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
Reynolds 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.
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]
^"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.
