Michelle Stevens is a fictional character who appeared in the last seasons of the popular American television series ''

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

'', played by Kimberly Foster, from 1989 to 1991.

Character

Michelle Stevens was the scheming younger sister of

April Stevens Caroline Vincinette LoTempio (April 29, 1929 – April 17, 2023), known professionally as April Stevens, was an American Grammy Award-winning singer of traditional pop, best known for her collaborations with her younger brother, Nino Tempo, as ...

. In an interview for the ''

Reading Eagle The ''Reading Eagle'' is the major daily newspaper in Reading, Pennsylvania. A family-owned newspaper until the spring of 2019, its reported circulation is 37,000 (daily) and 50,000 (Sundays). It serves the Reading and Berks County region of P ...

'', Kimberly Foster described her character, saying that "Michelle doesn't have a limit on how far she'll go... she's very smart, devious, and conniving. She lies, too, but I think she still has some vulnerabilities. She is always trying to find out everyone else's businesses, but she has secrets going on with just about everybody, too. She has some pain in her heart. I think it's because she grew up in the shadow of her sister."

Storyline

Michelle comes to

envious of her rich older sister's lifestyle. She initially becomes entangled with

Cliff In geography and geology, a cliff or rock face is an area of Rock (geology), rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. ...

Barnes and spies on him for

J.R. Ewing John Ross Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American television series ''Dallas'' (1978–1991) and its spin-offs, including the continuation series (2012–2014). The character was portrayed by Larry Hagman from the series premiere in ...

. J.R. grows to dislike Michelle after she interferes with his marriage with Cally. When Michelle begins an affair with J.R.'s son, James Beaumont, J.R. arranges for Michelle to leave town. Following April's death, Michelle returns to Dallas, bent on revenge. After inheriting April's wealth, she buys Ewing Oil from LeeAnn De La Vega, (played by

Barbara Eden Barbara Eden (born Barbara Jean Morehead; August 23, 1931) is an American actress and singer, who starred as the title character in the sitcom ''I Dream of Jeannie'' (1965–1970). Her other roles included Roslyn Pierce opposite Elvis Presley in ...

), and marries James Beaumont, much to J.R.'s displeasure. Michelle's marriage is short-lived, as she later learns that James is already married to someone else. After James tells her he's leaving town with his wife and child, Michelle sells half of Ewing Oil to Cliff Barnes, but he takes advantage of Michelle's drunken state and marries her in order to control all of Ewing Oil. Michelle is jailed for shooting and killing Hillary Taylor, the woman responsible for April's death. Michelle is released after J.R. persuades the

district attorney In the United States, a district attorney (DA), county attorney, county prosecutor, state attorney, state's attorney, prosecuting attorney, commonwealth's attorney, or solicitor is the chief prosecutor or chief law enforcement officer represen ...

's office to drop the charges. In exchange for his help, Michelle sells her half of Ewing Oil back to J.R., making him an equal business partner with Cliff. After returning from jail, Michelle is last seen returning to Ray Krebbs' old ranch on

Southfork Ranch Southfork Ranch is a conference and event center in Parker, in the US state of Texas, north of Dallas. It includes the Ewing Mansion, the setting for the television series ''Dallas''. A variety of tours are offered to the location. History Th ...

, which she had purchased with the hope of starting a family home with James. Upon returning, she breaks down in tears since the house is empty.

Notes

References

External links

Dallas (TV franchise) characters Television characters introduced in 1989 American female characters in soap operas {{soap-char-stub