Scope and episode count
For this report, Season 13 covers March 25, 1985–March 21, 1986.
Episode count: approximately 255 original episodes.
A precise CBS episode total is difficult to establish because the programme was not originally catalogued publicly by “season”; modern databases reconstructed the seasons afterward, and contemporary pre-emptions are not fully documented.
Cast
The list is alphabetized by the characters’ surnames. It includes the documented regular and recurring speaking characters who appeared during the defined period. Day players whose names were omitted from surviving credits cannot be reconstructed reliably.
- John Abbott portrayed by Jerry Douglas
- Ashley Abbott portrayed by Eileen Davidson
- Jack Abbott portrayed by Terry Lester
- Jill Foster Abbott portrayed by Brenda Dickson
- Traci Abbott portrayed by Beth Maitland
- Alana Anthony portrayed by Amy Gibson
- Joseph Anthony portrayed by Logan Ramsey
- Boobsie Caswell Austin portrayed by Joy Garrett
- Douglas Austin portrayed by Michael Evans
- Joe Blair portrayed by John Denos
- Christine “Cricket” Blair portrayed by Lauralee Bell
- Brad Carlton portrayed by Don Diamont
- Katherine Chancellor portrayed by Jeanne Cooper
- Phillip Chancellor III portrayed by a child performer
- Farren Connor portrayed by Colleen Casey
- Michael Crawford portrayed by Colby Chester
- Neil Fenmore portrayed by Jim Storm
- Lauren Fenmore portrayed by Tracey E. Bregman
- Elizabeth “Liz” Foster portrayed by Julianna McCarthy
- Eric Garrison portrayed by Brian Matthews
- Shawn Garrett portrayed by Grant Cramer
- Nathan Hastings, initially known as “Kong,” portrayed by Nathan Purdee
- Jazz Jackson portrayed by Jon St. Elwood
- Tyrone Jackson portrayed by Phil Morris
- Diane Jenkins portrayed by Alex Donnelley
- Mamie Johnson portrayed by Marguerite Ray
- Frank Lewis portrayed by Steven Williams
- Amy Lewis portrayed by Stephanie E. Williams
- Joanna Manning portrayed by Susan Seaforth Hayes
- Jared Markson portrayed by Linwood Dalton
- Dina Abbott Mergeron portrayed by Marla Adams
- Matt Miller portrayed by Robert Parucha
- Nikki Reed Newman portrayed by Melody Thomas Scott
- Victoria Newman portrayed by Ashley Nicole Millan
- Victor Newman portrayed by Eric Braeden
- Sven Peterson portrayed by Lee Nicholl
- Andy Richards portrayed by Steven Ford
- Miguel Rodriguez portrayed by Anthony Peña
- Danny Romalotti portrayed by Michael Damian
- Gina Roma portrayed by Patty Weaver
- Esther Valentine portrayed by Kate Linder
- Carl Williams portrayed by Brett Hadley
- Mary Williams portrayed by Carolyn Conwell
- Paul Williams portrayed by Doug Davidson
- Lindsey Wells portrayed by Lauren Koslow
Main plots
Jack and Jill’s affair is finally exposed
The photographs showing Jack Abbott and his stepmother Jill together had originally been taken by Lindsey Wells in November 1983. During Season 13, Katherine Chancellor finally obtained and used the evidence.
On March 3, 1986, John discovered that Jack was the man in the photographs. He confronted his son and expelled him from the Abbott home. Jill then used the potentially ruinous scandal as leverage during her divorce negotiations, eventually obtaining a substantial financial settlement and an interest in Jabot. Soap Opera Digest’s March 3 retrospective
Jack’s supposed marriage ceremony with Lindsey was part of their deception and was not a genuine lasting marriage.
Victor, Nikki, Ashley and Matt
Victor and Ashley became increasingly emotionally involved, placing Victor’s marriage to Nikki under severe pressure.
Matt Miller arrived in Genoa City in 1985 and was reunited with his older brother, Victor—formerly Christian Miller. Nikki attempted to encourage a relationship between Matt and Ashley, hoping that Matt would draw Ashley away from Victor. The plan failed. Matt was played by Robert Parucha from 1985 to 1987. Matt Miller’s character history
The later stages of Ashley’s pregnancy, abortion and Victor’s return to the supposedly dying Nikki belong primarily to the following production period and should not all be placed indiscriminately in Season 13.
Brad Carlton arrives
Brad arrived in April 1985, initially working around the Abbott estate as a gardener and pool attendant. His looks immediately attracted Traci, beginning the relationship that would eventually lead to their marriage—but that marriage occurred after this season.
Don Diamont joined the programme as Brad in 1985 and remained until 1996, later returning in 1998. Don Diamont/Brad Carlton casting history
Tyrone infiltrates Joseph Anthony’s organization
After learning that the mob had placed a contract on him, Tyrone Jackson disguised himself as a white man named Robert Tyrone. The disguise allowed him to infiltrate Joseph Anthony’s criminal organization.
While posing as Robert, Tyrone courted Anthony’s daughter Alana and persuaded her to marry him. Alana discovered his true identity on their wedding night and fled. Anthony was subsequently killed, ending much of the immediate mob threat.
Meanwhile, the apparently dangerous “Kong” was revealed as Nathan Hastings. Nathan received immunity for helping the authorities. Tyrone was disappointed to discover that Nathan had also become interested in Amy Lewis. Contemporary storyline summary
Lauren, Shawn and Paul
Shawn Garrett’s obsession with Lauren Fenmore escalated throughout 1985 and early 1986. Lauren pretended to cooperate with Shawn partly to protect Paul.
After discovering that Lauren did not genuinely love him, Shawn drugged her and attempted to bury her alive. Paul Williams and Andy Richards located and rescued her. Shawn was killed during the resulting gunfire. Soap Opera Digest retrospective
Farren Connor’s mystery
Farren Connor arrived as a mysterious young woman suffering from memory problems. Her past and true identity became a central element of Andy Richards’s storyline, ultimately developing into a romance between Andy and Farren.
Jill’s divorce representation
Attorney Michael Crawford entered the story in October 1985 when Jill retained him during the collapse of her marriage to John. Michael subsequently became personally involved with Jill. The character was portrayed by Colby Chester from 1985 to 1990. 1980s character guide
Births
No major on-screen birth is securely documented during March 25, 1985–March 21, 1986.
Phillip Chancellor III was already a child, Victoria Newman had been born in 1982, and Nicholas Newman was not born until several years later.
Recasts and SORAS
| Approximate date | Character | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Shawn Garrett | Tom McConnell was replaced by Grant Cramer. Cramer remained through Shawn’s death in 1986. |
| Early 1986 | Jill Foster Abbott | Deborah Adair briefly substituted for Brenda Dickson; this was a temporary performer replacement rather than a story-driven recast. |
| 1986 | Diane Jenkins | Alex Donnelley resumed the role following Diane’s absence from the canvas. |
SORAS
No major child-to-adult SORAS occurred within the strict Season 13 dates.
The frequently confused case is Phillip Chancellor III:
- During Season 13 he was still treated as a child/young teenager.
- May 13, 1986: Thom Bierdz debuted as the rapidly aged adult Phillip.
- Because that occurred after March 21, it belongs to Season 14, not Season 13.
Victoria Newman remained a child and continued to be portrayed by Ashley Nicole Millan.
New characters
Exact daily dates are unavailable for several introductions, so only confirmed dates or months are used.
| Date | Character | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| April 1985 | Brad Carlton | Don Diamont |
| 1985 | Alana Anthony | Amy Gibson |
| 1985 | Matt Miller | Robert Parucha |
| 1985 | Sven Peterson | Lee Nicholl |
| October 1985 | Michael Crawford | Colby Chester |
| January 8, 1986 | Farren Connor | Colleen Casey |
Departures
| Date | Character | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Alana Anthony | Left after discovering Tyrone’s true identity on their wedding night. |
| 1985 | Joseph Anthony | Killed after the collapse of his criminal organization. |
| 1985 | Douglas Austin | Departed Genoa City; Michael Evans later returned in 1987. |
| 1985 | Boobsie Caswell Austin | Departed with the conclusion of the Austin storyline. |
| 1985 | Jared Markson | Written out after his 1984–85 run. |
| 1985 | Eric Garrison | Brian Matthews’s 1983–85 run concluded. |
| Early 1986 | Tyrone Jackson | Left after the organized-crime operation ended and his relationship with Amy failed to stabilize. |
| Early 1986 | Jazz Jackson | Departed following the conclusion of the Anthony organization storyline. |
| March 1986 | Shawn Garrett | Killed during the confrontation with Paul and Andy. |
Returns
| Approximate date | Character | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Diane Jenkins | Alex Donnelley |
No return by Julia Newman occurred during the season; her next appearance was in September 1986.
Marriages
| Date | Couple | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Alana Anthony and “Robert Tyrone” | Alana married Tyrone while believing he was white mob associate Robert Tyrone. She discovered his identity on their wedding night; the marriage was subsequently annulled. |
| 1985–86 | Jack Abbott and Lindsey Wells | A staged or sham ceremony connected to their deception. It should not be treated as a normal legal marriage. |
Brad and Traci’s marriage occurred after the end of this season.
Deaths
| Date | Character | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Joseph Anthony | Killed during the final confrontation surrounding his criminal organization. |
| March 1986 | Shawn Garrett | Shot and killed after attempting to bury Lauren alive and confronting Paul Williams and Andy Richards. |
Cora Miller’s death should not be listed here: Dorothy McGuire’s Cora storyline occurred in 1984, before Season 13.
After discovering that the mob, headed by Mr. Anthony, had a contract on him, Tyrone Jackson disguised himself as a white man named Robert. Tyrone also used the disguise to infiltrate the mob so that he could obtain valuable information about their dealings and ultimately destroy them. While posing as Robert, Tyrone romanced Mr. Anthony’s daughter Alana. Eventually, he persuaded Alana to marry him. On their wedding night, Alana discovered the truth about Tyrone. Shocked, she left town. Mr. Anthony died, paving the way for a reconciliation between Tyrone and Amy. But to Tyrone’s disappointment, he discovered that he had a competitor for Amy’s affection, a one-time hood named Kong.
Dina Abbott Mergerson was in a constant state of agitation now that her former lover, Brent Davis, was back in town. Eventually, Ashley Abbott, Dina’s daughter, learned that Brent was her real father. Traumatized by the news, Ashley wandered through tone in a haze and was picked up by a truck driver. The driver tried to take advantage of Ashley’s unstable condition, but she managed to fend him off. Soon after, she landed a job at a roadside diner and called herself “Annie.” One afternoon, the truck driver wandered into the diner, realized Ashley’s true identity and used it to his advantage. He phoned John Abbott, said he knew of Ashley’s whereabouts and then demanded a ransom. Fortunately, Victor Newman managed to locate Ashley and rescued her from the truck driver. He returned Ashley to Genoa City, but she was no condition to go home. Instead, she stayed at the Newmans’ home, which troubled Nikki.
Ashley finally forgave her real father and not long after, Brent Davis died. After Ashley recuperated from her trauma she found herself attracted to Victor, who returned the attention. Feeling neglected, Nikki had an affair with Jack Abbott. But Nikki realized that her heart belonged to Victor and vowed to save her marriage. In order to get Ashley out of the way, Nikki tried to pair Ashley with Victor’s brother, Matt Miller. Ashley found Matt appealing, but she was too involved with Victor to think about seeing another man. Nevertheless, Ashley agreed to see Matt romantically.
Jack tried to keep his mind off Nikki by resuming his former position as president of Jabot Cosmetics. Marc Mergeron sold his shares of Mergeron Enterprises to Victor Newman for a hefty profit and left town. Victor’s former wife, Julia, also packed her bags and left with her infant daughter.
Douglas Austin found himself frustrated that Boobsie wasn’t interested in accepting his affections. Eventually, he devised a scheme that he was confident would win Boobsie’s sympathy. Douglas pretended that he was dying from a mysterious illness. Fearing that she could lose Douglas forever, Boobsie realized that she loved him. Even after Boobsie found out that Douglas had fooled her, she continued to love him. Soon after, they married.
With the incriminating photos of Jill and Jack still in her possession, Katherine Chancellor hatched a plan guaranteed to torment Jill. She cut a copy of the photos into small pieces and sent them to John Abbott, one by one. In order to protect Jack, Katherine refrained from sending the piece that would reveal his identity. When the puzzle was finally completed, John was so upset that he suffered a stroke.
Jill tried to convince John that the photo had been taken long before she married him. But John didn’t buy her story. He filed for divorce. Desperate to stay married to John, Jill pretended to slip into a deep depression. Katherine, however, convinced John that Jill was only pretending to be depressed. John ordered Jill out of his house. Realizing that things were hopeless between them, Jill tried to win as much money from John as possible. She also became romantically involved with the Abbotts sexy young gardener, Brad Carlton.
Lauren’s mother, JoAnna, returned to Genoa City, with the hope of reconciling with her former husband, Neil. But to JoAnna’s disappointment, Neil was already in love with Gina Roma. Lauren, who wanted to see her parents reunited, checked into Gina’s background and discovered that Gina was an ex-con. Lauren exposed Gina’s secret to Neil, who soon broke off their relationship. Gina vowed to get even with Lauren. But Lauren already had enough problems to content with, most notably her marriage to Paul Williams, which had hit a bumpy road.
Although Paul was anxious to start a family, Lauren only pretended that she wanted to get pregnant. Instead, she pursuing her singing career. Meanwhile, Shawn Garrett grew jealous of Lauren’s professional partnership with Danny Romalotti and sought to get him out of the picture. Shawn began slipping Danny poison, which affected his voice and jeopardized his music career. Shawn also taped Lauren’s private conversations with Paul. Lauren and Paul briefly separated, but reconciled, which infuriated Shawn. In order to keep Lauren under his control, Shawn threatened to murder Paul if Lauren didn’t abide by his wishes.
Traci Abbott pursued a music career, despite being undermined by Lauren. Traci’s marriage to Danny, however, proved to be short-lived. Traci miscarried and they divorced. Nevertheless, Traci and Danny continued to be friends. Tim tried to rekindle a romance with Traci, but Traci discovered that Tim’s new wife was pregnant. Fed up with Tim’s emotional abuse, Traci rebuffed his advances. Instead, she focused her attention on Brad Carlton.
Previous year : Y&R 1984
Next year : Y&R 1986
