James E. Reilly

James E. Reilly (July 15, 1948 – October 12, 2008) was an American soap opera writer known for his work on NBC's Days of Our Lives and as the creator/head writer of Passions. He began his career as a staff writer for daytime dramas including The Young and the Restless and General Hospital. Reilly later became the co-head writer for Guiding Light from 1990 to 1992 and then served as the head writer for Days of our Lives from 1992 to 1997. In 1999, he created Passions and served as its head writer until its cancellation in 2008. Reilly won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series Writing for Guiding Light in 1993. He passed away in October 2008 while recovering from cardiac surgery.