Former DAYS Head Writer Passes Away

Sad news to report today, as former DAYS Head Writer James E. Reilly passed away over the weekend, according to Soap Opera Digest. Reilly was recovering from cardiac surgery when he suddenly died in the hospital, according to his close friend and agent Jonathan Russo. He was sixty years old.

As head writer of numerous soaps, James E. Reilly was known for his outrageous and controversial storylines, which even involved supernatural phenomenon in soap opera storytelling. He was head writer of DAYS from 1992-1997 and then again from 2003-2006. He sparked much controversy when he wrote perhaps one of the most infamous storylines in the history of DAYS, Marlena's possession, which ran from 1994-1995. In the summer of 2003, he was brought back to DAYS in an effort to boost ratings and save the show. This was the beginning of yet another highly controversial storyline known as the Salem Stalker, in which numerous beloved characters were killed off. Many fans were outraged that their favorite characters, including Abe, Jack, Roman, Cassie, Doug, and even Alice, were killed off in cold blood. Several months later, the "dead" victims were brought back to life on an island replica of Salem called Melaswen.

In addition to his head writing duties at DAYS, Reilly also created the now defunct NBC daytime soap opera Passions and served as head writer until it's cancellation this year. He has also written for Guiding Light, Sunset Beach, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and Ryan's Hope. During his career, Reilly garnerned numerous Daytime Emmy nominations and won an award in 1993 for Outstanding Drama Series Writing Team for Guiding Light.

Reilly's beloved sister, Cathy Robinson, was by his side when he passed away. At this time there are no funeral plans, but a memorial service may be held at a later date. Our deepest condolences go out to friends and family of James E. Reilly at this sad time. Any further information about this story will be posted as it becomes available.

Updated October 16:

Soap Opera Digest has written a wonderful memoriam in honor of James E. Reilly, in which DAYS Executive Producer Ken Corday, Deidre Hall (Marlena), and others express their thoughts and condolences of the creative writer, innovator, and legend in the soap opera industry.