Gordon Russell
Encyclopedia
Gordon Russell and Sam Hall (born March 11, 1921) were a pair of writers well known for their work in daytime soap operas.
and One Life to Live
. A trademark of theirs was introducing characters who would, under normal circumstances, be considered villains but tell the storyline in their point of view to gain more sympathy from the viewers. They wrote on Dark Shadows from the time Barnabas Collins
(played by Jonathan Frid
) was introduced as a blood sucking vampire, transforming him over the years to be more of anti-hero capable of displaying many shades of gray. The same goes for the character’s cousin, the ghostly werewolf Quentin Collins
(played by David Selby
).
who began to focus more on her other soap All My Children
. During its first few years, One Life to Live was a groundbreaking soap which addressed racial, ethnic, and class issue. But under Russell and Hall’s watch, the show took on more haunting character studies tied in with the exit of previous established characters.
With the onscreen death of Nixon’s original character Dave Siegel came the arrival of Dorian Cramer, who prescribed Dave’s widow, Eileen, pills for depression, which lead to an out-of-control addiction. Dorian then stole their daughter Julie’s husband, Dr. Mark Toland (a then unknown Tommy Lee Jones
), and Dorian’s sister Melinda befriended Meredith Lord-Wolek before her death. Her cousin by marriage, a nun named Jenny Wolek fell in love with Tim Siegel, Julie Siegel’s twin brother (a then unknown Tom Berenger
), and then married him on his deathbed after fall from a flight of stairs where he had an argument her cousin Vinnie Wolek over causing her to stray from her religious beliefs. Russell and Hall would later write out the remaining Siegels along with early characters Dr. Mark Toland and Cathy Craig later on in addition to creating the dysfunctional Vernon family which would be a feature of the show for over a decade.
Russell and Hall also wrote the infamous Karen Wolek storyline Dr. Larry Wolek’s wife and cousin Karen turned to prostitution after boredom with being a simple housewife because of her need to be wanted, and in light of her pimp Marco Dane’s alleged murder had to reveal she was a prostitute on the stand in tears to clear Viki’s name at the murder trial. They also created The Buchanans which were introduced when Clint Buchanan
came to town to take over The Banner for Viki’s dying husband Joe Riley and brought his father Asa Buchanan
on along with brother Bo Buchanan
, the genesis of a family which has become the most prominent on the show.
Dark Shadows
They are best known for their works on Dark ShadowsDark Shadows
Dark Shadows is a gothic soap opera that originally aired weekdays on the ABC television network, from June 27, 1966 to April 2, 1971. The show was created by Dan Curtis. The story bible, which was written by Art Wallace, does not mention any supernatural elements...
and 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...
. A trademark of theirs was introducing characters who would, under normal circumstances, be considered villains but tell the storyline in their point of view to gain more sympathy from the viewers. They wrote on Dark Shadows from the time Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins
Barnabas Collins is a fictional character, one of the feature characters in the ABC daytime serial Dark Shadows, which aired from 1966 to 1971. Originally played by Canadian actor Jonathan Frid, Barnabas Collins is a 200-year-old vampire who is in search of fresh blood and his lost love, Josette...
(played by Jonathan Frid
Jonathan Frid
John Herbert Frid is a theater, television, and film actor, best known for playing the role of vampire Barnabas Collins on the gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows.-Early Life:...
) was introduced as a blood sucking vampire, transforming him over the years to be more of anti-hero capable of displaying many shades of gray. The same goes for the character’s cousin, the ghostly werewolf Quentin Collins
Quentin Collins
Quentin Collins is the name of several characters featured in the 1966-1971 ABC cult TV Gothic horror-soap opera Dark Shadows. All variations of the character have been played by actor David Selby.-Quentin I:...
(played by David Selby
David Selby
David Lynn Selby is an American character and stage actor. He has worked in movies, soap operas and television. The naturally black-headed Selby is best known for playing the roles of Quentin Collins on the ABC-TV serial, Dark Shadows , and as the evil and compassionate...
).
One Life to Live
After Dark Shadows wrapped, the two then took over One Life to Live for Agnes NixonAgnes Nixon
Agnes Nixon is an American writer and producer. She attended Northwestern University where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and is best known as the creator of soap operas such as One Life to Live and All My Children...
who began to focus more on her other soap All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
. During its first few years, One Life to Live was a groundbreaking soap which addressed racial, ethnic, and class issue. But under Russell and Hall’s watch, the show took on more haunting character studies tied in with the exit of previous established characters.
With the onscreen death of Nixon’s original character Dave Siegel came the arrival of Dorian Cramer, who prescribed Dave’s widow, Eileen, pills for depression, which lead to an out-of-control addiction. Dorian then stole their daughter Julie’s husband, Dr. Mark Toland (a then unknown Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....
), and Dorian’s sister Melinda befriended Meredith Lord-Wolek before her death. Her cousin by marriage, a nun named Jenny Wolek fell in love with Tim Siegel, Julie Siegel’s twin brother (a then unknown Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
), and then married him on his deathbed after fall from a flight of stairs where he had an argument her cousin Vinnie Wolek over causing her to stray from her religious beliefs. Russell and Hall would later write out the remaining Siegels along with early characters Dr. Mark Toland and Cathy Craig later on in addition to creating the dysfunctional Vernon family which would be a feature of the show for over a decade.
Legacy
In addition to their long lasting work on Dark Shadows, their work on One Life to Live led to very memorable storylines with elements and characters which last on the latter show to this day. A storyline which involved Dorian giving terminal patient Rachel Wilson a dosage of treatment going unmarked on her medical chart prompted her lover Mark Toland to give her a second more lethal dosage and Dr. Larry Wolek get framed for her mercy killing (ironically Rachel Wilson wanted him to end her life in the first place). When the truth was revealed, the board of directors at Llanview Hospital took a vote to decide whether or not to suspend her medical license with Victoria Lord casting the deciding against her. To get even, Dorian became her ailing father Victor Lord’s private physician, and withheld his medication during a heart attack and walking away, allegedly causing his death and starting the Viki/Dorian feud which has lasted almost 35 years.Russell and Hall also wrote the infamous Karen Wolek storyline Dr. Larry Wolek’s wife and cousin Karen turned to prostitution after boredom with being a simple housewife because of her need to be wanted, and in light of her pimp Marco Dane’s alleged murder had to reveal she was a prostitute on the stand in tears to clear Viki’s name at the murder trial. They also created The Buchanans which were introduced when 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...
came to town to take over The Banner for Viki’s dying husband Joe Riley and brought his father Asa Buchanan
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...
on along with brother 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...
, the genesis of a family which has become the most prominent on the show.