Another Life
Encyclopedia
Another Life is an American television soap opera
produced and broadcast by the Christian Broadcasting Network
from June 1, 1981 to October 5, 1984. It was co-created by Roy Winsor
and Bob Aaron, and ran for 875 episodes.
to solve their problems.
Through its run, Another Life revolved around the Davidson family, including widowed matriarch nurse Terry Davidson (Mary Jean Feton), teenage son Peter (Darrel Campbell), and daughter Lori (Jeannette Larson and later Debbie McLeod), who later married Dr. Ben Martin (Matt Williams), as well as their friends and neighbors. The show's main villains were Terry's half-sister, Nancy Lawson
, her former lover and local businessman Charles Carpenter, and his daughter Miriam Carpenter Mason; the latter later became a Christian.
In a nod to how The Secret Storm
began its story, Terry's husband Scott Davidson and Nora Lindsay (Terry and Nancy's mother) were killed in a car accident on New Year's Eve
. One of the show's more successful alumni, Susan Scannell
, who played aspiring model-turned-singer Becky Hewitt, left after the first year to join the cast of Search for Tomorrow
.
Set in the fictional town of Kingsley, the show was taped in CBN's hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia
.
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,...
produced and broadcast by the Christian Broadcasting Network
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
from June 1, 1981 to October 5, 1984. It was co-created by Roy Winsor
Roy Winsor
Roy Winsor was an American soap opera writer, creator and novelist.Roy Winsor was born in Chicago Illinois in 1912. He is most famous for creating some of the longest running soap operas in television history. Before he created television soap operas he wrote for many radio serials. He also...
and Bob Aaron, and ran for 875 episodes.
Synopsis
Another Life attempted to combine standard afternoon intrigue with religious overtones, as many characters were portrayed as born-again Christians who relied on the power of prayerPrayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
to solve their problems.
Through its run, Another Life revolved around the Davidson family, including widowed matriarch nurse Terry Davidson (Mary Jean Feton), teenage son Peter (Darrel Campbell), and daughter Lori (Jeannette Larson and later Debbie McLeod), who later married Dr. Ben Martin (Matt Williams), as well as their friends and neighbors. The show's main villains were Terry's half-sister, Nancy Lawson
Nancy Lawson
Nancy Lawson was one of the main villains on the soap opera "Another Life". She was played by Nancy Mulvey.-Nasty sister:The villainous Nancy was the half-sister of Terry Davidson , and was compared with another famous soap villain sibling, that of Love of Lifes Meg Dale. She, like her sister,...
, her former lover and local businessman Charles Carpenter, and his daughter Miriam Carpenter Mason; the latter later became a Christian.
In a nod to how The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm is a soap opera which ran on CBS from February 1, 1954 to February 8, 1974. The series was created by Roy Winsor, who also created the long-running soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Love of Life...
began its story, Terry's husband Scott Davidson and Nora Lindsay (Terry and Nancy's mother) were killed in a car accident on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
. One of the show's more successful alumni, Susan Scannell
Susan Scannell
Susan Scannell is an American actress, probably best known for her roles in television soap opera.She appeared in the 1980s prime-time drama Dynasty as Nicole Simpson De Vilbis Colby, and was a regular cast member in Another Life, Search for Tomorrow, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live and All My...
, who played aspiring model-turned-singer Becky Hewitt, left after the first year to join the cast of Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
.
Set in the fictional town of Kingsley, the show was taped in CBN's hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Cast
| Actor | Character | Role |
| Mary Jean Feton | Terry Davidson | Local nurse at Kingsley Hospital; head of the nursing department, mother of Lori and Peter, widow of Scott Davidson. |
| John Corsaut | Scott Davidson | News reporter, husband of Terry. Father of Lori and Peter. Was killed in a car accident along with his mother in-law, Nora Lindsay. |
| Debbie McLeod | Lori Martin #2 | Daughter of Terry and Scott; a college student who later married Ben and became a teacher |
| Jeanette Larson | Lori Martin #1 | Daughter of Terry and Scott ('Lori' was played by two different actresses) |
| Darrel Campbell | Peter Davidson | Son of Terry and Scott, known for his wisecracks. |
| Matt Williams | Dr Benjamin 'Ben' Martin | Husband of Lori; later worked with Dave Phillips in clinic |
| Nancy Mulvey | Nancy Lawson Nancy Lawson Nancy Lawson was one of the main villains on the soap opera "Another Life". She was played by Nancy Mulvey.-Nasty sister:The villainous Nancy was the half-sister of Terry Davidson , and was compared with another famous soap villain sibling, that of Love of Lifes Meg Dale. She, like her sister,... |
Main villain; Terry's half-sister. |
| Edye Byrde | Ione Redlon | Friend of Terry; receptionist at clinic; mother of Gene. |
| Elain Graham | Carla Redlon | Singer; mother of Jimmy; wife of Gene |
| Eddie Hailey | Gene Redlon | News reporter, son of Ione, husband of Carla. |
| Alan Sader | Harold Webster | Local lawyer, friend of Charles Carpenter |
| Julie Jenny | Barbara 'Babs' Farley | Harold's squeeze, a good natured woman, with a quick sense of humor. |
| Frankie Cardoza | Lucille Figgins | Clinic nurse |
| Randolph Kraft | Charles Carpenter | Local businessman, villain; former lover of Nancy Lawson. |
| Ginger Burgett | Miriam Mason | Daughter of Charles, considered to be the soap's female J.R. Ewing, until she embraced Christianity with a vengeance, after an overdose. She eventually left Kingsley with her new lover, Jeremy Lancelot, the brother of her abductor, to Canada. |
| Kelly Gwinn | Hugo 'Lance' Lancelot (Miriam's kidnapper), and Jeremy Lancelot (Lance's twin brother) | |
| Chris Roland | Russell 'Russ' Weaver | Medical student, Lori's former lover |
| Peggy Woody | Amber Phillips | Model |
| Sue Scannell Susan Scannell Susan Scannell is an American actress, probably best known for her roles in television soap opera.She appeared in the 1980s prime-time drama Dynasty as Nicole Simpson De Vilbis Colby, and was a regular cast member in Another Life, Search for Tomorrow, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live and All My... |
Becky Hewitt | Lori's best friend, later married - and divorced - Russ |