Biography

Born and raised in Oskaloosa, Kansas, James Reynolds didn’t follow a traditional path to acting. After graduating high school, he joined the Marines and became a reporter for The Windward Marine service newspaper. After, he was sent to Vietnam where he served with various units.

Upon returning to the United States, Reynolds majored in pre-law and journalism at Topeka’s Washburn University, only joining the theater department to meet girls. Before long, he was enamored with acting and began appearing in school plays.

Following a gig as a film reviewer for the Topeka Daily Capitol, Reynolds moved to Los Angeles, where he quickly began amassing guest spots on primetime. Then, he was cast as Abe Carver on Days of our Lives, a role that would last for three-plus decades, albeit for a brief stint on fellow NBC soap Generations.

In addition to acting, Reynolds and his wife own and operate the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena. The pair were named Business Persons of the Year by the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and one of the Pasadena Weekly’s 100 Most

Fast Facts

• August 10, 1946 — Birthdate
• Co-starred with Vincent Price in CBS’s Time Express in 1979.
• He was awarded the Heroes and Legends TV/Film Award in 2004, which recognizes outstanding contributions in the entertainment industry.
• Is named on 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.
• He annually hosts a “Bowl-a-thon” in Los Angeles to benefit the National Asthma Center and a celebrity basketball game in South Pasadena for the city’s schools.
• Owns and operates the Fremont Centre Theater in South Pasadena, California with his wife Lissa, since 1997.
• Enjoys basketball and Racquetball.
• Reynolds has been involved in more than 300 fundraising events in the last ten years.

Relationships

• Lissa Layng — Spouse
• Laura Toffenetti — Ex-spouse
• Jed Reynolds — Son

Summary

As a young man, James Reynolds was a journalist for the Topeka Daily Capitol in Kansas. After having the opportunity to interview Jack Nicholson, Michael Douglas and Peter Fonda about how to make it in Hollywood, Reynolds was bit by the acting bug. He moved from Kansas to LA and quickly became a working actor. In 1981, James snagged the role of Abe Carver on Days of Our Lives.

More on ACTOR  (Provide at least Five)

• James Reynolds Suffers Tragic Family Loss  http://soaphub.wpengine.com/days-of-our-lives/james-reynolds-suffers-tragic-family-loss/
• Days’ 50th Anniversary Interview with James Reynolds  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0g9fKaGlOQ
• James Reynolds, A Kansas Native  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjalDdPrHVw
• Fremont Centre Theater  http://www.fremontcentretheatre.com/history.shtml
• NBC Fan Event Interview with James Reynolds and Bryan Dattilo  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpMdN4Lith4
• AfterBuzz TV: Spotlight on James Reynolds  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsx74uY3tvQ
• Black Hollywood Live: Breaking into Soap Operas and Theater with James Reynolds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVDrTURY7w4