Alexis Davis
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| Alexis Davis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| General Hospital character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Nancy Lee Grahn Susan Diol (temporary) Kristen Erickson (teen) |
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| Duration | 1996– | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | September 28, 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Created by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Wendy Riche | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Book appearances | The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spin-off appearances |
Port Charles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Present, regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Occupation | Attorney Partner in Mason, Petrovich, and Miller |
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| Residence | 2183 Belleforest Drive Port Charles, New York |
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Alexis Davis is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Nancy Lee Grahn originated the role in September 28, 1996. She is the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine and Kristin Bergman.[1] She is also the mother of Sam Morgan, Kristina Davis and Molly Lansing.[2]
Contents
Casting
Nancy Lee Grahn, known for her Emmy winning portrayal of Julia Wainwright on Santa Barbara, made her first appearance as Alexis on September 28, 1996, on a recurring basis.[3][4] In late May, early June 1997, Grahn was put on contract with the series due to her popularity among fans.[5] Susan Diol temporarily played the role from November 2001 to March 2002, when Grahn's father died.[6] In 2010, Grahn announced she had renewed her contract for an additional four years.[7]
Storylines
Background
Alexis is the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine, a Greco-Russian prince, and his mistress Kristin Bergman, a Swedish opera singer. Mikkos' wife Helena Cassadine slit Kristin's throat[8] in front of young Alexis, who then developed partial amnesia and forgot her true identity. Alexis was taken into Mikkos' house to be raised as a poor relative with the last name Davidovitch, while her infant sister Kristina disappeared. Alexis' half-brother Stavros Cassadine tormented her, but her other half-brother Stefan Cassadine (who believed at the time Alexis was his cousin) protected her, gaining her loyalty. While attending Briarton Griggs Academy,[9] a boarding school in New Hampshire,[10] Alexis at 16 sees an opportunity to reinvent herself. She dresses up, sneaks out of boarding school and goes to a bar, where she meets Julian Jerome. The two have a one-night stand and she became pregnant. Her father, Mikkos Cassadine took the baby, who grew up to be Sam McCall, and gave her up for adoption. Alexis graduated from Yale University as an undergraduate and earned a J.D. from Yale Law School.
1996–2005
In 1996, Stefan, who has instructed Alexis to change her last name to Davis, brings her to town for legal aid. Alexis is protective of Stefan, and tries to make him believe his lover Katherine Bell is his half-sister Natasha. Luke Spencer helps Alexis discover that she is actually the real Natasha. Helena uses this to force Alexis to help her gain control of the Cassadine empire. By doing so, Alexis receives her princess birthright, a title she later gives up. In an attempt to avenge her mother’s death, she teams up with Luke to kill Helena, and mistakenly pushes Katherine off a parapet instead. Katherine is presumed dead and Stefan is put on trial; Alexis defends him and gets the charges dropped.[8] Meanwhile, Alexis begins dating Ned Ashton. In 1999, in a complicated scheme to help Chloe Morgan save her company, Ned marries Chloe and Alexis marries Jasper Jacks. Chloe eventually loses her company, and the couples divorce. Ned then proposes to Alexis, but she developed cold feet and talked to Ned right before the wedding and called it off. In 2000, Alexis teams up with mob boss Sonny Corinthos to defend troubled teen Zander Smith, which leads to Alexis reluctantly becoming the full-time lawyer for Sonny and his enforcer Jason Morgan. Meanwhile, in 2001, Jax helps Alexis find her presumed dead sister Kristina Carter. By 2002, Alexis and Sonny have continued to bond, which leads to a one-night stand witnessed by Carly Corinthos, Sonny’s estranged wife at the time. Alexis learns she is pregnant, but does not tell Sonny due to his dangerous lifestyle. Ned, who is dating her sister Kristina, agrees to claim to be the father. Kristina dies in a warehouse explosion meant for Sonny and set up by Luis Alcazar. At Kristina's memorial service, Alexis berates Sonny, blaming him for her death. Alexis gives birth to a girl she names Kristina after her sister.
Alexis confronts Luis Alcazar about her sister’s death, to which Alcazar threatens Alexis and she accidentally pushes him to his death. In 2003, she fakes dissociative identity disorder to avoid jail time, while Ned is given custody of Kristina and brings her to live with the Quartermaine family. Alexis disguises herself as a man named Dobson and begins working at the Quartermaine mansion to be closer to her daughter. With the help of psychiatrist Cameron Lewis, Alexis eventually regains full custody of Kristina.
When Kristina is diagnosed with aplastic anemia in 2004 and needs bone marrow, Alexis is forced to tell Sonny the truth. Kristina's only hope is from stem cells from the unborn child of Sonny and his former lover Sam McCall. Alexis desperately attempts to convince Sam to induce labor two weeks early. However, Sam collapses during the confrontation and the baby is stillborn. Kristina gets the stem cells she needs to survive. Later in 2004, Alexis gets involved with Sonny's half-brother, Ric Lansing, played by Rick Hearst. Both actors were excited about the pairing, as Grahn told TV Guide, "They're a match. When Alexis gives, Ric can give it right back."[11] The two marry and get pregnant. Alexis comes close to death giving birth to Molly during a train wreck caused by Manny Ruiz, a criminal who had stalked and terrorized Jason and Sam for months. Alexis becomes the court-appointed defense lawyer for Manny, and gets him acquitted despite everyone’s warnings about him going free.
2006–10
During an encephalitis epidemic Alexis receives the last antidote, instead of Sam's mentally retarded older brother Danny McCall. Danny dies, which increases Sam's animosity towards Alexis. Meanwhile, Alexis decides to find the daughter she was forced by her father to give up for adoption when she was 16 years old. Her investigation leads her to believe the girl died. Sam and Jason had been simultaneously searching for Sam's biological mother and discover that it is Alexis. Sam keeps the truth a secret due to their troubled past, but Jason eventually tells Alexis when Sam nearly dies from a bullet fired by Manny. Alexis pressures Jason to break up with Sam for her safety. Alexis buys the lake house so there would be room for Sam. She invites Sam to live with her and arranges for Sam to get a job at the Port Charles Police Department. Sam is kidnapped by Manny and Alexis has Jason arrested to prompt Manny to let Sam go. However, Jason escapes, rescues Sam and kills Manny. Alexis threatens to have him arrested and Jason breaks up with Sam. Infuriated and hurt by Alexis and Jason, Sam gets drunk and sleeps with Ric, which both witness but Alexis says nothing. Alexis is diagnosed with second-stage lung cancer. Sam wants to help her and tries to put aside their differences. Alexis, punishing Sam, forces her into uncomfortable situations with Ric and makes Sam promise to stay away from Jason. Eventually Alexis confronts Sam and Ric, and she and Ric divorce. Ric frames Sam on multiple charges which escalate to include murder. Alexis is angry but acknowledges that she is Sam's mother too and must protect her. Despite being ill, Alexis represents Sam in court. Ric sees how weak Alexis is and drops the case against Sam out of compassion for Alexis. Ric gains full custody of Molly by proving Alexis has been using medical marijuana to counter the effects of her chemotherapy. However, he eventually returns Molly to Alexis for her safety when his father Trevor Lansing comes to town as part of the Zacchara mafia organization. Sam goes to Alexis to apologize and the two agree to work past their differences.
Alexis returns to her District Attorney position and begins dating Jerry Jacks. Jerry convinces Alexis that Sam has been coming on to him. Because Sam had already been involved with two of Alexis' previous lovers and it appeared that Sam was returning to criminal activity Alexis doesn't believe Sam's protestations of innocence. However, when Jerry tries to kill Sam and himself goes missing in a boat explosion that proves he was guilty, Alexis and Sam reconcile. In the summer of 2009, it is revealed that Alexis slept with Mayor Floyd while she was being treated for cancer. Alexis insists it was a one-night stand, but a public scandal results in Alexis becoming a suspect in the murder of the mayor's mistress, Brianna Hughes. Alexis also becomes a suspect when Sonny's wife Claudia is run off the road. When it is discovered that it was one of Alexis' cars that ran Claudia off the road, Alexis realizes it was Kristina and confesses to protect her. Nikolas arranges a plea bargain and Alexis gets off with community service. Alexis is also cleared of the Hughes' murder charge when Robin Scorpio and Patrick Drake prove that Brianna was murdered by the mayor's wife. During Thanksgiving, Alexis' daughters and Robin Scorpio try to set up Alexis with Mac Scorpio. That spring, Kristina enters into an abusive relationship with Kiefer Bauer. While driving Kristina to the hospital, Alexis accidentally hits Kiefer with her car, killing him. She eventually confesses, but Mac lets her leave on her own recognizance. Kiefer's parents, particularly Warren Bauer, are outraged and accuse Kristina of lying about Kiefer's abuse. Warren swears revenge, and when Alexis gets off with community service he pushes a civil suit. In June, Kristina pretends to date Johnny Zacchara in order to anger Sonny, and gets caught in a car bomb Sonny ordered on Johnny. In July, Warren Bauer snaps and induces a shootout at General Hospital, attempting to shoot Kristina, and critically wounding Mac and Ethan before being shot by Mac.
2011—
Alexis tries to prevent Kristina from dating Ethan. In spring 2011, Alexis represents Jax in his custody battle with Carly for Josslyn. Alexis urges him to try and compromise with Carly. Jax subpoenas Michael and Morgan to testify. Carly appeals to Alexis, and she resigns from the case. Sonny discovers that Jax bribed the mediator, and frames Jax for drug possession, resulting in Carly getting full custody of Josslyn. When Jax tries to take Josslyn out of the country, Sonny tampers with Jax's plane and it crashes. Carly approaches Alexis and asks her for help in keeping their children away from Sonny, but Alexis refuses. Alexis asks Sonny to get Kristina into Yale, which he does. During the fall and winter, Alexis is seen having hot flashes, eventually revealed to be menopause. Diane tries to push Alexis and Mac together, but ends up taking Mac home herself. Meanwhile, Alexis suggests Molly help tutor a boy named T. J. Ashford, who is staying with Shawn Butler. However, when T.J. arranges a party at their house and Molly accidentally ends up drinking alcohol, Alexis arrives tells her she is not to see T.J. anymore. After Sonny is accused of shooting Anthony Zacchara's tires, Alexis is gets him acquitted. She is also Maxie's lawyer for the murder of Lisa Niles. Despite Alexis' efforts, Maxie's guilty plea stands, although she is later released when the real killer turns out to be Matt Hunter.
Sam tells Alexis she is pregnant, later revealing she was raped by Franco. Alexis tries to help her out when her story is put into the press. Kristina comes home, furious that Sonny used his influence to get her into Yale. She and Trey Mitchell start a reality show called "Mob Princess," centered around her family. Sam believes her son was stillborn and moves in with Alexis while she separates from Jason. Alexis is kidnapped by Jerry Jacks and given the antidote to the poison he fills in the town's water supply because Joe Scully, Jr. was in Port Charles with Tracy Quartermaine after Delores Padilla left Port Charles because she didn't drink the poisoned water nor did anyone else including her martial nephew Michael Corinthos and Ric Lansing just before he returned two years later. Alexis is happy to find out that Sam's son was switched at birth and her grandson, Daniel Edward Morgan, is alive. Soon after, Jason disappears and is presumed dead by Sonny's long time enemy Cesar Faison. Sam finds out that Jason is Daniel's father because Heather Webber switched the paternity test. Alexis starts dating Shawn after Thanksgiving. Alexis tries to help Molly when Connie Falconeri steals Molly's book and publishes it under her own name. Alexis tries to console Kristina's when her ex-husband Trey Mitchell is declared brain dead after a car accident. Kristina has a hard time dealing with the loss, and attacks Connie. When she is arrested, Alexis asks Sonny to get Connie to drop the charges. Connie recants her statement and Kristina is given a more lenient sentence.
When a newcomer, Rafe Kovich, Jr., comes to town and is accused of murdering his mother, Molly meets him and insists he's innocent. When he escapes from his jail cell, Molly hides him in her room. However, while he's watching Danny, Heather comes in and kidnaps Danny. Alexis finds out about Rafe, and turns him in, despite Molly's protests. At the station, though, she gets Diane to represent him. Rafe turns out to be innocent, and the real killer, Stephen Clay, ends up kidnapping Sam and Danny, but they are rescued. Alexis later tries to help Rafe find a suitable foster home to live in when Molly takes exception to the way he is treated at the group home. Eventually, Sam agrees to take him in. However, Stephen's estranged brother, Silas Clay, comes to town and demands custody of Rafe. Alexis helps Sam fight her case, but Silas ends up winning custody. At the same time, Alexis, Sam, and Molly find out Danny has leukemia. Silas changes his mind, and lets Rafe stay with Alexis. He also becomes a doctor at GH, and assists with Danny's case. Danny's chemotherapy treatment doesn't work, and Silas lets Sam know that Danny needs a bone marrow transplant. Alexis helps Sam put together a list of potential donors.
Franco is revealed to be alive, and reveals that he never raped Sam. However, the town's animosity towards him doesn't change. He becomes the target of a hit, but the bullet misses and hits Olivia Falconeri. Alexis realizes Shawn carried out the hit on Sonny's orders, and breaks up with him. Franco is put down as a potential donor, and Alexis asks him to get tested. However, he's admitted to the hospital after being severely beaten, and later suffers a seizure. He is later diagnosed with a brain tumor and declared an unsuitable donor for Danny. Sam then broaches the subject of her biological father to Alexis, since he would be a potential donor for Danny, as well. Alexis reveals that she only met Sam's father the night she was conceived, and never saw him again, not even knowing his name. When Franco is deemed an unfit donor, Alexis asks Dr. Kevin Collins to hypnotize her so she can remember anything about Sam's father. During the session, she remembers that Sam's father's name is Julian.
Reception
In 2001, California Lawyer magazine called Alexis "the best lawyer portrayed on network television today."[8] Grahn received Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2000, 2011 and 2012; and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2003, 2004 and 2005.[12] In 2012 she won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.[13][14]
References
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