Jay Hammer
Encyclopedia
Jay Hammer is an American actor best known for his long run as Fletcher Reade on CBS Daytime
's Guiding Light
from March 1984
until March 1998
. He returned briefly in the Spring of 1999. An earlier soap opera role was that of ranch forehand Max Dekker on Texas
.
Other roles include The Blue Knight, Kojak
, Mannix
, Sons and Daughters
, Emergency!
, and Adam-12
. His theater credits include off-Broadway productions of Passing Through From Exotic Places and Serenading Louie.
Hammer had a notable credit as Allan Willis during the 1978-1979 season of The Jeffersons
. Allan was the son of mixed race couple Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover
and Roxie Roker
).
Hammer has two children by former Guiding Light Head Writer
Pam Long
. Hammer himself has also written for Guiding Light using the name Charles Jay Hammer. He graduated from the University of the Pacific. In 2009, Jay once again returned to "Guiding Light" as Fletcher Reade after not being on the soap opera since 1999.
CBS Daytime
CBS Daytime is a television programming block on CBS. It's the branding for the CBS Television Network's late morning and early afternoon programming. The block has historically encompassed soap operas, game shows, and talk shows...
's Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
from March 1984
1984 in television
This article is a list of television-related events in 1984.-Events:*January 9 – Wendy's "Fluffy Bun" ad first airs, which propels Clara Peller and her "Where's the beef?" catchphrase to national prominence....
until March 1998
1998 in television
The year 1998 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1998.For the American TV schedule, see: 1998–99 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
. He returned briefly in the Spring of 1999. An earlier soap opera role was that of ranch forehand Max Dekker on Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
.
Other roles include The Blue Knight, Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
, Sons and Daughters
Sons and Daughters (1974 U.S. TV Series)
Sons and Daughters is a 9-episode 1974 CBS series launched from the pilot television movie called Senior Year. The show was set in California during the middle-1950s and portrayed the trials of life for two young people — Jeff, portrayed by 24-year-old Gary Frank and Anita, played by...
, Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
, and Adam-12
Adam-12
Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
. His theater credits include off-Broadway productions of Passing Through From Exotic Places and Serenading Louie.
Hammer had a notable credit as Allan Willis during the 1978-1979 season of The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
. Allan was the son of mixed race couple Tom and Helen Willis (Franklin Cover
Franklin Cover
Franklin Edward Cover was an American actor most noted for starring on the sitcom The Jeffersons. His character, Tom Willis, was half of one of the first interracial marriages to be seen on prime-time television....
and Roxie Roker
Roxie Roker
Roxie Albertha Roker was an American actress, best known for her groundbreaking role as Helen Willis on the sitcom The Jeffersons, half of the first interracial couple to be shown on regular prime time television...
).
Hammer has two children by former Guiding Light Head Writer
Head writer
A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera genre, as well as with sketch comedies and talk shows that feature monologues and comedy skits, but in prime time series this function is generally performed by an...
Pam Long
Pam Long
Pamela K. Long is an American actress and writer, most known for her stints writing the CBS Daytime soap opera Guiding Light, from 1983 to 1986 and from 1987 to 1990....
. Hammer himself has also written for Guiding Light using the name Charles Jay Hammer. He graduated from the University of the Pacific. In 2009, Jay once again returned to "Guiding Light" as Fletcher Reade after not being on the soap opera since 1999.