Days: Sad Francis Reid (Alice Horton) News

[Toups]

That's sad to hear.

I think that's how DAYS should handle it.

[dawn9476]

Sorry but I think it would be in poor taste to kill off Alice before Frances Reid has passed. I think they should wait like GH did with Anna Lee. GH could have killed off Lila like a year before Anna Lee had passed but didn't. They knew Anna didn't have much time and waited till after she had died to kill off Lila. I think it would be in good taste for Days to do the same thing.

[KMan101]

I agree it's respectful to wait until Reid passes, but they need to address it now and folks, they likely will. This has to be the reason Doug and Julie are coming back, basically out of the blue, and supposedly with screen-time, unless it's to kill off Bo or Hope.

[KMan101]

IMO, if Frances were healthy, she'd probably prefer them to do it while she could still play the part.

I'm sorry if you think it's cruel but they are definitely going to address it this summer, IMO.

[Queen_Nubia]

Ditto, out of respect for Frances, I don’t think they would kill off her Alice until she actually passed on. . But, if and when she does leave us, I think DAYS would go all out in paying tribute.

[Mason]

This is so surreal. We all knew this time was coming, and now that it's here, it's like you can't even believe it. I can't imagine never seeing Alice Horton or Frances Reid on my screen again. I agree with everyone who said she's like another grandmother. This news just has me so very sad. My prayers are with her, and I hope she's in no pain right now. This is just devastating.

If there's one thing DAYS cannot screw up, it's this.

[Brandeis]

The could have Doug & Julie back to be caregivers and keep her offscreen until...

[Gray Bunny]

That is so sad to hear. My heart breaks for her and the cast who've loved her for so long. What someone said about her & Missy's farewells together on the Horton set makes me wish I could see those two together again.

It is so sad to know we will never see her again. I can only hope her final months are peaceful.

And definitely, DAYS needs to go all out, no expenses spared, for a RESPECTABLE funeral and tribute to Alice Horton, filled with long-time characters returning and dozens and dozens of flashbacks.

[PhoenixRising05]

I agree. I do think it's in better taste to wait but I am sure Frances discussed her sendoff with Ken and if this is something she would want, then fine. I think they are going to address it. If they choose to wait until she passes, I think they will need to say something like she is in a nursing home or something just to explain why she isn't around. I mean, it's going to be hard to swallow at Christmas that she isn't there and that is why I think, depending on what Frances wanted as well, that Days will address this in the summer in a way to fill any holes left by her absence. We should be hearing something soon. I think Corday just didn't want to address it with everything else.

I also wonder if that is partly why Corday sounded so depressed. This also means the Mickey issue won't be resolved anytime soon. They won't give him a sendoff with all this going on. This is all so horrible!

[Dr. Chip]

I actually felt that Tom's funeral was handled with a lot of class. Kristian had just returned. Bill and Susan were there. Patsy Pease returned. Maree Cheatham came back. Lisa Trusel was there. If it weren't for all the damned O.J. Simpson news updates, it would have been even nicer.

This almost seems like an inappropriate time to bring this up, but does anyone else remember the TV movie Frances did years ago? It was a movie of the week, and it also starred Robert Young. She played the wife who had dementia, and he suffocated her with a pillow. He was charged with murder, and the defense was that it was a mercy killing. The rest of the movie was about the husband. It was sometime in the late '80s.

This is devastating for the whole DAYS community.

I hope Doug and Julie return and stay, even if Alice sticks around off screen for a while.

[Meisha]

I am very saddened by this news. I too saw last christmas as more than likely being her last and her scenes with Missy had be choked up. Frances is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope she is pain free. This is the saddest day in Days history and I hope TPTB treat it as such.

I remember hearing last year that days and Frances taped a special episode in advance. I really hope this is true and Frances would have been able to know and decide how Alice would pass. Does anyone remember hearing about these scenes being taped?

[JoelMTL]

Well she is over 90. She should spend her days relaxing, not going to a studio.

[KMan101]

While I TOTALLY agree with you ...

It's not like they dragged her into the studio and forced her to play Alice. She wanted to go, she wanted to work and I applaud her for working up until the end of last year.

[PhoenixRising05]

Exactly. She always gave me the idea she wanted to work until the end but I guess what is happening is too much for her.

That is interesting about her taping something ahead. I wouldn't be surprised. She probably wanted some final scenes shot so she can say she was with the character until the end. I had no idea she did that though so I would love to hear more about.

[Days4Life]

This is devastating. I have loved Alice Horton for over 35 years and she truly has been like a grandmother to me. And wouldn't we love to have Alice for a grandmother for real? She was always so warm and caring and wise and there was no problem that couldn't be discussed at her kitchen table. She is the heart and soul of Days of our Lives.

I'm sure Corday will pull out all the stops when it comes time to address Alice's passing. Personally, I hope they wait until Frances Reid is gone, but they can and probably will deal with her failing health. Maybe Doug and Julie will be back to care for her and move into the Horton home. That's another thing--they must keep the set for Alice and Tom's house and have a Horton living there.

I'm so sad, and now I have to call my mom tomorrow and break this news to her. We watched the Christmas episode together and she said at the time that it was probably the last we'd see Alice. Looks like she was right.