| Mark Toland | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Life to Live character | |||||||
 | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Tom Lee Jones | ||||||
| Duration | 1971–75 | ||||||
| First appearance | February 1971 | ||||||
| Last appearance | May 1975 | ||||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||||
| Created by | Agnes Nixon | ||||||
| Introduced by | Doris Quinlan | ||||||
| |||||||
Mark Toland is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live . He was portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones (credited as "Tom Lee Jones") [1] from February 1971 until the character's onscreen death in 1975. [2]
A young and up-and-coming doctor, Mark is first shown as a suave and gregarious bachelor with great prospects. Upon informing show producers he would permanently vacate the role in 1975, Jones said in a 1994 interview to Entertainment Weekly that Mark morphed into "an A-one nutboy", [1] becoming a con artist and sidekick to Llanview town pariah Dorian Lord (Nancy Pinkerton).
After a nervous breakdown following a devastating breakup, the sororal niece of protagonist Joe Riley (Lee Patterson), Julie Siegel (Lee Warwick), meets Llanview newbie resident physician Dr. Mark Toland of Texas in February 1971. [3] Mark and Julie soon marry months later on May 5, [4] but their marriage is soon strained as an emotionally unreceptive Julie rebuffs her husband's sexual advances. [5]
Mark and Julie seek couples therapy through 1972 with no avail in the bedroom. By May 1973, Dr. Toland begins to seek romantic solace in newly arrived Dr. Dorian Cramer (Nancy Pinkerton). [6] [7] Her emotionally unstable sister Melinda (Pat Pearcy), jealous of Mark and Dorian's affair, sought everything she could to break the two apart, eventually stabbing Mark's hand and leading Dorian to institutionalize her sister in 1974. [8] [9]
In 1974, while romancing one another in the workplace at Llanview Hospital, Dorian and Mark engage in a tense argument which leads Dorian to erroneously mark the chart of terminally ill patient and beloved friend to Dr. Larry Wolek (Michael Storm), Rachel Wilson (Nancy Barrett). The mistake causes Mark to prescribe an overdosage of Rachel's medicine, leading to her desired death. Suspicion is soon cast on Larry, who is arrested for Rachel's suspected mercy killing, no one aware of Dorian and Mark's involvement. Both Mark and Dorian agreed to keep quiet on their complicity in the patient death. [10] [11]
Wrought with grief and guilt, Dorian advises Mark of her decision to inform hospital chief-of-staff Dr. Jim Craig (Nat Polen) of her complicity in Rachel's death. The news frightens Mark who, afraid of criminal manslaughter charges and revocation of his medical license, attempts to flee as Dorian chases him down a flight of stairs. Dorian clumsily tumbles down behind Mark, leading to a concussion which causes her to fall into a brief coma. Determined, Tom continues on his way and escapes to South America. [12] Eventually, Dorian emerges from her coma and testifies to police, exonerating Larry but resulting herself being charged with medical malpractice by the Llanview Hospital board of directors. Dorian is suspended by a near unanimous vote in December 1974, [13] save for board member Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley (Erika Slezak), who Dorian mistakenly assumes was the deciding vote—and on whom she swears revenge.
Mark continues on his getaway to San Francisco while a jobless Dorian in Llanview goes about courting ailing Llanview media magnate and Viki's father Victor Lord (Shepperd Strudwick), in part to spite Viki for the termination she believed the media heiress caused. After moving into the Llanfair, Dorian uncovers news that newly arrived Tony Harris (George Reinholt) was Victor's long-lost son and desired male heir. Concurrently, Mark incidentally meets Viki's maternal aunt Dorothy Randolph, who divulges her son Tony Harris to be Victor's first-born child. [14]
Mark plans a return to Llanview to blackmail Victor for information on his long-sought male heir, but is shot dead in May 1975 by a jilted woman who mistakes him to be her cheating husband, [12] [15] leaving Julie (Leonie Norton) widowed.
The pairing of Mark and Julie and subsequent storyline of marriage difficulty and infidelity gained such a regular following among viewers and critics it led producers to make Jones a featured lead [16] on the series opposite Lee Patterson (Joe Riley), Michael Storm (Larry Wolek), and Erika Slezak (Victoria Lord).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 in November 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.
The Lord family are fictional characters from the American soap opera One Life to Live. They were introduced in the show's July 15, 1968 debut episode on ABC, and featured for the entirety of its run until the series ended on August 19, 2013.
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.
The Cramer family is a family of fictional characters on the American soap opera One Life to Live. The family centers on the relationships of long-running character Dr. Dorian Cramer, who debuts on the series in April 1973.
Ben Davidson is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live. He was portrayed by actor Mark Derwin from February 1999 to August 2002, and briefly in February 2004 and July 2008. Ben is best remembered as the sixth husband of town heroine Victoria Lord, who carried the name "Victoria Lord Davidson" for nine years.
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.
