Quick Facts
Biography
Jay Hammer (born November 16, 1944) is an American actor best known for his long run as freelancer journalist Fletcher Reade who falls in love with Dr. Claire Ramsey on CBS Daytime's Guiding Light from March 1984 until March 1998. He returned briefly in the spring of 1999, and again made an appearance as the show ended in 2009. He had a notable credit role 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).
Other appearances include roles in 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. He played the role of ranch forehand Max Dekker on Texas in 1981.
Personal life
He lived for five years with Texas and Guiding Light head writer Pamela K. Long; they have one child. He has been married to Dene Nardi since 1990; they have two children. Hammer himself wrote for Guiding Light under the name Charles Jay Hammer.