All My Children Gets Some Passion

Mckenzie Westmore will join the cast of All My Children in the role of Dr. Sheridan, a psychiatrist who will treat Annie Lavery when she is committed to Oak Haven.

Westmore, who lives in Los Angeles, is thrilled to be working in New York at All My Children which she calls a working vacation. "I hadn't thought out it [working on an East Coast soap], but since we were going to be back here for the holidays, I thought...why not?", Westmore tells Soap Opera Digest. Her being cast for the role was a whirlwind experience. " I found out on a Friday that I got the job, got on the plane on Sunday and was at the set on Monday."

Westmore is no stranger to daytime viewers. She played Sheridan on Passions who was one-half of the shows popular super couple, Luis and Sheridan.

Look for Dr. Sheridan to have a love life as well as the doctor is rumored to cross romantic paths with both Ryan Lavery (Cameron Mathison) and Aidan Devane (Aiden Turner). Her first appearance will be sometime in December.

All My Children airs weekdays on ABC; weeknights and in weekend marathons on SOAPNet.

Soap Opera Writer James E. Reilly Remembered

The recent passing of head writer James E. Reilly has stunned the industry. His longtime friend and agent Jonathan Russo, who confirmed Reilly's death to Soap Opera Weekly, "We spoke an hour or two hours a day for almost 15-20 years. We did the math, 27 years. He was a towering figure in the industry. He deserved my time and attention. He wanted it and we were friends. We liked to catch up," Russo shares. "He never ran out of thoughts or ideas. He never repeated himself unless it was intentional so he didn’t lose viewers. He never had other people submit story ideas ever. He sat down and laid out and presented stories and layouts for 2 shows. This is an amazing accomplishment," Russo adds.

Ken Corday (Executive Producer, DAYS): "The DAYS OF OUR LIVES family is deeply saddened by the recent passing of James E. Reilly. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Jim was not only an ingenious storyteller who changed the landscape of daytime drama, but he celebrated life with passion, humor, and an appreciation for the best it has to offer. He was an inspiration for us all...and will be greatly missed."

Lisa de Cazotte (executive producer GH:NIGHT SHIFT, former EP PASSIONS): "Jim Reilly was not only a legend in our industry, but he was a great friend and mentor. His creativity, sense of humor and genius will be sorely missed. There will never be another like him and I am deeply grateful for the years we spent working together on PASSIONS and for the joy he brought to my life."