Hank Gannon

Last updated
Hank Gannon
One Life to Live character
Nathan Purdee as Hank Gannon.png
Portrayed by Nathan Purdee
Duration
  • 1992–2003
  • 2009
First appearanceJanuary 31, 1992 (January 31, 1992)
Last appearanceApril 8, 2009 (April 8, 2009)
Classification Former; regular
Created by Michael Malone
Introduced by
Crossover
appearances
All My Children
In-universe information
Other namesHenry Gannon (birth name)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • College professor
  • Football coach
MotherJanine Gannon
Brothers R. J. Gannon
Wife
Daughters Rachel Gannon
AuntsClara
Nieces Keri Reynolds
Other relatives Jamie Vega

Hank Gannon is a fictional character from the American ABC soap opera One Life to Live .

Contents

Casting

The role of Hank was originated by actor Nathan Purdee on January 31, 1992. [1] [2] Purdee continued regularly appearing in the role until July 18, 2003, [3] and he returned for three episodes in April 2009. [4] [5] [6]

Storylines

Divorced attorney Hank Gannon arrives in fictional Llanview hired to defend Sarah Gordon Buchanan (Jensen Buchanan) in the murder of Carlo Hesser (Thom Christopher). In 1993, he finds himself as the prosecuting district attorney head-to-head against ex-wife Nora Hanen (Hillary B. Smith) in the infamous Todd Manning and Marty Saybrooke rape trial. Nora throws the case upon uncovering evidence implicating Todd in the rape, although Todd never serves jail time.

After years of prosecuting Llanview criminals, Hank leaves his post as district attorney in 2003 after mishandling of the Mitch Laurence (Roscoe Born) murder case. He returns to Llanview with his daughter Rachel in April 2009 upon the news that Nora's son Matthew (Eddie Alderson) was paralyzed in a car accident.

Reception

In 2020, Candace Young and Charlie Mason put Hank on their list of Daytime's Most Important African-American Characters, commenting "By the time we met Nathan Purdee's "The Cannon," he'd already traded the football field for the courtroom" and that he was a "mvp" who could "still score". [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>One Life to Live</i> American television series

One Life to Live is an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as a web series on Hulu and iTunes via Prospect Park from April 29 to August 19, 2013. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature ethnically and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social issues. One Life to Live was expanded from 30 minutes to 45 minutes on July 26, 1976, and then to an hour on January 16, 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Manning</span> One Life to Live character

Thomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the American daytime drama One Life to Live (OLTL). Created by writers Michael Malone and Josh Griffith, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. Todd was a college student and fraternity brother to Kevin Buchanan, Zach Rosen, and Powell Lord. In 1993, following a storyline in which he becomes acquainted with Marty Saybrooke, he initiates a gang rape on her with the help of Zach and Powell. The storyline was considered groundbreaking by television critics. Its main players—Howarth, Susan Haskell (Marty), and Hillary B. Smith —won Emmys in 1994, as did Malone and his writing team. Howarth left the role in 2003; it was recast with Trevor St. John, physically altered by plastic surgery. In 2011, Howarth returned to OLTL; it was disclosed Todd had been taken hostage and St. John's version of the character was really Todd's identical twin brother, Victor Lord, Jr., conditioned to assume Todd's place.

Nathan Purdee is an American actor, best known for his roles in popular soap operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dorian Lord</span> Soap opera character

Dorian Lord is a fictional character and matriarch of the Cramer family on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, played most notably and for the longest duration by actress Robin Strasser. Strasser was cast by series creator Agnes Nixon and debuted on the episode first-aired on April 13, 1979. For most of the show's history, the character is the show's primary antagonist and Byronic hero.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bo Buchanan</span> Soap opera character

Beaufort Oglethorpe "Bo" Buchanan is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, portrayed by Robert S. Woods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nora Buchanan</span> Fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Love

Nora Buchanan is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated by Hillary B. Smith in September 1992, and she remained on the show through the original television finale on January 13, 2012. Smith reprised the role when new regular episodes of OLTL began airing on Hulu, iTunes, and FX Canada via The Online Network in April 2013. General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini announced in January 2017 that Smith would crossover the role of Nora to General Hospital. Smith first appeared on March 6, 2017, and reappeared in November of the same year. In 2019, Smith once again reprised her role as Nora on General Hospital from April 1 to April 16 of that year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marty Saybrooke</span> Soap opera character

Marty Saybrooke is a fictional character from One Life to Live, an American soap opera. The role was originated by Susan Haskell, who portrayed Marty from January 24, 1992, through September 16, 1997, and made brief appearances on February 16, 2004, and February 2005. Christina Chambers portrayed the role from November 17, 2006, to December 4, 2007, with the character written off for "storyline reasons." Haskell later returned as Marty on June 11, 2008, and left on June 6, 2011.

One Life to Live is an American soap opera that was broadcast on the ABC network from 1968 to 2012. The series began with One Life to Live storylines (1968–1979). The plot continues in One Life to Live storylines (1980–1989). The plot in the next decade is outlined in One Life to Live storylines (1990–1999) and the story concludes in One Life to Live Storylines (2000–2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Buchanan</span> Soap opera character

Kevin Buchanan is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The character is the first child born to original lead protagonists Victoria Lord and Joe Riley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Rappaport</span> Fictional Character

Lindsay Rappaport is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live. She was portrayed by Catherine Hickland, who debuted May 14, 1998, and played her continually through October 2008. Hickland briefly reprised the role in July 2009. Hickland returned to the role of Lindsay from January 4–6, 2012, for the show's ABC Daytime finale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Gannon</span> Soap opera character

Rachel Gannon is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She is the daughter of attorneys Nora Hanen and Hank Gannon.

Ed Hall (<i>One Life to Live</i>) Soap opera character

Ed Hall is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, played by Al Freeman Jr.

Greg Evans (<i>One Life to Live</i>) Fictional soap opera character

Greg Evans is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated onscreen by actor Terrell Tilford June 23, 2009, who appeared through November 17, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danielle Manning</span> Soap opera character

Danielle Manning is a fictional character from the American daytime drama One Life to Live. Created by writer Ron Carlivati, the role was originated on October 23, 2009 by Kelley Missal, who remained in the role through the ABC Daytime finale on January 12, 2012. Missal reprised the role when new daily episodes of One Life to Live debuted on Hulu, iTunes, and FX Canada via The Online Network April 29, 2013.

Irene Manning (<i>One Life to Live</i>) Soap opera character

Irene Manning is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.

References

  1. One Life to Live . Season 24. January 31, 1992. American Broadcasting Company.
  2. Seli Groves (2 February 1992). "Soap Updates". Portsmouth Daily Times . Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  3. One Life to Live . Season 35. 2003. American Broadcasting Company.
  4. One Life to Live . Season 41. April 2009. American Broadcasting Company.
  5. "Dorian Gets A Dose Of Hemorrhoid Treatment!". Soaps.com . SheKnows Entertainment. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  6. "Rachel Returns!". Soaps.com. SheKnows Entertainment. 8 April 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  7. Candace Young; Charlie Mason. "Black History Month Tribute to (But Some of) Daytime's Most Important African-American Characters [PHOTOS]". Soaps She Knows . She Media . Retrieved 29 July 2023.