Melissa Reeves

Melissa Reeves (née Brennan; born March 14, 1967) is an American actress. She is known for playing Jennifer Horton on the NBC Daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives (1985–1995, 2000–2006, 2010–2022, 2024–present). She has been nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on Days of Our Lives. She has also won four Soap Opera Digest Awards.

Early life Reeves was born in Eatontown, New Jersey and raised in Red Bank. Her maiden name is Melissa Brennan. She has one sibling, a brother.

Career

1983-1985: Santa Barbara In the early 1980s, Reeves (then known as Melissa Brennan) began acting in television commercials to help pay for her dance classes. She worked as an extra on the NBC soap opera Another World.

Reeves moved to Los Angeles in 1984, when she was cast as Jade Perkins on the NBC soap opera Santa Barbara. She was seventeen years old at the time. She became emancipated from her parents and finished high school with a GED. Reeves received two Young Artist Award nominations for her work on Santa Barbara.

1985-1992: Days of Our Lives In 1985, she guest starred on Hotel and Highway to Heaven. Reeves received two Young Artist Award nominations for her work on Days of Our Lives.

Reeves played Heather in the thriller film Summer Camp Nightmare (1987). She guest starred on The Hitchhiker. In 1992, they won Soap Opera Digest Awards for Best Love Story and Best Wedding. In 1992, Reeves was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.

1992-1999: Leaving Days Reeves played Jennifer Horton Deveraux in the Days of Our Lives television film One Stormy Night (1992). She also played Jennifer in the Days of Our Lives television film, Night Sins (1993). In 1994, she won a Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Female Star. She played Jennifer in the Days of Our Lives television film Winter Heat (1994).

In November 1995, Reeves abruptly left Days of Our Lives. Rumors began to circulate when she didn't attend the 30th anniversary party for Days. In a statement, Reeves said, "I'm at a point in my life where I need to spend more time with my husband Scott, and our daughter." Soap Opera Digest reported that Reeves leaving Days disrupted plans for a spinoff involving her character, Jennifer.

In 1999, Reeves and her husband, Scott Reeves, co-starred in the ABC television film Half a Dozen Babies. The movie was based on the true story of the Dilley sextuplets, with the Reeves playing their parents.

2000-present In 2000, Reeves returned to Days of Our Lives, playing the role of Jennifer Horton. Her first airdate was October 6, 2000. She decided to leave the show again in 2006. Reeves was unhappy with her storyline and she wanted to move to Nashville, Tennessee, where her husband works as a country musician. Her last airdate was September 21, 2006.

In 2010, Reeves returned to Days of Our Lives for a short-term visit when the character of Alice Horton died. She aired from June 10, 2010 to July 9, 2010. She began airing again on November 12, 2010. In 2017, she co-starred with her husband, Scott Reeves, in the film Where the Fast Lane Ends.

On September 15, 2020, it was announced that Reeves had opted not to return to the role when filming began again after a hiatus brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of Jennifer was recast with Cady McClain. This followed criticism Reeves received from some fans, as well as her co-stars Lamon Archey and Linsey Godfrey, for 'liking' social media posts by conservative commentator Candace Owens which denounced the Black Lives Matter movement. Reeves had previously drawn criticism in 2012 for expressing support for fast-food chain Chick-fil-A during a controversy over its chief operating officer declaring the chain's stance against same-sex marriage.

Reeves has made return appearances to Days of Our Lives in 2021 and 2024.

Personal life She met actor Scott Reeves when he briefly played the role of Jake on Days of Our Lives. They became engaged on April 1, 1989 in Vancouver, where he was filming Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan. Shortly before their wedding, Scott underwent surgery to have an abscess removed from his brain. They were married on March 23, 1990 at Lake Manor Chapel in Chatsworth, California. The Reeves are Christians. They have a daughter, born in 1992, and a son, born in 1997.

Filmography

Film

Television + Year Title Role Notes 1984–1985 Santa Barbara Jade Perkins Contract role Credited as Melissa Brennan

Credited as Melissa BrennanHighway to HeavenCathyEpisode: "A Song for Jason: Part One" Credited as Melissa Brennan 1985–1995, 2000–2006, 2010–2020Guest/Recurring: 2021-2022, 2024–present Days of Our Lives Jennifer Horton Contract role 1987 The Hitchhiker Denise O'Mell Episode: "Homebodies"

Awards and nominations