Jump to Navigation

James Reynolds

African American actor. 1946-

Born in 1946 in Oskaloosa, James Reynolds joined the Marine Corps after high school.  He was first assigned to the Information Service Office where he worked as a reporter for the service newspaper.  Later he was assigned to cover reporting for units in Vietnam until a wound ended his military career. Returning to Kansas, Reynolds enrolled in pre-law and journalism at Washburn University in Topeka where he was active in theater. He also served as a contributing writer for the Topeka Daily Capital. While at Washburn he discovered that acting was his "true love."

He spent nearly a year in a new repertory company in Colorado Springs, Colorado before it closed.  He returned to journalism, reporting for the Colorado Springs paper.  He acted in a television commercial which starred Charles Bronson and was filmed in Colorado before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

In 1981 Reynolds landed the role of police officer Abe Carver in daytime television drama Days of Our Lives. Reynolds developed this character, being the only actor to portray Carver. He took short breaks from this role in 1991 and again in 2003.  He continues in the role, making Abe Carver the longest running African American character in television history.

In 2004 Reynolds received both a NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actor in a Daytime Drama and a 2004 Daytime Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama. He and his wife own and operate the Fremont Centre Theatre in South Pasadena.  He and a partner also operate Free State Productions, a film and TV production company based in Kansas.  Reynolds is also heavily involved with numerous charities.

Entry: Reynolds, James

Author: Kansas Historical Society

Author information: The Kansas Historical Society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the state's history.

Date Created: May 2009

Date Modified: August 2013

The author of this article is solely responsible for its content.