List of Soap characters

Last updated

Chester and Benson. Robert Mandan Robert Guillaume SOAP 1977.JPG
Chester and Benson.
The Tates and Campbells with Benson. Tates Campbells and Benson Soap 1977.JPG
The Tates and Campbells with Benson.

Soap is an American sitcom television series that originally ran on ABC from 1977 through 1981. A parody of soap operas, the show's story was presented in a serial format and featured melodramatic plotlines revolving around a large family in the fictional town of Dunn's River, Connecticut.

Contents

The series revolves around the households of sisters Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond) and Mary Campbell (Cathryn Damon). Actors who play members of the Tate household include Robert Mandan as Jessica's husband Chester; Jennifer Salt, Diana Canova, and Jimmy Baio as their children; Eunice, Corinne and Billy; Arthur Peterson Jr. as Jessica and Mary's father, a retired U.S. Army major; and Robert Guillaume as the family butler Benson. Other members of the Campbell household include Richard Mulligan as Mary's second husband Burt; Ted Wass and Billy Crystal as Danny and Jodie, Mary's sons from her first marriage; and Jay Johnson as Burt's son Chuck and his ventriloquist dummy Bob. Later additions to the main cast include Donnelly Rhodes as Dutch Leitner, an escaped convict who lives with the Tates, and Roscoe Lee Browne as Saunders, Benson's replacement as the Tate family butler.

Additionally, Rod Roddy provides the voice of the unseen announcer, who recaps the plot of the previous episode and teases the plot of the following one. Casey Kasem provided the narration in the pilot episode.

Tate family

Campbell family

Jessica's love interests

Characters who had or pursued a romantic relationship with Jessica Tate.

Danny's love interests

Characters who had or pursued a romantic relationship with Danny Dallas.

Jodie's love interests

Characters who had or pursued a romantic relationship with Jodie Dallas.

Other characters' love interests

Family members of recurring characters

Criminals

Court system

Doctors

Other

Related Research Articles

<i>Soap</i> (TV series) American sitcom television series (1977–1981)

Soap is an American sitcom television series that originally ran on ABC from September 13, 1977, until April 20, 1981. The show was created as a nighttime parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format, and featured melodramatic plotlines including alien abduction, demonic possession, extramarital affairs, murder, kidnapping, unknown diseases, amnesia, cults, organized crime warfare, a communist revolution, and teacher-student relationships. In 2007, it was listed as one of Time magazine's "100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME", and in 2010, the Tates and the Campbells ranked at number 17 in TV Guide's list of "TV's Top Families".

<i>Benson</i> (TV series) American television sitcom

Benson is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986. The show stars Robert Guillaume in the title role of Benson DuBois, the head of the household for Governor Eugene X. Gatling, played by James Noble. The show focused on the conflicts and relationships within the Governor's household, with Benson generally providing the sarcastic voice of reason. Inga Swenson, Missy Gold, Didi Conn, Ethan Phillips, and René Auberjonois all played long-term supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olivia Benson</span> Fictional character on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Olivia ¨Liv¨ Margaret Benson is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the NBC police procedural drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, portrayed by Mariska Hargitay. Benson holds the rank and pay-grade of Captain and is the Commanding Officer of the Manhattan Special Victims Unit of the New York City Police Department, which operates out of the 16th Precinct. She investigates sexual offenses such as rape and child sexual abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Salt</span> American actress

Jennifer Salt is an American producer, screenwriter, and former actress known for playing Eunice Tate on Soap (1977–1981).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joanne Gardner</span> Soap opera character

Joanne "Jo" Gardner is a fictional character from the long-running soap opera Search for Tomorrow. The role was played by actress Mary Stuart for the show's entire run. Joanne was married four times, making her full legal name Joanne Gardner Barron Tate Vincente Tourneur.

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

Jessica Eugenia Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She is the daughter of Victoria Lord and Clint Buchanan. She is the fraternal twin sister of Natalie Buchanan, and is born on-screen in the episode first-run on September 23, 1986, with the birth year later revised to 1978.

General Hospital is an American television serial drama, airing on ABC. The show was created by Frank and Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital in an unnamed fictional city. The series premiered on April 1, 1963. In the 1970s, the city was named Port Charles, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodie Dallas</span> Fictional character from the US sitcom "Soap"

Jodie Dallas is a fictional character from the 1977 American sitcom Soap. He was played by Billy Crystal. The son of central character Mary Campbell, Jodie works as a television commercial director. Jodie was among the first gay characters on American television. Despite being gay, Jodie fathered a child through a one-night stand, and many of his storylines throughout the series centered on his involvement with women. Jodie had relationships with two other women but maintained throughout the series that he was still gay. The series ended with Jodie, as the result of hypnotherapy, believing he was an elderly Jewish man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Family (sketch)</span> Sketches featured on The Carol Burnett Show

"The Family" is a series of comedy sketches featured on The Carol Burnett Show, with one final installment airing on Carol Burnett & Company. The Carol Burnett Show introduced the skit starting in the 1973-1974 season. Overall, it aired new installments of the skit for the last five seasons of its total 11-season run; the skit aired from the 1973-1974 season to the 1977-1978 season on the show. The final installment of "The Family" aired on September 8, 1979, after Burnett's CBS show had concluded, on a four-week summer series entitled Carol Burnett & Company. This was the only installment of "The Family" that did not air on The Carol Burnett Show. Altogether, there were 31 appearances of "The Family" sketches.

"The Origins of Monstrosity" is the sixth episode of the second season of the FX anthology television series American Horror Story. The episode, written by series co-creator Ryan Murphy and directed by David Semel, aired on November 21, 2012. This episode is rated TV-MA (LSV).

"Dark Cousin" is the seventh episode of the second season of the FX anthology television series American Horror Story. The episode, written by Tim Minear and directed by Michael Rymer, aired on November 28, 2012.

References

  1. Miller, Taylor Cole (May 28, 2013). "Randee Heller, 'Mad Men's Miss Blankenship, Played American Television's First Recurring Lesbian Role". Huffington Post . Retrieved October 24, 2013.