Charlie Banks (One Life to Live)
Encyclopedia
Charles "Charlie" Banks is a fictional character
on the ABC
soap opera
One Life to Live
. He was portrayed by Brian Kerwin
from October 25, 2007 to May 11, 2011.
, Texas
in October 2007; he soon befriends his waitress, Victoria "Viki" Lord Davidson
, and asks her out.
Charlie and Viki have a date at the local drive-in
. A recovering alcoholic, Charlie is looking for his son to make amends. He gets a lead, and heads to the nearby Buchanan
Ranch, where the Buchanans are assembling for the reading of patriarch Asa
's will. Charlie is unaware that Clint Buchanan
is actually Viki's ex-husband, and her daughters are at the ranch as well. Unfortunately, by the time Charlie arrives, his son Jared
has returned to Llanview
, Pennsylvania
. Charlie discovers an injured Dorian Lord in the bushes, and follows her home to Llanview to find Jared.
Charlie ends up at Nash Brennan
's vineyard, where Jared had been living, and learns that Jared is now residing at the Buchanan mansion. Nash makes no attempt to hide his disdain for Jared, but wishes Charlie luck. Charlie interrupts the Buchanans as butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe falsely reveals that Jared is Asa's son. Once Jared steps outside to greet his visitor, he is unpleasantly surprised to see it is his absentee father, Charlie. A frustrated Jared berates Charlie for his past alcohol abuse and for the way Charlie had treated him and his mother. Jared then informs Charlie he wants nothing to do with him. Dorian shows up and eavesdrops on the entire conversation.
Charlie is devastated by Jared's apparent hatred of him and falls off the wagon, drowning his sorrows at Rodi's Bar. He finds a drinking buddy in troubled Dr. Michael McBain
, whose wife Marcie is on the run from the police and FBI after the court had ordered that their adopted son be returned to his biological father. Charlie ends up spending the night at Michael's apartment. Michael learns form Charlie that Marcie had been in Paris, Texas, and the two fly down to Paris. Charlie continues to drown his sorrows, and shows up at the Bon Jour Café drunk. Unsure of how to handle the situation, waitress Gigi Morasco
calls Viki for help. Viki flies back to Paris and convinces Charlie that the fight for sobriety is worthwhile.
Charlie commits himself to protecting Jared by hiding his identity as Jared's father from everyone, including Viki. Dorian, however, knows the truth, and promises to keep the secret. Caught off guard after meeting Roxy Balsom
, Charlie tells Rex Balsom
and his fiancée Adriana Cramer
that his last name is "Balsom," not realizing that Rex is Roxy's son. When Rex's investigation into his own background puts his paternity in question, Roxy claims that Charlie is his father, in order to keep him from looking into his background. She begs Charlie to go along with the ruse, suggesting that the truth of Rex's parentage is worse than any lie she could tell. A compassionate Charlie agrees, but is later guilty as he is forced to lie to Viki as well.
In the February 15, 2008 episode, Jared indicates that he has at least one sibling when he relates to Charlie the abuse they and their mother had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend after Charlie had left them. In the March 21, 2008 episode, Jared and Charlie discuss how during that time Jared's younger brother Jimmy had been hit by a car and killed. Though Valerie had told Charlie it had been an accident, Jared reveals that Jimmy had actually been overwrought because of their mother's abusive boyfriend; Jared blames himself for letting an upset Jimmy run out into the street.
On December 1, 2008, Charlie reveals that he had rebuilt Carlotta's diner, which had burnt down earlier in the year, in the image of the Bonjour Cafe, naming it the "Buenos Dias."
Charlie marries Viki on August 4, 2009.
In March 2011 Charlie starts an affair with Echo DiSavoy. He knows it is wrong but he still makes love with her because he feels something more powerful than his and Viki's marriage.
In April 2011 Viki is sent a picture from Tess
showing Charlie and Echo kissing. Viki goes straight to Echo's apartment and barges in to Charlie and Echo in bed. Echo leaves, uncomfortable. Viki asks Charlie how long to which he replies "a month". She then asks if he loves her. Charlie hesitates and Viki storms off. Soon on April 12, Viki asks Charlie again whether or not he loves Echo, he replies "I do love her." On April 13, Viki files for divorce.
In May 2011, Charlie learns of Echo's lies and lashes out at her, ending their relationship. Later Charlie learns that the Bon Jour Cafe in Paris, Texas, was destroyed, and wants to help rebuild it. On May 11, 2011, Charlie apologizes to Viki and the two part ways, with Charlie returning to Texas, and Viki going to see Clint.
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 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...
. He was portrayed by Brian Kerwin
Brian Kerwin
Brian Kerwin is an American actor.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Kerwin won the Theatre World Award in 1988 for the off-Broadway play Emily. His Broadway theatre credits include the 1997 revival of The Little Foxes and the Elaine May comedy After the Night and the Music in 2005...
from October 25, 2007 to May 11, 2011.
Character history
Charlie comes into the Bon Jour Café in ParisParis, Texas
Paris, Texas is a city located northeast of the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex in Lamar County, Texas, in the United States. It is situated in Northeast Texas at the western edge of the Piney Woods. Physiographically, these regions are part of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. In 1900, 9,358 people lived...
, Texas
Texas
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...
in October 2007; he soon befriends his waitress, Victoria "Viki" Lord Davidson
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...
, and asks her out.
Charlie and Viki have a date at the local drive-in
Drive-in theater
A drive-in theater is a form of cinema structure consisting of a large outdoor screen, a projection booth, a concession stand and a large parking area for automobiles. Within this enclosed area, customers can view movies from the privacy and comfort of their cars.The screen can be as simple as a...
. A recovering alcoholic, Charlie is looking for his son to make amends. He gets a lead, and heads to the nearby Buchanan
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...
Ranch, where the Buchanans are assembling for the reading of patriarch Asa
Asa Buchanan
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...
's will. Charlie is unaware that Clint Buchanan
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...
is actually Viki's ex-husband, and her daughters are at the ranch as well. Unfortunately, by the time Charlie arrives, his son Jared
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...
has returned 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...
. Charlie discovers an injured Dorian Lord in the bushes, and follows her home to Llanview to find Jared.
Charlie ends up at Nash Brennan
Nash Brennan
Nash Brennan is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, played by Forbes March from July 7, 2005 to June 5, 2008, and then briefly from June 6, 2008 to July 16, 2008.-Tess and Jessica:...
's vineyard, where Jared had been living, and learns that Jared is now residing at the Buchanan mansion. Nash makes no attempt to hide his disdain for Jared, but wishes Charlie luck. Charlie interrupts the Buchanans as butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe falsely reveals that Jared is Asa's son. Once Jared steps outside to greet his visitor, he is unpleasantly surprised to see it is his absentee father, Charlie. A frustrated Jared berates Charlie for his past alcohol abuse and for the way Charlie had treated him and his mother. Jared then informs Charlie he wants nothing to do with him. Dorian shows up and eavesdrops on the entire conversation.
Charlie is devastated by Jared's apparent hatred of him and falls off the wagon, drowning his sorrows at Rodi's Bar. He finds a drinking buddy in troubled Dr. Michael McBain
Michael McBain
Dr. Michael McBain is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting:The role was originated by R. Brandon Johnson in November 2003, with Nathaniel Marston stepping in on February 16, 2004 and ultimately leaving on November 29, 2007. On January 9, and January 10, 2007, Robert...
, whose wife Marcie is on the run from the police and FBI after the court had ordered that their adopted son be returned to his biological father. Charlie ends up spending the night at Michael's apartment. Michael learns form Charlie that Marcie had been in Paris, Texas, and the two fly down to Paris. Charlie continues to drown his sorrows, and shows up at the Bon Jour Café drunk. Unsure of how to handle the situation, waitress Gigi Morasco
Gigi Morasco
Gigi Morasco is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She was portrayed by Farah Fath since October 24, 2007 to June 29, 2011 and October 2011 to present . She returned as a ghost on August 1, 2011 .-Background and Arrival:Gigi was born in 1979 and was briefly presumed dead...
calls Viki for help. Viki flies back to Paris and convinces Charlie that the fight for sobriety is worthwhile.
Charlie commits himself to protecting Jared by hiding his identity as Jared's father from everyone, including Viki. Dorian, however, knows the truth, and promises to keep the secret. Caught off guard after meeting Roxy Balsom
Roxy Balsom
Roxanne Louise "Roxy" Balsom is a fictional character on ABC's daytime drama One Life to Live...
, Charlie tells Rex Balsom
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;...
and his fiancée Adriana Cramer
Adriana Cramer
Adriana Cramer is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, portrayed most notably by Melissa Fumero.-Casting:...
that his last name is "Balsom," not realizing that Rex is Roxy's son. When Rex's investigation into his own background puts his paternity in question, Roxy claims that Charlie is his father, in order to keep him from looking into his background. She begs Charlie to go along with the ruse, suggesting that the truth of Rex's parentage is worse than any lie she could tell. A compassionate Charlie agrees, but is later guilty as he is forced to lie to Viki as well.
In the February 15, 2008 episode, Jared indicates that he has at least one sibling when he relates to Charlie the abuse they and their mother had suffered at the hands of her boyfriend after Charlie had left them. In the March 21, 2008 episode, Jared and Charlie discuss how during that time Jared's younger brother Jimmy had been hit by a car and killed. Though Valerie had told Charlie it had been an accident, Jared reveals that Jimmy had actually been overwrought because of their mother's abusive boyfriend; Jared blames himself for letting an upset Jimmy run out into the street.
On December 1, 2008, Charlie reveals that he had rebuilt Carlotta's diner, which had burnt down earlier in the year, in the image of the Bonjour Cafe, naming it the "Buenos Dias."
Charlie marries Viki on August 4, 2009.
In March 2011 Charlie starts an affair with Echo DiSavoy. He knows it is wrong but he still makes love with her because he feels something more powerful than his and Viki's marriage.
In April 2011 Viki is sent a picture from Tess
Jessica Buchanan
Jessica Eugenia Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
showing Charlie and Echo kissing. Viki goes straight to Echo's apartment and barges in to Charlie and Echo in bed. Echo leaves, uncomfortable. Viki asks Charlie how long to which he replies "a month". She then asks if he loves her. Charlie hesitates and Viki storms off. Soon on April 12, Viki asks Charlie again whether or not he loves Echo, he replies "I do love her." On April 13, Viki files for divorce.
In May 2011, Charlie learns of Echo's lies and lashes out at her, ending their relationship. Later Charlie learns that the Bon Jour Cafe in Paris, Texas, was destroyed, and wants to help rebuild it. On May 11, 2011, Charlie apologizes to Viki and the two part ways, with Charlie returning to Texas, and Viki going to see Clint.