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The Russell family is a fictional family depicted on the American
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Passions ''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and ...
'', which aired on
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
(1999–2007) and later on
DirecTV DirecTV, LLC is an American Multichannel television in the United States, multichannel video programming distributor based in El Segundo, California. Originally launched on June 17, 1994, its primary service is a digital Satellite television, s ...
(2007–2008). The family was created by the soap's founder and
head writer A head writer is a person who oversees the team of writers on a television or radio series. The title is common in the soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio ...
James E. Reilly; it originally consisted of four characters—the married couple
Eve Eve is a figure in the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew Bible. According to the origin story, "Creation myths are symbolic stories describing how the universe and its inhabitants came to be. Creation myths develop through oral traditions and there ...
and T.C. Russell, and their children Whitney and Simone. The Russells are one of the four core families in the fictional town of Harmony, and are characterized by their friendship with the Bennetts and Lopez-Fitzgeralds and their feud with the Cranes. As the series progressed, four more characters were added to the family: Eve's vengeful, adoptive sister
Liz Sanbourne Liz Sanbourne is a fictional character from the American soap opera ''Passions'', which aired on National Broadcasting Company (NBC) from 1999 to 2007 and on DirecTV from 2007 to 2008. Created by the soap's head writer, James E. Reilly, Liz was ...
; Eve's child with
Julian Crane Julian Crane is a fictional character from the American soap opera ''Passions'' portrayed by original cast member Ben Masters. In the soap's early years, Julian is portrayed as a drunken philanderer who shares an antagonistic, loveless marriage ...
,
Vincent Clarkson Vincent Clarkson, also known by the alter ego Valerie Davis, is a fictional character from the American soap opera ''Passions''. Created by the soap's founder and head writer James E. Reilly, Vincent was portrayed by Phillip Jeanmarie from 2006 ...
; Whitney's husband and Liz's son,
Chad Harris-Crane Chad Harris-Crane is a fictional character on the American soap opera ''Passions'', which aired on NBC from 1999 to 2007 and on DirecTV in 2007–08. Developed by the soap's creator and head writer James E. Reilly, Chad was portrayed by two ac ...
; and Eve's aunt Irma Johnson. Most of the characters left during the show's transition from NBC to DirecTV, leaving Eve and Vincent as the only representatives of the Russell family in the series finale. The characters initially received negative feedback for their representation of an African-American family. They were praised by cast members, but
Rodney Van Johnson Rodney Van Johnson (born February 20, 1961, in Cincinnati, Ohio) is an American actor known for portraying the role of T.C. Russell on the daytime soap opera ''Passions.'' Career Prior to joining ''Passions'', Johnson played Sebastian Dupree on t ...
, who played T.C., felt they were not used to their full potential. Despite the criticism, the cast was frequently nominated for
NAACP Image Award The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. The over 40 ...
s and featured prominently in a series of public service announcements for
Black History Month Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Af ...
in 2003. The Russell family also drew media and critical attention for storylines involving various
LGBTQ LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
topics: Chad Harris-Crane's affair with Vincent and subsequent confusion about his sexual orientation, Simone's coming out as
lesbian A lesbian is a homosexual woman or girl. The word is also used for women in relation to their sexual identity or sexual behavior, regardless of sexual orientation, or as an adjective to characterize or associate nouns with female homosexu ...
to her family, and the revelation that Vincent was
intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...
. While the show's treatment of sexual and
gender identity Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Gender identity can correlate with a person's assigned sex or can differ from it. In most individuals, the various biological determinants of sex are congruent and consistent with the in ...
has received mixed feedback from critics, ''Passions'' won the award for Outstanding Daily Drama at the
17th GLAAD Media Awards 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (2006) were presented at four separate ceremonies: March 27 in New York City; April 8 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles; May 25 in Miami; and June 10 in San Francisco. The awards honor films, television shows, musi ...
.


Creation and development

Along with the
Bennetts Bennetts Motorcycling Services Limited is a specialist insurance broker for motorcycles headquartered in Peterborough, with a contact centre in Coventry, owned by Lucida Group since May 2021. History Bennetts was founded by Frederick J Benne ...
, the Cranes, and the Lopez-Fitzgeralds, the Russells are one of four core families conceived by series creator James E. Reilly. They have featured prominently on the soap opera since its premiere on July 5, 1999. Sheraton Kalouria, senior vice president of
NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
's daytime programming, said the decision to create and cast two minority families—the African-American Russells and the Hispanic Lopez-Fitzgeralds—was a conscious effort to simulate the diversity of the United States, and that the cast reflected the show's "truly color-blind storytelling". Rodney Van Johnson, who played T.C. Russell, expressed an appreciation for the show's representation of "a full African-American family" that was involved in serious stories on daytime television rather than "just a flash in the pan", and also said that the Russell family received a considerable response from African-American viewers. An article in '' Jet'' described each member of the Russell family as having an "integral part nthe show" rather than appearing as token characters. Other ''Passions'' cast members agreed that the Russells were not portrayed as racial stereotypes;
Tracey Ross Linda Tracey RossRiggs, Thomas; ed. (2005). Contemporary Theatre, Film & Television, Volume 59'. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale. p. 59. .Craddock, James; ed. (2016). Who's Who Among African Americans – 31st Edition'. Farmington Hills, ...
said her character Eve is "just a person" and is not purely defined by her race, and Charles Divins, who played Chad Harris-Crane, said the show's treatment of the Russells as "a strong African American family" was "refreshing".
Amelia Marshall Amelia Marshall (born April 2, 1958) is an American actress. She is best known for playing the roles of Gilly Grant Speakes on the CBS soap opera ''Guiding Light'' (1989 to 1996), Belinda Keefer on the ABC soap opera ''All My Children,'' (1996 to ...
, who portrayed Liz Sanbourne, felt that the creation of seven African-American roles allowed each character to be unique: During the soap opera's final years, Johnson expressed disappointment when the show began "taking out the people of color", such as Amelia Marshall,
Brook Kerr Brook Kerr is an American actress, best known for her role as Whitney Russell on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Passions'', which she portrayed from 1999 to 2007. Since 2020, she has portrayed Dr. Portia Robinson on the ABC daytime soap opera ''G ...
(who played Whitney Russell), and himself; he also said it was an obvious sign that "this thing is going down." Johnson identified racial diversity as one of the show's biggest draws, but added that the African-American actors were not used to their full potential. Following the departures of Johnson, Kerr, and
Cathy Jenéen Doe Cathy Jenéen Doe (born November 13, 1970), also credited as Cathy Doe, is an American actress. She is best known for her recurring role as Simone Russell on NBC's ''Passions''. She appeared in the hit TV show ''Glee''. She also appeared in sever ...
(Simone) in 2007 the Russells' only representatives in the series finale were Tracey Ross (Eve) and
Phillip Jeanmarie Phillip Kitsing Jeanmarie (born October 6, 1978) is an American actor best known for portraying Max Cooper, the Blue Shark Ranger in ''Power Rangers Wild Force'' and as intersex villain Vincent Clarkson—son of Julian Crane and Eve Russell— ...
(Vincent).


Core family members


Eve Russell

Eve Russell is the matriarch of the Russell family and a respected doctor at Harmony Hospital. Her early storylines focus on her attempts to keep her past alcohol and drug abuse, and her relationship and child with Julian Crane, secret from her family and the rest of Harmony. Following the revelation of her past, she was characterized mainly through the rekindling of her romance with Julian and her tense relationship with their son Vincent Clarkson. Ross described Eve as "a contradiction inside an enigma". She based her performance on Catherine Halsey from
Ayn Rand Alice O'Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum; , 1905March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (), was a Russian-born American writer and philosopher. She is known for her fiction and for developing a philosophical system which s ...
's 1943 novel ''
The Fountainhead ''The Fountainhead'' is a 1943 novel by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, her first major literary success. The novel's protagonist, Howard Roark, is an intransigent young architect who battles against conventional standards and refuses to com ...
'', and Eve White from the 1957 film ''
The Three Faces of Eve ''The Three Faces of Eve'' is a 1957 American drama film presented in CinemaScope, based on the book of the same name about the life of Chris Costner Sizemore, which was written by psychiatrists Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley, who a ...
''. Eve was played by Tracey Ross for the entire run of the series. Actresses Amanda Maiden and Kimberly Kevon Williams portrayed Eve in 2003 during flashbacks. A writer from '' Jet'' praised Ross's depiction of Eve for broadening the representation of African-American characters on television. Ross's portrayal of the character was warmly received by viewers, who frequently rated her their favorite ''Passions'' actress in ''
Soap Opera Digest ''Soap Opera Digest'' was a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap operas. It featured onscreen and offscreen news about the series, interviews with and articles about performers, storyline summaries and analysis, and related promotional ...
'' polls. Eve and Julian's relationship was also seen positively by fans, who referred to the couple as "Evian". ''
TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media In mass communication, digital media is any media (communication), communication media that operates in conjunction with various encoded machine-readable data formats. Digital content can be created, vi ...
'' listed Eve and Julian as one of the best soap-opera
supercouples A supercouple or super couple (also known as a power couple) is a popular and/or wealthy pairing that intrigues and fascinates the public in an intense or obsessive fashion. The term originated in the United States, and it was coined in the earl ...
, praising the chemistry between Ross and co-star
Ben Masters Benjamin Masters (May 6, 1947 – January 11, 2023) was an American actor who is best known for his portrayal of Julian Crane in daytime drama ''Passions'' from July 8, 1999, to the show's final episode on August 7, 2008. Early life Masters wa ...
, ''
Soap Opera Weekly ''Soap Opera Weekly'' was a weekly magazine covering American daytime soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterize ...
'' referred to the pairing as "the Odd Couple of ''Passions''".


T. C. Russell

T. C. Russell is the patriarch of the Russell family. He is characterized by his violent temper and hatred of Julian Crane for supposedly injuring him in a
hit-and-run In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the criminal act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there ma ...
attack, and destroying his chances of becoming a professional tennis player. T. C. is initially portrayed as a harsh and unforgiving parent; he pushes Whitney to train to be a tennis champion, as he once wanted to be, and disapproves of her relationship with Chad Harris-Crane, feeling it is a distraction. He is also violent with Simone when she reveals she is a lesbian. After learning about Eve's past relationship with Julian and her responsibility for the car crash that ended his tennis career, T.C. files for divorce and has a brief romance and engagement to her adoptive sister Liz Sanbourne. The show humanizes T. C. and softens his temper during his recovery from a
stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...
; his final storylines focus on his attempts to rebuild his relationship with his ex-wife and children. In 2007, he moves to New Orleans to help Whitney with her pregnancy and reconnect with Simone. T. C. does not appear in the show after its transition to DirecTV, and he is neither seen nor mentioned in the series finale. T. C. was portrayed by Rodney Van Johnson from July 5, 1999, to June 19, 2007; Johnson was dropped to recurring status in December 2006 before his last appearance in June 2007. On March 19, 2001, Jerry Gaona played the character in flashbacks. Once T.C. was developed beyond the role of "the angry black man" and it became clear that the contents of his secret shed were not important to the plot, Johnson felt that his presence in the show was dramatically reduced. After being reduced to the status of a recurring cast member, he expressed doubt that he would return to the show in its final episodes. T. C.'s relationship with Eve, and Johnson's chemistry with Ross, did not receive much attention from the fans or the media. Other ''Passions'' cast members and representatives commented on the preference for Julian over T. C.; Masters said his character Julian should "just kick T. C. out of his house" and beat him with a 4x4, and a spokesperson from the show pushed Julian and Eve's romance to the forefront as "a new supercouple in Harmony" without any mention of T. C. Internationally, T.C. received a more positive response. African newspaper
Mmegi ''Mmegi'' is an English-language national newspaper in Botswana Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory pa ...
said Johnson was invited to the 2005 Miss Culture and Heritage contest in
Botswana Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Botswana is topographically flat, with approximately 70 percent of its territory part of the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by South Africa to the sou ...
due to his performance of T. C. as a "husband and father in the soap that warms the hearts of many in different countries".


Simone Russell

Simone Russell is the youngest daughter of Eve and T. C. Russell, and is initially always seen in her older sister's shadow. She is first introduced as a part of a love triangle with Whitney and Chad, and an accomplice in
Kay Bennett Kay Bennett may refer to: * Kay Curley Bennett (1922–1997), also known as Kaibah, Navajo artist and writer from Arizona * Kay Bennett, fictional character from American soap opera ''Passions ''Passions'' is an American television soap oper ...
's schemes to seduce
Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald ''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and ...
. Simone receives more prominence after she announces she is a lesbian and begins a relationship with Rae Thomas. T. C. beats her after hearing about her relationship with Rae, but after much resistance, her family eventually supports her sexual identity. After learning Vincent killed Rae, Simone decides to leave Harmony with her sister to help her with her pregnancy, and to settle in New Orleans. Simone does not physically appear on screen after the show moved from NBC to DirecTV, but she is referenced through her letter to Kay before Kay's marriage to Miguel. Over the course of the show, Simone was played by three actresses: Lena Cardwell (July 5, 1999, to April 16, 2001),
Chrystee Pharris Chrystee Pharris is an American actress, best known for her role as Simone Russell on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Passions''. Life and career Chrystee Pharris first became known as Simone Russell, a recurring character from 2001 to 2006 on t ...
(April 17, 2001, to April 2004), and
Cathy Jenéen Doe Cathy Jenéen Doe (born November 13, 1970), also credited as Cathy Doe, is an American actress. She is best known for her recurring role as Simone Russell on NBC's ''Passions''. She appeared in the hit TV show ''Glee''. She also appeared in sever ...
(July 23, 2004, to September 4, 2007). The program made history as the first daytime serial to show two women having sex in bed. She is also the first African-American lesbian character to appear in a daytime serial. When discussing the decision to portray Simone as a lesbian, Kalouria emphasized "sexual identity isn't a passing fancy" and "this is where imoneis ..I can assure you we're not going to make light of this particular topic." The storyline about Simone's lesbianism, and the representation of her sexuality, received mixed feedback from critics and media outlets, as did Cathy Jenéen Doe's performance.
Sarah Warn Sarah Warn is an American writer and the former editor of entertainment website AfterEllen.com. Biography Warn graduated from Annie Wright School in Tacoma in 1992. She then attended Wellesley College in 1996 with a degree in women's studies, ...
, former editor of entertainment website
AfterEllen.com ''AfterEllen'' is an American culture website founded in 2002, with a focus on entertainment, interviews, reviews, and news of interest to the lesbian and bisexual women's community. The site covers pop culture and lifestyle issues from a feminis ...
, criticized the lesbian reveal as having "reduced Simone to a one-dimensional character who happened to sleep with a girl".


Whitney Russell

Whitney Russell is the eldest daughter of Eve and T. C. Russell. She is introduced as a close friend of Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald Crane, but she became prominent on the show as the love interest of Chad Harris-Crane. When Chad is incorrectly identified as Eve and Julian's son, his relationship with Whitney is judged to be incestuous. Whitney's confusion about her relationship with Chad, and her shame at possibly committing incest, escalates after she becomes pregnant and gives birth to their son, Miles Harris-Crane. Whitney briefly becomes estranged from Chad and Harmony, and becomes a nun to absolve herself of the sin of incest. The discovery of Chad's birth certificate proves the couple are not blood relatives; they resume their relationship and eventually marry. Whitney leaves Chad after discovering his affair with Vincent Clarkson. Their later reconciliation is cut short when he is murdered by Alistair Crane. Following Chad's death, Whitney moves to New Orleans to raise Miles, and her unborn child, with the help of Simone. Whitney does not appear on screen after the show moved from NBC to DirecTV, but she is referenced in a telephone call to police chief Sam Bennett and Simone's letter to her best friend Kay Bennett. Whitney was portrayed by
Brook Kerr Brook Kerr is an American actress, best known for her role as Whitney Russell on the NBC daytime soap opera ''Passions'', which she portrayed from 1999 to 2007. Since 2020, she has portrayed Dr. Portia Robinson on the ABC daytime soap opera ''G ...
from the series' debut on July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007. In 2005, Sidne Siobhan Phillips portrayed the character in flashbacks. ''Passions'' casting director Jacklynn Briskey originally rejected 26-year-old Brook Kerr for the role of Whitney, believing she would look too mature to play a teenager. Despite this decision, Kerr's husband Christopher Warren submitted his wife's
head shot A head shot or headshot is a photographic portrait in which the focus is on the subject's face. The term is usually applied to professional profile images on social media, images used on online dating profiles, and promotional images of actors, ...
s to the network and she was hired to play the character. Kerr later described the week of auditioning and two
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. It is typically a secondary or later stage in the audition process. The performer is generally given a scene, or sel ...
s to be formally cast in the role as an extremely quick process. While discussing her portrayal of the character, Kerr said, "I was always the sensible one, the friend everyone could count on, always doing what I should." Over the course of the series, media outlets frequently speculated on the exact nature of Whitney's relationship with Chad. The incest storyline led media outlets to sensationalize Harmony as the place where "half-siblings sleep with one another". ''Soap Opera Digest'' listed the 2006 revelation that Whitney and Chad were not related by blood as one of ''Passions'' most shocking secrets.


Vincent Clarkson

Vincent Clarkson, also known as Valerie Davis, is Eve and Julian's child; he is later revealed to be the blackmailer and serial rapist of the show's 2007 summertime extravaganza. In the show's final episode on NBC, Vincent is revealed to be
intersex Intersex people are those born with any of several sex characteristics, including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, "do not fit typical binar ...
and Valerie Davis is shown to be his
alter ego An alter ego (Latin for "other I") means an alternate Self (psychology), self, which is believed to be distinct from a person's normal or true original Personality psychology, personality. Finding one's alter ego will require finding one's other ...
. After the program moved to DirecTV, Vincent's storylines focused on his plan to torment Eve out of revenge for failing to prevent his abduction at birth, his sexual relationship with Julian, and his pregnancy with his father's child. Vincent teams up with
Viki Chatsworth ''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and ...
to kill the main characters at the rehearsal dinner for a mass marriage of four of the show's couples. Vincent and Viki are arrested after
Tabitha Lenox ''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and ...
sacrifices her magic to revive everyone. Vincent was portrayed by Phillip Jeanmarie from December 26, 2006, to July 18, 2008; Valerie Davis was played by
Daphnée Duplaix Daphnée Lynn Duplaix (born August 18, 1976) is an American actress and model. After beginning her career as an actress in 1996, Duplaix appeared as the July 1997 centerfold as ''Playboy''s Playmate of the Month. In addition to appearing in sev ...
from December 16, 2004, to May 28, 2008, and temporarily by
Siena Goines Siena Goines (born March 28, 1969) is an American film and television actress, her credits include ''The Young and the Restless'' (1998-2000), ''Judging Amy'' (2000-2004), '' The Sweetest Thing'' (2002), ''The 40-Year-Old Virgin'' (2005), and '' F ...
from January 30 to April 3, 2007. The character received mixed reactions from the show's cast and television critics. Jeanmarie described Vincent as representing the way in which ''Passions'' "pushed the boundaries and limits of what other soap operas didn't dare to do". On the other hand, Tracey Ross said the storyline of Vincent giving birth to his father's child made her "physically nauseous" and she could complete the delivery scenes only after the show's acting coach Maria O'Brien convinced her of "the comedic possibilities". Jamey Giddens of ''Daytime Confidential'' felt that Jeanmarie deserved an Emmy for making Vincent's outlandish situations believable. Josh Robertson of ''Complex'' called Duplaix, who had been a ''Playboy'' Playmate, one of the most successful soap actresses for her performances as Valerie in 34 episodes of ''Passions,'' along with her portrayal of Rachel Gannon in 95 episodes of ''
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 ...
''. Herndon L. Davis of ''
Windy City Times ''Windy City Times'' is an LGBT newspaper in Chicago that published its first issue on September 26, 1985. History ''Windy City Times'' was founded in 1985 by Jeff McCourt, Bob Bearden, Drew Badanish and Tracy Baim, who started Sentury Public ...
'' criticized the show's representation of Vincent's sexual relationship with Chad as "a down-low storyline which involved an African-American man but eventually turned it into an outrageous intersex serial killer storyline."


Extended family


Chad Harris-Crane

Chad Harris-Crane is the main love interest and later husband of Whitney Russell; he is also the father of Miles Davis Harris-Crane and another child. Chad's early appearances focus on his search for his biological parents, and his love triangle with sisters Whitney and Simone. Chad is initially believed to be Eve and Julian's child, which would make his relationship with Whitney incestuous. Chad's birth certificate later proves he was conceived when Alistair Crane raped Eve's adoptive sister Liz Sanbourne. He reunites with Whitney without the stigma of incest. During his separation from Whitney, Chad initiates a sexual relationship with Vincent Clarkson and continues it after his marriage. He is unaware he is committing incest because he is Vincent's half-uncle, adoptive half-cousin, and half-brother-in-law. After catching Chad having sex with Vincent, Whitney files for divorce; they later begin to reconcile through helping Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald and
Ethan Winthrop ''Passions'' is an American television soap opera that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1999, to September 7, 2007, and on DirecTV's The 101 Network from September 17, 2007, to August 7, 2008. Created by screenwriter James E. Reilly and ...
reunite as a couple. Their potential reconciliation is cut short when Chad is murdered by Alistair. Chad was portrayed by two actors over the course of the show:
Donn Swaby Donn Swaby (born August 20, 1973) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Chad Harris-Crane on the television soap opera ''Passions''. Career He attended and graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, New ...
(1999 to 2002) and Charles Divins (2002 to 2007). Despite the controversy, and negative reception of Chad's sexual encounters with Vincent, Divins noted "the characters and their relationship reimportant aspects of the show." To prepare for the storyline, Divins consulted with his gay friends, and watched
Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954) is an American television presenter, talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and media proprietor. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show' ...
's discussion of the down-low on her talk show ''
The Oprah Winfrey Show ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'' is an American first-run syndicated talk show that was hosted by Oprah Winfrey. The show ran for twenty-five seasons from September 8, 1986, to May 25, 2011, in which it broadcast 4,561 episodes. The show was taped i ...
''. Divins praised the show for its inclusion of a black, gay character on daytime television, while Swaby was disappointed by the direction Chad's storyline took. The character was a subject of parody on E!'s weekly television series ''
The Soup ''The Soup'' is an American television series that aired weekly on E! from July 1, 2004, until December 18, 2015, as a revamped version of ''Talk Soup'' that focused on recaps of various popular culture and television moments of the week. Th ...
'', in which host
Joel McHale Joel Edward McHale (born November 20, 1971) is an American actor, comedian and television presenter. He is best known for hosting ''The Soup'' (2004–2015) and his role as Jeff Winger, Jeffrey "Jeff" Winger on the NBC sitcom ''Community (TV seri ...
turned a scene in which Chad insisted he was "not gay" despite his affair with Vincent into a
running gag A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling. Though they are similar, catchphrases are no ...
by referring to the character as "Not Gay Chad". Divins—the principal actor to play Chad during the storylines focusing on the character's sexuality—made a cameo appearance on ''The Soup'''s season five premiere.


Liz Sanbourne

Liz Sanbourne is the
antagonist An antagonist is a character in a story who is presented as the main enemy or rival of the protagonist and is often depicted as a villain.foil Foil may refer to: Materials * Foil (metal), a quite thin sheet of metal, usually manufactured with a rolling mill machine * Metal leaf, a very thin sheet of decorative metal * Aluminium foil, a type of wrapping for food * Tin foil, metal foil ma ...
to her adoptive sister Eve Russell. Initially identified only by her first name, Liz is first seen as the owner of a resort on the fictional St. Lisa's Island, located near Bermuda and the
Bermuda Triangle The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a loosely defined region in the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly bounded by Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. Since the mid-20th century, it has been the focus of an urban legend sug ...
. Liz is still in love with her former boyfriend
Brian O'Leary Brian Todd O'Leary (January 27, 1940 – July 28, 2011) was an American scientist, author, and NASA astronaut candidate. He was part of NASA Astronaut Group 6, a group of scientist-astronauts chosen with the intention of training for the Ap ...
. Her early appearances center on her attempts to reunite amnesiac
Sheridan Crane Sheridan Crane is a fictional character on the NBC/DirecTV soap opera '' Passions''. She has been portrayed by McKenzie Westmore since the series began in 1999. Briefly, she was portrayed by Shannon Sturges when Westmore was on sick leave in 2 ...
with Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald, despite Brian's interest in her. When Liz arrives in Harmony, it is revealed that she is Eve's half-sister, and is later retconned to become her adoptive sister. Liz exposes Eve's past relationship with
Julian Crane Julian Crane is a fictional character from the American soap opera ''Passions'' portrayed by original cast member Ben Masters. In the soap's early years, Julian is portrayed as a drunken philanderer who shares an antagonistic, loveless marriage ...
, inadvertently leading them to reunite and proving Chad Harris-Crane and Whitney Russell were not committing incest by her identification as Chad's mother. Liz harbors a deep desire for revenge against Eve for unknowingly abandoning her in an abusive household. Liz also seeks vengeance against the Crane family after she was raped by Alistair, and later forced to undergo surgery that made her barren. Liz leaves the show in February 2006, abandoning her vengeance against Eve, Julian, and Alistair to find a new life for herself. Liz was portrayed by actress Amelia Marshall from October 3, 2001, to February 17, 2006. In 2003, Arreale Davis and Taquel Graves played the character in flashbacks. Amelia Marshall was hired for the role because of her past work with James E. Reilly on ''
Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. ''Guiding Light'' aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio ...
''. Marshall described her opinion of ''Passions'' prior to being approached with the role: "...there were always these strange things happening on the show. It really pulls you in." She has commented that her decision to take on the role of Liz came from wanting to play characters that were different from her past appearances as Belinda Keffers in ''
All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 2 ...
'', and Gilly Grant Speakes in ''Guiding Light''. In an interview with ''
Soap Talk ''Soap Talk'' is a television talk show on SOAPnet hosted by Lisa Rinna and Ty Treadway. It debuted in 2002 and ended in 2006. The reason for the show's cancellation was due to SOAPnet expanding its programming away from a soap opera-related focus ...
'', Marshall said, "I just love the fact that he saw me and realized that I could be such a witch." An article on
Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...
noted that Marshall was removed due to changes in the show's budget.


Irma Johnson

Irma Johnson is the sister of the late Warren Johnson and Eve Russell's aunt. When she was young, Eve had a close relationship with her aunt because of their love of
gospel music Gospel music is a traditional genre of Christian music and a cornerstone of Christian media. The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of gospel music vary according to culture and social context. Gospel music is compo ...
. Irma is proud of Eve's singing in the church's choir; she discouraged Eve from singing
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...
music, calling them sinful. Their relationship became strained when Irma saw a drugged and intoxicated Eve singing in a seedy Boston jazz club and cavorting with several men. Irma disowns Eve when she discovers her relationship with Julian, who is white, and her pregnancy with his child. Eve and Irma did not speak for nearly 20 years. Eve paid for Irma to live in a
retirement home A retirement home – sometimes called an old people's home, old folks' home, or old age home, although ''old people's home'' can also refer to a nursing home – or rest home, is a multi-residence housing facility intended for the elderly. Ty ...
, but told everyone she had no living relatives in an attempt to keep her past secret. In 2004, Eve's vengeful, adoptive sister, Liz Sanbourne, discovers Irma's existence, and brings her to Harmony to destroy Eve's life by revealing her past to her family. Irma tells them Eve was once a prostitute and drug addict while living in Boston, and was involved in a relationship with Julian, who is T. C.'s sworn enemy. The revelations destroy Eve and T. C.'s marriage. Despite her Christian upbringing, Irma is often foul-mouthed; she frequently calls Eve a whore or a slut. When Eve's daughter Simone tells Irma she is a lesbian, Irma, who has previously been kind to her, tells Simone homosexuality is vile and disgusting, and orders her to leave and never return. Irma was portrayed by actress
Marla Gibbs Marla Gibbs (born Margaret Theresa Bradley; June 14, 1931) is an American actress, singer, comedian, writer, and television producer whose career spans seven decades. She is known for her role as George Jefferson's maid, Florence Johnston, on th ...
on a recurring basis in 2004 and 2005. Gibbs viewed Irma as a malicious character, and was surprised at fans' positive feedback.


Usage in other media

The Russell family received further attention when the actors participated in
public service announcement A public service announcement (PSA) is a message in the public interest disseminated by the media without charge to raise public awareness and change behavior. Oftentimes these messages feature unsettling imagery, ideas or behaviors that are des ...
s (PSAs) to celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in commemoration of
Black History Month Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Af ...
. The PSAs ran on NBC stations throughout February 2003. Tracey Ross and Rodney Van Johnson made cameo appearances as Eve and T.C. Russell in the series finale of the NBC primetime drama ''
Providence Providence often refers to: * Providentia, the divine personification of foresight in ancient Roman religion * Divine providence, divinely ordained events and outcomes in some religions * Providence, Rhode Island, the capital of Rhode Island in the ...
'', marking one of the first crossovers between daytime and primetime television. Members of the Russell family were featured in '' Hidden Passions'', a 2001
tie-in A tie-in work is a work of fiction or other product based on a media property such as a film, video game, television series, board game, website, role-playing game or literary property. Tie-ins are authorized by the owners of the original proper ...
novel promoted as Tabitha Lenox's journal exposing the town's secrets sent into
HarperCollins HarperCollins Publishers LLC is a British–American publishing company that is considered to be one of the "Big Five (publishers), Big Five" English-language publishers, along with Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group USA, Hachette, Macmi ...
by her magical doll
Timmy Lenox Timothy "Timmy" Lenox is a fictional character from the NBC/DirecTV daytime drama '' Passions'' portrayed by Josh Ryan Evans. The actor died of a congenital heart defect the same day his character Timmy died on the show and donated his heart to C ...
. The book documents Eve's past drug abuse, relationship with Julian Crane, and the kidnapping of her son Vincent Clarkson. It also covers T.C.'s accident and his first meeting and courtship with Eve. Following DirecTV's decision to not renew the show, ''Passions'' partnered with Premiere Props to hold a public two-day estate sale of props and costumes from the show. Stacey Ward, a director of
NBCUniversal NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and Trade name, doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational mass media and Show business, entertainment conglomerate (comp ...
, pitched the auction as "an opportunity to own a piece of their favorite show". Several items related to the Russell family were offered for sale, including Vincent's disguise as the "Blackmailer" (without the mask) and Eve's medical coat splattered with blood from her botched surgery on Julian.


Reception


Critical reception

The show initially received mostly negative reviews for its lack of focus on the Russells in comparison to the other three core families. Reviewing the soap opera's first weeks, television critic Hal Boedeker of the ''
Orlando Sentinel The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...
'' criticized the show for relegating the Russell family to "spend ngmost of their time listening to the problems of the white Bennetts" and questioned its attempt at "racial progress". The Russells were described as having received less screen time than other characters by ''
The Baltimore Sun ''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local, regional, national, and international news. Founded in 1837, the newspaper was owned by Tribune Publi ...
''s Tamara Ikenberg, who commented that the series appeared to revolve around three families as opposed to four. Ken Tucker of ''Entertainment Weekly'' felt the Russells only served to represent the fact that "Harmony also seems to contain exactly one black family." In contrast, David Alexander Nahmod of the ''
Bay Area Reporter The ''Bay Area Reporter'' is a free weekly LGBT newspaper serving the LGBT communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is one of the largest-circulation LGBT newspapers in the United States, and the country's oldest continuously published ne ...
'' praised the show for "present ngan almost utopian picture of racial harmony in the town of Harmony" by not showing racial inequality or strife. Despite the focus on an African-American family, Lynette Rice of ''Entertainment Weekly'' said the show failed to attract the "hard-to-reach audience fAfrican-American women"; Sheraton Kalouria said, "quite frankly, many of them aren't aware ''Passions'' is even on."


Accolades

''Passions'' received two Daytime Drama awards at the American Scene Awards. These awards were given to recognize the diversity in the show's cast, which was praised for "ensuring diversity in casting and storylines from the very beginning" and "exemplifi gthe richness of the American scene on daytime television". ''Passions'' was the only soap opera to win the award twice in a row. Kerr was nominated for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress, and, along with co-stars Lindsay Hartley and
Justin Hartley Justin Scott Hartley (born January 29, 1977) is an American actor, television producer, and director. He has played Fox Crane on the NBC daytime soap opera '' Passions'' (2002–2006), Oliver Queen on the WB/ CW television series ''Smallvill ...
, was nominated for Favorite Triangle at the 2005 ''
Soap Opera Digest Awards ''The Soap Opera Digest Awards'', originally known as ''The Soapy Awards'' when introduced in 1977, was an awards show held by the daytime television magazine ''Soap Opera Digest''. History 1977–1983 The Soapy Awards were an award presented ...
''. Doe was listed as a pre-nominee for the
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series is an award presented annually by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS). It is given to honor an ...
for the
34th Daytime Emmy Awards The 34th Daytime Emmy Awards, commemorating excellence in American daytime programming from 2006, was held on June 15, 2007 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles, California. CBS televised the ceremonies in the United States, their last time doin ...
alongside co-star Emily Harper, but was not chosen as one of the final nominees. ''Passions'' won the award for Outstanding Daily Drama at the
17th GLAAD Media Awards 17th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (2006) were presented at four separate ceremonies: March 27 in New York City; April 8 at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles; May 25 in Miami; and June 10 in San Francisco. The awards honor films, television shows, musi ...
, with Doe accepting the award on the show's behalf. The actors were also frequently nominated for
NAACP Image Award The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. The over 40 ...
s. Ross received eight nominations for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series and won the award at the
38th NAACP Image Awards The 38th NAACP Image Awards ceremony, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), honored the best in film, television, music of 2006 and took place on March 2, 2007, at the Shrine Auditorium. The show wa ...
for her portrayal of Eve. Ross has cited Eve as expanding the TV representation of African-Americans and interracial relationships. For her performance as Whitney, Kerr was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 39th NAACP Image Awards. Gibbs received positive feedback for her performance as Irma; she earned a nomination for the
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Daytime Drama Series. The award was given every year since the 1993 ceremony and later retired in 2015. Victoria Rowell holds the record for most wins ...
at the
37th NAACP Image Awards The 37th NAACP Image Awards ceremony, presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), honored the best in film, television, music of 2005 and took place on February 25, 2006, at the Shrine Auditorium. The show ...
.


See also

* List of ''Passions'' characters *
List of soap operas with LGBT characters A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...


References


Citations


Book sources

*


External links


The Russell family on Soapcentral

The Johnson Family on Soapcentral
{{featured article African-American characters in television Female characters in television Passions families