James Reynolds, the 80-year-old actor who has played Abe Carver on Days of Our Lives for 45 years, has revealed that he is living with Parkinson’s disease. The Daytime Emmy winner shared the news in an interview with Entertainment Tonight on November 10, 2026, confirming that his real-life diagnosis has been written into his character’s storyline. On the November 11, 2026 episode, Dr. Kayla Brady Johnson told Abe that he has Parkinson’s, bringing Reynolds’ personal health journey into the fictional town of Salem.
The Diagnosis He Kept Quiet for Years
Reynolds told ET’s Nischelle Turner that he had known about his condition for “more than a few years” before speaking publicly. The actor initially kept the news within a very small circle, including his wife Lissa and son Jed. He had not spoken to friends about it and tried to manage his symptoms privately.
The decision to go public came after Reynolds realized his symptoms were becoming harder to hide. He recalled shaking and apologizing for it while convincing himself that others had not noticed. “You’re playing that game with yourself,” he said.
Symptoms He Now Believes Started 15 to 20 Years Ago
The first sign Reynolds noticed was a tremor “that didn’t wanna go away.” He also felt slightly off balance and sometimes short of breath, which he initially linked to his asthma. Looking back, he believes some symptoms may have appeared much earlier than his diagnosis.
Reynolds described disturbing dreams that caused him to move violently in his sleep, sometimes falling out of bed. His wife would tell him he had been hitting her while asleep, leaving him unaware of what had happened. He later connected those episodes to REM sleep behavior disorder, which the Parkinson’s Foundation notes can appear years before a Parkinson’s diagnosis.
“I realized just a couple weeks ago that I may have had this as long as 15 to 20 years ago,” Reynolds told ET. He also recalled watching former MASH* actor Alan Alda discuss his own early Parkinson’s symptoms, which helped Reynolds recognize his own experience.
Why Days of Our Lives Wrote It Into Abe’s Story
The writers of Days of Our Lives had already noticed Reynolds’ symptoms. “The writers also wanted to incorporate because it was obvious. It was obvious. And we play life here,” Reynolds said. He explained that the show has a long history of mirroring real-life issues through its characters.
“There are many other characters who have gone through real-life issues that then are mirrored on the show. And this is an issue that it is going to be mirrored on the show and there’s nothing any of us can really do about it.” — James Reynolds to Entertainment Tonight
Reynolds sees value in Abe facing Parkinson’s on screen. “I feel like the value of Abe as a character who overcomes a lot, has tremendous amount of strength, deals with a lot of things with humor as well as understanding,” he said.
Abe Carver’s On-Screen Diagnosis Airs November 11
Viewers had already watched Abe experience troubling symptoms in recent episodes. His son Theo noticed a change in Abe’s signature, and Abe’s hand had been seen shaking. Abe approached Kayla, played by Mary Beth Evans, with his concerns, and she ran tests.
On the November 11, 2026 episode, Kayla told Abe that he has Parkinson’s. The recap for that day’s episode confirms that Abe learns the diagnosis and decides to tell his family. Kayla advised him that with the right diet and exercise, he can manage the condition.
Cast Support and Jackée Harry’s Reaction
Reynolds praised the Days of Our Lives cast and crew for their response. He called them “extraordinarily helpful and supportive” and said the atmosphere on set has made things easier. “It couldn’t be a better atmosphere. People are just so wonderful,” he told Soap Central.
Longtime co-star Jackée Harry, who plays Paulina Price, joined the final part of Reynolds’ ET interview. She shared how much she respected him as a co-star and as a friend, and Reynolds gave her a special shout-out for being a joy to work with. When Turner asked Reynolds if he can still go toe-to-toe with Harry in a scene, he answered, “Damn right I can.”
A Career Milestone: 45 Years as Abe Carver
The health disclosure comes shortly after Reynolds marked 45 years since his debut as Abe Carver on October 29, 2026. He holds the distinction of being the longest-running Black actor in a single television series in TV history.
Reynolds won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2018, becoming only the third Black performer to receive the honor. In 2025, he was inducted into the Daytime Emmys’ Silver Circle in recognition of his decades of contributions to television.
Reynolds Says He Can Still Work and Live His Life
Reynolds wants people to know that a Parkinson’s diagnosis does not automatically mean giving up a career or the activities someone enjoys. “You can still work. And that’s one of the points I want to make to people. Is that you can live your life, you can participate with your family,” he said.
“You don’t have to be lost in this battle. You can fight back in so many ways.” — James Reynolds
He also hopes his story can help others facing the same condition. “I realize this perhaps happened to me because I can help other people,” he told Soap Opera News.
How to Watch Days of Our Lives
Days of Our Lives streams weekdays on Peacock in the United States. The show continues to air on partner networks and streaming services in other regions, with local listings varying by country. Viewers outside the U.S. should check their regional providers for exact availability.
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Abe’s Parkinson’s storyline began unfolding in the November 11, 2026 episode, where Kayla delivered the diagnosis and Abe made the decision to share the news with his family.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more updates on Days of Our Lives and your favorite daytime stars.
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