
Roman saved Marlena from a kidnapper, her client Eugene Bradford (who later ended up being her best friend)...Roman saved Marlena from Jake, the Salem Strangler (who killed her sister Samantha)...Roman and Marlena became engaged in Mexico...Roman divorced his first wife, Anna, mother of his daughter Carrie.

1983
Marlena married Roman...Stefano held Marlena hostage; Roman rescued her...Marlena stood by Roman when he was accused of murdering a woman.

1984
Roman's name was cleared when Stefano tried to kill the pregnant Marlena...Marlena and Roman's twins, Eric and Sami, were born...Roman "died" after a struggle with Stefano.

1985
Marlena shot Stefano when he tried to kidnap her and make her his wife...Marlena was found innocent of Stefano's murder...Marlena dated Richard Cates, who turned out to be a criminal.