Macdonald Carey was one of the original cast members on “Days of Our Lives,” providing the iconic voiceover intro that tells viewers, “Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.” The actor, who also wrote poetry, described his approach to acting, according to the Los Angeles Times. “The profession teaches you a lot of bad things, but it also teaches you something of great value: ‘Make it fresh every day,’” he professed.
Carey’s daughter had schizophrenia; according to the actor’s obituary in Variety, the actor told People Magazine that her struggle contributed in part to the actor’s own experience with alcoholism. The ripple effects went out even further; Carey’s alcoholism was in part to blame for his divorce, according to his memoir “The Days of My Life.”
Thankfully, Carey told the Orlando Sentinel in 1994 shortly before his death, that his daughter was doing much better; in addition, he revealed that he had been sober for 11 years. “She is reaching out. She wants to join society,” he said, describing a program he was working on for Lifetime that would help teach people about schizophrenia. Though the project remained unfinished at the time of Carey’s death, there is now a mental health treatment center in California that bears the soap star’s name, and his voice still opens every episode of “Days of Our Lives.”
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).