This is a list of characters from the ABC Daytime soap opera, One Life to Live, that began their run between the show's pilot episode and the end of 1979.
Becky Lee Abbott
Becky Lee Abbott is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated by Jill Voight in February 1977, a role she played through December 1978. Mary Gordon Murray stepped into the role in August 1979 and played Becky until May 1985. Murray later made several guest appearances in 1986, 1988, 1996, 1998 and from November 15 to 19, 2001.
When Becky Lee was first shown, she was an aspiring country-and-Western singer. She was later signed to the record company owned by Asa Buchanan. Her first husband had been Luke Jackson, and she later married Richard Abbott. She and fellow singer Johnny Drummond often worked together. She became attracted to Bo Buchanan, and they conceived a son. Bo would not marry her, so Bo's father Asa Buchanan married her.
Becky later had amnesia, and she met the Wilde family in the mountains.
Pat Ashley
Patricia "Pat" Ashley Lord (formerly Kendall and Brewster) is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live. The role was played by actress Jacqueline Courtney from the character's inception in April 1975 continually through its onscreen departure in December 1983.
Pat was the twin sister of Maggie Ashley (also played by Jacqueline Courtney) and the daughter of Helena Ashley (played by Augusta Dabney). Her son, Brian Austin, was the illegitimate son of Tony Lord and the grandson of Victor Lord. Brian was later killed.
Pat dated Clint Buchanan, Bo Buchanan, and Adam Brewster.
Steve Burke
Steven "Steve" Burke is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated by actor Bernard Grant in August 1970, who played the character continually through 1975.
Herb Callison
Herbert "Herb" Callison is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live. The character was played by actor Anthony Call from its inception in 1978 through its last regular appearance in 1992. Call reprised the role in 1993.
Herb gains notoriety (and a friend in Dorian Lord) upon serving as the Llanview District Attorney during the Marco Dane murder trial against Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley. Viki who was ultimately acquitted, and which resulted in the shocking revelation that Karen Wolek was a prostitute involved with client and actual murderer Talbot Huddleston.
Upon marrying Dorian at Llanfair in 1981, he adopts her daughter Cassie Reynolds, who soon takes her stepfather's surname as he adopts her. Herb and Dorian divorce in 1985, though the two remain close friends. Herb departs fictional Llanview in 1992, returning briefly for Christmas episodes in December 1993.
Melinda Cramer
Melinda Cramer is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera One Life to Live. The character debuted on April 30, 1973 with leading series antagonist Dr. Dorian Cramer. She last appeared onscreen on August 2, 2004, and died off-screen February 28, 2010.
Sisters Melinda and Dorian arrive in fictional Llanview in 1973. Mentally-disturbed Melinda stabs Dorian's lover, Mark Toland, in 1974, leading to her institutionalization.
A recovered Melinda returns to Llanview in 1978, but soon sabotages Dorian's new relationship with Dr. Peter Janssen, wanting him for herself. Melinda seems to win when she and Peter elope, but her obsessive-compulsive behavior returns. Resuming her career as a concert pianist, Melinda practices day and night, putting a strain on her marriage to Peter. She becomes more unbalanced when a failed audition put a close to her musical ambitions. In 1979, Melinda checks herself into the Compton Clinic. Dorian then has Melinda declared mentally incompetent; by 1980, Peter hopes to marry Jenny Wolek Vernon, but couldn't divorce Melinda until she was mentally stable. After threatening Jenny with a letter opener and sinking further into psychosis, Melinda returns to the clinic in 1981. She is seen again briefly in 1983, as Herb Callison visits her in order to learn the truth about Dorian's past with David Reynolds.
Melinda returns again in 1987 after Dorian's departure, and moves into Dorian's penthouse with Dorian's daughter Cassie Callison. Melinda witnesses the murder of mobster Alec Crown by Dr. Donald Lamarr and testifies against him. She gets a job working at the Banner, and helps solve several criminal activities in Llanview. Melinda has a relationship with Jon Russell, and leaves town herself in 1989.