Beaufort Oglethorpe "Bo" Buchanan is a fictional character from the American soap opera '' One Life to Live''.

Casting and awards

Robert S. Woods created the character of Bo in November 1979. Woods originally

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a came ...

ed for the recast of Richard Abbott, cousin of central heroine Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley (

Erika Slezak Erika Alma Hermina 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 ...

). He was offered the newly created part of Bo instead by then-executive producer Joseph Stuart; after accepting, Woods telephoned ''

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

'' star and personal friend Steve Kanaly to inform him that he would be playing the "

Ray Krebbs Ray Krebbs is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'', played by Steve Kanaly from 1978 to 1989. Ray Krebbs is the illegitimate son of Texas oil baron Jock Ewing. He later appeared in the reunion movie '' Dallas: War ...

of daytime." Woods went on to play Bo from the character's inception through 1986, and returned in 1988 to play him through the series finale on January 13, 2012. Woods reprised the role when new regular episodes of ''OLTL'' debuted on Hulu, iTunes, and

FX Canada FX is a Canadian English-language discretionary service channel owned as a partnership between Rogers Sports & Media, a division of Rogers Communications (which owns a controlling 66.64% interest and serves as managing partner), and the FX Networ ...

via

The Online Network Prospect Park is a Hollywood entertainment production company, founded in 2008 by Richard H. Frank, a former executive at the Walt Disney Television, and Jeff Kwatinetz, former CEO of the talent agency The Firm, Inc., and music manager Peter Kat ...

April 29, 2013. A 2008

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

storyline transplants Bo and

Rex Balsom Rex Balsom is a fictional character from the American daytime drama ''One Life to Live'', portrayed by John-Paul Lavoisier from May 9, 2002, to the show's finale on January 12, 2012. Casting and characterization With the character initially name ...

(John-Paul Lavoisier) back to 1968, where Woods portrays his character's father

Asa Buchanan Asa Buchanan is a fictional character and patriarch of the Buchanan family on the American serial drama '' One Life to Live''. The Texan industrialist father of newly arrived characters Clint and Bo Buchanan, Asa was originated in late 1979 by Ph ...

, and Lavoisier plays a young Bo from July 21 through August 26, 2008.''One Life to Live'' recap (7/21/08, 40th Anniversary) - Soaps.com
/ref>''One Life to Live'' recap (7/22/08, 40th Anniversary) - Soaps.com
/ref> As Bo and Rex return to the present, Woods' real-life son Tanner plays young Bo on August 26, 2008 as he departs to serve in the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

. Woods won a

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York–based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences ...

for

Lead Actor A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

for the role in 1983, also earning nominations in 1986, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, and 2012, multiple ''Soap Opera Digest'' Award nominations, and four MVP trophies from ''

Soap Opera Update ''Soap Opera Update'' was a magazine dedicated to the coverage of soap operas, co-founded by Angela Shapiro in 1988. The magazine was published every three weeks. It was purchased by Bauer Media Group in 1992. The magazine became popular on newsst ...

''.

Storylines

Lost love and business

-veteran Bo arrives in the fictional city of

Llanview, Pennsylvania Llanview, Pennsylvania is the fictional setting for the long-running American soap opera '' One Life to Live''. The city exists in the same fictional universe as cities from other existing or defunct ABC daytime dramas, including Pine Valley, P ...

, in November 1979, following his brother

Clint Clint is both a given name and a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name: *Clint Alberta (1970–2002), Canadian filmmaker * Clint Albright (1926–1999), Canadian ice hockey player *Clint Alfino (born 1968), South African baseba ...

(

Clint Ritchie Clinton Charles Augustus Ritchie (August 9, 1938 – January 31, 2009) was an American actor. Early life Ritchie was born on a farm near Grafton, North Dakota, to J. C. and Charlotte Ritchie, and his family moved to Washington state when he ...

) from their native

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. Clint had secured the chief editing position at Llanview's flagship newspaper, ''The Banner'', replacing the ailing husband and editor for ''Banner'' publisher Victoria Lord Riley (

), Joe Riley (

Lee Patterson Lee Patterson (March 31, 1929 – February 14, 2007) was a Canadian film and television actor. Life and career Patterson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, as Beverley Frank Atherly Patterson. He attended the Ontario College of Art and ...

). Somewhat unlucky in love, over the years Bo suffers many breakups, including the deaths of two wives (

Didi O'Neill This is a list of characters from the ABC Daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' that began their run between the beginning of 1980 and the end of 1989. Austin Buchanan Austin Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera ' ...

in 1988 and Sarah Gordon in 1992) and a fiancée (

Gabrielle Medina Gabrielle Medina is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera ''One Life to Live''. The role was played by actress Fiona Hutchison, who debuted in the role February 20, 1987. Hutchison briefly reprised the role for the series finale January 6 ...

in 2004). He pursues many occupations, such as becoming a music record executive and a film and television producer. In the late 1980s, Bo produces a Llanview-based opera, ''Fraternity Row'', which in 2008 is revealed to have given a fictionalized version of

rapper Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

Snoop Dogg his break in show business, cementing a lifelong friendship between them. In 1995, Bo becomes Llanview's police commissioner.

Nora and family

Bo meets attorney Nora Hanen Gannon ( Hillary B. Smith) in October 1992; that

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Philippines. It is also observed in the Netherlander town of Leiden ...

, he and wife Sarah Gordon (

Jensen Buchanan Jensen Buchanan (born July 18, 1962 in Montgomery, Alabama) is an American soap opera actress, known for portraying Sarah Gordon on '' One Life to Live'' (1987–90) and twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love on '' Another World''. Early life Buchan ...

) are involved in a hit and run accident and Sarah is killed. Over the next several months Nora and Bo work side by side trying to track down the killer. The case is finally closed and the two become best friends; their relationship slowly grows into romance after a kiss on New Year's Eve. The couple's first date is at Serenity Springs and is soon followed by a slew of junk food eating and

jitterbug Jitterbug is a generalized term used to describe swing dancing. It is often synonymous with the lindy hop dance but might include elements of the jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, charleston, balboa and other swing dances. Swing danc ...

dates. Bo and Nora first have sex in April 1993 and express their love in May 1993. However, Nora's chronic headaches worsen, leading her to believe that she is the one who caused the accident leading to Sarah's death. Bo soon proves this to be false and proposes marriage. Nora is diagnosed with a brain tumor but recovers. Bo and Nora marry on June 1, 1995, at St. James Church. The ceremony is officiated by Reverend Andrew Carpenter ( Wortham Krimmer), Rabbi Heller, and

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm a ...

singer Little Richard. Bo is devastated when his son

Drew Buchanan This is a list of characters from the ABC Daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' that began their run between the beginning of 1980 and the end of 1989. Austin Buchanan Austin Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera ' ...

, a police officer, is killed in the line of duty on September 16, 1998. Nora hopes to conceive a child to give her husband a reason to live; out of desperation she turns to former lover Sam Rappaport (

Kale Browne David Charles "Kale" Browne (born June 16, 1950) is an American actor. He was born in San Rafael, California. Browne was the first to play the roles of Michael Hudson on '' Another World'' (1986–1993, 1995–1998) and Sam Rappaport on ...

). The pregnancy pulls Bo back onto his feet, but he and Nora later divorce in 1999 when it is revealed that Nora's son Matthew had apparently been fathered by Sam. It is not until Sam's death in 2003 that the truth comes out about how Matthew ( Eddie Alderson) is Bo's son, Sam had been aware of it, and that he kept the secret. In July 2008, Bo and young

(John-Paul Lavoisier) travel back in time to 1968; Bo finds himself reliving his past as his own father

, while Rex is Bo. They both ultimately return as history writes itself with one exception: Rex (as Bo) sleeps with Asa's ex-mistress Emma Bradley. This proves significant in February 2009 when a

paternity test DNA paternity testing is the use of DNA profiles to determine whether an individual is the biological parent of another individual. Paternity testing can be especially important when the rights and duties of the father are in issue and a child' ...

determines that

David Vickers David Vickers is a fictional character from the American soap opera ''One Life to Live'' portrayed by Tuc Watkins. Casting The character David Vickers was first introduced in 1994 by Watkins, who played the character until 1996 and then reprised ...

(

Tuc Watkins Charles Curtis "Tuc" Watkins III (born September 2, 1966) is an American actor, known for his roles as David Vickers on ''One Life to Live'', Mr. Burns in '' The Mummy, Bob Hunter on ''Desperate Housewives'', Congressman Roger Harris on ''Black ...

) — whom a previous

DNA test Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, o ...

had supposedly established is Asa's son by Emma — is actually's Bo's son. In 2009, Nora and Clint ( Jerry verDorn, onward) begin a relationship. Bo and Nora spend more time together when Matthew is in an accident and becomes paralyzed; soon Clint senses that Bo and Nora still harbor feelings for each other. Nora accepts Clint's proposal, but she kisses Bo the night before her wedding to Clint. Nora loves Clint and goes through with the wedding to Clint, but she becomes further wrapped up with Bo when Matthew sues his parents for the right to have a dangerous surgery that may help him walk again. Bo and Nora finally confess their love for each other and have an affair. When Clint finds out, he furiously throws Nora out and demands a divorce, blackmailing her into signing over the Buchanan mansion, which Asa had left to her in his will. In April 2010, Bo is shot by

Schuyler Joplin A list of notable characters from the ABC soap opera ''One Life to Live'' that made their first appearance between the beginning of 2000 and the end of 2009. Kimberly Andrews Kimberly Andrews (born Aubrey Wentworth) is a fictional charact ...

(

Scott Clifton Scott Clifton Snyder (born October 31, 1984), better known as Scott Clifton, is an American actor, and video blogger. He played Dillon Quartermaine in '' General Hospital'' (2003–2007), Schuyler Joplin in '' One Life to Live'' (2009–2010) ...

) but survives, soon asking Nora to marry him on April 9, 2010. In June 2010, after a decade apart, Bo and Nora remarry in a ceremony officiated by David. On finale episode, first-run January 13, 2012, Bo became a grandfather to

Drew Buchanan II This is a list of characters from the ABC Daytime– Prospect Park soap opera, ''One Life to Live'', that began their run between the beginning of 2010 and the final cancelation of the show. Tomás Delgado Tomás Delgado is a fictional charac ...

, via Matthew. In October 2012, on '' General Hospital'',

Téa Delgado Téa Delgado is a fictional character from the American daytime drama ''One Life to Live''. The role was portrayed by Florencia Lozano from January 27, 1997, to March 2, 2000, and briefly in 2002. Lozano returned to the role once again on December ...

's baby is stolen by Heather Webber.

Anna Devane ''General Hospital'' is the longest-running American television serial drama, airing on ABC. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital (hence the title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the cit ...

mentions that Bo is still the Police Commissioner in Llanview and John McBain notes that he is doing everything he can to help apprehend Heather. After Heather is apprehended, Téa learns that her child is actually the child of

Sam McCall Sam McCall is a fictional character from ''General Hospital'', an American soap opera on the ABC network. Created by Charles Pratt, Jr. and Robert Guza, Jr., the character made her debut on the episode airing on October 1, 2003, portrayed by K ...

, and that

Todd Manning Thomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the American daytime drama ''One Life to Live'' (''OLTL''). Created by writers Michael Malone and Josh Griffith, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. Todd was a college stude ...

switched her child with Sam's. Distraught, Téa returns to Llanview.

References

External links

Bo Buchanan profile – ABC.com

Bo Buchanan profile - Soaps.com

Bo Buchanan profile - SoapCentral.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Bo Television characters introduced in 1979 One Life to Live characters American male characters in television Fictional American police officers Fictional police commissioners Fictional Vietnam War veterans Fictional characters from Texas Fictional businesspeople