Zena, who came from one of the less desirable parts of New York City, was adopted by the Ryans and a good friend of Jack (who she saw as a father figure) and Ryan Fenelli.
Diana Buckman
(Played by Liz Kemp, 1981)
Actress on hospital drama The Proud and the Passionate TV show.
Anne Burney
(Played by Jody Catlin, 1976–78)
Divorce attorney who represented both Delia Reid Ryan and Jack Fenelli (The character was played by the wife of actor Justin Dees.)
A doctor with a heart of gold, Bucky is also the heir to a very large sum of money.
Kenneth Castle
(Played by Ty McConnell, 1975–76)
Unstable Kenneth Castle was Nell Beaulac's psychotic lab assistant. He became obsessed with Dr. Faith Coleridge and eventually kidnapped her. He also liked old buildings.
Edmund Coleridge was the head of a 'dynasty' of doctors at Riverside Hospital, where he, along with his children, worked.
Edmund Strong Coleridge
(Played by Buddy Schultz, 1977–79)
Edmund was the son of Jillian Coleridge and Frank Ryan - - the product of their affair who was long believed to be the son of Jill's first husband, Seneca Beaulac. Edmund tragically died in a fire shortly after Jill and Frank learned the truth about his paternity which Seneca had kept secret.
Dr. Faith Coleridge
(Played by Faith Catlin, 1975–76;
Nancy Barrett, 1976;
Catherine Hicks, 1976–78;
Karen Morris-Gowdy, 1978–83, 1989; Katherine Justice, 2 episodes, 1979). Initially unsure of which area of medicine she preferred but later became a pediatrician.
Faith was the youngest of the two children Edmund and Judith Coleridge had. As she grew up, she was very close with her father.
Grace Coleridge
(Played by Caroline Wilde, 1989)
Young daughter of Faith Coleridge, who accompanied her mother in her return to New York during the final 10 episodes of the series.
Roger was the son of Edmund and Judith Coleridge who married Delia Reid, Maggie Shelby, and Delia Reid (again). Father of Olivia Coleridge, his daughter with Maggie.
Sarcastic and distant, Jack Fenelli was supposedly orphaned at a young age when his parents died in a fire. He was married first to Mary Ryan and then to Leigh Kirkland. He was the father of Ryan Fenelli. He was close to Sister Mary Joel, who was later revealed to be his mother.
Came to Riverside purporting to be the wife of Frank Ryan, but was actually hired by Rae Woodard to sabotage Frank's political career and abducts him. Her real parents are Una and Neal "Red" MacCurtain, who has harbored a grudge against Maeve Ryan since she spurned him decades earlier in Ireland.
Investment broker for both Delia Reid Ryan Coleridge and Johnny Ryan.
H
Emily Hall
(Played by Cynthia Dozier, 1987–88)
Police commissioner who has an affair with Jack Fenelli, while fighting to make Jack a foster father to Zena Brown.
Chris Hannold
(Played by Lydia Hannibal, 1986–88, 1989)
Girlfriend of Dr. Evan Cooper. After she and Evan departed during 1988, both return at the tail end of the series' finale, although neither have lines.
Daughter of Rae Woodard. An aspiring actress, she is vivacious and worldly. She had an affair with Michael Pavel, and she was the third wife of Dr. Senneca Boulack.
Hartman
(Played by François Giroday, 1986)
Katherine Hayes
(Played by Barbara Chase, 1981)
Young woman with baby Det. Bauer mistakes for Kimberly Harris
Younger brother of Bill Hyde, who eventually attends private school with a teenage Ryan Fenelli and dates her. Joins the police force after high school and is promoted to detective. Elopes with Ryan.
A local convent nun who advised various members of the community. Upon the character's return to the show in 1988, as played by Rosemary Prinz, Sister Mary Joel is discovered to be the biological mother of Jack Fenelli, a son she had with mob lord Silvio Conti. Her given name, prior to joining the convent, was Angelina.
Internationally famous pop star who steals Jillian Coleridge from Frank Ryan. Managed by Barry Ryan. Fatally ill, he ends his own life in the hospital.
Daughter of Hollis and Catsy Kirkland, sister of Amanda. Successful publisher who strikes up an affair with Jack Fenelli during her original stint on the show.
High school friend of Ryan Fenelli and Rick Hyde. A rebel of sorts, D.J. was anti-establishment and also considered himself less likely to succeed in comparison to the diligent Ryan, whom he dated briefly.
Former girlfriend of Ben Shelley, who was brought out to New York by Delia to act as a wedge between Ben and Lizzie Ransome. After unsuccessfully trying to win back Ben, Nancy Don has an affair with Chaz Saybrook.
Hospital records clerk. Roger charms her to get the records of "Mrs. Brown", an alias Delia used when she miscarried Pat Ryan's child before their wedding.
Dr. Jerry Marcus
(Played by Bryan Clerk, 1981)
Barbara Wilde's doctor
Jumbo Marino
(Played by Fat Thomas, 1975–81)
Jack Fenelli's father figure from Fenelli's youth in the old neighborhood.
Police officer, telephoned Joe Novak to tell him Siobhan had been found in the car trunk.
Martha McKee
(Played by
Tovah Feldshuh, 1976; Dorrie Kavanaugh, 1977)
Rival journalist to Jack Fenelli, with whom he has a brief flirtation and interest prior to his wedding to Mary Ryan, and during a 1977 separation from Mary.
Nurse at Riverside Hospital. Previously worked at a clinic where Delia Ryan Coleridge, under an alias, miscarried Dr. Pat Ryan's child. Dated Bob Reid. Briefly worked as an assistant to Rae Woodard.
Angel Nieves
(Played by Jose Aleman, 1977–78)
Alicia's younger brother. He developed meningitis and was treated by doctor Pat Ryan.
Young son of Siobhan and Joe Novak. After the death of his father in November 1988, Siobhan legally changed his last name to Ryan during the final weeks of the show.
Laslo Novotny
(Played by Fred Burstein, 1983–85, 1986–87)
Cousin of mobster Joe Novak. Fell in love with Siobhan Ryan. Left town with Jacqueline Dubujak in February 1987, after Max supposedly died.
One-time wife of both Frank and Pat Ryan (her high school sweetheart), mother of John Reid Ryan (via Frank) and long lost mother of
Ava Jerome. Sister of Bob Reid.
Thatcher Ross was the manager of Channel One in New York City. Mary Ryan Fenelli worked for him at the station. Mary and Thatcher became very close friends, which annoyed her husband, Jack Fenelli, to no end.
Georgia Rothschild
(Played by Gloria Cromwell, 1975–83)
Georgia Rothchild is a friend of the Ryan family. Initially on the show, she was a campaign worker in Frank Ryan's political campaign.
Jonas Roving
(Played by Michael Wagner, 1981)
Museum curator, and knows Aristotle Benedict White
Maeve Colleary Ryan grew up in county Cork, Ireland.
Mary Ryan Fenelli
(Played by
Kate Mulgrew, 1975–78, 1983, 1986, 1989; Mary Carney, 1978; Kathleen Tolan, 1978–79;
Nicolette Goulet, 1979)
Headstrong like her father, Mary Ryan was the second youngest of the five children that Johnny and Maeve Ryan had. (In flashbacks of her childhood shown in 1977, Mary was portrayed by Yvette Deas.)
Owen "Owney" Ryan
(Played by Jamie O'Neill, 1987–89)
Young son of John Reid Ryan and Lizzie Ransome Ryan. First appeared as an infant in August 1986, played by various sets of twins; in the fall of 1987, once Owney was over a year old and speaking his first words, Jamie O'Neill played the role full time.
Dr. Patrick Ryan
(Played by Malcolm Groome, 1975–78, 1983–88, 1989; John Blazo, 1978–79; Robert Finoccoli, 1979; Patrick James Clarke, 1982–83)
Patrick Ryan was the jovial son of Johnny and Maeve Ryan. After he graduated high school, he chose to become a neurologist.
Siobhan Ryan Novak
(Played by Sarah Felder, 1978–80;
Ann Gillespie, 1981–82;
Marg Helgenberger, 1982–86; Carrell Myers, 1986–87; Barbara Blackburn, 1988–89)
Siobhan Ryan was the feisty daughter of Maeve and Johnny Ryan. Throughout her life, she often found herself as the odd Ryan out.
(Played by
Louise Shaffer, 1977–84, 1989; Judith McGilligan, May 1978)
Widow of William Price Woodard. Took over his publishing empire. Mother of Kimberly Harris, one-time mother-in-law of Seneca Beaulac. Briefly engaged to Frank Ryan and one-time lover of Roger Coleridge.
Zena, who came from one of the less desirable parts of New York City, was adopted by the Ryans and a good friend of Jack (who she saw as a father figure) and Ryan Fenelli.
Diana Buckman
(Played by Liz Kemp, 1981)
Actress on hospital drama The Proud and the Passionate TV show.
Anne Burney
(Played by Jody Catlin, 1976–78)
Divorce attorney who represented both Delia Reid Ryan and Jack Fenelli (The character was played by the wife of actor Justin Dees.)
A doctor with a heart of gold, Bucky is also the heir to a very large sum of money.
Kenneth Castle
(Played by Ty McConnell, 1975–76)
Unstable Kenneth Castle was Nell Beaulac's psychotic lab assistant. He became obsessed with Dr. Faith Coleridge and eventually kidnapped her. He also liked old buildings.
Edmund Coleridge was the head of a 'dynasty' of doctors at Riverside Hospital, where he, along with his children, worked.
Edmund Strong Coleridge
(Played by Buddy Schultz, 1977–79)
Edmund was the son of Jillian Coleridge and Frank Ryan - - the product of their affair who was long believed to be the son of Jill's first husband, Seneca Beaulac. Edmund tragically died in a fire shortly after Jill and Frank learned the truth about his paternity which Seneca had kept secret.
Dr. Faith Coleridge
(Played by Faith Catlin, 1975–76;
Nancy Barrett, 1976;
Catherine Hicks, 1976–78;
Karen Morris-Gowdy, 1978–83, 1989; Katherine Justice, 2 episodes, 1979). Initially unsure of which area of medicine she preferred but later became a pediatrician.
Faith was the youngest of the two children Edmund and Judith Coleridge had. As she grew up, she was very close with her father.
Grace Coleridge
(Played by Caroline Wilde, 1989)
Young daughter of Faith Coleridge, who accompanied her mother in her return to New York during the final 10 episodes of the series.
Roger was the son of Edmund and Judith Coleridge who married Delia Reid, Maggie Shelby, and Delia Reid (again). Father of Olivia Coleridge, his daughter with Maggie.
Sarcastic and distant, Jack Fenelli was supposedly orphaned at a young age when his parents died in a fire. He was married first to Mary Ryan and then to Leigh Kirkland. He was the father of Ryan Fenelli. He was close to Sister Mary Joel, who was later revealed to be his mother.
Came to Riverside purporting to be the wife of Frank Ryan, but was actually hired by Rae Woodard to sabotage Frank's political career and abducts him. Her real parents are Una and Neal "Red" MacCurtain, who has harbored a grudge against Maeve Ryan since she spurned him decades earlier in Ireland.
Investment broker for both Delia Reid Ryan Coleridge and Johnny Ryan.
H
Emily Hall
(Played by Cynthia Dozier, 1987–88)
Police commissioner who has an affair with Jack Fenelli, while fighting to make Jack a foster father to Zena Brown.
Chris Hannold
(Played by Lydia Hannibal, 1986–88, 1989)
Girlfriend of Dr. Evan Cooper. After she and Evan departed during 1988, both return at the tail end of the series' finale, although neither have lines.
Daughter of Rae Woodard. An aspiring actress, she is vivacious and worldly. She had an affair with Michael Pavel, and she was the third wife of Dr. Senneca Boulack.
Hartman
(Played by François Giroday, 1986)
Katherine Hayes
(Played by Barbara Chase, 1981)
Young woman with baby Det. Bauer mistakes for Kimberly Harris
Younger brother of Bill Hyde, who eventually attends private school with a teenage Ryan Fenelli and dates her. Joins the police force after high school and is promoted to detective. Elopes with Ryan.
A local convent nun who advised various members of the community. Upon the character's return to the show in 1988, as played by Rosemary Prinz, Sister Mary Joel is discovered to be the biological mother of Jack Fenelli, a son she had with mob lord Silvio Conti. Her given name, prior to joining the convent, was Angelina.
Internationally famous pop star who steals Jillian Coleridge from Frank Ryan. Managed by Barry Ryan. Fatally ill, he ends his own life in the hospital.
Daughter of Hollis and Catsy Kirkland, sister of Amanda. Successful publisher who strikes up an affair with Jack Fenelli during her original stint on the show.
High school friend of Ryan Fenelli and Rick Hyde. A rebel of sorts, D.J. was anti-establishment and also considered himself less likely to succeed in comparison to the diligent Ryan, whom he dated briefly.
Former girlfriend of Ben Shelley, who was brought out to New York by Delia to act as a wedge between Ben and Lizzie Ransome. After unsuccessfully trying to win back Ben, Nancy Don has an affair with Chaz Saybrook.
Hospital records clerk. Roger charms her to get the records of "Mrs. Brown", an alias Delia used when she miscarried Pat Ryan's child before their wedding.
Dr. Jerry Marcus
(Played by Bryan Clerk, 1981)
Barbara Wilde's doctor
Jumbo Marino
(Played by Fat Thomas, 1975–81)
Jack Fenelli's father figure from Fenelli's youth in the old neighborhood.
Police officer, telephoned Joe Novak to tell him Siobhan had been found in the car trunk.
Martha McKee
(Played by
Tovah Feldshuh, 1976; Dorrie Kavanaugh, 1977)
Rival journalist to Jack Fenelli, with whom he has a brief flirtation and interest prior to his wedding to Mary Ryan, and during a 1977 separation from Mary.
Nurse at Riverside Hospital. Previously worked at a clinic where Delia Ryan Coleridge, under an alias, miscarried Dr. Pat Ryan's child. Dated Bob Reid. Briefly worked as an assistant to Rae Woodard.
Angel Nieves
(Played by Jose Aleman, 1977–78)
Alicia's younger brother. He developed meningitis and was treated by doctor Pat Ryan.
Young son of Siobhan and Joe Novak. After the death of his father in November 1988, Siobhan legally changed his last name to Ryan during the final weeks of the show.
Laslo Novotny
(Played by Fred Burstein, 1983–85, 1986–87)
Cousin of mobster Joe Novak. Fell in love with Siobhan Ryan. Left town with Jacqueline Dubujak in February 1987, after Max supposedly died.
One-time wife of both Frank and Pat Ryan (her high school sweetheart), mother of John Reid Ryan (via Frank) and long lost mother of
Ava Jerome. Sister of Bob Reid.
Thatcher Ross was the manager of Channel One in New York City. Mary Ryan Fenelli worked for him at the station. Mary and Thatcher became very close friends, which annoyed her husband, Jack Fenelli, to no end.
Georgia Rothschild
(Played by Gloria Cromwell, 1975–83)
Georgia Rothchild is a friend of the Ryan family. Initially on the show, she was a campaign worker in Frank Ryan's political campaign.
Jonas Roving
(Played by Michael Wagner, 1981)
Museum curator, and knows Aristotle Benedict White
Maeve Colleary Ryan grew up in county Cork, Ireland.
Mary Ryan Fenelli
(Played by
Kate Mulgrew, 1975–78, 1983, 1986, 1989; Mary Carney, 1978; Kathleen Tolan, 1978–79;
Nicolette Goulet, 1979)
Headstrong like her father, Mary Ryan was the second youngest of the five children that Johnny and Maeve Ryan had. (In flashbacks of her childhood shown in 1977, Mary was portrayed by Yvette Deas.)
Owen "Owney" Ryan
(Played by Jamie O'Neill, 1987–89)
Young son of John Reid Ryan and Lizzie Ransome Ryan. First appeared as an infant in August 1986, played by various sets of twins; in the fall of 1987, once Owney was over a year old and speaking his first words, Jamie O'Neill played the role full time.
Dr. Patrick Ryan
(Played by Malcolm Groome, 1975–78, 1983–88, 1989; John Blazo, 1978–79; Robert Finoccoli, 1979; Patrick James Clarke, 1982–83)
Patrick Ryan was the jovial son of Johnny and Maeve Ryan. After he graduated high school, he chose to become a neurologist.
Siobhan Ryan Novak
(Played by Sarah Felder, 1978–80;
Ann Gillespie, 1981–82;
Marg Helgenberger, 1982–86; Carrell Myers, 1986–87; Barbara Blackburn, 1988–89)
Siobhan Ryan was the feisty daughter of Maeve and Johnny Ryan. Throughout her life, she often found herself as the odd Ryan out.
(Played by
Louise Shaffer, 1977–84, 1989; Judith McGilligan, May 1978)
Widow of William Price Woodard. Took over his publishing empire. Mother of Kimberly Harris, one-time mother-in-law of Seneca Beaulac. Briefly engaged to Frank Ryan and one-time lover of Roger Coleridge.