Photos: CBS
Never has there been or ever will be again a character like Reva Shayne from the beloved – and severely missed – soap opera Guiding Light!
The outrageously talented Kim Zimmer made her debut as the iconic character on November 28, 1983. Reva was the oldest daughter of Hawk and Sarah Shayne. She grew up in Oklahoma where her mother worked for the wealthy Lewis family as a housekeeper. Even though she often felt lesser than the family she fell in love with their son Joshua. The two became childhood sweethearts but would break up when Josh left for college. To get back at Josh for leaving, Reva married his brother Billy. Years later, Reva made her presence know in the small town of Springfield when she was hired by Alan Spaulding to break up the impending marriage of Billy and Vanessa Chamberlain. Reva revealed to Billy that the two were still legally married and that she would be happy to divorce him…for the measly sum of five million dollars! A dramatically fitting introduction to the character that would come to define the soap.
It’s hard to mention Reva without mentioning her soulmate for always Josh. The pair had an epic romance full of turmoil, heartache, laughs, and love. Through it all, they never forgot who their hearts belonged to. Josh was definitely her soulmate, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t have many loves in her life. Reva Shayne Lewis Lewis Spaulding Lewis Winslow Cooper Lewis Lewis O’Neill was a popular gal with the men of Springfield. LOL. But who can blame them?! Reva was beautiful, bold and brazen. And boy did she know how to party! She had a wild side, but Reva was also a very compassionate woman. She showed that side best when she was with her children Dylan, Shayne, Marah, Jonathan, and Collin.
Reva had some unforgettable storylines throughout the years from confronting the man who abused her as a child and battling cancer to her rivalry with Annie and her search for her sister Cassie. And who could forget when she was cloned?! RIP Dolly! It didn’t matter what the storyline was, because Zimmer was going to bring a realness and emotion to it that made you believe what Reva was feeling. I will go down fighting saying that Kim Zimmer is the most well-rounded and talented actress ever, and her four Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress agree with me.
Take a look below at some of her amazing memories:
Happy Anniversary, Kim Zimmer!
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