fictional character
In fiction, a character is a person or being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, in which case the distinction o ...
on the American soap opera ''
One Life to Live
''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as ...
''. The role was played by Patricia Roe from July 1968 until March 1972, and by
Alice Hirson
Alice Corinne Hirson (née Thorsell; March 10, 1929 – February 14, 2025) was an American actress best known for her roles on television. She began her career on stage, before roles on daytime soap operas. She was best known for her roles as Mav ...
from March 1972 until the character's last appearance in May 1976.
Background and storyline
Introduced as a
supporting character
A supporting character is a character in a narrative that is not the focus of the primary storyline, but is important to the plot/protagonist, and appears or is mentioned in the story enough to be more than just a minor character or a cameo a ...
and older sister to
protagonist
A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a ...
Lee Patterson
Lee Patterson (March 31, 1929 – February 14, 2007) was a Canadian film and television actor.
British career
He moved to the UK, where he specialised in playing virile American types in British films. He appeared in a number of films during ...
), Eileen Riley Siegel (Roe) is an
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholics () are an ethnoreligious group native to Ireland, defined by their adherence to Catholic Christianity and their shared Irish ethnic, linguistic, and cultural heritage.The term distinguishes Catholics of Irish descent, particul ...
married to
Jew
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...
ish lawyer Dave Siegel (Allen Miller) featured in one of the first
interfaith marriage
Interfaith marriage, sometimes called interreligious marriage or mixed marriage, is marriage between spouses professing and being legally part of different religions. Although interfaith marriages are often established as civil marriages, in so ...
s on American soap operas. When Joe initially marries media heiress and lead protagonist
Victoria Lord
Victoria Lord formerly (Gordon, Riley, Burke, Riley, Buchanan, Buchanan, Carpenter, Davidson, Banks) 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 D ...
(
Gillian Spencer
Gillian Spencer (born December 18, 1939) is an American soap opera actress and writer.
She had supporting roles on the soaps ''The Secret Storm'' as Lynn Wilkins Warren from 1961-1962 and ''The Edge of Night'' as Leora Davies in 1963 before joi ...
,
Erika Slezak
Erika Slezak (; born August 5, 1946) is an American actress, best known for her role as Victoria "Viki" Lord on the American daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' from 1971 through the television finale in 2012 and again in the online reviv ...
after 1971) in June 1969, the Siegels' twin children,
Julie Siegel
Julie may refer to:
* Julie (given name), a list of people and fictional characters with the name
Film and television
* ''Julie'' (1956 film), an American film noir starring Doris Day
* ''Julie'' (1975 film), a Hindi film by K. S. Sethumadhava ...
(Lee Warwick) and Tim Siegel (Bill Fowler, William Cox), premiere on the series. David serves as the primary
legal counsel
A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters.
The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as wel ...
for dynamic characters on the series, and Eileen as the familial confidante of Joe.
While on a reporting assignment in
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
for ''The Banner'' in September 1970, journalist Joe is
presumed dead
A presumption of death occurs when an individual is believed to be dead, despite the absence of direct proof of the person's death, such as the finding of remains (e.g., a corpse or skeleton) attributable to that person. Such a presumption is t ...
after his car drives over a cliff and his body goes missing. Joe's widow Victoria Lord Riley (Slezak) declares him
legally dead
''Legally Dead'' is a 1923 American drama film directed by William Parke and written by Harvey Gates. The film stars Milton Sills, Margaret Campbell, Claire Adams, Eddie Sturgis, Faye O'Neill, and Charles A. Stevenson. The film was released o ...
and begins dating Steve Burke (Bernard Grant) in 1971, to Eileen's grief as she held out hope her brother survived the crash. Victoria marries Steve in 1972, and Joe reappears in Llanview soon thereafter. The reappearance of Joe delights his sister (Hirson), but leaves Victoria dismayed at her possible
bigamy
In a culture where only monogamous relationships are legally recognized, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their mar ...
. Victoria and Joe's marriage is dissolved at his legal 1970 death date. Joe and Victoria eventually remarry in September 1974.
Dave dies of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...
in December 1972, and Eileen copes by
abusing
Abuse is the act of improper usage or treatment of a person or thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, ...
painkillers
An analgesic drug, also called simply an analgesic, antalgic, pain reliever, or painkiller, is any member of the group of drugs used for pain management. Analgesics are conceptually distinct from anesthetics, which temporarily reduce, and in so ...
Nancy Pinkerton
Nancy Pinkerton Peabody (May 7, 1940 – March 4, 2010) was an American actress.
Pinkerton is perhaps best known as the original actress to play Dr. Dorian Lord on the ABC daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' from 1973 to 1977, a period whic ...
extramarital affair
An affair is a relationship typically between two people, one or both of whom are either married or in a long-term monogamous or emotionally-exclusive relationship with someone else. The affair can be solely sexual, solely physical or solely em ...
with Dorian, unbeknownst to Julie (Leonie Norton after 1974). Eileen briefly romances Ben Farmer (Rod Browning), whose wife Rachel Wilson Farmer (
Nancy Barrett
Nancy Barrett (born October 5, 1941) is an American actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Carolyn Stoddard (among other characters) in the 1960s gothic soap opera ''Dark Shadows''.
Biography
Nancy Barrett was born in Shreveport, Loui ...
) dies because of a hospital mishap involving Dorian and Mark. Julie strongly objects to Eileen dating anyone, and demands she remain utterly devoted to the memory of David. Julie goes so far as trying to seduce Ben in order to break up her mother's relationship with him.
Eileen's son Tim (
Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger (born Thomas Michael Moore; May 31, 1949) is an American actor. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Staff Sergeant Bob Barnes in ''Platoon'' (1986). He is also known for playing ...
) returns to Llanview a law school dropout in 1975, leaving Eileen shocked. He becomes a construction worker and betroths
Jenny Wolek
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.
Casting and character hi ...
(
Katherine Glass
Katherine Glass (born January 11, 1947) is an American actress best remembered for her television work in the 1970s.
Early life
Glass was raised as a Roman Catholic in New Haven, Connecticut."Kathy takes a day at a time" by Jon-Michael Reed, '' ...
). Eileen disapproves of the speed of the engagement and persuades him to postpone rushed nuptials. Tim suffers an accident in a fight with
Vince Wolek
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.
Casting
Vincent was created by series c ...
(
Jordan Charney
Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor known for ''Ghostbusters'' (1984), ''Network'' (1976) and ''Hill Street Blues'' (1981).
Early life and career
Charney was born in Brooklyn, New York,