Michael Easton, who plays Finn on General Hospital, is one of many daytime stars who are remembering their late colleague and friend Kamar de los Reyes. The former OLTL actor, who played Antonio Vega, died on Christmas Eve at the age of 56 after a short battle with cancer.
Michael Easton Remembers Kamar de los Reyes
“KAMAR I never wanted to write these words for you,” Easton began his post on Facebook. “Never thought I would have to. You were bigger than life. A force of nature that elevated us and this world was a dizzier place with you in it. You were a fighter. You fought to your last breath. A man of faith that never lost hope. You loved your wife, and you loved your children and their love for you was the lifeforce that kept you going. You meant so much to so many.
“You promoted charities and went on USO Tours,” says Easton, who acted alongside de los Reyes on OLTL where he played lawman John McBain. “The good work you did for Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. Millions of people know you from television and movies and video games. I just know you as my best friend. The best man at my wedding. For thirty years you were always there, loving life more than anyone I know and when I was around you, I loved it as much as you did.
“We are all broken now but blessed to have shared this time and although the nights seem suddenly darker, I know you are still with us, your light guiding us forward,” Easton added. “The Where you are going my friend, there I will be someday and I know I will find you. Until then, I love you brother.”
David and Melissa Fumero Share Their Memories
David Fumero was cast as Cristian Vega, de los Reyes’s TV brother on OLTL, in 1998. “Can’t say goodbye my friend,” David wrote on Instagram. “But thank you for your love and wisdom. For the many laughs that would brighten my days. You’re a legend and a warrior in my book. I will keep my ears open for your whispers that I know will come. Rest In Power…Till we meet again my brother!”
“You took me to my first work event,” Melissa Fumero (ex-Adriana, OLTL) shared on Instagram. “It was a Latino event. From the very beginning you instilled in me the importance to show up for the community. To show up for your people. This goodbye is too hard. But I will pick myself up and believe and have hope and stay positive and laugh and love my loved ones hard and do my best to spread fuckin joy because that’s what you did everyday. We love you Kamar. We always will.”
Greg Vaughan Recalls Kamar
“I’m so sad to hear the news of my friend @delosreyeskamar 💔🙏🏻 My thoughts & prayers are with his family, loved ones!” shared Greg Vaughan (Eric, Days of our Lives; ex-Lucky, GH) on Instagram. “Kamar & I shared so many good memories … even though we were on different coasts & soap operas, he welcomed me with open arms & a smile that made everyone feel….. his love!! When either of us were in the same city we made time together! I will always hold near & dear our talks, it was always deep & real! His love of family, me becoming a father for the first time, our love of the Yankees, smoking cigars, his incredible laugh….could bring you to tears, us playing the congas, me not so good 😂 to celebrating his brothers music performances in Vegas. His amazing love for [his son] Caylan, his twins & his incredible wife Sherri [Saum; ex-Keri, OLTL]! Kamar you will always be an amazing reflection of love💔😘 @saumdays #rip #brotha 👊🏼.”
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Robin Strasser Remembers Her Talented Co-star
Robin Strasser, who played Dorian Lord on and off from 1978 until 2013, took to Twitter to remember de los Reyes. She paid tribute to him by thanking Tony Wiesen for sharing a de los Reyes’s performance of “Magic is the Moonlight.” The actress tweeted: “@TonyWiesen Thank you for making it possible to share this with #KamardelosReyes’ huge family of friends & fans. He did nothing by half measures-always gave 100% of himself-Listen to the magic…RIPower Kamar”
Bree Williamson Remembers Her Good Friend
“I’m heartbroken,” posted Bree Williamson (ex-Jessica, OLTL) on Instagram. “Looking back on my One Life to Live days there are few memories in which Kamar is not present. He was an incredibly important part of my life for close to 10 years. Then OLTL ended and we all went our separate ways. But when I would see Kamar out in this world it was as if no time had passed — kinda like family — our little OLTL family.
“It is incredibly sad to know that I will enver be running into this wonderful man again,” the actress continued. “Goodbye Kamar- you are loved.”
Jacob Young Remembers Kamar
“So deeply sadden to hear of the passing of my friend and colleague Kamar de Los Reyes,” Young, who played JR Chandler on All My Children from 2003 to 2011, shared on Instagram. “As a very young actor there were only a small handful of people in my life that would offer their support in such a competitive industry. Kamar had always been one of them. A true gentleman and beacon of light. I remember one time we were flying back from an event and we were sitting together and I began to nod off, (as one does from a weekend fan event.) He reached over and adjusted my head and fixed my head rest so I could have a better rest. It’s the simplest things we do as humans that make the biggest impact. I will never forgot that kindness and humanity.
“Over the years we spent many nights laughing together in Manhattan,” Young continued. “One of those nights I remember introducing him to my then girlfriend @christenyoung4 who now is my wife, and I said to her, ‘This is one of the good ones.’ Kamar and I had a love and admiration for each other. I will always remember you in that way. A man who had love for his family, a love for the world, a love for his Puerto Rican culture, a love for music and Salsa dancing! (In fact he tried to teach me many times, even with my two left feet.) My condolences to his family and loved ones. The Lord took another one of his soldiers home. Rest easy Mi Amigo.”…💔
Y&R’s Daniel Goddard: Kamar’s Presence
Daniel Goddard is known to soap fans for his run as Cane Ashby on Young and the Restless but he shares on Instagram that he was impacted by de los Reyes’s life and work from a screentest he did back in 2006. “I read Jacob Young’s Instagram today about the passing of Kamar,” Goddard shared. “I didn’t know Kamar the way that Jacob did but I remember I tested for One life to LIfe in 2006. It was the first soap opera I tested for, actually. I tested for the part [Nash Brennan] that Forbes March ended up getting and I tested off Kamar. I was so new to this. I remember he was really intimidating. He was on point. He knew what he was doing.
“He had a presence about him…” Goddard adds. “I just remember walking out [on set thinking,] ‘Okay, I can do this.’ Then, the scene stared and this guy is on a whole other level; A whole other level…Kamar — respect to you my friend. Love to your family. Respect and condolences to your family as well. Rest in peace.”
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