Alan-Michael Spaulding
Encyclopedia
Alan-Michael Spaulding is a fictional character
on the CBS
soap opera
Guiding Light
. The character is the son of wealthy businessman, Alan Spaulding
, and his former wife, Hope Bauer
. Alan-Michael was born on-screen on September 23, 1981 but this was subsequently revised to 1970 when he turned 17 years old and then later to 1965 or 1966 during his brief dalliance with Marina Cooper
in 2006.
Four actors have regularly portrayed the character, the most recent being Michael Dempsey
from November 2005 to May 2007. Rick Hearst
was the actor who portrayed him the longest, and is arguably the best known for the role. He was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, winning his first in 1991. The child who played him at birth was a baby girl named Jessica Zutterman.
Carl T. Evans introduced the teenage character on July 4, 1987 when Alan-Michael literally parachuted onto the annual Bauer barbecue. He played Alan-Michael until 1990 when Rick Hearst took over the character, playing him for six years. When he left, Michael Dietz
was recast briefly (July 3, 1996 to February 7, 1997). In 2005, Guiding Light reintroduced the character with Michael Dempsey in the role.
and lived near his great great Aunt Trudy Bauer Palmer until he came to Springfield to live with his father when he was 17 years old. Until recently, he was the only biological son of his father, Alan Spaulding. Despite this, his adopted older brother, Phillip, seemed to be Alan's favorite and was groomed to take over the business while Alan-Michael was often left feeling overlooked and unloved. He is heavily influenced by his desire to be nothing like his father and brother on a personal level and his deep-rooted need to prove that he's just as capable as they are in business. While Alan and Philip are wholly proud of being Spauldings, Alan-Michael has always seen it as a mixed blessing, and sometimes more of a curse. He also has a deep seated need for his father's approval which is usually at odds with his disdain for him. Conversely, he is much closer with his Aunt Alexandra who is usually an ally to him in business as well as personal matters.
Alan-Michael, despite being a member of the richest and arguably most powerful family in Springfield
, resided at The Beacon Hotel upon his return due mainly to his tempestuous relationship with his father. In 2007, he was forced to leave Springfield after Alan framed him for embezzlement
, stating that he wouldn't lose another son to a vendetta
(referring to Phillip's past troubles).
continued throughout Alan-Michael's early years. When Alan-Michael married Harley Cooper
in 1989, his mother refused to attend, since Alan would be present at the wedding. Alan-Michael only married Harley to gain his trust fund in 1989, but despite his failure in that endeavour, he ended up falling in love with her. The marriage didn't last, however, because Alan made it seem like Harley had cheated on Alan-Michael, leading him to sleep with Christina "Blake" Thorpe
. Blake, who pretended she was pregnant, coerced Alan-Michael into divorcing Harley and marrying her. Not long after their marriage, Blake faked a miscarriage, but the truth about her fake pregnancy was found out. Alan-Michael left Blake, but throughout the early '90s, he and Blake would team up to feud with Alan. Alan-Michael soon fell in love with and married Eleni Andros. Eleni, however, had conceived a child before they married, thanking it was Alan-Michael's; when it was revealed to be Frank Cooper
's instead, Eleni left Alan-Michael to marry Frank. Heartbroken yet again, Alan-Michael took over Spaulding Enterprises. However, his heart would later be wooed by Lucy Cooper, whom he'd marry before leaving town in 1997.
Alan-Michael would return in 2005, divorced from Lucy. He and Marina Cooper
(ironically, the child Eleni had conceived with Frank) would have a brief courtship between 2005-2006, and he later had a courtship with Ava Peralta
before leaving Springfield again.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
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...
. The character is the son of wealthy businessman, Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding
Alan Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. He was played by Chris Bernau from the time of the character's introduction on November 7, 1977 until June 1988, when Bernau left the role due to health problems ; Daniel Pilon stepped into the role from 1988 until Alan...
, and his former wife, Hope Bauer
Hope Bauer
Hope Bauer is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. The character is the daughter of noted Springfield attorney Mike Bauer; she is the former wife of wealthy businessman Alan Spaulding, and the mother of Alan-Michael Spaulding...
. Alan-Michael was born on-screen on September 23, 1981 but this was subsequently revised to 1970 when he turned 17 years old and then later to 1965 or 1966 during his brief dalliance with Marina Cooper
Marina Cooper
Marina Nadine Lewis is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character is the only child of police chief, Frank Cooper, and ex-wife, Eleni Andros and was born on-screen on May 8, 1993. In December 2001, her birth year was SORASed to the early 1980s...
in 2006.
Four actors have regularly portrayed the character, the most recent being Michael Dempsey
Michael Dempsey
Michael Dempsey is a bassist from England, who has performed as a member of several post-punk and New Wave bands including The Cure and Associates.-Early years:...
from November 2005 to May 2007. Rick Hearst
Rick Hearst
Rick Hearst is an American actor, best known for roles in US soap operas.-Personal life:Born in Queens, New York in 1965 and raised in Dallas, Texas....
was the actor who portrayed him the longest, and is arguably the best known for the role. He was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, winning his first in 1991. The child who played him at birth was a baby girl named Jessica Zutterman.
Carl T. Evans introduced the teenage character on July 4, 1987 when Alan-Michael literally parachuted onto the annual Bauer barbecue. He played Alan-Michael until 1990 when Rick Hearst took over the character, playing him for six years. When he left, Michael Dietz
Michael Dietz
Michael Dietz is an American actor and producer who is best known for the roles of Dr. Mark MacClaine on CBS daytime drama The Bold and the Beautiful and Joe Scanlon on Port Charles.-Career:...
was recast briefly (July 3, 1996 to February 7, 1997). In 2005, Guiding Light reintroduced the character with Michael Dempsey in the role.
Family troubles
Alan-Michael was raised to adulthood by his mother in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and lived near his great great Aunt Trudy Bauer Palmer until he came to Springfield to live with his father when he was 17 years old. Until recently, he was the only biological son of his father, Alan Spaulding. Despite this, his adopted older brother, Phillip, seemed to be Alan's favorite and was groomed to take over the business while Alan-Michael was often left feeling overlooked and unloved. He is heavily influenced by his desire to be nothing like his father and brother on a personal level and his deep-rooted need to prove that he's just as capable as they are in business. While Alan and Philip are wholly proud of being Spauldings, Alan-Michael has always seen it as a mixed blessing, and sometimes more of a curse. He also has a deep seated need for his father's approval which is usually at odds with his disdain for him. Conversely, he is much closer with his Aunt Alexandra who is usually an ally to him in business as well as personal matters.
Alan-Michael, despite being a member of the richest and arguably most powerful family in Springfield
Springfield (Guiding Light)
Springfield, Illinois is the setting of the television soap opera Guiding Light. It is generally portrayed as a small city or large town in the midwest, and circa 2008 is more specifically named as Springfield Township in the show's opening sequence. The township is also next to a lake large enough...
, resided at The Beacon Hotel upon his return due mainly to his tempestuous relationship with his father. In 2007, he was forced to leave Springfield after Alan framed him for embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
, stating that he wouldn't lose another son to a vendetta
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
(referring to Phillip's past troubles).
Family
Alan-Michael is the only child born to the brief marriage of Alan Spaulding and Hope Bauer. His parents were mismatched from the beginning, and their relationship was fraught with difficulties. Alan's affair with Vanessa Chamberlain Reardon finally ended the marriage, which led Hope to drink. Her battle with alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
continued throughout Alan-Michael's early years. When Alan-Michael married Harley Cooper
Harley Cooper
Harley Davidson Cooper is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. She is the daughter of Frank "Buzz" Cooper Sr. and the late Nadine Corley...
in 1989, his mother refused to attend, since Alan would be present at the wedding. Alan-Michael only married Harley to gain his trust fund in 1989, but despite his failure in that endeavour, he ended up falling in love with her. The marriage didn't last, however, because Alan made it seem like Harley had cheated on Alan-Michael, leading him to sleep with Christina "Blake" Thorpe
Blake Marler
Christina Blake Marler is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. She was portrayed by Elizabeth Keifer from August 19, 1992 to September 18, 2009...
. Blake, who pretended she was pregnant, coerced Alan-Michael into divorcing Harley and marrying her. Not long after their marriage, Blake faked a miscarriage, but the truth about her fake pregnancy was found out. Alan-Michael left Blake, but throughout the early '90s, he and Blake would team up to feud with Alan. Alan-Michael soon fell in love with and married Eleni Andros. Eleni, however, had conceived a child before they married, thanking it was Alan-Michael's; when it was revealed to be Frank Cooper
Frank Cooper Jr.
Frank Achilles Cooper Jr. is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. He has been portrayed by Frank Dicopoulos from October 31, 1987 to September 18, 2009.-Frank Cooper :...
's instead, Eleni left Alan-Michael to marry Frank. Heartbroken yet again, Alan-Michael took over Spaulding Enterprises. However, his heart would later be wooed by Lucy Cooper, whom he'd marry before leaving town in 1997.
Alan-Michael would return in 2005, divorced from Lucy. He and Marina Cooper
Marina Cooper
Marina Nadine Lewis is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character is the only child of police chief, Frank Cooper, and ex-wife, Eleni Andros and was born on-screen on May 8, 1993. In December 2001, her birth year was SORASed to the early 1980s...
(ironically, the child Eleni had conceived with Frank) would have a brief courtship between 2005-2006, and he later had a courtship with Ava Peralta
Ava Peralta
Ava Peralta is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light. She was played by Michelle Ray Smith from August 24, 2005 to July 27, 2008, reprising her role briefly in December 2008 and July 2009.-Character's background:Ava was the product of rape...
before leaving Springfield again.
Sibling(s)
- Phillip SpauldingPhillip SpauldingPhillip Granville Spaulding is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character is the adopted son of business mogul, Alan Spaulding, and his first ex-wife, Elizabeth. Phillip has been portrayed by three different actors with Grant Aleksander the most recent...
(paternal adopted half-brother) - Augustus "Gus" AitoroGus AitoroAugustus "Gus" Aitoro is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light...
(paternal half-brother, deceased) - Peyton Spaulding (paternal half-sister)
Past marriage(s)
- Harley CooperHarley CooperHarley Davidson Cooper is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. She is the daughter of Frank "Buzz" Cooper Sr. and the late Nadine Corley...
(divorced) [1989-1990] - Christina "Blake" ThorpeBlake MarlerChristina Blake Marler is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. She was portrayed by Elizabeth Keifer from August 19, 1992 to September 18, 2009...
(divorced) [1990] - Eleni AndrosEleni Andros CooperEleni Andros Cooper is a fictional character on the soap opera Guiding Light. She was originally portrayed by actress Melina Kanakaredes from April 19, 1991 to March 1, 1995. She was temporarily replaced by actress Wendy Kaplan from December 1994 to January 1995 on a recurring basis...
(divorced) [1991-1993] - Lucille "Lucy" Cooper (divorced) [1996-2005]
Other relatives
- Alexander Spaulding (paternal great great grandfather,deceased)
- Samuel Spaulding (paternal great grandfather,deceased)
- Victoria Spaulding (paternal great grandmother,deceased)
- Brandon Spaulding (paternal grandfather, deceased)
- Penelope Winthrop (paternal grandmother, deceased)
- Michael "Mike" Bauer (maternal grandfather)
- Julie Conrad (maternal grandmother, deceased)
- Alexandra SpauldingAlexandra SpauldingAlexandra Spaulding is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. Beverlee McKinsey was the first actress to play the role, which she did from February 10, 1984 to August 1992...
(paternal aunt) - Victoria Spaulding (paternal aunt, deceased)
- Amanda Spaulding (paternal aunt)
- Elizabeth "Lizzie" SpauldingLizzie SpauldingElizabeth Lillian "Lizzie" Lewis was a fictional character on the CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light. She was one of the soap's most popular and featured characters. She was the daughter of supercouple Phillip Spaulding and ex-wife, Beth Raines...
(adopted niece) - Alan Cooper "Zach" SpauldingZach SpauldingAlan Cooper "Zach" Spaulding is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light. He was portrayed by Nicholas Art from 2002 to 2008.-Background:...
(adopted nephew) - James SpauldingJames Spaulding (GL)James Spaulding is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light.-Character's background:James Alexander Spaulding is second child of Phillip Spaulding and Elizabeth "Beth" Raines and has four siblings...
(adopted nephew) - Emma Spencer-SpauldingEmma SpauldingEmma Spaulding is a fictional character on the soap opera Guiding Light. She was portrayed by Kathryn Hall from 2006-2007 and portrayed by Jacqueline Tsirkin from 2007-2009.-Parents:* Phillip Spaulding...
(adopted niece) - Raphael "Rafe" RiveraRafe RiveraRaphael "Rafe" Joseph Rivera is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama Guiding Light. He has been portrayed by E.J. Bonilla since May 18, 2007.-Character's background:...
(nephew) - Brandon "Lujack" Luvonoczek (paternal cousin, deceased)
- Nick McHenry Spaulding (paternal cousin)
- Victoria "Vicky" Spaulding (paternal cousin)
- Sarah RandallSarah Elizabeth RandallSarah Elizabeth Randall is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light.-Character history:She is the only child of Jonathan Randall and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Spaulding. Sarah was conceived during a one night stand between her parents...
(adopted great-niece) - William "Bill" Bauer Sr. (maternal great-grandfather, deceased)
- Berta "Bert" Miller Bauer (maternal great-grandmother, deceased)
- William "Ed" Bauer Jr. (maternal great-uncle)
- Hillary Bauer (maternal great-aunt, deceased),
- Frederick "Rick" Bauer (maternal first cousin once removed)
- Michelle Bauer SantosMichelle Bauer SantosMichelle Bertha Santos is a fictional character on the popular CBS daytime soap opera, Guiding Light. The character was originally named Bertha Ramsey Bauer at birth. She is the child of Dr. Ed Bauer and Dr. Claire Ramsey conceived through a one-night stand and would be adopted by Ed's wife...
(maternal first cousin once removed) - Jude Cooper BauerJude Cooper BauerJude Cooper Bauer is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera Guiding Light. He is currently portrayed by Robert Danza, Jr. since 2007.-Character history:...
(maternal second cousin) - Leah Bauer (maternal second cousin)
- Robert "Robbie" Santos (maternal second cousin)
- Hope Santos (maternal second cousin)