Military Appreciation Month: Soap Stars Who Are Daytime’s Real-Life Heroes

May is Military Appreciation Month, a time to pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and to acknowledge the sacrifices made by military families.

While soap fans know these performers through the characters they bring to life each day, some have also served in roles far more significant than anything written in a script. From Macdonald Carey, whose familiar voice has welcomed generations of viewers to Days of Our Lives, to Maurice P. Kerry of Beyond the Gates, daytime television has a long and proud connection to those who served their country.

In honor of Military Appreciation Month, we’re recognizing the soap stars who exchanged military uniforms for television scripts, bringing with them real-life stories of courage, resilience, and dedication. From veterans such as James Reynolds and J. R. Martinez to other beloved daytime icons, these performers are heroes not only on screen, but in real life as well.

Soap Stars Who Served in the U.S. Military

James Reynolds

James Reynolds, who has portrayed Abe Carver on Days of Our Lives since 1981, also served in the United States Army. As he shared in a recent interview with The Soap Scene, Reynolds was a military journalist on the front line before beginning his acting career.

J.R. Martinez

Before joining All My Children as Brot Monroe, J.R. Martinez served as an infantryman in the United States Army and was seriously injured while serving in Iraq. He later turned his experience into a powerful platform as an actor, bestselling author, and motivational speaker.

John Driscoll

After portraying Chance Chancellor on The Young and the Restless until 2011, actor John Driscoll followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the United States Army National Guard in October 2012. Driscoll served in Kuwait with the 29th Infantry Division in Operation Spartan Shield from November 2016 to July 2017.

Don Diamont

Don Diamont, also known as Bill Spencer on The Bold and the Beautiful, did not serve in the U.S. military, but he is a member of a military family. His father, Albert Feinberg, enlisted in the U.S. Army after the Pearl Harbor attack and honorably served as a World War II officer.

Sean Dominic

Sean Dominic, who portrays Nate Hastings on The Young and the Restless, also comes from a military background — his mother served in the U.S. Air Force.

Macdonald Carey 

Still heard daily as the familiar voice of Days of our Lives’ opening, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives,” Macdonald Carey served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.

Maurice P. Kerry

Maurice P. Kerry is Randy Parker on Beyond the Gates, but he was also a United States Marine Corps combat veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

John Aniston

John Aniston, the late actor and father of Jennifer Aniston, is often mentioned on Days of Our Lives as Victor Kiriakis. He served in the United States Navy as an intelligence officer. He was on active duty in Panama and later served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, ultimately attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander before launching his acting career.

Jermaine Rivers

Before fans of The Young and the Restless were introduced to Jermaine Rivers as Damian Kane, the combat veteran spent 20 years of active duty service in the U.S. Army. Rivers did tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As Rivers shared with The Soap Scene, his production company, Dirty Boots, is an homage to his military background.

The Soap Scene salutes these daytime stars for both the stories they tell on screen and the service they gave to their country. We also extend our deepest gratitude to all veterans, active-duty service members, and military families whose sacrifices make those stories possible.