Days of Our Lives Star James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis
Days of Our Lives star James Reynolds has announced his Parkinson's diagnosis at age 80. The condition will be integrated into his character Abe Carver's storyline on the long-running soap opera.
James Reynolds, a veteran star of the long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives for 45 years, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The diagnosis will be woven into his character's storyline.
In an interview with ET, Reynolds, 80, shared that he initially tried to conceal his symptoms on set, but it became increasingly difficult over time. "I thought I was hiding it, but I wasn't," he said. He added that the writers also requested to incorporate the diagnosis into the plot because it was already becoming visible to viewers. "There are other characters who have gone through real things in their lives, and later those things are reflected in the show. This matter will also be reflected in it, and there is really nothing any of us can do about it," Reynolds noted.
Reynolds holds the distinction of having the longest career for a Black actor in a single television series. He stated that his character, Abe Carver, is particularly well-suited for this narrative arc. "I feel like Abe's strength as a character is that he overcomes a lot of things, he has a lot of strength, and he deals with many situations both with humor and understanding," the actor explained.
The Emmy-winning actor kept his diagnosis secret for several years, sharing it only with his family. He described experiencing symptoms such as hand tremors, occasional balance issues, and occasional shortness of breath. Reynolds realized in recent weeks that early signs may have appeared 15 to 20 years ago, including vivid, active dreams that once caused him to fall out of bed. He connected these symptoms to Parkinson's after watching an interview with actor Alan Alda, who described similar early physical behavior during sleep.
Born in Oskaloosa, Kansas, Reynolds enlisted in the US Marine Corps after high school and served in Vietnam as a journalist. Following his military service, he studied law and journalism at Washburn University, where he discovered his passion for acting. He was cast as Abe Carver in Days of Our Lives in 1981, and later won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2018 for his iconic role.
