Beaufort Oglethorpe "Bo" Buchanan^[2] is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.

Casting and awards[link]

The role was originated in 1979 by Robert S. Woods, who briefly left the series in 1986 but returned in 1988, and remained in the role until the series finale on January 13, 2012.^[3][4] A 2008 time travel storyline transplants Bo and Rex Balsom (John-Paul Lavoisier) back to 1968, where Woods portrays his character's father Asa Buchanan, and Lavoisier plays a young Bo from July 21 through August 26, 2008.^{[4][5][6][7][8]} 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.^[4][9]

Woods won a Daytime Emmy Award for Lead Actor for the role in 1983,^[10] also earning nominations in 1986,^[11] 1993,^[12] 1994,^[13] 1999,^[14] and 2000,^[15] multiple Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, and four MVP trophies from Soap Opera Update.^[3]

Storylines[link]

Vietnam War-veteran Bo (Woods himself being a veteran of the war) arrives in the fictional city of Llanview in 1979, following his brother Clint from their native Texas. Clint had secured a position at Llanview's flagship newspaper, The Banner, replacing Victoria Lord Riley's then-ailing husband, Joe Riley.

Somewhat unlucky in love, over the years Bo suffers many breakups, as well as the deaths of two wives (Didi O'Neill in 1988 and Sarah Gordon in 1992) and a fiancée (Gabrielle Medina in 2004). He also pursues many occupations, including becoming a music record executive and a movie and television producer. In the late 1980s Bo produces Llanview's own soap opera, Fraternity Row, on which it is said in 2008 that he had given rapper Snoop Dogg his break in show business, cementing a lifelong friendship between them.^[16] In 1995, Bo becomes Llanview's Police Commissioner.

Bo meets attorney Nora Gannon in October 1992; that Thanksgiving he and Sarah 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 had become best friends; slowly their relationship 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 dates. Bo and Nora first make love in April 1993 and say "I love you" in May 1993. However, Nora's chronic headaches worsen, leading her to believe that she was the one who had 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 officiated by Reverend Andrew Carpenter, Rabbi Heller, and rock & roll legend Little Richard.

Bo is devastated when his son Drew Buchanan, a police officer, is killed in the line of duty on September 16, 1998.^[17] Nora hopes to conceive a child to give her husband a reason to live; out of desperation she turns to former flame Sam Rappaport. 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 been fathered by Sam. It is not until Sam's death in 2003 that the truth comes out: Matthew is Bo's son, and Sam had been aware of it and kept the secret.

In July 2008, Bo and young Rex Balsom travel back in time to 1968; Bo finds himself reliving his past as his own father Asa Buchanan, while Rex is Bo.^[7][8] 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 determines that David Vickers — whom a previous DNA test had supposedly established is Asa's son by Emma — is actually's Bo's son.^[18][19]

In 2009, Nora and Clint 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. Clint proposes and Nora accepts, 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 Clint 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 fall into 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 but survives, soon asking Nora to marry him on April 9, 2010. In June 2010, after 10 years apart, Bo and Nora are remarried by David.

On January 13, 2012, Bo became a grandfather to Drew, via Matthew.

References[link]

External links[link]

• "One Life to Live Cast: Bo Buchanan". Soaps.com. http://www.soaps.com/onelifetolive/cast/276/Bo_Buchanan. Retrieved February 25, 2009. 
• "Who's Who in Llanview: Bo Buchanan". SoapCentral.com. http://www.soapcentral.com/oltl/whoswho/bo.php. Retrieved February 25, 2009. 

Asa Jeb Stuart Buchanan is a fictional character and patriarch of the Buchanan family on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. The Texan industrialist father of newly-arrived characters Clint and Bo Buchanan, Asa was originated in late 1979 by Philip Carey.^[1] Carey portrayed the role nearly continuously for nearly three decades, through 2008.^[2] Over the next three decades, Asa's ruthless business dealings and attempts to both protect and control his family members drive much of the drama in the series.

A contract player with the series continually for over 27 years, Carey turned down the show's offer to place him on recurring status in 2007,^[3] and his final regular appearance as Asa was on April 26, 2007.^[4] The character subsequently died offscreen in August 2007, coinciding with the series' 10,000th episode celebration, which brought back characters from the show's past to attend the funeral.^[5][6] In November 2007, Carey briefly reprised the role for three episodes in Asa's videotaped will, airing November 9 to November 13, 2007. On July 16, 2008, Carey appeared as Asa's ghost,^[7] and also returned on July 21, 2008 for the series' 40th anniversary, as character Viki Davidson visits Heaven.^[8][9][10] Beginning in the same episode, Robert S. Woods appears as a young Asa in a storyline in which the characters Bo and Rex find themselves in 1968.^[10] Carey returned on August 19, 2008 as Asa's ghost, who appears to Bo.^[11] Brian Victor Johnson took over the role of the young Asa from August 22, 2008^[12] to August 25, 2008^[13] after Bo is transported back to 2008. Carey appeared yet again on December 29, 2008, in a videotaped message recorded by Asa before his death.^[2]

Storylines[link]

The patriarch of the Buchanan family, Asa is a self-made billionaire (having purchased his first oil well at age 22^[14]) and former Chief Executive Officer of Buchanan Enterprises (casually called "B.E." by the family). Born on October 31, 1924 ^[15] and raised in Texas, Buchanan moves the headquarters of his company to Llanview, Pennsylvania in 1980 to stay close to his sons.^[1] Thought dead by her sons, Asa's first wife Olympia had actually been banished to Europe by Asa after having an affair.^[1] Living in Paris as Nicole Bonard, Olympia sees Bo but is snatched by Asa and held captive before she can reveal herself.^[1] In June 1981 Asa marries the much-younger Samantha Vernon.^[16] An escaped Olympia dons a costume and mask identical to Samantha's and reveals herself at the Buchanan Ball.^[17][18]

In 1986, Tina Lord discovers that Asa has been leading a double life for years; on the tropical island of Malakeva, he is known as Jeb Stuart, and has been "married" to a woman named Pamela for a decade. Tina tells Pamela that her "husband" is not a sea captain, as she believes, but actually a millionaire with a family in Llanview. Noting that Asa and Pamela's marriage is not legal, Tina convinces Pamela to pretend she is dying to manipulate Asa into marrying her for real. He does on January 20, 1986, and Pamela springs from her "deathbed" and confronts her husband. Arriving in Llanview to live as "Mrs. Asa Buchanan," Pamela is at first a thorn in his side. As Asa realizes he wants her to be his wife in every sense of the word, she demands a divorce — and half of his fortune.^[19][20] Their marriage ends in 1987.

In 1999, it is revealed that Asa's on-again off-again wife Renee Divine had conceived a son by Asa when they had been involved in their youth, and had put the boy up for adoption. Max Holden poses as the missing heir, but Asa and Renee's real son turns out to be Ben Davidson, adopted brother of Sam Rappaport and love interest of Asa's former daughter-in-law Viki Carpenter.

In October 2006, David Vickers finds out that Asa once had an affair with David's mother, Emma Bradley, but Asa denies it. Later, David's brother Dr. Spencer Truman claims to be Asa's son, but a DNA test proves otherwise. A conversation between Asa and his longtime butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe hints that there is more to the story.

On August 16, 2007, Asa dies in his sleep and is found by Nigel. Grandsons Cord Roberts, Kevin Buchanan and Joey Buchanan (as well as ex-wife Alex Olanov) return temporarily for his funeral.^[5][21] On August 17, 2007 Nigel tells a returned Max Holden that Asa does indeed have another son: David Vickers. Max advises Nigel to wait to tell the rest of the family, and an eavesdropping Alex overhears. She begins a search for David herself.^[6]

Asa's will is executed in November 2007 as a video is played featuring the Buchanan patriarch. He bequeaths his mansion to former daughter-in-law Nora Hanen, who has been living there with her and Bo's son Matthew since her house burned down; he also leaves his yacht, the Jeb Stuart, and his tropical island, St. Blaize's, to loyal servant Nigel. Asa also notes the existence of his other son, though not his identity, and finally states that he will not be splitting Buchanan Enterprises amongst his heirs and taking the chance that the company will be split up or partially sold. He instead challenges the family to run it as a cohesive team and, if the company's stock rises, be rewarded handsomely in a year. Alex appears, married to an in-the-dark David, and blackmails Nigel with the facts of David's parentage. Not wanting the Buchanans to discover that con man David is one of them, Nigel gives his inheritance to Alex in exchange for her silence. Meanwhile, Buchanan Enterprises up-and-comer Jared Banks — an admirer of Asa's who is already a favorite of widow Renee and circling Natalie Buchanan romantically — overhears Alex's news and pressures Nigel to pass him off as Asa's heir instead. Nigel does, and Jared feigns disinterest, armed with a lock of David's hair to prove his claim.

The many wives of Asa Buchanan[link]

Asa is one of the most married male characters in daytime television, having been married 14 times to 10 different women (although three marriages were technically invalid).^[22]

1. Olympia Bonard (pre-1968–1981, dissolved by her death)
2. Pamela Oliver Stuart (1976, invalid) ^[19][22]
3. Samantha Vernon (June 24, 1981, invalid) ^[20][22]
4. Delila Ralston (February 7, 1983–1983, divorced) ^[20]
5. Becky Lee Abbott (July 11, 1983–1983, divorced) ^[20]
6. Pamela Oliver Stuart (January 20, 1986–1987, divorced) ^[20]
7. Renée Divine (November 30, 1988–1992, divorced) ^[20]
8. Blair Cramer (June 16, 1992–1992, divorced) ^[20]
9. Alex Olanov (November 1994, invalid) ^[20]
10. Alex Olanov (March 29, 1996–1996, divorced) ^[20]
11. Renée Divine (May 18, 1999–2001, divorced) ^[20]
12. Gabrielle Medina (May 2001–February 2002, divorced) ^[20]
13. Gretel Rae Cummings (August 2002–February 2003, divorced)
14. Renée Divine (February 14, 2004–August 16, 2007, dissolved by his death) ^[20]

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

• Asa Buchanan bio - ABC.com Internet Archive, July 8, 2007.
• Asa Buchanan profile - SoapCentral.com
• "One Life to Live Photos and Timelines: The Life and Times of Asa Buchanan". SoapOperaDigest.com. 2007. http://www.soapoperadigest.com/features/one-life-to-live/pandt/asabuchanantimeline/. Retrieved February 19, 2009.