Irene Manning (One Life to Live)
Encyclopedia
Irene Manning is a fictional character from the original daytime soap opera
, One Life to Live
. The character first appears on-screen May 27, 1978 originated by the actress Kate McKeown. In 1985, Andrea Evans
(Tina
) portrayed her in flashbacks. Actress Diana Lamar appeared as Irene in 1994, when it is learned that Todd Manning
is also Irene and Victor Lord's child. Veteran actress Barbara Rhoades
first appears as Irene on August 9, 2011. On October 3, 2011, Irene dies from a gun shot wound.
was the childhood best friend and college roommate of Victoria Lord
, the daughter of billionaire, Victor Lord. In the early 1960s, Irene relocated to Chicago
, where she raised her daughter, Tina. Irene's friend Viki was Tina's godmother. Irene married longtime lover, Ted Clayton, Tina's father. However, the marriage didn't last long and Irene was left to raise Tina on her own.
Irene returned to Llanview in the spring of 1978 and asked Viki to look after her 16 year old daughter, Tina Clayton because she was dying. Irene's illness eventually got the best of her and she died on-screen in July 1978. Eventually, Ted arrived in Llanview hoping to con Viki and Tina out of a lot of money. Ted's plans are foiled. He was killed in 1981.
Tina comes back to Llanview in 1984 with Irene's diary, which reveals that Ted Clayton isn't her biological father. In 1985, when Tina learns that Victor and her mother were married, she freezes the assets of Dorian Lord, Victor's widow and Dorian's marriage to Victor is declared invalid (it is later revealed that Victor and Irene were divorced years before he and Dorian were married, making the latter marriage legal). Later, Tina discovers a secret room beneath Llanfair and finds a letter from Victor meant to be delivered to Viki. In this letter, Victor Lord admits to having an affair with Irene and even marrying her. The letter further reveals that he was Tina's real father. Viki at first couldn't believe it, but she would later recall a repressed memory of Victor and Irene in bed together.
In 1994, Victor's widow, Dorian Lord is officially accused of murdering her husband, 18 years before. After Dorian is convicted and sentenced to death, conman David Vickers
arrives in town with Irene's diary, which reveals her confession to smothering Victor. However, this is revealed to be untrue. Victor is actually alive, having faked his own death. David had forged those parts of the diary in a scheme to get his hands on the inheritance, posing as the secret son of Victor and Irene. Irene admits in her diary that she and Victor still saw one another after the divorce and she had given birth to his son; David Vickers claims to be that son.
In December 1994, Todd Manning
finds a letter, following the death of his father, Peter Manning. The letter, written by his now deceased mother, Barbara "Bitsy" (Jones) Manning, reveals that Todd is adopted. While the letter and the official ABC Daytime biography of the character states that he is the biological son of Victor Lord and Peter's sister, Irene Manning, the October 3, 2011 episode rewrites history when Todd berates his mother for handing him off onto her psychotic cousin. As the son of Victor, Todd is now entitled to $30 million inheritance.
In the summer of 2011, a man with Todd's original face, portrayed again by Roger Howarth, shows up in Llanview, claiming that the man who everyone has believed to be Todd for the past eight years is actually an imposter. After a DNA test is conducted, it is learned that both men or both "Todds" share the same DNA
. Attempting to explain how the two men could share the same DNA, Irene's granddaughter Starr
believes they might be twins. Irene's grandson, Jack
believes the one with Todd's original face is a clone
, recalling that he heard of a person
being cloned in the nearby town of Springfield
, a clear reference to a storyline on the cancelled CBS soap opera, Guiding Light
.
Another DNA test is ordered while the man with Todd's old face moves in with Viki at her Llanfair estate. They begin looking through an old photo album and come across a picture of Viki and Irene, depicted by Erika Slezak
and Barbara Rhoades
. Viki states that the now deceased Irene Manning is the only person who would have know whether or not the two Todds are actually twins. The next scene pans to a presumed dead Irene, revealing that she is very much alive and surreptitiously overseeing an unnamed agency and pulling the strings with the crooked CIA agents and two Todds.
At an undisclosed location, Irene speaks with Agent Baker. Irene is furious that Baker allowed, the fugitive (the original Todd) to make contact with anyone in Llanview and ruining her life's work. Irene knows that once the truth comes out about the two men who believe they are Todd, her entire agency will pay the price.
Irene knows Viki suspects that she would have the answers about the real Todd Manning, and even though she is presumed dead, Viki will eventually start digging the dirt to reveal the truth behind the two Todds mystery. On August 11, 2011, detective John McBain learns that the military base that Irene is operating from is in New Orleans, Louisiana
.
On August 15, Irene and Viki see one another for the first time in 30 years since her "death". It was revealed that David had kept Irene's diary.
On August 16, Irene reveals that she gave birth to two twins sons: Todd (whom she gave to Peter to raise) and Victor Jr. who she raised on her own. In early 2003 Irene's people had attempted to recruit Todd for their agency. Todd however refused and threatened to expose them. Irene seeing no other alternative sent Tomas Delgado to eliminate him. Instead Tomas found Todd beaten and near death. Instead Irene had Todd brought in so she could have the "favored son, Victor Jr. assume his life. She would ask Todd a question and Victor Jr. would repeat it back to her. After they had received all the information they needed, Irene scarred Victor Jr.'s face so it would resemble Todd's wound. Irene soon realized that sending Victor out into the world looking identical to Todd would put him in danger with Mitch Laurence
, so to keep Mitch at bay, she had Victor's face surgically reconstructed to look like Mitch's long lost brother, Walker Laurence.
On August 30, shortly after her revelation revolving around her sons, Victor is shot and killed, and Todd is arrested for his murder. While stuck in jail together, Irene reveals to Todd that she can prove his innocence if he just returns the microchip he took from her. Shortly after, Irene is released after calling in some favors from Washington D. C. and she later threatens to kill Todd's family members one by one, if she doesn't get what she wants. She confronts her old friend Viki claiming to apologize but instead attempts to kill her until she learns that Victor's will is about to be read. She follows Viki to Victor's house and meets her grandchildren, Dani and Jack
much to the dismay of Victor's ex-wife and his widow, Blair Cramer
and Tea Delgado
. Irene's presence shocks her daughter Tina who has suddenly returned for the reading of Victor's will. They are all shocked when the attorney announces that Victor Lord, Jr has willed his entire estate to Irene. On September 28, 2011, Irene set a bomb on the estate to kill Todd Manning's family unless Todd gives Irene the microchip that she needs. Todd convinces Starr to help him escape and they make it to house in time to warn everyone about Irene's threats. Todd remembers where the microchip Irene is after is hidden and runs off to meet with her. Meanwhile, Bo Buchanan
comes to arrest Todd and Starr, Bo discovers the bomb and gets rid of it in time to save himself and the rest of the Lord/Manning clan. After Todd throws the microchip into the river, Irene shoots him and then leads him to believe that his family has died in the explosion. On October 3, Todd shoots and kills Irene. On October 17, 2011, as Todd is recuperating from his wound in Viki's cabin, Irene appears yet again in his hallucinations as he is slowly remembering more details of the night when Victor was shot. As Todd talks to a ghostly Irene, he ultimately remembers that he, in fact, shot his own brother Victor.
On October 21, 2011 Irene Manning
appears yet again in Todd's thoughts and hallucinations as he is washing his face in the court's bathroom, awaiting to see the fate of Tomas Delgado, who took the rap for Irene's death.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
. The character first appears on-screen May 27, 1978 originated by the actress Kate McKeown. In 1985, Andrea Evans
Andrea Evans
Andrea Lynn Evans is an American Emmy-nominated actress. Evans is most recognized for her portrayal of Tina Lord on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live, a role she played from 1978 to 1981 and 1985 to 1990, returning from June 11, 2008 to November 25, 2008., and finally on September 27, 2011 to...
(Tina
Tina Lord
Tina Lord Roberts is a fictional character on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live, originated and most notably portrayed by Andrea Evans...
) portrayed her in flashbacks. Actress Diana Lamar appeared as Irene in 1994, when it is learned that Todd Manning
Todd Manning
Thomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. Created by writer Michael Malone, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. In 2003, Howarth departed from the series and the role was recast with actor Trevor St. John as Todd, initially written...
is also Irene and Victor Lord's child. Veteran actress Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades is an American actress, known primarily for her comedy and mystery roles, especially as lady bandit Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushings in The Shakiest Gun in the West...
first appears as Irene on August 9, 2011. On October 3, 2011, Irene dies from a gun shot wound.
Storylines
Irene, originally from Llanview, PennsylvaniaLlanview, Pennsylvania
Llanview, Pennsylvania is the fictional setting for the long-running American soap opera One Life to Live. The city exists in the same fictional universe as cities from other existing or defunct ABC daytime dramas, including Pine Valley from All My Children, Port Charles from General Hospital, and...
was the childhood best friend and college roommate of Victoria Lord
Victoria Lord
Victoria "Viki" Lord is the principal fictional character and matriarch of the Lord family on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live...
, the daughter of billionaire, Victor Lord. In the early 1960s, Irene relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where she raised her daughter, Tina. Irene's friend Viki was Tina's godmother. Irene married longtime lover, Ted Clayton, Tina's father. However, the marriage didn't last long and Irene was left to raise Tina on her own.
Irene returned to Llanview in the spring of 1978 and asked Viki to look after her 16 year old daughter, Tina Clayton because she was dying. Irene's illness eventually got the best of her and she died on-screen in July 1978. Eventually, Ted arrived in Llanview hoping to con Viki and Tina out of a lot of money. Ted's plans are foiled. He was killed in 1981.
Tina comes back to Llanview in 1984 with Irene's diary, which reveals that Ted Clayton isn't her biological father. In 1985, when Tina learns that Victor and her mother were married, she freezes the assets of Dorian Lord, Victor's widow and Dorian's marriage to Victor is declared invalid (it is later revealed that Victor and Irene were divorced years before he and Dorian were married, making the latter marriage legal). Later, Tina discovers a secret room beneath Llanfair and finds a letter from Victor meant to be delivered to Viki. In this letter, Victor Lord admits to having an affair with Irene and even marrying her. The letter further reveals that he was Tina's real father. Viki at first couldn't believe it, but she would later recall a repressed memory of Victor and Irene in bed together.
In 1994, Victor's widow, Dorian Lord is officially accused of murdering her husband, 18 years before. After Dorian is convicted and sentenced to death, conman David Vickers
David Vickers
David Vickers Buchanan is a fictional character from the daytime soap opera One Life to Live, portrayed by Tuc Watkins.-Appearances:...
arrives in town with Irene's diary, which reveals her confession to smothering Victor. However, this is revealed to be untrue. Victor is actually alive, having faked his own death. David had forged those parts of the diary in a scheme to get his hands on the inheritance, posing as the secret son of Victor and Irene. Irene admits in her diary that she and Victor still saw one another after the divorce and she had given birth to his son; David Vickers claims to be that son.
In December 1994, Todd Manning
Todd Manning
Thomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. Created by writer Michael Malone, the role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. In 2003, Howarth departed from the series and the role was recast with actor Trevor St. John as Todd, initially written...
finds a letter, following the death of his father, Peter Manning. The letter, written by his now deceased mother, Barbara "Bitsy" (Jones) Manning, reveals that Todd is adopted. While the letter and the official ABC Daytime biography of the character states that he is the biological son of Victor Lord and Peter's sister, Irene Manning, the October 3, 2011 episode rewrites history when Todd berates his mother for handing him off onto her psychotic cousin. As the son of Victor, Todd is now entitled to $30 million inheritance.
In the summer of 2011, a man with Todd's original face, portrayed again by Roger Howarth, shows up in Llanview, claiming that the man who everyone has believed to be Todd for the past eight years is actually an imposter. After a DNA test is conducted, it is learned that both men or both "Todds" share the same DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
. Attempting to explain how the two men could share the same DNA, Irene's granddaughter Starr
Starr Manning
Starr Irene Manning is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. Portrayed by Kristen Alderson since 1998, Starr is the oldest child of Todd Manning and Blair Cramer, and was originally known for her mischievous behavior, exacerbated by her parents' volatile...
believes they might be twins. Irene's grandson, Jack
Jack Manning (One Life to Live)
John "Jack" Cramer Manning is a fictional character on the American soap opera, One Life to Live. He is the first-born son and second child of Todd Manning and Blair Cramer.-Casting:...
believes the one with Todd's original face is a clone
Cloning
Cloning in biology is the process of producing similar populations of genetically identical individuals that occurs in nature when organisms such as bacteria, insects or plants reproduce asexually. Cloning in biotechnology refers to processes used to create copies of DNA fragments , cells , or...
, recalling that he heard of a person
Reva Shayne
Reva Shayne O'Neill is a fictional character on the long-running CBS daytime soap opera Guiding Light played by emmy-award winner Kim Zimmer from November 28, 1983 to July 1990...
being cloned in the nearby town of Springfield
Springfield (Guiding Light)
Springfield, Illinois is the setting of the television soap opera Guiding Light. It is generally portrayed as a small city or large town in the midwest, and circa 2008 is more specifically named as Springfield Township in the show's opening sequence. The township is also next to a lake large enough...
, a clear reference to a storyline on the cancelled CBS soap opera, Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
.
Another DNA test is ordered while the man with Todd's old face moves in with Viki at her Llanfair estate. They begin looking through an old photo album and come across a picture of Viki and Irene, depicted by Erika Slezak
Erika Slezak
Erika Alma Hermina Slezak is an American actress, best known for her role as Victoria Lord on the American daytime soap opera One Life to Live...
and Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades
Barbara Rhoades is an American actress, known primarily for her comedy and mystery roles, especially as lady bandit Penelope "Bad Penny" Cushings in The Shakiest Gun in the West...
. Viki states that the now deceased Irene Manning is the only person who would have know whether or not the two Todds are actually twins. The next scene pans to a presumed dead Irene, revealing that she is very much alive and surreptitiously overseeing an unnamed agency and pulling the strings with the crooked CIA agents and two Todds.
At an undisclosed location, Irene speaks with Agent Baker. Irene is furious that Baker allowed, the fugitive (the original Todd) to make contact with anyone in Llanview and ruining her life's work. Irene knows that once the truth comes out about the two men who believe they are Todd, her entire agency will pay the price.
Irene knows Viki suspects that she would have the answers about the real Todd Manning, and even though she is presumed dead, Viki will eventually start digging the dirt to reveal the truth behind the two Todds mystery. On August 11, 2011, detective John McBain learns that the military base that Irene is operating from is in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
.
On August 15, Irene and Viki see one another for the first time in 30 years since her "death". It was revealed that David had kept Irene's diary.
On August 16, Irene reveals that she gave birth to two twins sons: Todd (whom she gave to Peter to raise) and Victor Jr. who she raised on her own. In early 2003 Irene's people had attempted to recruit Todd for their agency. Todd however refused and threatened to expose them. Irene seeing no other alternative sent Tomas Delgado to eliminate him. Instead Tomas found Todd beaten and near death. Instead Irene had Todd brought in so she could have the "favored son, Victor Jr. assume his life. She would ask Todd a question and Victor Jr. would repeat it back to her. After they had received all the information they needed, Irene scarred Victor Jr.'s face so it would resemble Todd's wound. Irene soon realized that sending Victor out into the world looking identical to Todd would put him in danger with Mitch Laurence
Mitch Laurence
Mitchell "Mitch" Laurence is a fictional character, portrayed by Roscoe Born, on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live, from 1985 to 1987 and again from 2002 to 2003...
, so to keep Mitch at bay, she had Victor's face surgically reconstructed to look like Mitch's long lost brother, Walker Laurence.
On August 30, shortly after her revelation revolving around her sons, Victor is shot and killed, and Todd is arrested for his murder. While stuck in jail together, Irene reveals to Todd that she can prove his innocence if he just returns the microchip he took from her. Shortly after, Irene is released after calling in some favors from Washington D. C. and she later threatens to kill Todd's family members one by one, if she doesn't get what she wants. She confronts her old friend Viki claiming to apologize but instead attempts to kill her until she learns that Victor's will is about to be read. She follows Viki to Victor's house and meets her grandchildren, Dani and Jack
Jack Manning (One Life to Live)
John "Jack" Cramer Manning is a fictional character on the American soap opera, One Life to Live. He is the first-born son and second child of Todd Manning and Blair Cramer.-Casting:...
much to the dismay of Victor's ex-wife and his widow, Blair Cramer
Blair Cramer
Blair Cramer is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live...
and Tea Delgado
Téa Delgado
Téa Delgado is a fictional character from the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. The role was portrayed by Florencia Lozano from January 27, 1997 to March 2, 2000 and briefly in 2002; Lozano returned to the role once again on December 5, 2008.A stern but passionate personality, the character has...
. Irene's presence shocks her daughter Tina who has suddenly returned for the reading of Victor's will. They are all shocked when the attorney announces that Victor Lord, Jr has willed his entire estate to Irene. On September 28, 2011, Irene set a bomb on the estate to kill Todd Manning's family unless Todd gives Irene the microchip that she needs. Todd convinces Starr to help him escape and they make it to house in time to warn everyone about Irene's threats. Todd remembers where the microchip Irene is after is hidden and runs off to meet with her. Meanwhile, Bo Buchanan
Bo Buchanan
Beaufort Oglethorpe "Bo" Buchanan is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Casting and awards:The role was originated in 1979 by Robert S. Woods, who briefly left the series in 1986 but returned in 1988, and currently portrays the role...
comes to arrest Todd and Starr, Bo discovers the bomb and gets rid of it in time to save himself and the rest of the Lord/Manning clan. After Todd throws the microchip into the river, Irene shoots him and then leads him to believe that his family has died in the explosion. On October 3, Todd shoots and kills Irene. On October 17, 2011, as Todd is recuperating from his wound in Viki's cabin, Irene appears yet again in his hallucinations as he is slowly remembering more details of the night when Victor was shot. As Todd talks to a ghostly Irene, he ultimately remembers that he, in fact, shot his own brother Victor.
On October 21, 2011 Irene Manning
Irene Manning
Irene Manning was an actress/singer.She was born Inez Harvuot in Cincinnati, Ohio in a family of five siblings. Her family loved to go on outdoor picnics where the featured activity was group singing. This family environment helped Irene to develop a keen interest in singing at a very early age...
appears yet again in Todd's thoughts and hallucinations as he is washing his face in the court's bathroom, awaiting to see the fate of Tomas Delgado, who took the rap for Irene's death.