Asa Buchanan
Encyclopedia
Asa Buchanan is a fictional character
and patriarch of the Buchanan family
on the ABC
soap opera
One Life to Live
. The Texan
industrialist father of newly-arrived characters Clint
and Bo Buchanan
, Asa was originated in 1980 by Philip Carey
. Carey portrays the nearly continuously for nearly three decades, through 2008. Over the next three decades, Asa's ruthless business dealings and attempts to both protect and control his family members drive much of the drama in the series.
A contract player
with the series continually for nearly 27 years, Carey turned down the show's offer to place him on recurring status
in 2007, and his final appearance as Asa was on April 26, 2007. The character subsequently died offscreen in August 2007, coinciding with the series' 10,000th episode celebration, which brought back characters from the show's past to attend the funeral. In November 2007, Carey briefly reprised the role for three episodes in Asa's videotaped will, airing November 9 to November 13, 2007. On July 16, 2008, Carey appeared as Asa's ghost, and also returned on July 21, 2008 for the series' 40th anniversary, as character Viki Davidson visits Heaven. Beginning in the same episode, Robert S. Woods
appears as a young Asa in a storyline in which the characters Bo and Rex
find themselves in 1968. Carey returned on August 19, 2008 as Asa's ghost, who appears to Bo. Brian Victor Johnson took over the role of the young Asa from August 22, 2008 to August 25, 2008 after Bo is transported back to 2008. Carey appeared yet again on December 29, 2008, in a videotaped message recorded by Asa before his death.
, Buchanan moves the headquarters of his company to Llanview
, Pennsylvania
in 1980 to stay close to his sons. Thought dead by her sons, Asa's first wife Olympia had actually been banished to Europe by Asa after having an affair. Living in Paris as Nicole Bonard, Olympia sees Bo but is snatched by Asa and held captive before she can reveal herself. In June 1981 Asa marries the much-younger Samantha Vernon. An escaped Olympia dons a costume and mask identical to Samantha's and reveals herself at the Buchanan Ball.
In 1986, Tina Lord
discovers that Asa has been leading a double life for years; on the tropical island of Malakeva, he is known as Jeb Stuart, and has been "married" to a woman named Pamela for a decade. Tina tells Pamela that her "husband" is not a sea captain, as she believes, but actually a millionaire with a family in Llanview
. Noting that Asa and Pamela's marriage is not legal, Tina convinces Pamela to pretend she is dying to manipulate Asa into marrying her for real. He does on January 20, 1986, and Pamela springs from her "deathbed" and confronts her husband. Arriving in Llanview to live as "Mrs. Asa Buchanan," Pamela is at first a thorn in his side. As Asa realizes he wants her to be his wife in every sense of the word, she demands a divorce — and half of his fortune. Their marriage ends in 1987.
In 1999, it is revealed that Asa's on-again off-again wife Renee Divine had conceived a son by Asa when they had been involved in their youth, and had put the boy up for adoption. Max Holden
poses as the missing heir, but Asa and Renee's real son turns out to be Ben Davidson
, adopted brother of Sam Rappaport
and love interest of Asa's former daughter-in-law Viki Carpenter
.
In October 2006, David Vickers
finds out that Asa once had an affair with David's mother, Emma Bradley, but Asa denies it. Later, David's brother Dr. Spencer Truman
claims to be Asa's son, but a DNA test proves otherwise. A conversation between Asa and his longtime butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe hints that there is more to the story.
On August 16, 2007, Asa dies in his sleep and is found by Nigel. Grandsons Cord Roberts
, Kevin Buchanan
and Joey Buchanan
(as well as ex-wife Alex Olanov
) return temporarily for his funeral. On August 17, 2007 Nigel tells a returned Max Holden that Asa does indeed have another son: David Vickers. Max advises Nigel to wait to tell the rest of the family, and an eavesdropping Alex overhears. She begins a search for David herself.
Asa's will is executed in November 2007 as a video is played featuring the Buchanan patriarch. He bequeaths his mansion to former daughter-in-law Nora Hanen
, who has been living there with her and Bo's son Matthew
since her house burned down; he also leaves his yacht, the Jeb Stuart, and his tropical island, St. Blaize's, to loyal servant Nigel. Asa also notes the existence of his other son, though not his identity, and finally states that he will not be splitting Buchanan Enterprises amongst his heirs and taking the chance that the company will be split up or partially sold. He instead challenges the family to run it as a cohesive team and, if the company's stock rises, be rewarded handsomely in a year. Alex appears, married to an in-the-dark David, and blackmails Nigel with the facts of David's parentage. Not wanting the Buchanans to discover that con man David is one of them, Nigel gives his inheritance to Alex in exchange for her silence. Meanwhile, Buchanan Enterprises up-and-comer Jared Banks
— an admirer of Asa's who is already a favorite of widow Renee and circling Natalie Buchanan
romantically — overhears Alex's news and pressures Nigel to pass him off as Asa's heir instead. Nigel does, and Jared feigns disinterest, armed with a lock of David's hair to prove his claim.
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...
and patriarch of the Buchanan family
Buchanan family
The Buchanan family are a fictional family on the American soap opera One Life to Live, first introduced in the fall of 1979.-History:Clint Buchanan arrives in Llanview, Pennsylvania in 1979, soon followed by his brother Bo and later their father Asa in 1980...
on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
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,...
One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
. The Texan
Texan
Texan normally refers to someone who originated from, or who lives in, the state of Texas in the United States of America.Texan may also refer to:-Aircraft:* T-6 Texan, WWII era training plane...
industrialist father of newly-arrived characters Clint
Clint Buchanan
Clinton "Clint" Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting:The role was originated in September 10, 1979 by actor Clint Ritchie, portraying the role nearly continuously through December 30, 1999. Ritchie reappeared in the 2003 and 2004. Actor Jerry...
and Bo Buchanan
Bo Buchanan
Beaufort Oglethorpe "Bo" Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting and awards:The role was originated in 1979 by Robert S. Woods, who briefly left the series in 1986 but returned in 1988, and currently portrays the role...
, Asa was originated in 1980 by Philip Carey
Philip Carey
-Biography:He was born as Eugene Joseph Carey in Hackensack, New Jersey. A former U.S. Marine, Carey was wounded as part of the ship's detachment of the USS Franklin during World War II and served again in the Korean War....
. Carey portrays the nearly continuously for nearly three decades, through 2008. Over the next three decades, Asa's ruthless business dealings and attempts to both protect and control his family members drive much of the drama in the series.
A contract player
Leading actor
A leading actor, leading actress, star, or simply lead, plays the role of the protagonist in a film or play. The word lead may also refer to the largest role in the piece and leading actor may refer to a person who typically plays such parts or an actor with a respected body of work...
with the series continually for nearly 27 years, Carey turned down the show's offer to place him on recurring status
Recurring status
In the U.S. soap opera world, recurring status is a term used to describe the status of a performer who consistently performs in less than three episodes out of a five-day work week, and is therefore let out of their multi-year contract in order for the show to save money...
in 2007, and his final appearance as Asa was on April 26, 2007. The character subsequently died offscreen in August 2007, coinciding with the series' 10,000th episode celebration, which brought back characters from the show's past to attend the funeral. In November 2007, Carey briefly reprised the role for three episodes in Asa's videotaped will, airing November 9 to November 13, 2007. On July 16, 2008, Carey appeared as Asa's ghost, and also returned on July 21, 2008 for the series' 40th anniversary, as character Viki Davidson visits Heaven. Beginning in the same episode, Robert S. Woods
Robert S. Woods
Robert Sosebee Woods is an American actor best known for playing Bo Buchanan on the ABC soap One Life to Live, a role for which he won a 1983 Daytime Emmy Award for Lead Actor.-Early life:...
appears as a young Asa in a storyline in which the characters Bo and Rex
Rex Balsom
Rex Balsom is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, portrayed by John-Paul Lavoisier since May 9, 2002.With the character initially named "Jamie" prior to production, then-Executive Producer Gary Tomlin "toyed with the idea" of putting Rex in a gay storyline;...
find themselves in 1968. Carey returned on August 19, 2008 as Asa's ghost, who appears to Bo. Brian Victor Johnson took over the role of the young Asa from August 22, 2008 to August 25, 2008 after Bo is transported back to 2008. Carey appeared yet again on December 29, 2008, in a videotaped message recorded by Asa before his death.
Storylines
The patriarch of the Buchanan family, Asa is a self-made billionaire (having purchased his first oil well at age 22) and former Chief Executive Officer of Buchanan Enterprises (casually called "B.E." by the family). Born on October 31, 1924 and raised in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, Buchanan moves the headquarters of his company to Llanview
Llanview, Pennsylvania
Llanview, Pennsylvania is the fictional setting for the long-running American soap opera One Life to Live. The city exists in the same fictional universe as cities from other existing or defunct ABC daytime dramas, including Pine Valley from All My Children, Port Charles from General Hospital, and...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in 1980 to stay close to his sons. Thought dead by her sons, Asa's first wife Olympia had actually been banished to Europe by Asa after having an affair. Living in Paris as Nicole Bonard, Olympia sees Bo but is snatched by Asa and held captive before she can reveal herself. In June 1981 Asa marries the much-younger Samantha Vernon. An escaped Olympia dons a costume and mask identical to Samantha's and reveals herself at the Buchanan Ball.
In 1986, Tina Lord
Tina Lord
Tina Lord Roberts is a fictional character on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live, originated and most notably portrayed by Andrea Evans...
discovers that Asa has been leading a double life for years; on the tropical island of Malakeva, he is known as Jeb Stuart, and has been "married" to a woman named Pamela for a decade. Tina tells Pamela that her "husband" is not a sea captain, as she believes, but actually a millionaire with a family in Llanview
Llanview, Pennsylvania
Llanview, Pennsylvania is the fictional setting for the long-running American soap opera One Life to Live. The city exists in the same fictional universe as cities from other existing or defunct ABC daytime dramas, including Pine Valley from All My Children, Port Charles from General Hospital, and...
. Noting that Asa and Pamela's marriage is not legal, Tina convinces Pamela to pretend she is dying to manipulate Asa into marrying her for real. He does on January 20, 1986, and Pamela springs from her "deathbed" and confronts her husband. Arriving in Llanview to live as "Mrs. Asa Buchanan," Pamela is at first a thorn in his side. As Asa realizes he wants her to be his wife in every sense of the word, she demands a divorce — and half of his fortune. Their marriage ends in 1987.
In 1999, it is revealed that Asa's on-again off-again wife Renee Divine had conceived a son by Asa when they had been involved in their youth, and had put the boy up for adoption. Max Holden
Max Holden (One Life to Live)
Max Holden is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. He was most popularly portrayed by James DePaiva.-Storylines:Max Holden came to Llanview in 1987 and as soon as he got there, he became involved in a love triangle with two women, Tina Lord Roberts and Gabrielle Medina....
poses as the missing heir, but Asa and Renee's real son turns out to be Ben Davidson
Ben Davidson (One Life to Live)
Dr. Ben Davidson is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, portrayed by actor Mark Derwin from February 1999 to August 2002, and briefly in February 2004 and July 2008...
, adopted brother of Sam Rappaport
Sam Rappaport (One Life to Live)
Samuel "Sam" Rappaport is a fictional character on the long running ABC soap opera One Life to Live. He was originally portrayed by Kale Browne from March 5, 1998 to April 11, 2001. The role was taken over on May 8, 2001 by veteran All My Children actor Laurence Lau, who was made famous for...
and love interest of Asa's former daughter-in-law Viki Carpenter
Victoria Lord
Victoria "Viki" Lord is the principal fictional character and matriarch of the Lord family on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
.
In October 2006, David Vickers
David Vickers
David Vickers Buchanan is a fictional character from the daytime soap opera One Life to Live, portrayed by Tuc Watkins.-Appearances:...
finds out that Asa once had an affair with David's mother, Emma Bradley, but Asa denies it. Later, David's brother Dr. Spencer Truman
Spencer Truman
Dr. Spencer Truman was a fictional character on the soap opera One Life to Live. He was played by Paul Satterfield from May 25, 2005 to January 30, 2007. Satterfield has reprised the role, in the form of Ghost by characters Miles Laurence and John McBain, several times in 2007...
claims to be Asa's son, but a DNA test proves otherwise. A conversation between Asa and his longtime butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe hints that there is more to the story.
On August 16, 2007, Asa dies in his sleep and is found by Nigel. Grandsons Cord Roberts
Cord Roberts
Cordero "Cord" Roberts is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated in 1986 by John Loprieno, who left the series in 1992 and then returned from 1993 through 1997...
, Kevin Buchanan
Kevin Buchanan
Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan is a fictional character on the soap opera One Life to Live. The character is the first child born to original characters Victoria Lord and Joe Riley.-Casting:...
and Joey Buchanan
Joey Buchanan
Joseph "Joey" Riley Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC daytime serial One Life to Live. The character is the son of original characters Victoria Lord and Joe Riley, Sr.-Casting:...
(as well as ex-wife Alex Olanov
Alex Olanov
Alexandra "Alex" Olanov is a fictional character from the long-running ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
) return temporarily for his funeral. On August 17, 2007 Nigel tells a returned Max Holden that Asa does indeed have another son: David Vickers. Max advises Nigel to wait to tell the rest of the family, and an eavesdropping Alex overhears. She begins a search for David herself.
Asa's will is executed in November 2007 as a video is played featuring the Buchanan patriarch. He bequeaths his mansion to former daughter-in-law Nora Hanen
Nora Hanen
Nora Hanen Buchanan is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated by Hillary B. Smith in September 1992.-Casting:...
, who has been living there with her and Bo's son Matthew
Matthew Buchanan
Matthew Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting:The role was portrayed by child actors Steven and Nicholas Towler from 1999 to June 2000 and Ian Chandler Sheaffer from July 2000 to May 2001...
since her house burned down; he also leaves his yacht, the Jeb Stuart, and his tropical island, St. Blaize's, to loyal servant Nigel. Asa also notes the existence of his other son, though not his identity, and finally states that he will not be splitting Buchanan Enterprises amongst his heirs and taking the chance that the company will be split up or partially sold. He instead challenges the family to run it as a cohesive team and, if the company's stock rises, be rewarded handsomely in a year. Alex appears, married to an in-the-dark David, and blackmails Nigel with the facts of David's parentage. Not wanting the Buchanans to discover that con man David is one of them, Nigel gives his inheritance to Alex in exchange for her silence. Meanwhile, Buchanan Enterprises up-and-comer Jared Banks
Jared Banks
Jared Banks is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live. Originally slated to debut on August 17, 2007, the character, as portrayed by John Brotherton, first appeared a week earlier on August 10, 2007. Chris Bones played a young Jared in flashbacks on January 17, 2008...
— an admirer of Asa's who is already a favorite of widow Renee and circling Natalie Buchanan
Natalie Buchanan
Natalie Buchanan Banks is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live and daughter of former supercouple Victoria Lord and Clint Buchanan...
romantically — overhears Alex's news and pressures Nigel to pass him off as Asa's heir instead. Nigel does, and Jared feigns disinterest, armed with a lock of David's hair to prove his claim.
The many wives of Asa Buchanan
Asa is one of the most married male characters in daytime television, having been married 14 times to 10 different women (although three marriages were technically invalid).- Olympia Bonard (pre-1968–1981, dissolved by her death)
- Pamela Oliver Stuart (1976, invalid)
- Samantha Vernon (June 24, 1981, invalid)
- Delila Ralston (February 7, 1983–1983, divorced)
- Becky Lee Abbott (July 11, 1983–1983, divorced)
- Pamela Oliver Stuart (January 20, 1986–1987, divorced)
- Renée Divine (November 30, 1988–1992, divorced)
- Blair CramerBlair CramerBlair Cramer is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live...
(June 16, 1992–1992, divorced) - Alex OlanovAlex OlanovAlexandra "Alex" Olanov is a fictional character from the long-running ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
(November 1994, invalid) - Alex OlanovAlex OlanovAlexandra "Alex" Olanov is a fictional character from the long-running ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
(March 29, 1996–1996, divorced) - Renée Divine (May 18, 1999–2001, divorced)
- Gabrielle MedinaGabrielle MedinaGabrielle Medina is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She has been portrayed by Fiona Hutchison from 1987-1991 and again from 2001-2004. She is set to return in 2011.-Arrival and Max Holden:...
(May 2001–February 2002, divorced) - Gretel Rae CummingsRae CummingsDr. Gretel Rae Cummings, PhD is a fictional character on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting and awards:Gretel was originated by Linda Dano from 1978 to 1980...
(August 2002–February 2003, divorced) - Renée Divine (February 14, 2004–August 16, 2007, dissolved by his death)
External links
- Asa Buchanan bio - ABC.com Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
, July 8, 2007. - Asa Buchanan profile - SoapCentral.com