My condolences to his family and friends.

No way. I didn't like his last tenure at "Days", but so what. It's just a show. This is terrible news. Poor man. 60 is very young.

Edited October 14, 200817 yr by Astrotruf

I watched Days for over 25 years and I enjoyed alot of Jim's storylines. This is just dreadful news. I'm so sorry for his family and friends.

OMG this is just amazing about Jim Reilly, he was such a force in daytime television. OMG what anyone ever said this man made such a mark on daytime television. I am so glad he got to finish Passions because there would be no way it could have happened without him. I am so extremely sad to hear this. This man brought ratings galore. I never saw a head writer bring so much ratings to daytime television. He was a ratings goldmine to daytime, his death is shocking and 60 years old is young. RIP Jim Reilly, he is such a force in daytime. He was a genius regardless of what other people said. The daytime community better honor this man, he brought so much to this genre.

Since I didn't watch DAYS or PASSIONs I'm not familiar with Reilly's work but he obviously affected his fans deeply and left an unforgettable mark on the genre he loved. That's all that any creative soul can ask.

Soaps Scribe James E. Reilly Dies at 60

James E. Reilly, a sometimes controversial soap scribe who twice served as Days of Our Lives' headwriter and created the supernatural-themed Passions, passed away over the weekend, at age 60, Soap Opera Digest reports. Reilly was recovering in the hospital from cardiac surgery when he died.

"James Reilly was one of the most profoundly lovely human beings in our industry," his agent and longtime friend Jonathan Russo tells Digest. "He was a towering person in our industry who had a tremendous faith in God and Catholicism, as anyone who watched Passions knows. Everyone will miss him."

Reilly ruled the bible at Days from 1992 to 1997 (during which he gave us Marlena's possession) and again from 2003 to 2006, at which time he set loose the "Salem Stalker" in a bid to boost ratings. The serial slayer appeared to snuff veteran characters such as Abe, Roman, Doug and Alice (god bless her donuts), but ultimately the "deceased" were revealed to be held captive on island replica of Salem called Melaswen (read the name backwards).

Between his Days gigs, Reilly created for NBC a new soap named Passions, and served as headwriter until its cancellation earlier this year. As headwriter of Guiding Light, Reilly's staff won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series Writing in 1993.

http://www.tvguide.com/Soaps/James-Reilly-dead-26497.aspx

Absolutely shocking news. So very sad, 60 is quite young.

JER, whether you loved him or hated him, got people talking about daytime. He saw DAYS through the greatest comeback to hit daytime, ever. He also had the great joy of bringing PASS, his own creation, to the screen and see it run for nearly a decade.

Well second greatest after GH in the late 70s

RIP James Reilly--this really is tragic news. I was never a fan of his writing, yet I found what he was up to always fascinating and knew he had a great love for the medium. Did we know he was in hospital or was it all kept secret? My prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.

This year has been so full of lost in daytime, its so hard to see all of these greats in their own right, leave us before we are ready to let go of them.

May James create magical soap operas for all the angels to enjoy now.

My thoughts and prayers to his family, friends, co-workers and to all soap fans for losing his wonderful spirit.

I read this and I was shocked, it's so sad. RIP, James http://boards.soapoperanetwork.com/style_e...default/sad.gif

his agent and longtime friend Jonathan Russo

Well, I'm not going to say it.

I absolutely hated his writing, but I'm sure he was a wonderful person. My prayers and thoughts are with his family during this tragic time. :(

Well...

I loved this man and his writing. I started watching DAYS because of his creativity, and enjoyed both his stints. This is *truly* upsetting news.

Stunned, this has thrown me for a loop

I didn't know he had health issues

GodSpeed and my condolences to his loved ones...

Well, I'm not going to say it.

Oh Vee couldn't you wait a day or two? He was a devout Catholic

I was not a fan of his writing but it's always sad to hear about the passing of such a pioneer in daytime television. RIP