Days of Our Lives star James Reynolds has revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Reynolds, 80, has portrayed Abe Carver on the long-running daytime drama since 1981. In an emotional interview with ET on Tuesday, he discussed his health battle and explained how the diagnosis was incorporated into Abe’s storyline.
Explaining the decision to give Abe an onscreen diagnosis, Reynolds said, “It kind of goes back to when I thought I was hiding it. The writers also wanted to incorporate it because it was obvious. It was obvious. And we play life here.”
“There are many other characters who have gone through real-life issues that are then mirrored on the show. This is an issue that is going to be mirrored on the show, and there’s nothing any of us can really do about it.”
“But I feel like the value of Abe as a character is that he overcomes a lot. He has a tremendous amount of strength, deals with many things and does so with humor as well as understanding.”
The actor said he kept his diagnosis private for “more than a few years” and attempted to conceal his shaking, although the symptoms had become “obvious” to the show’s writers.
“Sometimes I’d get a little unbalanced and have to make a quick adjustment. You’re playing that game.”
Days of Our Lives star James Reynolds has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, pictured in 2024
Reynolds has played Abe Carver on the soap opera since 1981
“I find something different every day, and I realized just a couple of weeks ago that I may have had this for as long as 15 to 20 years.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive brain disorder that can cause muscle stiffness, slowed movement, tremors, sleep disturbances, chronic fatigue and a reduced quality of life. In some cases, it can lead to severe disability.
Reynolds began researching Parkinson’s disease soon after receiving his diagnosis.
MORE STORY: Disney California Adventure Files Mysterious New Construction Permits
“People have different experiences, but mine wasn’t extreme. I’m kind of lucky. I can hold on to where I am without experiencing a lot of emotional angst at that moment.
“So I started reading pretty much right away. I got on the internet and began learning about Parkinson’s and what it was. Then I realized, ‘Oh, this is not a cold. This is an experience that will carry you through whatever is left of your life.’”
Apart from a small circle of trusted people, Reynolds kept his diagnosis private for years.
“I kept it quiet for quite a while, more than a few years. My family knew—my wife and my son—and some other people were aware. But I still hadn’t really talked to anybody else. I hadn’t spoken to friends about it,” he said.
“But there are certain things that eventually you just can’t hide.”
“The tremor was one, although that could be caused by a hundred things. The imbalance was another, and that could also have many explanations.
“But what began to affect me was the difficulty motivating myself at times. That’s one of the hardest things. I think you’ll find that many people with Parkinson’s will talk to you about it.
“What they call apathy isn’t really apathy, but sometimes it’s very difficult even to decide that you want to turn on the television channel.”
Reynolds said his Days of Our Lives co-stars have been “extraordinarily helpful” throughout his health battle.
“Super, super—just extraordinarily helpful and supportive,” he said. “It couldn’t be a better atmosphere.
“People are just so wonderful, and that makes it a lot easier. I do have more energy when I’m at work than anywhere else.”
Reynolds with co-star Jackée Harry on Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem
