Carrington family

Last updated
Carrington family
Dynasty family
Carringtons-Dynasty (1987-88).jpg
First appearance"Oil" (pilot)
January 12, 1981 (1981-01-12)
Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro
Duration
  • Original series:
  • January 12, 1981 (1981-01-12)–October 22, 1991 (1991-10-22)
  • Reboot series:
  • October 11, 2017 (2017-10-11)–September 16, 2022 (2022-09-16)

The Carringtons are the core family of the American prime time soap opera Dynasty , which aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. The series was followed up by a two-part miniseries entitled Dynasty: The Reunion in October 1991. A Dynasty reboot premiered on The CW on October 11, 2017.

Contents

Appearances

Dynasty premiered on ABC on January 12, 1981, [1] starring John Forsythe as millionaire oil tycoon Blake Carrington for the entire run of the series. [2] [3] The drama centered on patriarch Blake and his wives, children, and extended family. [1] The original run of Dynasty ended in May 1989. [4] [5] Dynasty: The Reunion, a miniseries to wrap up storylines left unfinished by the show's cancellation, aired in October 1991. [4]

A Dynasty reboot premiered on The CW on October 11, 2017, [6] starring Grant Show as Blake and again focusing on him and his dysfunctional family. [7]

Storylines

Original series

As Dynasty begins in 1981, Carrington heirs Steven (Al Corley) and Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin) return to Denver to attend the wedding of their father, powerful oil tycoon Blake Carrington (John Forsythe), to his former secretary, Krystle (Linda Evans). The Carrington family dynamic is soon established; thoughtful and sensitive Steven resists his father's pressure to step into his role as future leader of Blake's empire, while his spoiled sister Fallon, better suited to follow in Blake's footsteps, is underestimated by and considered little more than a trophy to Blake. Steven befriends Krystle, who is adjusting to life at the mansion despite chilly receptions from Fallon and the Carrington majordomo, Joseph Anders (Lee Bergere).

Blake's ex-wife Alexis (Joan Collins) appears in the second season and soon stirs up trouble for the family. In 1982, their infant grandson L.B. Colby, the son of Fallon and Jeff Colby (John James) is kidnapped. Former spouses Blake and Alexis make a televised plea that he be returned, and Alexis confesses a dark secret from their past: their firstborn son, Adam (Gordon Thomson), had been kidnapped as a baby and never recovered. Traumatized by the event, they had hidden his existence from their subsequent children Fallon and Steven. Meanwhile, in Billings, Montana, an old woman named Kate Torrance tearfully tells her grandson Michael that he is really the Carrington heir. Armed with items from Adam Carrington's baby carriage, lawyer "Michael" comes to Denver and is eventually accepted as a Carrington, but his selfishness, greed and ambition put him at odds with all of his relatives at one time or another.

Steven leaves town that year and is presumed dead in an oil rig explosion in 1982; he turns up alive and returns (portrayed by Jack Coleman) in 1983. Fallon leaves town in 1984 and is also later presumed dead in a plane crash. At the same time, chanteuse Dominique Deveraux (Diahann Carroll) comes to Denver and soon makes a shocking claim: she is the daughter of Blake's father Tom Carrington (Harry Andrews) and his longtime mistress. Later in 1984 a young woman named Amanda Bedford (Catherine Oxenberg) appears on Alexis's doorstep; she is Alexis's youngest daughter, [lower-alpha 1] and it is eventually revealed that Blake is her father. Blake and Krystle also have a daughter, Krystina (Jessica Player), in 1984. Fallon reappears in 1985 (portrayed by Emma Samms).

Alexis brings Blake's vengeful, estranged brother Ben (Christopher Cazenove) to town in 1986 to help her destroy Blake, and Ben's daughter Leslie (Terri Garber) soon follows in 1987. Ben leaves town that year after reconciling with Blake, and Leslie having reconciled with Ben follows suit in 1988 after a failed romance with Clay Fallmont (Ted McGinley), who is possibly also Ben's child.

Carrington family tree (1981–1991)
Ellen
Carrington
Tom
Carrington
Laura
Matthews
Alexis
Morell
Blake
Carrington
Krystle
Grant
Ben
Carrington
Melissa
Saunders
Dominique
Deveraux
Garrett
Boydston
Karen
Atkinson
Adam
Carrington
Fallon
Carrington
Jeff
Colby
Amanda
Carrington
Steven
Carrington
Sammy Jo
Reese
Krystina
Carrington
Leslie
Carrington
Jackie
Deveraux
Unnamed son L.B.
Colby
Lauren
Colby
Danny
Carrington

Reboot series

In 2017, wealthy siblings Steven (James Mackay) and Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies) arrive in Atlanta to meet their father's fiancée, Cristal Flores (Nathalie Kelley). Fallon and Cristal set themselves as rivals for Blake's attention, but over time they find common ground over their frustration with his machinations. In the 2018 episode "I Answer to No Man", Blake (Grant Show) reveals to Cristal that he and his first wife had another son, Adam, who was kidnapped at six months old and never returned. Blake's ex-wife Alexis (Nicollette Sheridan), Steven and Fallon's mother, reappears in the "Poor Little Rich Girl" after an extended exile. Alexis tells Steven about Adam, and Steven eventually finds his brother in El Paso, living under the name Hank Sullivan (Brent Antonello). Blake welcomes Adam back in "Trashy Little Tramp", not knowing that Hank is actually Alexis' lover with whom she is conspiring to amass enough Carrington Atlantic shares to seize control of the company. At the same time, Jeff (Sam Adegoke) and Monica Colby (Wakeema Hollis) learn from their grandmother—the former secretary of Blake's father, Thomas Carrington (Bill Smitrovich)—that their mother, Millie, was fathered by Thomas. Jeff and Monica reveal their Carrington heritage in "Dead Scratch"—though Blake is already aware of his half-sister—and declare their intention to force a sale of Carrington Atlantic.

In season two, Blake falls in love with Cristal Jennings (Ana Brenda Contreras). Fallon visits her cousin Juliette Carrington (Mathilde Warnier), the French daughter of Blake's disinherited brother Benjamin. Steven is revealed to be the son of Alexis and Anders (Alan Dale) in "The Butler Did It". The real Adam (Sam Underwood) also reappears, and is immediately welcomed into the family by Blake, though Fallon is wary of him. Blake's half-sister and Jeff and Monica's mother, now going by the name Dominique Deveraux (Michael Michele), arrives in "New Lady in Town".

In season three, Blake marries Cristal (now Daniella Alonso), and Jeff marries Alexis (now Elaine Hendrix) after she returns from receiving facial reconstructive surgery in Europe. Fallon becomes engaged to Liam Ridley (Adam Huber), heir to the infamous Van Kirks, a wealthy family based in New York. Liam is reunited with his supposed long-lost son, Connor (John Jackson Hunter), until it is revealed that Connor is Liam's paternal half-brother. Additionally, Vanessa Deveraux (Jade Payton) is introduced as Dominique's stepdaughter from a later marriage, making her Jeff and Monica's stepsister. Adam starts to date Kirby Anders (Maddison Brown), daughter of Anders and paternal half-sister of Steven.

In season four, Fallon marries Liam and Alexis divorces Jeff. Cristal temporarily leaves Blake, but they ultimately reconcile. Thomas' former mistress, mother of Dominique and grandmother of Jeff and Monica, Lo Cox (Roxzane Mims), passes away in her sleep. Adam considers proposing to Kirby, but they ultimately breakup when the return of her ex-boyfriend causes a drug relapse. With their lives in peril, Alexis and Dominique make final confessions to one another, Alexis revealing that she had another affair that led to the birth of a daughter who she gave to her cousin to be raised in London, and Dominique revealing that she is still legally married to a man that she met after her divorce from Cecil. Alexis' daughter, later revealed to also be Blake's daughter, Amanda Carrington (Eliza Bennett), arrives in "The British Are Coming". Dominique's husband, Brady Lloyd (Randy J. Goodwin), arrives in "Everything Looks Wonderful, Joseph". The revelation of Dominique and Brady's marital status nullifies Dominique's marriage to Vanessa's father, so she is not legally step-family to Dominique, Jeff, and Monica. Toward the end of the season, Fallon and Liam separate.

In season five, Dominique and Brady finalize their divorce, while Fallon and Liam reconcile and try to conceive a child. It is revealed that Fallon is infertile due to her gunshot wound, so the couple seek out a surrogate, Stacey Moore (Samantha Massell), to carry their child. In "How Did the Board Meeting Go?", Alexis reconnects with Blake's former business associate, Dex Dexter (Pej Vahdat), and they are married in "Vicious Vendetta". Additionally, Blake's estranged brother, Ben Carrington (Brett Tucker), crashes Alexis and Dex's wedding to exact his revenge against the Carringtons. In addition, Ben is expecting a child with his fourth wife. Amanda starts to date Kirby, and they take their relationship public during Alexis' wedding. Adam starts to date Fallon and Liam's surrogate, Stacey, but their relationship comes to an end when Stacey discovers that Adam drugged her. Steven makes his grand return in "Catch 22", exiling Adam from the family and rekindling his relationship with Sam. Fallon and Liam also welcome their newborn daughter into the world, Lauren Morrell Carrington-Ridley.

Carrington family tree (2017–2022)
Ellen Thomas
Carrington
Lo
Cox
Joseph
Anders
Alexis
Morell
Blake
Carrington
Cristal
Flores

(Celia Machado)
Ben
Carrington
French
heiress
Dominique
Deveraux

(Millie)
Cesil
Colby
Blake
Carrington
Cristal
Jennings
Sammy Jo
Jones
Steven
Carrington
Adam
Carrington
Fallon
Carrington
Liam
Ridley
Amanda
Carrington
Juliette
Carrington
Jeff
Colby
Monica
Colby

Notes

  1. Amanda's arrival is foreshadowed in the season four episode "The Birthday" when Alexis mentions that she has been through four pregnancies. Krystle notes the discrepancy (at this time, Alexis is known to have just three children, Adam, Fallon and Steven), but Alexis explains that one resulted in a miscarriage. Amanda appears 11 episodes later in "Amanda".

Related Research Articles

<i>Dynasty</i> (1981 TV series) 1980s American prime time television soap opera

Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981, to May 11, 1989. The series, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, revolves around the Carringtons, a wealthy family residing in Denver, Colorado. Dynasty stars John Forsythe as oil magnate Blake Carrington, Linda Evans as his new wife Krystle, and later Joan Collins as his former wife Alexis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Carrington</span> Soap opera character

Amanda Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. She was portrayed by Catherine Oxenberg for two seasons from 1984 to 1986, and then by Karen Cellini for 13 episodes from 1986 to 1987. Eliza Bennett plays Amanda in the CW reboot series Dynasty from 2021 to 2022.

<i>Dynasty: The Reunion</i> American TV series or program

Dynasty: The Reunion is a 1991 American television miniseries that served as a reunion of the 1981–1989 prime time soap opera Dynasty which continues the story of the Carringtons, a wealthy family living in Denver, Colorado. Directed by Irving J. Moore, the four-hour miniseries was broadcast in two parts on ABC on October 20 and 22, 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blake Carrington</span> Soap opera character

Blake Alexander Carrington is a fictional character on the ABC television series Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. The role of Blake was originally portrayed by actor John Forsythe from 1981 to 1989. Forsythe returned for the miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion in 1991. In the reboot of the series, Blake is played by Grant Show from 2017 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krystle Carrington</span> Fictional character in the American television series "Dynasty"

Krystle Carrington is a fictional character from the 1980s American TV series Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Linda Evans, the character was introduced in the 1981 pilot episode. In the story, Krystle is the former secretary and new wife of oil tycoon Blake Carrington, and initially has to adjust to his machinations and upper class lifestyle. The arrival of Joan Collins as Blake's glamorous ex-wife Alexis Carrington provided a foil for Krystle for the remainder of the series. Evans left Dynasty early in its ninth and final season, though she reprised her role for the 1991 miniseries continuation, Dynasty: The Reunion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexis Colby</span> Fictional character on the American TV series Dynasty

Alexis Carrington Colby is a fictional character on the American TV series Dynasty. She is the ex-wife of Blake Carrington whose schemes cause one problem after another for him and their children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fallon Carrington</span> Soap opera character

Fallon Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC television series Dynasty and its spin-off The Colbys. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro, the role of Fallon was originated by Pamela Sue Martin in the show's first episode in 1981, and Martin left at the end of the fourth season in 1984. Fallon was recast with Emma Samms in 1985, and the character was spun off onto a companion series called The Colbys. After the cancellation of the second series, Fallon returned to Dynasty in 1987, and remained on the series until its finale in 1989. Samms later reprised the role for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. Elizabeth Gillies plays Fallon in The CW's 2017 reboot series Dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Anders</span> Soap opera character

Joseph Anders is a fictional character from the ABC television series Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Lee Bergere, the character is introduced in the series' 1981 pilot episode as the majordomo of Denver oil tycoon Blake Carrington. Joseph is consistently caught up in the melodrama of the Carrington family, and his daughter, Kirby, is introduced in 1982. Bergere was written out of the series at the beginning of the fourth season in 1983. Anders is portrayed by Alan Dale in The CW's 2017 reboot of the series from seasons one to four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Claudia Blaisdel Carrington</span> Soap opera character

Claudia Blaisdel Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Originated by Pamela Bellwood in the series' 1981 pilot episode, "Oil", Claudia is initially the estranged, emotionally troubled wife of Denver–Carrington geologist Matthew Blaisdel. She later becomes entangled in the intrigues surrounding the Carrington family, and is married for a time to Steven Carrington, and later his brother Adam. Bellwood left Dynasty at the end of the sixth season in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Jo Carrington</span> Soap opera character

Sammy Jo Carrington is a fictional character on the ABC television series Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. The niece of central protagonist Krystle Carrington, Sammy Jo marries and has a son with Steven Carrington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Carrington</span> Fictional soap opera character

Adam Alexander Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Introduced at the beginning of the series' third season, the role was originated by Gordon Thomson in 1982. He continued to appear as a series regular until the series finale in 1989. For the 1991 miniseries continuation, the role of Adam Carrington was recast with Robin Sachs as Thomson was unavailable. In the 2017 reboot of the series, Sam Underwood played Adam from 2019 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Colby</span> Soap opera character

Jeffrey Broderick "Jeff" Colby is a fictional character on the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty, created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by John James, Jeff Colby was introduced in the show's first episode in 1981 and appeared as a series regular for six seasons until transferring to the spin-off companion series, The Colbys. The character returned to Dynasty upon the cancellation of The Colbys in 1987 and remained with the series until its final episode in 1989. James later reprised his role for the 1991 miniseries, Dynasty: The Reunion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominique Deveraux</span> Soap opera character

Dominique Deveraux is a fictional character on the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty and its spin-off, The Colbys. Portrayed by Diahann Carroll from 1984 to 1987, the character is the surprise half-sister of millionaire Blake Carrington. Dominique was written out of the series at the end of its seventh season, and did not return for the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirby Anders</span> Soap opera character

Kirby Anders is a fictional character on the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty. Portrayed by Kathleen Beller from 1982 to 1984, the character was introduced in the seventh episode of the series' third season, but was written out after the fourth season finale. Beller reprised the role for the 1991 miniseries, Dynasty: The Reunion.

<i>Dynasty</i> (2017 TV series) American television soap opera

Dynasty is an American drama television series reboot based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name. Developed by Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage, and Sallie Patrick, the first season stars Elizabeth Gillies as glamorous businesswoman Fallon Carrington, Grant Show as her billionaire father Blake Carrington, James Mackay as her brother Steven, and Nathalie Kelley as Blake's new wife Cristal, with Robert Christopher Riley as chauffeur Michael Culhane, Sam Adegoke as tech billionaire Jeff Colby, Rafael de la Fuente as Cristal's nephew Sam "Sammy Jo" Jones, and Alan Dale as Joseph Anders, the cunning majordomo.

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<i>Dynasty</i> (2017 TV series, season 4) Season of television series

The fourth season of Dynasty, an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, premiered in the United States on The CW on May 7, 2021. The season is produced by CBS Television Studios, with Josh Reims as showrunner and executive producer alongside executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage. Dynasty was renewed for a fourth season on January 7, 2020, and for a fifth season on February 3, 2021.

<i>Dynasty</i> (2017 TV series, season 5) Season of television series

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References

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