As Abe Carver is a popular veteran, here are some excerpts from James Reynolds' 40th anniversary interview he recently did with Soap Opera Digest.
Digest: In 1981 there was a marked paucity of Black characters on daytime television. Tell me how you experienced that as a newcomer to the genre.
Reynolds: Well, as an actor, you experience it all the time. I mean, that was and is constant, although it’s infinitely better than it was. Back in those days, unless it was a character [specifically described as Black], you pretty much weren’t going to get in to read for the role. It was pretty bad. In daytime, most shows had one Black character, and eventually most had two Black characters because they brought on a love interest, but that was it. And those people were usually gone within their first contract. It was, for actors of color, a really difficult time. We were caught, in many ways, between the paucity of characters for actors of color in the ’50s and ’60s and ’70s on television, although soaps had started to bring on a few characters of color in the ’70s, but hardly the number that’s around today. We were in that middle, and those of us who were [working then] were part of the foundation we see now, in the 21st century, where you have eight characters on a show that are actors of color. I was grateful to Betty, and later to Ken [Corday, EP], for supporting this character over the years, and keeping Abe around and keeping him supported. I think that’s another thing; as shows transition into having a broader ethnic spread on their show and characters that were more diverse, I think a lot of shows didn’t have the courage that Ken showed over the years, in difficult times, to show support for that. I have been and always will be appreciative of that.
Digest: DAYS experienced a huge surge in popularity in the ’80s. What was it like to ride that wave?
Reynolds: You knew it was a special time, and it really was a special time in that genre of TV. It was kind of the loudest roar before that roar began to die down into more of a loud hum. But you felt it all the time. I mean, we literally had rock star moments. We were appearing in front of crowds in the thousands at that point. I remember doing a tour in Canada and going from one city to another and by the time we got to the next city, there was already a crowd waiting for us, people jumping on cars. These kinds of things were common in the ’80s! It was just a love affair that was going on with the fans at that time.
Digest: In 2003, Abe became the first “victim” of the Salem Stalker. At the time, you didn’t know that your DAYS journey would have another chapter. What was that like to live through?
Reynolds: It was difficult. It was tough for a lot of reasons. In the beginning, like anybody when they get the news that their job is disappearing, you feel a sense of loss, especially when it’s something that you care about and are so passionate about. At that point, I had lived with Abe for 20 years or more. Characters become part of who you are. I mean, I don’t walk around being Abe Carver, but when I put on Abe’s wardrobe, I enjoy entering his world. So when that moment came, it was not only a shock but it was a difficult thing to get used to. You think, “Oh, man, where do I go next?” You have to embrace what happened, and that takes a little bit of time. You miss the friendships, the relationships. It was very much like going through a divorce, or at least a trial separation. So, it had its downs and not a lot of ups. It was not something I’d like to go through again.
Digest: Over the past few years, we’ve seen Abe’s family expand, and we saw you on the Emmy podium accepting the Lead Actor Award. What does it mean to you to still be such a vital part of the canvas, and to see Abe treated as one of the patriarchs of Salem?
Reynolds: It means a great deal. You know, I can think one thing, but if everybody else isn’t thinking what I’m thinking.... To be honest, it has been a great source of frustration to me over time. There have been moments and days and months and years that have been extremely frustrating. But as I mentioned earlier, through all the ups and downs I have recognized that I’ve had the support of Ken, and I’ve lobbied for a broader canvas of characters, that we have more people of color on, and by that I don’t mean Black characters alone. And I should mention how important Albert Alarr [co-executive producer] has been in diversifying both in front of and behind the camera. He has made a huge difference with casting, but also in the more inclusive crew. It is so important that shows look like America behind the camera. But I’ve always been listened to; and what I’ve found the last few years is that Ron Carlivati [head writer] has just been tremendous in his commitment to diversifying stories on DAYS. I have had a great sense of the importance of Abe to this show, and the importance of Abe to the stories and to the entire picture that makes up DAYS OF OUR LIVES. I’m very appreciative of that.
Digest: Abe is the longest-running Black character on television. How does that sit with you on a personal level?
Reynolds: It really does mean a lot. It’s meaningful to me, personally, and meaningful to my family, but I also hope that something about the presence of Abe on television for lo these many years is meaningful to others. I’ve spoken to people who are going through things and watching DAYS helps them through their day. I’ve spoken to people who learned English from watching DAYS. What a wonderful thing, to be part of creating something that is so important to people. We aren’t curing cancer, but we are helping people. We are bringing comfort to people. To be able to do that for 40 years, to be able to look back in my memory and think of the thousands of people I’ve interacted with around the world, walking down the streets of Amsterdam with my son and every 20 feet someone stopping me and going, “Hello, Abe!” I do get overwhelmed with that sometimes. I grew up in a town of 800 people and then to be someplace where strangers feel comfortable talking to me, gosh, what an astounding feeling that is.
