Days of Our Lives actor James Reynolds has publicly shared that he has Parkinson’s disease and says the long-running soap will reflect his diagnosis through his character, Abe Carver. Reynolds discussed the decision in an Entertainment Tonight interview with Nischelle Turner, released November 10.

What James Reynolds shared about his diagnosis

Reynolds said he had tried to keep his condition private, but tremors and balance problems became harder to conceal. He described recognizing that the signs were visible to colleagues, and said he was comfortable with the show incorporating his real-life experience into Abe’s story.

He has not framed the disclosure as a change to his work on the series. Instead, his interview focused on continuing in the role and on the writers’ choice to bring the condition into the character’s life.

How the soap will reflect Abe Carver’s story

Reynolds said the writers wanted to include Parkinson’s after it became apparent that he was managing symptoms. Abe Carver will therefore face a diagnosis that mirrors the actor’s publicly shared experience. The on-screen storyline is a separate fictional account; it does not establish medical details about Reynolds beyond what he has chosen to discuss.

A four-decade role on Days of Our Lives

Reynolds joined Days of Our Lives in 1981 and has played Abe for 45 years. His disclosure links a major personal update with one of daytime television’s longest-running character portrayals. The series streams on Peacock on weekdays, according to the show’s current viewing information.

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Sources

Entertainment Tonight: James Reynolds interview with Nischelle Turner; TV Insider: James Reynolds reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis; Us Weekly: Diagnosis to be written into the show.