James Reynolds (born August 10, 1946) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying the role of Abe Carver on Days of Our Lives,[1] for which he won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2018.[2]
James Reynolds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | August 10, 1946 Oskaloosa, Kansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouses | Laura Toffenetti
(m. 1978; div. 1984)Lissa Layng (m. 1985) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editReynolds was born in Oskaloosa, Kansas on August 10, 1946.[3][4] At Oskaloosa High School (Kansas), he was an All-State football player..[5]
Following graduation from high school, Reynolds joined the Marines. After boot camp he was assigned to the Information Service Office where, first stationed in Hawaii, he became a reporter for the service newspaper, the Windward Marine. Later, he was sent to Vietnam and served for almost a year with a variety of units in and around Chu Lai, adding battlefield reporting to his combat duties.[6]
Returning to the States, Reynolds enrolled in Topeka's Washburn University, majoring in prelaw and journalism. Advised that the best place on campus to meet girls was the theater department, he began auditioning and performing in plays. In addition to his improved social life, Reynolds reaped another unexpected benefit—he discovered a passion for acting. He went on to appear not only in regular campus productions of musicals and dramatic plays, but with local theater groups as well.[7]
Career
editReynolds originated the character of Abe Carver on the NBC dramatic serial Days of Our Lives in 1981, which he has played since then. He has been on contract with the show since 1981 with only two short breaks in 1991 and 2003 where he still appeared as a recurring character.[8] He is the only actor to play the role of Abe Carver. Before appearing on Days of Our Lives, he had previously appeared in the 1979 CBS series Time Express.
After serving as stalwart police commander Abe Carver on Days of our Lives for nine years, Reynolds moved to the new series, Generations in 1991 to play powerful business tycoon Henry Marshall, replacing actor Taurean Blacque in the role. He was rewarded for his powerful portrayal with an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. With the subsequent demise of that series, Reynolds was invited to return to Days where his character was promoted in rank to Chief and named the top law enforcement official in Salem, the fictional community which is home to Days of our Lives.
Personal life
editOne of Reynolds' greatest honors is being named to the Kansas Historical Society's list of famous Kansans, a list that includes such notables as President Dwight Eisenhower, Amelia Earhart, Langston Hughes, Barry Sanders, and many others.[9]
He was married to Laura Toffenetti on September 30, 1978.[10] They welcomed their son Jed, on October 27, 1979.[11][12] After four years of marriage, the couple separated, and divorced on July 19, 1984.[13][14] Reynolds married his second wife, Lissa Layng on December 21, 1985.[15]
Feature filmography
edit- C.H.O.M.P.S. (1979)
- The Magic of Lassie (1978)
- Fun with Dick and Jane (1977)
- Mr. Majestyk (1974)
- Days of Our Lives (1981–present)
- Inhumanoids (1986)
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Generations | Nominated | |
2002
|
NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2004
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2004
|
NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2007
|
NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2012
|
NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2013
|
NAACP Image Award | Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2017
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated | |
2018
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Won | |
2022
|
Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | Days of Our Lives | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "James Reynolds Reflects on Almost Four Decades as DAYS' Abe Carver". Daytime Confidential. March 7, 2017.
- ^ "DAYS's James Reynolds Wins Lead Actor". Soap Opera Digest. April 29, 2018.
- ^ "James Reynolds". soaphub.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Waldo, Garren. "Days of our Lives Veteran James Reynolds Celebrates His Birthday". soaphub.com. Soap Hub. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ "James Reynolds". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- ^ "James Reynolds Actors". soaps.sheknows.com. SheKnows Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. 30 April 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "James Reynolds". kshs.org. The Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "INTERVIEW! ICYMI James Reynolds Interview". Soap Opera Digest. February 21, 2017.
- ^ "James Reynolds- Kansas Historical Society". kshs.org. Kansas Historical Society. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Ancestry.com (2007). Nevada, U.S., Marriage Index, 1956-2005 (Report). Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. [better source needed]
- ^ Ancestry.com (2005). California Birth Index, 1905-1995 (Report). Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. [better source needed]
- ^ Hersch, Linda T (December 21, 1982). "James Reynolds is going places". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc.
- ^ "#TBT - JAMES REYNOLDS". Soap Opera Digest. United States: American Media, Inc. March 3, 1998. Retrieved February 26, 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Ancestry.com (2007). California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984 (Report). Ancestry.com Operations Inc. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
- ^ Sloane, Stephanie (June 18, 2018). "Golden Age". Interviews. Soap Opera Digest. Vol. 43, no. 25. American Media, Inc.
- ^ "1991 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City, New York: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ "The 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 4, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "The 44th Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York City: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 22, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 3, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (April 29, 2018). "Daytime Emmys: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. New York City: Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (May 5, 2022). "Daytime Emmy Nominations 2022: Beyoncé Earns First Nod, 'The Young and the Restless' Tops 'General Hospital'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 5, 2022.