Gina Roma
Encyclopedia
Gina Roma is a fictional character
in the CBS
soap opera
The Young and the Restless
. Actress Patty Weaver
played the role from the fall of 1982 and was last seen in March 2009.
community, with the help of her brother, Danny Romalotti
(Michael Damian
). After spending five years in prison
for her crimes, Gina opened Gina's, an upmarket restaurant
which became Genoa City's most popular eating establishment.
Gina's parents were "con artists" when she was growing up, and all did their time for their crimes. Her brother, Danny Romalotti
, not wanting part of it, ran away from home as a teenager and ended up in Genoa City working as a waiter for Jonas's Restaurant with Paul Williams. In 1982, Gina, (with shortened last name Roma), came to Genoa City after getting out of prison, wanting Danny help to "go straight". For a long time Danny didn't trust her, but got her a singing job at Jonas's. Danny began his career as a teenager rock star doing concerts in Genoa City. He was often joined by his sister, Gina, and friends, Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland
), Lauren Fenmore Baldwin
(Tracey E. Bregman
) and Amy Lewis, who sang with him when he performed on stage. When Jonas decided to move on, Gina bought the restaurant and renamed it Gina's Italian Restaurant.
Lauren Fenmore's divorced father, Neil, began to show interest in Gina. They dated and fell in love. But Lauren long-lost mother, Joanna Manning returned to GC, and Lauren wanted them back together. So she broke up Gina and Neil by exposing that Gina was ex-con. Gina vowed to get even with Lauren.
In 1987, Danny and Gina's father turned up in Genoa City, a homeless drifter just out of prison. He was molded and renamed by Jill Foster Abbott
as Rex Sterling
to con Kay Chancellor. But Rex and Kay fell in love, and he became a "good guy" after all. (Danny, Gina and Rex ended up becoming very close until Rex's untimely death by gunshot years later, as he surprised Esther Valentine
's boyfriend Norman burglarizing their safe.)
In 1989, Rex's former cellmate, Clint Radison, showed up in town. Clint discovered Gina was Rex's daughter and started wooing her, and got her to marry him. But Clint was working on a new scam. He found a woman named Marge (Jeanne Cooper
) who worked at a diner that was a dead ringer for Kay. Clint and his cohorts trained Marge to pass for Kay, then held captive Kay and her "ditsy" maid Esther. Meanwhile Marge posing as Kay drove Rex away, and he filed for divorce. Clint was now free to liquidate Kay's assets. But Brock Reynolds made a surprise returned from his missions in India
. Brock, with the help of Mitchell Sherman, discovered the ruse, and rescued Kay and Esther. Clint was sentenced to prison, and Gina turned to Brock. They became very close, but Brock was off on another of his missions to save the world before long.
That same year, Danny was attacked by a mugger and received major kidney damage. He needed a transplant to survive. Gina, Paul, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford
) and Christine (Lauralee Bell
) were all ruled out as possible donors, and things were looking bleak. In a last ditch effort to prove to Christine that he was a changed man and worthy of being reinstated as a lawyer after his prison term had been served, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc
) came to the rescue and donated the needed kidney. After Danny's recovery, Chris made her decision between Danny and Paul, and chose Paul. Danny took Daniel, and went "on the road." Only Gina kept in contact with him, receiving photos of Daniel now and then which she refused to share with Phyllis, whom she still considers the devil!
Gina continued to own and run Gina's for many years, Genoa City's gathering spot, renowned for its excellent Italian food, entertainment and dance floor. She was always there to greet and seat the guests, sing a song now and then, listen to customer's woes or pass on a message, give a newcomer a room upstairs, give a new singer a break, and conveniently overhear conversations which kept her in the know of all of Genoa City's residents. She is a good friend to most of them, especially Katherine Chancellor, which whom she holds opens her restaurant each Thanksgiving with free food for the homeless. Singers to grace the Gina's stage have included Danny, Lauren Fenmore, Callie Rogers (Siena Goines), Ryan McNeil (Scott Reeves
), and John Abbott (Jerry Douglas
). John joins Gina in song now and then, and is frequently seen at the Abbott mansion for family get-togethers and on John's arm at Genoa City events.
While attending the 2003 Arts Council Gala with John, Gina received a call that her restaurant was on fire. They rushed to the scene and witnessed the place fully engulfed in flames, unaware that the fire had been set by Michael's half-brother Kevin Fisher
(Greg Rikaart
), in an attempt to murder John's granddaughter Colleen Carlton
(Lyndsy Fonseca
). Gina lost not only her restaurant, but also her home above the restaurant.
Gina soon got back on her feet and took a position as manager at the elegant restaurant at the Genoa City Athletic Club. It can be assumed Gina left town with her brother Danny following her ex-stepmother Katherine Chancellors funeral. Gina (though not seen) obviously at some point returned to Genoa City because she was referenced as having been in the kitchen when the boiler room exploded at the Athlectic Club. She must have left town again soon after as she has not been mentioned since then.
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...
in 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,...
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
. Actress Patty Weaver
Patty Weaver
Patty Weaver and 1967 Alumni of Fairborn High School is an American actress who played the role of Gina Roma on The Young and the Restless on a contract basis from 1982 until August 2005, when she was dropped to recurring status, and she last appeared in early 2009.She was born in Clarksburg, West...
played the role from the fall of 1982 and was last seen in March 2009.
Character
Since 1982, Gina went from being a con artist to a well-respected pillar of the Genoa CityGenoa City (fictional city)
Genoa City, Wisconsin is the fictional setting for the long-running American CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. The real U.S. village of the same name is otherwise unlike and unrelated to the mid-size city depicted in the series.- Overview :...
community, with the help of her brother, Danny Romalotti
Danny Romalotti
Daniel "Danny" Romalotti, Sr. is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. He was played by Michael Damian from June 1981 to October 1993, and again from August 1994 to June 1998, returning briefly in December 11, 2002 and on recurring status from November 14, 2003 to...
(Michael Damian
Michael Damian
Michael Damian Weir is a long-time American actor, Billboard #1 recording artist and producer, known mainly for his role as singer Danny Romalotti on the soap opera The Young and the Restless, which he played from 1980 to 1998.-Career:Damian made his feature film debut as an actor in the Garry...
). After spending five years in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
for her crimes, Gina opened Gina's, an upmarket restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
which became Genoa City's most popular eating establishment.
Gina's parents were "con artists" when she was growing up, and all did their time for their crimes. Her brother, Danny Romalotti
Danny Romalotti
Daniel "Danny" Romalotti, Sr. is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. He was played by Michael Damian from June 1981 to October 1993, and again from August 1994 to June 1998, returning briefly in December 11, 2002 and on recurring status from November 14, 2003 to...
, not wanting part of it, ran away from home as a teenager and ended up in Genoa City working as a waiter for Jonas's Restaurant with Paul Williams. In 1982, Gina, (with shortened last name Roma), came to Genoa City after getting out of prison, wanting Danny help to "go straight". For a long time Danny didn't trust her, but got her a singing job at Jonas's. Danny began his career as a teenager rock star doing concerts in Genoa City. He was often joined by his sister, Gina, and friends, Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland
Beth Maitland
Beth Maitland is American actress, best known for her portrayal of Traci Abbott Connolly in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1982 to 1996 and from 2001 to the present on a recurring basis.-Early life:...
), Lauren Fenmore Baldwin
Lauren Fenmore Baldwin
Lauren Baldwin is a fictional character from the American soap opera The Young and the Restless and its "sister soap" The Bold and the Beautiful. She is portrayed by American actress Tracey E. Bregman...
(Tracey E. Bregman
Tracey E. Bregman
Tracey E. Bregman is an German-American soap opera actress. She is best known for the role of Lauren Fenmore on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful and for her role as Sarah Smythe on The Young and the Restless .-Personal life:She was born...
) and Amy Lewis, who sang with him when he performed on stage. When Jonas decided to move on, Gina bought the restaurant and renamed it Gina's Italian Restaurant.
Lauren Fenmore's divorced father, Neil, began to show interest in Gina. They dated and fell in love. But Lauren long-lost mother, Joanna Manning returned to GC, and Lauren wanted them back together. So she broke up Gina and Neil by exposing that Gina was ex-con. Gina vowed to get even with Lauren.
In 1987, Danny and Gina's father turned up in Genoa City, a homeless drifter just out of prison. He was molded and renamed by Jill Foster Abbott
Jill Foster Abbott
Jill Abbott Fenmore is a fictional character on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless. She is one of the series' original characters, and the only one remaining from its debut in March 1973...
as Rex Sterling
Rex Sterling
Rex Sterling was a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, played by actor Quinn Redeker from July 1987 to December 1994, and in a guest appearance on April 23, 2004.-Character's background:...
to con Kay Chancellor. But Rex and Kay fell in love, and he became a "good guy" after all. (Danny, Gina and Rex ended up becoming very close until Rex's untimely death by gunshot years later, as he surprised Esther Valentine
Esther Valentine
Esther Valentine is a fictional character on CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by actress Kate Linder since April 1982...
's boyfriend Norman burglarizing their safe.)
In 1989, Rex's former cellmate, Clint Radison, showed up in town. Clint discovered Gina was Rex's daughter and started wooing her, and got her to marry him. But Clint was working on a new scam. He found a woman named Marge (Jeanne Cooper
Jeanne Cooper
Wilma Jeanne Cooper , best known as Jeanne Cooper, is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Katherine Chancellor on the daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless...
) who worked at a diner that was a dead ringer for Kay. Clint and his cohorts trained Marge to pass for Kay, then held captive Kay and her "ditsy" maid Esther. Meanwhile Marge posing as Kay drove Rex away, and he filed for divorce. Clint was now free to liquidate Kay's assets. But Brock Reynolds made a surprise returned from his missions in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Brock, with the help of Mitchell Sherman, discovered the ruse, and rescued Kay and Esther. Clint was sentenced to prison, and Gina turned to Brock. They became very close, but Brock was off on another of his missions to save the world before long.
That same year, Danny was attacked by a mugger and received major kidney damage. He needed a transplant to survive. Gina, Paul, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford
Michelle Stafford
Michelle Stafford is an American actress, best known for her role as Phyllis Summers on The Young and the Restless.-Career:...
) and Christine (Lauralee Bell
Lauralee Bell
Lauralee Kristen Bell is an American soap opera actress. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended The Latin School of Chicago.The daughter of soap opera creators William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell, and sister to Bill Bell, Jr...
) were all ruled out as possible donors, and things were looking bleak. In a last ditch effort to prove to Christine that he was a changed man and worthy of being reinstated as a lawyer after his prison term had been served, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc
Christian LeBlanc
Christian Jules LeBlanc is an American actor.LeBlanc currently plays Michael Baldwin on The Young and the Restless. He first played the role from 1991 to 1993, and then resumed the role in 1997. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for the role six times, and won for Outstanding Lead Actor...
) came to the rescue and donated the needed kidney. After Danny's recovery, Chris made her decision between Danny and Paul, and chose Paul. Danny took Daniel, and went "on the road." Only Gina kept in contact with him, receiving photos of Daniel now and then which she refused to share with Phyllis, whom she still considers the devil!
Gina continued to own and run Gina's for many years, Genoa City's gathering spot, renowned for its excellent Italian food, entertainment and dance floor. She was always there to greet and seat the guests, sing a song now and then, listen to customer's woes or pass on a message, give a newcomer a room upstairs, give a new singer a break, and conveniently overhear conversations which kept her in the know of all of Genoa City's residents. She is a good friend to most of them, especially Katherine Chancellor, which whom she holds opens her restaurant each Thanksgiving with free food for the homeless. Singers to grace the Gina's stage have included Danny, Lauren Fenmore, Callie Rogers (Siena Goines), Ryan McNeil (Scott Reeves
Scott Reeves
Gregory Scott Reeves is an American actor and country music singer. He is known for his role as Ryan McNeil on The Young and the Restless and for his role as Dr...
), and John Abbott (Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas (actor)
Jerry Douglas is an American television and film actor. For 25 years Jerry Douglas reigned in fictional Genoa City as patriarch John Abbott on the daytime television serial The Young and the Restless...
). John joins Gina in song now and then, and is frequently seen at the Abbott mansion for family get-togethers and on John's arm at Genoa City events.
While attending the 2003 Arts Council Gala with John, Gina received a call that her restaurant was on fire. They rushed to the scene and witnessed the place fully engulfed in flames, unaware that the fire had been set by Michael's half-brother Kevin Fisher
Kevin Fisher
Kevin Fisher is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless, portrayed by Emmy Award-winning actor Greg Rikaart since July 11, 2003. Rikaart won a Daytime Emmy Award for his portrayal of Kevin in 2005....
(Greg Rikaart
Greg Rikaart
Gregory Andrew Rikaart is an American actor, currently on the cast of the soap opera The Young and the Restless, playing Kevin Fisher since July 2003.-Biography:...
), in an attempt to murder John's granddaughter Colleen Carlton
Colleen Carlton
Colleen Cecile Carlton is a fictional character from the American soap opera The Young and the Restless. She was last portrayed by Tammin Sursok, who joined the cast on July 30, 2007 and departed on October 5, 2009...
(Lyndsy Fonseca
Lyndsy Fonseca
Lyndsy Marie Fonseca is an American actress known for playing Colleen Carlton on the CBS daytime soap opera The Young and The Restless, Dylan Mayfair on the ABC series Desperate Housewives, and Ted Mosby's daughter on How I Met Your Mother. She also played Katie Deauxma in the 2010 superhero film...
). Gina lost not only her restaurant, but also her home above the restaurant.
Gina soon got back on her feet and took a position as manager at the elegant restaurant at the Genoa City Athletic Club. It can be assumed Gina left town with her brother Danny following her ex-stepmother Katherine Chancellors funeral. Gina (though not seen) obviously at some point returned to Genoa City because she was referenced as having been in the kitchen when the boiler room exploded at the Athlectic Club. She must have left town again soon after as she has not been mentioned since then.