Days of our Lives Star James Reynolds Reveals Parkinson's Diagnosis at 80

James Reynolds revealed on Entertainment Tonight on November 10 that he has Parkinson's disease — and that his diagnosis will be written into his Days of our Lives storyline as Abe Carver. The actor, who turned 80 in August, spoke with Nischelle Turner in a sit-down interview.

Reynolds said he first sensed something was wrong when he experienced a tremor "that didn't want to go away," along with balance issues and shortness of breath.

What did the actor say about his symptoms?

Looking back, Reynolds believes the condition may have started far earlier. "I realize," he said, "that I may have had this as long as 15 or 20 years ago, because you get what they call the hallucinations. My wife [Lissa] would say, 'You were hitting me last night in bed,' and I would say, 'What?!' I was having these really horrible dreams."

Sometimes, he added, he would fall out of bed. "I realize that was an early symptom of Parkinson's," Reynolds said.

After receiving the diagnosis, Reynolds kept the news private. "I kept it quiet for quite a while," he acknowledged. In time, he told the cast and crew of Days of our Lives. He described his colleagues as "extraordinarily helpful and supportive."

How will the show handle it?

Abe Carver will receive a Parkinson's diagnosis on screen, mirroring Reynolds's real-life condition. In recent episodes, Abe has been experiencing troubling neurological symptoms, including hand tremors, that led him to seek testing from Dr. Kayla Brady Johnson, played by Mary Beth Evans. In the video promo teasing this week's episodes, Abe and Kayla appear together, heavy-hearted, with Abe telling Kayla he will do something "when the time is right."

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder affecting movement. It develops when nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger involved in controlling movement, become damaged or die.

Symptoms include:

• Tremors
• Muscle stiffness
• Slowed movement
• Problems with balance and coordination
• Nonmotor symptoms such as sleep disturbances and changes in memory

There is currently no cure, but medications and other treatments can manage symptoms and improve quality of life. The condition progresses differently from person to person. Other public figures who have disclosed Parkinson's diagnoses include Michael J. Fox, Alan Alda, Carly Simon and Neil Diamond.

A landmark career in daytime television

Reynolds celebrated the 45th anniversary of his Days of our Lives debut as Abe on October 29. In 2018, he became the third Black actor to win the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. In 2025, he was inducted into the Daytime Emmys' Silver Circle, an honor recognizing performers with "distinguished service within the television industry, setting standards for achievement, mentoring, leadership, and professional accolades" over a minimum of 25 years.

Reynolds appears on screen as Abe alongside his television wife Paulina, played by Jackée Harry, and son Theo, played by Tyler Joseph Andrews.

What does this change for daytime drama? A long-running serial will portray a Parkinson's diagnosis through an actor living with the condition himself, in a storyline grounded in his own experience rather than invented for plot.