Courtney Matthews
Encyclopedia
Courtney Matthews was a fictional character
on the ABC
soap opera
, General Hospital
. She was the daughter of Mike Corbin and Janine Matthews, and the half sister of mobster, Sonny Corinthos
. Courtney was portrayed by Alicia Leigh Willis
from December 20, 2001 until February 21, 2006. Willis received two consecutive Emmy
nominations for "Outstanding Younger Actress."
, the illegally adopted child of Courtney's half-brother Sonny. When Courtney defended AJ to his family, he realized he truly loved her. AJ ceased trying to trade Courtney for Michael. The Quartermaines froze AJ's bank account, leading him further into his alcoholism
. After being blackmailed into stripping due to AJ's drunk driving accident, AJ became verbally abusive and had Courtney purposely stalked by Coleman Ratcliffe, the strip club owner.
The newlyweds decided to have a surrogate child (Courtney was left barren from her first pregnancy).This led to the demise of their relationship as Jax had begun bonding with their surrogate mother, Elizabeth Spencer
. During this time, Courtney found friendship and solace in Nikolas Cassadine
, which quickly blossomed into a forbidden attraction. Courtney miraculously became pregnant with his child. Jax changed the DNA results to say he was the father. Still, Courtney and Nikolas chose to fight Jax for custody once the baby was born. However, Courtney saw Nikolas and his ex-wife Emily together, and thought they were getting back together, so she broke up with him.
Courtney didn't get the chance to tell Nikolas he was the father. Jax hid this fact after her death and raised her baby as his own, naming him John Michael Jacks. The truth was eventually revealed to Nikolas a few months later by Dr. Robin Scorpio
. Nikolas subsequently changed John's name to Spencer Cassadine.
Originally, the role of Courtney was going to be recast, but Willis hinted on Soap Talk
she didn't want her character being played by someone else. Courtney was eventually killed off. However, in typical soap fashion, the gaping hole in her "death" leaves the possibility of a return. This seems unlikely since Courtney was cremated after her death.
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,...
, General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
. She was the daughter of Mike Corbin and Janine Matthews, and the half sister of mobster, Sonny Corinthos
Sonny Corinthos
Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera General Hospital. Maurice Benard has played the role, that of a manic depressive Mob boss living in Port Charles, since the character's storyline originated on August 13, 1993...
. Courtney was portrayed by Alicia Leigh Willis
Alicia Leigh Willis
Alicia Leigh Willis is an American actress. She is best known for her roles in soap operas.-Personal life:Alicia was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She is one of four children. Sisters Kimberly and Tiffany, and brother Ryan. Her father is actor David E...
from December 20, 2001 until February 21, 2006. Willis received two consecutive Emmy
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nominations for "Outstanding Younger Actress."
Arrival and A. J. Quartermaine
Soon after her arrival in Port Charles, she fell in love with and married A.J. Quartermaine, who used her to get to his biological son Michael Corinthos IIIMichael Corinthos III
Michael Morgan Corinthos III is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. The character is the son of Carly Corinthos Jacks and A.J. Quartermaine , and was adopted as a child by his mother's former husband Sonny Corinthos...
, the illegally adopted child of Courtney's half-brother Sonny. When Courtney defended AJ to his family, he realized he truly loved her. AJ ceased trying to trade Courtney for Michael. The Quartermaines froze AJ's bank account, leading him further into his alcoholism
Alcoholism
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...
. After being blackmailed into stripping due to AJ's drunk driving accident, AJ became verbally abusive and had Courtney purposely stalked by Coleman Ratcliffe, the strip club owner.
Jason Morgan
Courtney's husband always lost to Sonny and Jason. For once, AJ wanted to be the hero. She found out about the stalking and his original intentions. They divorced. Before the stalker was revealed, Courtney turned to Sonny's enforcer for help and developed feelings for him. The guilt now gone due to AJ's involvement, Courtney fell in love with Jason Morgan (who happened to be AJ's brother and Sonny's best friend), and caused tension between Sonny and Jason. After many trials, including the miscarriage of their child, they finally married in a private ceremony in France. However, the miscarriage haunted her. She eventually decided, due to the nature of Jason's Mob organization, she could not bear to lose him. She'd rather leave him than watch him die for the mob. Also, Jason's lifestyle made Courtney act in ways she never had before, including shooting officer Brian Beck. Although Brian knew Courtney had shot him, he framed Zander Smith for the incident, because he had fallen in love with Courtney. During a fire at the Port Charles Hotel, Detective Capelli mortally wounded Brian. He died in the hospital with Courtney at his side. This incident was part of a string of events leading to the death of Zander Smith. Shortly, Courtney and Jason parted ways. Yet they still loved each other.Jasper Jacks and Nikolas Cassadine
After months of grieving the failed relationship, Courtney declared her independence and began a foundation for needy and troubled kids. Jasper "Jax" Jacks signed on to lend credibility to her new endeavor. The two formed a tight bond. Always looking for a fresh challenge, Jax bet Courtney $10 million the could seduce her in 3 months. Courtney gleefully accepted. The pretty blonde believed beating Jax at his own game would be a breeze. Unfortunately for her, Jax proved far more difficult to resist than she bargained for. The two slowly fell in love. The bet a playful part of their past. Jax proposed to Courtney. She tearfully agreed to become his wife. The two married on June 3, 2005 in a beautiful ceremony in the park that took them full circle. The only thing missing from their blissful lives was the baby Courtney had long yearned for - and desperately wanted to give her eager hubby.The newlyweds decided to have a surrogate child (Courtney was left barren from her first pregnancy).This led to the demise of their relationship as Jax had begun bonding with their surrogate mother, Elizabeth Spencer
Elizabeth Webber
Elizabeth Spencer may refer to:*Lady Elizabeth Spencer , wife of Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke*Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon*Elizabeth Spencer , American novelist...
. During this time, Courtney found friendship and solace in Nikolas Cassadine
Nikolas Cassadine
Prince Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated by Tyler Christopher, who played the character from 1996–1999, and then after a four-year hiatus resumed the role in 2003 and left the show in 2011...
, which quickly blossomed into a forbidden attraction. Courtney miraculously became pregnant with his child. Jax changed the DNA results to say he was the father. Still, Courtney and Nikolas chose to fight Jax for custody once the baby was born. However, Courtney saw Nikolas and his ex-wife Emily together, and thought they were getting back together, so she broke up with him.
Death
In early January 2006, Courtney left town to have her baby in peace. She returned in February 2006 stricken with the disease plaguing Port Charles. She met Nikolas, who was also infected, and the two renewed their love and got engaged. The disease took its toll on Courtney. Faced with the impossible choice between her life or her baby's, Courtney fearlessly chose to give her baby boy the chance to live. After the birth, Courtney told Jax she suggested naming the baby John, after his father. Jax finally admitted to Courtney that Nikolas was the father. Though she was upset with him for lying, she forgave him, and asked to see Nikolas. However, Nikolas arrived too late. The childbirth had greatly weakened Courtney, though with her last breath she told Nikolas she loved him. She died a few moments later.Courtney didn't get the chance to tell Nikolas he was the father. Jax hid this fact after her death and raised her baby as his own, naming him John Michael Jacks. The truth was eventually revealed to Nikolas a few months later by Dr. Robin Scorpio
Robin Scorpio
Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital and its prime time SOAPnet spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, originated and portrayed by Kimberly McCullough since 1985. The character came to mainstream attention when she was diagnosed as HIV-positive...
. Nikolas subsequently changed John's name to Spencer Cassadine.
Originally, the role of Courtney was going to be recast, but Willis hinted on Soap Talk
Soap Talk
Soap Talk was a television talk show on SOAPnet hosted by Lisa Rinna and Ty Treadway. It debuted in 2002 and ended in 2006. The reason for the show's cancellation was due to SOAPnet expanding their programming away from a soap opera-related focus to expand their network's ratings and declining...
she didn't want her character being played by someone else. Courtney was eventually killed off. However, in typical soap fashion, the gaping hole in her "death" leaves the possibility of a return. This seems unlikely since Courtney was cremated after her death.