I just read the news that Frances Reid, the last original cast member of Days of Our Lives still on contract with the show, passed away yesterday at the age of 95 (though some reports list her birthdate a year earlier, making her 96). As someone who has literally watched the show since I was still in diapers, I honestly feel as if I just lost a family member.
I had two wonderful Grandmothers while I was growing up, but that didn't stop me from acquiring a surrogate Grandmother of sorts in the fictional character of Alice Horton, the matriarch of the Horton family on Days of Our Lives. Alice was always there with her homemade donuts, her advice, and her love for her family and friends.
What made Alice Horton more than just your run of the mill soap character was the wonderful Frances Reid, who brought more than just warmth and love to Alice, she also gave her an occasionally wicked twinkle in her eye and kept her grounded and somehow very real, even as the stories on the show became more and more fantastical and outlandish over the last few decades.
Her onscreen partnership with the late Macdonald Carey, who played Alice's husband Dr. Tom Horton until his own death in 1994, was something truly special. I missed the glory days of their pairing, of course, but have been able to see some clips of it thanks to the Internet. They truly made television magic together.
The show was built around the two of them in 1965, these two talented film and Broadway stars who provided a center of gravity and dignity to something that many looked down on then and still do today, the daytime soap. Can you imagine a show being built around two actors who are already in their 50's in today's youth obsessed entertainment industry? Maybe that's a big part of the reason soaps are in trouble.
Even though she remained a cast member until the end, her last actual appearance on the show was just over two years ago, on the Christmas episode in 2007. She hadn't been well enough to appear since then, though I'd read that scenes continued to be written for her, at least during 2008.
Frances was an incredibly talented actress who touched a lot of people with her portrayal of Alice. It was even more impressive when you heard the stories about how very different Frances herself was from Alice, as evidenced by her former co-star Deidre Hall in her tribute to Frances:
"Frances Reid, although the consummate actor's actor, was far from the donut baking, apron clad wife of Tom Horton most of America knew and loved. She was a saucy, wildly outspoken and politically incorrect woman. Frances was never shy about speaking her mind openly and passionately — even as we counted down to tape. She called it like she saw it, whether she was taking on the union, or critiquing your hairstyle — mincing her words was never an option. She earned the respect and admiration of her friends and peers with her candid approach to life, work, and philosophy. Whether you loved or feared her, you always respected her — and if you had the courage, she was a magnificent teacher, mentor, friend. I feel a strong sense of personal loss as Frances makes her way to Heaven, and know that we shall not look upon her like again."
For me, she'll always be Alice Horton, but I sure would have liked getting to see more of Frances herself! She sounds fascinating.
I'm certainly not the only one who thought of Alice as another Grandmother. It's truly hard to believe that we'll never be seeing Mrs. H on our screens again.
Jason47's Days Page has an incredible tribute to Frances, complete with several video clips. Check it out.
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