Kevin Buchanan (born Kevin Lord Riley) is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The character is the first child born to original lead protagonists Victoria Lord and Joe Riley.
Casting
The character of Kevin Buchanan was originated by child actor Morgan K. Melis from 1976 until 1982. In 1982, the role was recast twice; first with Chris Cunningham and then again with Jonathan Brandis. The role was recast a fourth time in 1983 with actor Ryan Janis until the actor's exit on August 10, 1990. That same year, Matthew Vipond was placed into the role, airing from September 18, 1990 until 1991; the role was later recast with actor Joey Thrower. In 1992, Thrower was replaced by Kirk Geiger. Geiger stayed with the soap until October 17, 1994. Jack Armstrong succeeded Geiger on November 8, 1994 until his exit a year later on June 29, 1995. Armstrong was replaced by Ken Kenitzer, who played the role for a very short period in 1995.
In January 1996, the role was recast again, this time with actor Kevin Stapleton. Stapleton remained with the serial until April 13, 1998, when he was replaced by actor Timothy Gibbs, who first aired on April 16, 1998. Gibbs was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2000; he remained with the soap until March 2001. Gibbs last aired on March 15, 2001. In 2003, it was ABC announced that actor Dan Gauthier would become the next actor to portray the role. Gauthier debuted in the role on June 27, 2003. In August 2006, it was announced that Gauthier had been cut from his role as Kevin Buchanan, with reports that "the network-hired focus groups [did] not have an overall favorable opinion of the character of Kevin." Gauthier returned to the series for guest appearances in August 2007 for the series' 9,999 and 10,000 episodes,
Gauthier continued to make several guest appearances; the first of which happened between October and November 2009. He made his final guest appearances in March, May and November 2010.
In 2007, Gauthier was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a livid Kevin in confrontation with wife Kelly (Heather Tom) at the revelation of her romantic bonding with his son Duke Buchanan.
Storylines
Kevin is born on-screen September 12, 1976, to Joe and Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley, but he is soon kidnapped by his uncle Tony's wife, Cathy Craig. Cathy loses touch with reality after the death of her and Joe's daughter Megan, who had been killed in an accident for which Cathy blamed Viki. When delusional Cathy is found, she has no memory of taking the infant Kevin or where she had left him. By 1977, the loss of their son had taken its toll on Joe and Viki's marriage, but when Cathy finally remembers enough for Kevin to be found, Joe and Viki reconcile.
Joe died of a brain tumor right before Kevin's brother, Joseph Francis Riley Jr., is born on-screen in January 1980. When Viki later marries Clint Buchanan in 1982, Clint adopts Kevin and Joey.
In 1991, teenaged Kevin's first real love is Stephanie Hobart, the niece of Carlo Hesser; Carlo ends the relationship because of his hatred for the Buchanans. Kevin then begins a romantic relationship with LeeAnn Demerest, but LeeAnn and Max Holden are also drawn to one another. When LeeAnn believes that Max has fallen for Luna Moody, she sleeps with Kevin and becomes pregnant. Kevin finds out in 1992, and they elope. Meanwhile, blackmailing DuAnn is murdered, and Julia Medina ultimately confesses to the crime. Kevin and LeeAnn's marriage crumbles over her closeness with Jason Webb; they divorce, and LeeAnn leaves town for Texas with their son Duke in 1993.
Kevin grows close to Rachel Gannon, whose father Hank does not like their friendship at all. Kevin is charged with participating in the gang rape of fellow student Marty Saybrooke with soon-to-be-uncovered uncle Todd Manning but is eventually exonerated. Later in 1994, Rachel and Kevin are set to move in together, but, while Kevin is in Texas visiting his son, Rachel becomes romantically involved with Dr. Ben Price. Kevin ends his friendship with Rachel.
Kevin opts to pursue a career in journalism like his parents, and in 1994 begins dating Andy Harrison, half-sister of both Max Holden and Jake Harrison. Kevin goes to London on assignment in 1995 and ends their relationship in a letter.