Melissa Reeves

Salem Presence

Jennifer Horton Deveraux

1985 to December 15, 1995; October 6, 2000 to September 21, 2006 [contract]; June 10, 2010 to July 9, 2010; November 12, 2010 to Present

At A Glance

Melissa Reeves initially dreamed of dancing professionally and commuted into New York City to study dance with Phil Black. She studied theatre at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute in Manhattan and soon landed roles in the HBO movie Somewhere Tomorrow and the after-school special The Lakeside High Experiment. Her first foray into daytime television was on NBC's Another World. Landing the role of Jade Perkins on Santa Barbara was Reeves's first contract job on a daytime drama.

Reeves relocated to Los Angles and graduated from high school while appearing on Santa Barbara, but after only one year on the show, she was released from her contract when the Perkins family was written off the canvas. In September of 1985, one month after leaving Santa Barbara, she landed the role of Jennifer Horton on Days of our Lives, a role which earned her four Soap Opera Awards and a place among television's most beloved heroines.

Reeves met her husband, actor Scott Reeves, when he joined the cast of DAYS in 1988. The couple became engaged one month later and they married on March 23, 1990. In 1999, both the Reeves starred in the made-for-television film Half a Dozen Babies, which told the real story of the Dilley family and their six little blessings.

Acting Portfolio: TELEVISION

Half a Dozen Babies
Becki Dilley
1999

Winter Heat
Jennifer Horton
1994

Night Sins
Jennifer Horton
1993

One Stormy Night
Jennifer Deveraux
1992

The Hitchhiker
Denise O'Mell
1987

Days of our Lives
Jennifer Horton Deveraux
1985 to December 15, 1995; October 6, 2000 to September 21, 2006 [contract]; June 10, 2010 to July 9, 2010; November 12, 2010 to Present

Highway to Heaven
1985

Hotel
Jenny
1985

Santa Barbara
Jade Perkins
1984-1985

Acting Portfolio: FILM

Summer Camp Nightmare
Heather
1987

Somewhere, Tomorrow
Georgina
1983

Awards & Acclaim

Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (1986, 1987, 2016; for Days of our Lives)

Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2003, 2016; for Days of our Lives)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (2006)

Vital Statistics

DATE OF BIRTH: March 14, 1967

PLACE OF BIRTH: Eatontown, New Jersey
MARITAL STATUS: Married to Scott Reeves since 1990 (two children; Emily Taylor [1992] and Laurence David [1997])
RELATIVES: David (brother), Melissa (niece)

News Archives

News Archive: Melissa Reeves to return to DAYS following 5-year absence. [Sep 11, 2000]

News Archive: Reeves decides to walk away from DAYS role. [Jun 14, 2006]

News Archive: A dozen favorites returning for Alice's memorial service. [Mar 21, 2010]

News Archive: Melissa Reeves to return full-time to DAYS. [Jul 30, 2010]

News Archive: Melissa Reeves inks long-term DAYS contract. [Oct 27, 2010]

News Archive: Inside the DAYS studio with Melissa Reeves and six other DAYS stars. [Oct 27, 2010]

News Archive: All My Children fave Cady McClain temporarily takes over as Days of our Lives' Jennifer [Sep 15, 2020]

News Archive: Cady McClain dishes on taking over the role of Days of our Lives' Jennifer Horton [Oct 24, 2020]

News Archive: Days of our Lives' head writer promises Jennifer Horton will "be back" [Mar 2, 2021]

News Archive: REPORT: Melissa Reeves plans return to Days of our Lives for "Christmas miracle" [Aug 11, 2021]

News Archive: THIS WEEK: Don't miss Melissa Reeves's return to Days of our Lives [Dec 20, 2021]