| Jenny Wolek | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Life to Live character | |||||||||||||||
 Brynn Thayer as Jenny Wolek | |||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by |
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| Duration | 1975–1986 | ||||||||||||||
| First appearance | June 1975 | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | May 1986 | ||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||||||||||||
| Created by | |||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Doris Quinlan | ||||||||||||||
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Jenny Wolek is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live . The distant cousin of original characters Larry, Anna, and Vince Wolek, Jenny debuted June 1975, appearing continually until May 1986. [1]
Jenny Wolek was originated by actress Katherine Glass in June 1975 [2] and introduced as a novitiate nun preparing to take her final vows. Instead, she falls in love with Jewish, blue-collar Tim Siegel (Tom Berenger). [3] [4] When Jenny announces she is leaving the Order to marry Tim, her cousin Vince "Vinny" Wolek (Jordan Charney) heatedly objects, complaining of how Tim is "stealing Jenny from the church". A fist fight ensues, leading Vinny to aggravate in Tim a latent brain injury, which results in his being taken to the hospital in critical condition. [5] Jenny marries Tim on his deathbed April 5, 1976, [6] and she remains resentful toward Vinny for the duration of his appearance on the serial. [7]
No longer planning to become a nun, Jenny takes a secretarial job with Dr. Will Vernon (Farley Granger) in 1976. Jenny grows enamored with Dr. Vernon but begins dating his son Brad (Jameson Parker) in 1977. The two marry on the episode aired January 3, 1978. [8] Soon after marrying, Jenny learns Brad is a philanderer and the two suffer a rocky marriage. Actress Brynn Thayer, a fan of Katherine Glass' Jenny, assumed the role in August 1978 amid a contract dispute between Glass and ABC Daytime. [4] Jenny becomes pregnant into 1979 and looks forward to motherhood. But the stress of a perpetually unfaithful Brad (Steve Fletcher onward) and learning he had raped her sister, Karen (Judith Light), causes Jenny to blackout, go into premature labor, and give birth stillborn daughter Mary Vernon in November. [9] Not told her child was dead in the morgue instead of the maternity ward, misguided sister Karen conspires in a plot with ex-boyfriend-con man Marco Dane (Gerald Anthony) to switch dead Mary with a live newborn. [10]
Jenny rears a child born during Jenny's delivery to Karen's former fellow prostitutes, Katrina Karr (Nancy Snyder). She then divorces Brad, marrying Dr. Peter Janssen (Denny Albee) September 2, 1981. [11] She is soon widowed for a second time when Peter is killed in a car accident in May 1982. [12] Only a short time after losing her husband Peter, Jenny learns the truth about Karen's baby switch and makes the wrenching decision to give the child back to Katrina. [13] Unknown to Jenny and Katrina, both of their children were fathered by Brad.
Jenny next engages in a relationship with David "David Renaldi" Reynolds (Michael Zaslow), the former lover of Dr. Dorian Lord (Robin Strasser) and father to Dorian's daughter, Cassie. Despite being married to Herb Callison (Anthony Call) at the time, Dorian does her best to split up Jenny and David. After finally getting Dorian to relent, Jenny and David wed June 1, 1984. [14] [15] She soon becomes worrisome upon learning David to be a secret agent investigating communist espionage activity for the American government. Jenny last appears onscreen making amends with cousin Larry and ex-husband Brad before relocating to Switzerland with David in May 1986. [16]
David Renaldi returns to Llanview in 1997, divulging to Dorian that Jenny was assumed dead in Switzerland from an avalanche. [17]
Jenny Wolek was a part of a move by new head writer Gordon Russell in 1975 to incorporate younger talent into the cast following the 1973 onscreen death of Meredith Lord, played by Lynn Benesch. [1] Katherine Glass garnered much fanfare and controversy as one-half of soap opera's first teen and interfaith supercouple alongside Tom Berenger (Tim Siegel). [4] [18] [19] [20] Glass' Jenny had particular resonance with younger viewers who identified with the Wolek heroine. [5]
Brynn Thayer's work as a Jenny learning her daughter, Mary Vernon, was stillborn and switched soon after birth with the child she raised for two years, Kristine Karr, is considered[ by whom? ] one of OLTL's most tragic and riveting performances. [4]
Victoria Lord is a fictional character and matriarch of the Lord family on the American soap opera One Life to Live, played for over 41 years by six-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress Erika Slezak.
Victor Dalby Lord is a fictional character and patriarch of the Lord family from the American soap opera One Life to Live.
One Life to Live is an American soap opera that was broadcast from 1968 to 2013, on the ABC network from 1968 to 2012. The series starts 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).
One Life to Live is an American soap opera created by Agnes Nixon. During the 1980s, the show was broadcast on the ABC television network and episodes were an hour long.
Tony Lord is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The elder child of Victor Lord and brother to heroine Victoria Lord, actor George Reinholt originated the role in April 1975. The character was featured continually through 1979, from 1981 to 1983, and last appeared in episodes in 1987.
The Wolek family are fictional characters from the American soap opera One Life to Live present at its debut in 1968. The Woleks were created as a working-class reflection of the affluent Lord family, and storylines focused on the shared relations of the two families.
Daniel Wolek is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live. He is the only son of original characters Larry Wolek and Meredith Lord.
Karen Wolek is a fictional character appearing on the American soap opera One Life to Live between May 1976 and February 1983. The role was most notably performed by Judith Light beginning on October 21, 1977. Karen ultimately departs for an off-screen life in Canada, coinciding with Light's departure from the series.
Larry Wolek is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, played for 35 years by actor Michael Storm. Storm is the second longest running cast member of the ABC Daytime production after actress Erika Slezak, and he briefly crossed over in the role on premiere episodes of All My Children in 1970.
Vince Wolek is a fictional character from the American soap opera, One Life to Live. Actor Antony Ponzini originated the role from the debut episode in 1968 through 1975, and briefly reappeared in 1987.
Brad Vernon is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live.
Jim Craig is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live played notably by actor Nat Polen from May 1969 until the actor and character's off-screen death in May 1981. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing actor Robert Milli originated the role from the pilot in July 1968 until 1969.
Joe Riley is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera One Life to Live originated on the debut episode by actor Lee Patterson. Patterson regularly appeared in the role from the inception of the serial July 15, 1968, through 1970, from 1972 through October 3, 1979, and briefly in 1987.
Meredith Lord is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live.
Mark Toland is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. He was portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones from February 1971 until the character's onscreen death in 1975.
Marco Dane is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was played by actor Gerald Anthony from its debut in 1977 through 1986, and from May 17, 1989, until 1990. Anthony crossed over in the role on sister soap opera General Hospital on September 2, 1992 as Marco, remaining in the role through December 24, 1993.
Ed Hall is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, played by Al Freeman Jr.
Eileen Riley Siegel is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was played by Patricia Roe from July 1968 until March 1972, and by Alice Hirson from March 1972 until the character's last appearance in May 1976.
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