When television stars Sherri Saum and Kamar de los Reyes crossed paths in the late 1990s on the set of One Life to Live, they didn't just share screen time—they started a decades-long personal and professional partnership built on mutual respect, shared creative ambitions, and hands-on parenting. Their relationship, which culminated in a 2007 wedding and lasted until de los Reyes' untimely passing in December 2023, offered a grounded counter-narrative to fleeting Hollywood romances.
Long before they became a fixture in entertainment news headlines, both actors built substantial independent careers. Saum rose to prominence through her extensive work in daytime television, including a massive three-hundred-episode run on Sunset Beach and her memorable portrayal of Keri Reynolds on One Life to Live, later transitioning to critical acclaim in prime-time hits like Freeform's The Fosters. De los Reyes was equally established, best known for his defining multi-year role as police officer Antonio Vega on One Life to Live, memorable voice and motion-capture work as Raul Menendez in [Call of Duty: Black Ops II], and late-career appearances in [All American] and the Marvel Cinematic Universe [Daredevil: Born Again].
How Sherri Saum and Kamar de los Reyes Met
The foundation of their relationship was built in the trenches of daily soap opera production. While working on ABC's One Life to Live—where Saum guest-starred as Keri Reynolds between 1999 and 2002 and de los Reyes starred as Antonio Vega—the two actors formed an instant professional rapport that quickly turned personal.
Daytime television production schedules are notoriously grueling, often requiring actors to memorize dozens of pages of dialogue overnight and shoot scenes under intense time constraints. Sharing this environment allowed Saum and de los Reyes to see each other under high-pressure conditions early on. Instead of the superficial romances often found in the entertainment industry, their early bond grew from shared work ethics, mutual admiration for each other's craft, and shared circles within the New York and Los Angeles acting communities.
Marriage, Partnership, and Building a Life Together
After years of dating, the couple married in a quiet, intimate ceremony in 2007. Rather than chasing the Hollywood party circuit, they chose to ground their marriage in a balanced bi-coastal routine, splitting their time between New York City and Los Angeles to accommodate their respective television projects and theater commitments.
Their partnership was defined by an absence of public scandal and a deep dedication to supporting each other's professional growth. When asked about the longevity of their relationship in various interviews, both actors consistently emphasized humor, patience, and direct communication. They understood the unpredictable nature of acting work—where one partner might be shooting a series on location while the other auditioned locally—and built a flexible domestic structure to handle the demands of two parallel career paths.
Expanding the Family: Twins and Collaborative Parenting
In December 2013, Saum's publicist announced that the couple was expecting twins. On May 13, 2014, Saum gave birth to twin boys, John Rubén and Michael Luís. In addition to raising their newborns, Saum stepped naturally into the role of stepmother to Caylen, de los Reyes' son from a previous relationship.
Managing a sudden household expansion required strategic organization. In profiles about their home life, Saum frequently praised de los Reyes' calm, systematic approach to infant care. While many households experience chaotic friction during the early months of twin parenting, de los Reyes implemented structured routines, famously known for strapping the boys to his chest and salsa dancing or playing congas on an exercise ball to soothe them. This collaborative approach transformed domestic labor into a shared, joyful enterprise rather than a source of marital stress.
Professional Milestones and Mutual Support
Both actors maintained active careers after starting a family, frequently juggling simultaneous television commitments. Saum took on her celebrated role as Lena Adams Foster in The Fosters shortly around the time her family expanded, balancing long shooting days with infant care with the active support of her husband.
De los Reyes continued to diversify his résumé across mediums, shifting seamlessly from television dramas to voice acting in blockbuster video games and recurring roles in prime-time series. Throughout these milestones, they remained each other's primary sounding board, navigating the shifting landscape of network television, streaming platforms, and independent film projects as a unified team.
Navigating Loss and Remembering Kamar de los Reyes
The partnership faced its ultimate trial when de los Reyes was diagnosed with cancer. He kept his health battle private, continuing to work on projects like All American and Daredevil: Born Again well into his final months. On December 24, 2023, de los Reyes passed away in Los Angeles at the age of fifty-six, surrounded by his family.
The entertainment community and fans worldwide expressed profound grief, flooding social media with tributes from showrunners, co-stars, and viewers who had watched him on screen for decades. Tributes emphasized not only his formidable screen presence but his warmth, kindness, and devotion as a father and husband. Sherri Saum, alongside their sons John and Michael, and stepson Caylen, received an outpouring of support from the SAG-AFTRA community and former castmates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sherri Saum and Kamar de los Reyes get married?
They married in 2007 after dating for several years following their initial meeting on the set of One Life to Live. Their marriage lasted for over sixteen years until de los Reyes' passing in December 2023.
How many children did they share?
They shared twin sons, John Rubén and Michael Luís, born in 2014. Saum was also a stepmother to Caylen, de los Reyes' son from a previous relationship.
What are Sherri Saum's most famous acting roles?
Saum is best known for starring as Lena Adams Foster in the Freeform drama series The Fosters and for her extensive soap opera work in Sunset Beach and One Life to Live.
What were Kamar de los Reyes' most notable career achievements?
De los Reyes was widely recognized for playing Antonio Vega on One Life to Live, voicing and capturing the antagonist Raul Menendez in [Call of Duty: Black Ops II], and appearing in television series such as [All American] and [Daredevil: Born Again]. Details of his television credits and career retrospective can be explored further via Variety.
