Stephanie Wilkins
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Wilkins Collins Pace Wyatt was a fictional character
on the long-running American
Soap Opera
Search for Tomorrow
. She was played from 1974 to 1984 by actress Maree Cheatham
and from 1984 to 1986 by actress and writer Louise Shaffer
.
Incidentally, this marked Louise Shaffer's return to Search after being one of three actresses (the others being Kathryn Walker and Pamela Murphy) to play the character of Emily Rogers Hunter.
(Andrea McArdle
, later Lisa Peluso
) after divorcing a man named Dave Wilkins (Dale Robinette). She later discovered that she had an illegitimate son named Brian Emerson. She had a brief affair with Dr. Tony Vincente, who at the time was married to Joanne Gardner
.
She was a newly-hired nurse at Henderson Hospital who was assigned to look after Jo's daughter, Patti
, who was dealing with a very difficult pregnancy. However, her interference in Tony's life, notably by trying to pass off Wendy as his, (Wendy was Dave Wilkins's daughter) inevitably led to a strain between him and Jo.
In fact, Stephanie and Jo were considered to be bitter enemies. What was highly ironic about this was that although Stephanie and Jo were enemies, Wendy and Jo's niece, Suzi Martin
, were best friends. Despite the enmity, though, Stephanie was able to ask Jo for help, when she clearly needed it.
She eventually remarried three times after divorcing Dave Wilkins; she first married Clay Collins, the brother of Wade Collins, whom upon his death, became very wealthy; and Walter Pace, the father of Jennifer Pace Phillips
; who had caused so much grief for Jo's family, especially when she killed Jo's sister, Eunice Gardner Wyatt
.
This led up to Stephanie marrying John Wyatt, after her divorce from Walter Pace. She married him simply out of spite to Jo, since John had been interested in her, since she reminded him of his beloved Eunice. Eventually, though, John himself died, and Stephanie was a widow once more. She is most commonly remembered as Stephanie Wyatt.
When it came to mothering, Stephanie tended to be somewhat pushy and overbearing, but despite her pushiness, she loved her family very dearly; and even Jo had to admit, that in spite of her motives, Stephanie really did mean well; and had her family's best interests in mind.
Stephanie wanted Wendy to marry into wealth, like she herself did when she married Clay Collins. So, she was quite dismayed to find that she married poor artist Keith McNeil (Craig Augustine).
However, after divorcing Keith, Wendy married wealthy Warren Carter, whom the ambitious Stephanie found to be more suitable. The thing was Warren had been married to her best friend, Suzi, but she divorced Warren, so Wendy could be with him. Stephanie recovered with a long relaxing affair with the debaucherous Bobby Bero.
At one point, Stephanie had been the head of Henderson's television station, and her assistant was cornpone Country music singer wannabe, Rhonda Sue Huckaby (played to comic perfection by Tina Johnson). Although Rhonda Sue drove her crazy a lot of the time, Stephanie really thought highly of her.
Stephanie also made promising careers for the local television station in Henderson to Wendy, Quinn Mccleary, Chase Kendall and nursing student turned folk singer Sarah Whitting, Jo's Granddaughter.
Stephanie started to have an affair with a circus performer & businessman named, Bela Garody (Lee Godart). Despite the fact that Stephanie was caught up mostly with her work at the news station with reaching deadlines & attending meetings. She stood by Wendy (Lisa Peluso
) when she accused Bela for harassing her, when that stopped, Wendy and Bela became fast friends and eventually they wound up in bed together, which made Stephanie become mad and thus being so distant to Wendy because of what she did, betray her own mother (Stephanie) for sleeping with (Bela). Eventually Stephanie forgave Wendy for what they had both done to each other and they both reconciled with each other, right before Wendy left Henderson, right after the holidays, in January 1986.
Stephanie was murdered, by a serial killer in February 1986, the same killer that killed Sarah Whitting. This occurred before the infamous flood that nearly destroyed Henderson.
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 long-running American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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,...
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
. She was played from 1974 to 1984 by actress Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham
Maree Cheatham is an American actress, best known for her television appearances. She was credited for much of her career as Marie Cheatham....
and from 1984 to 1986 by actress and writer Louise Shaffer
Louise Shaffer
-Biography:Shaffer was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut, where she showed an interest in acting early on in her life. After finishing high school, she attended Connecticut College for Women, then Yale Drama School...
.
Incidentally, this marked Louise Shaffer's return to Search after being one of three actresses (the others being Kathryn Walker and Pamela Murphy) to play the character of Emily Rogers Hunter.
Jo's biggest enemy
Vampy and highly sarcastic Stephanie Wilkins came to the fictional community of Henderson with her stepmother, Ramsey Weskitt, and her young daughter WendyWendy Wilkins
Wendy McNeil Carter was a fictional character on the now-defunct American soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. The part was originated by Andrea McArdle, but Lisa Peluso is the actress most identified with the role....
(Andrea McArdle
Andrea McArdle
Andrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for playing Annie in the Broadway musical Annie, as well as for her alto range and strong vocal belt.-Career:She was born in Philadelphia...
, later Lisa Peluso
Lisa Peluso
Lisa Peluso is an American soap opera actress.-Biography:Peluso was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Mary Peluso. Her first big break came at the age of nine, when she starred in the Broadway production of Gypsy with Angela Lansbury...
) after divorcing a man named Dave Wilkins (Dale Robinette). She later discovered that she had an illegitimate son named Brian Emerson. She had a brief affair with Dr. Tony Vincente, who at the time was married to Joanne Gardner
Joanne Gardner
Joanne Gardner was the main character on the long-running soap opera Search for Tomorrow. For 35 years, the role was played by actress Mary Stuart...
.
She was a newly-hired nurse at Henderson Hospital who was assigned to look after Jo's daughter, Patti
Patti Tate
Patricia Tate Whiting McCleary , often called Patti Tate, was a fictional character on the now-cancelled American soap opera Search for Tomorrow...
, who was dealing with a very difficult pregnancy. However, her interference in Tony's life, notably by trying to pass off Wendy as his, (Wendy was Dave Wilkins's daughter) inevitably led to a strain between him and Jo.
In fact, Stephanie and Jo were considered to be bitter enemies. What was highly ironic about this was that although Stephanie and Jo were enemies, Wendy and Jo's niece, Suzi Martin
Suzi Martin
Susan Wyatt Carter and familiarly known as Suzi, was a fictional character in the now-defunct American soap opera, Search for Tomorrow. She was played by Amy Arutt, in episodes in '75-'76, as a child then by Cynthia Gibb, who was most identified in the role and later by Terri Eoff and Elizabeth...
, were best friends. Despite the enmity, though, Stephanie was able to ask Jo for help, when she clearly needed it.
She eventually remarried three times after divorcing Dave Wilkins; she first married Clay Collins, the brother of Wade Collins, whom upon his death, became very wealthy; and Walter Pace, the father of Jennifer Pace Phillips
Jennifer Pace
Jennifer Pace Phillips was a fictional character on defunct United States soap opera Search for Tomorrow. She was played by actress Morgan Fairchild from 1973 to 1977, the first in a long line of similar roles for Fairchild.-Character's background:...
; who had caused so much grief for Jo's family, especially when she killed Jo's sister, Eunice Gardner Wyatt
Eunice Gardner Wyatt
Eunice Wyatt was a fictitious character on the long-running American Soap Opera Search for Tomorrow. The role was first played by Marion Brash and then by Ann Williams until the character's death in 1976...
.
This led up to Stephanie marrying John Wyatt, after her divorce from Walter Pace. She married him simply out of spite to Jo, since John had been interested in her, since she reminded him of his beloved Eunice. Eventually, though, John himself died, and Stephanie was a widow once more. She is most commonly remembered as Stephanie Wyatt.
When it came to mothering, Stephanie tended to be somewhat pushy and overbearing, but despite her pushiness, she loved her family very dearly; and even Jo had to admit, that in spite of her motives, Stephanie really did mean well; and had her family's best interests in mind.
Stephanie wanted Wendy to marry into wealth, like she herself did when she married Clay Collins. So, she was quite dismayed to find that she married poor artist Keith McNeil (Craig Augustine).
However, after divorcing Keith, Wendy married wealthy Warren Carter, whom the ambitious Stephanie found to be more suitable. The thing was Warren had been married to her best friend, Suzi, but she divorced Warren, so Wendy could be with him. Stephanie recovered with a long relaxing affair with the debaucherous Bobby Bero.
At one point, Stephanie had been the head of Henderson's television station, and her assistant was cornpone Country music singer wannabe, Rhonda Sue Huckaby (played to comic perfection by Tina Johnson). Although Rhonda Sue drove her crazy a lot of the time, Stephanie really thought highly of her.
Stephanie also made promising careers for the local television station in Henderson to Wendy, Quinn Mccleary, Chase Kendall and nursing student turned folk singer Sarah Whitting, Jo's Granddaughter.
Stephanie started to have an affair with a circus performer & businessman named, Bela Garody (Lee Godart). Despite the fact that Stephanie was caught up mostly with her work at the news station with reaching deadlines & attending meetings. She stood by Wendy (Lisa Peluso
Lisa Peluso
Lisa Peluso is an American soap opera actress.-Biography:Peluso was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Mary Peluso. Her first big break came at the age of nine, when she starred in the Broadway production of Gypsy with Angela Lansbury...
) when she accused Bela for harassing her, when that stopped, Wendy and Bela became fast friends and eventually they wound up in bed together, which made Stephanie become mad and thus being so distant to Wendy because of what she did, betray her own mother (Stephanie) for sleeping with (Bela). Eventually Stephanie forgave Wendy for what they had both done to each other and they both reconciled with each other, right before Wendy left Henderson, right after the holidays, in January 1986.
Stephanie was murdered, by a serial killer in February 1986, the same killer that killed Sarah Whitting. This occurred before the infamous flood that nearly destroyed Henderson.