Oliver Fish
Encyclopedia
Oliver Fish is a fictional character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...

 on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...

 daytime drama
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...

, portrayed by Scott Evans
Scott Evans (actor)
Scott Evans is an American actor, best known for his role as the police officer Oliver Fish on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live. He is the younger brother of actor Chris Evans.-Personal life:...

 since January 15, 2008. The June 2009 announcement that the character would be romantically linked to another man in an ongoing storyline came to wider attention when Patricia Mauceri
Patricia Mauceri
Patricia Mauceri is an American actress.-Career:Mauceri played Angie Perrini Frame on Another World in 1977...

, an actress who had played a recurring role on the series since 1995, was replaced after reportedly voicing personal religious objections to her character's involvement in the plot.

Impact and controversy

Initially brought in as Oliver for five episodes in January 2008, Evans returned more than 30 times over the next year-and-a-half, noting in a June 2009 interview with AfterElton.com that his appearances had been "building up" since the beginning of 2009. Oliver played a supporting role in several storylines, and was briefly linked romantically to two female regular characters, Layla Williamson
Layla Williamson
Layla Williamson is a fictional character on the American daytime soap opera One Life to Live, who has been portrayed by Tika Sumpter from July 15, 2005 to September 14, 2010 on a contract basis and on November 9, 2010, November 10, 2010, January 21, 2011 and January 24, 2011 on a recurring...

 (Tika Sumpter
Tika Sumpter
Euphemia "Tika" Sumpter is an American actress.Sumpter is known for her role as Layla Williamson on One Life to Live.-Private Life:...

) and Stacy Morasco (Crystal Hunt
Crystal Hunt
Crystal Clarese Hunt is an American actress. She is best known for playing Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 2003-2006. She played the role of Stacy Morasco on One Life to Live from February 2009 until March 2010.-Career:...

).

On June 15, 2009, the openly gay Evans confirmed rumors that Oliver would be going through a "coming out story" and hinted at the character's possible past and future romantic entanglements with male character Kyle Lewis
Kyle Lewis
Kyle Lewis is a fictional character on the popular long running daytime soap opera One Life to Live. He is portrayed by Brett Claywell who made his first appearance on February 14, 2009 and remained on the show until April 16, 2010...

 (Brett Claywell
Brett Claywell
Brett Claywell is an American actor best known for playing the roles of Tim Smith on The CW series One Tree Hill, and Kyle Lewis on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live.-Biography:...

). "I think right now it's going to be a story of his journey and how he's dealing with all this stuff ... he's doing everything in his power to kind of put this [being gay] on the backburner and not let it be a part of his life, but with Kyle in the picture, it's just coming to the forefront." TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...

later quoted Sue Johnson, vice president of daytime programming at ABC, saying:

In telling the love story of Fish and Kyle, Kyle has to get over the fact that Fish is pretending he’s not gay, and that’s something really new and interesting to explore — a journey we haven’t tackled before." Johnson noted, "Soaps have a history of exploring social issues, and there’s been a lot of progress where gay issues are concerned. When we wanted Bianca
Bianca Montgomery
Bianca Christine Montgomery is a fictional character from the American daytime drama All My Children. In June 2010, Christina Bennett Lind replaced Eden Riegel, who portrayed the role from July 2000 to January 2010. Until Riegel assumed the role, the character was portrayed solely by child...

 to kiss Lena on [All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...

], we had to jump through hoops to make it happen. It seems people are more accepting of gays now. Yet, at the same time, you look at what’s happened with Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...

 and you go, whoa, we haven’t come as far as we’d like to think we’ve come ... We’re getting a lot of press for our gay storyline and we like that, but it’s nice to think we’ll soon see the day when this is no longer a big deal.


Meanwhile, on the heels of the announcement of the pending gay storyline in June 2009, Mauceri was replaced as long-running character Carlotta Vega. According to Michael Logan of TV Guide, based on her religious beliefs Mauceri had taken issue with upcoming scenes that would have Carlotta finding a book called How To Tell Your Parents That You’re Gay. Though the book belongs to Oliver, Carlotta believes it is her son's, and is subsequently "understanding and supportive of her son’s sexuality." When Mauceri reportedly went to the show's executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...

 Frank Valentini
Frank Valentini
Frank Valentini is an American television producer, director and composer for the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. From 1985-1994 he worked as stage manager. In 1994 he was promoted to Associate Producer assuming full producer duties in 1996 and in 2003 he became executive producer, replacing Gary...

 and "told him she wouldn’t perform it as written and that she had reworked a significant amount of the dialogue," Logan noted that "Valentini refused to accept Mauceri’s changes and quickly replaced her with actress Saundra Santiago
Saundra Santiago
Saundra Santiago is an American actress. She best known for her role as Det. Gina Calabrese on 1980s television series Miami Vice.-Early life and education:...

."

Characterization and portrayal

Asked immediately prior to the Oliver-Kyle storyline about Oliver's sexual orientation, Evans noted that his character "comes from very conservative parents, and there's going to be a lot of people who can relate to that, and trying to hide it ... You experiment, if you do, when you're younger. Then he decides he's not gay, and he's straight and likes women, so he tries to throw himself at different girls and see where it takes him." Acknowledging that Kyle's presence complicates Oliver's struggle, Evans also discussed the disparate personalities of "fine, upstanding cop" Oliver and the "less than ethical" Kyle:

I think there's definitely a conflict of interest there. Fish is very by the book, and does everything as he's told, and follows the rules. I think him knowing that someone he's involved with was in trouble with the law or doesn't do everything by the book, I think that causes a whole new added tension in addition to the history we already have. It changes it a little bit.


With some fans reportedly detecting "something romantic" between the characters early on, Evans stated that he and Claywell were initially unsure of their characters' mutual history, noting "All we knew was that something had happened, but we weren't necessarily sure what it was. We had our different ideas. It's funny to see people say, 'I knew it! I knew it!.'"

Storylines

Oliver Fish first appears at the Llanview Police Department in January 2008 as Antonio Vega
Antonio Vega
Antonio Vega is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was originated on July 10, 1995 by Kamar de los Reyes, who left in August 1997 and made an appearance in 1998. De los Reyes returned in February 2000 and portrayed the character until March 25,...

's new partner; Oliver (often referred to simply as "Fish") is an awkward young man with technological aptitude and a strict adherence to police regulation. Formerly employed in nearby Cherryvale, Oliver is switching places with Antonio's former partner (and lover) Talia Sahid
Talia Sahid
Talia Cosima Sahid is a fictional character on ABC's daytime drama One Life to Live played by BethAnn Bonner from December 21, 2006 to April 22, 2009.-Casting:...

, who had requested a transfer. Oliver returns to Cherryvale so that Antonio and Talia can reunite, but returns to Llanview occasionally to assist his colleagues, using his computer skills to aid police detective John McBain
John McBain (One Life to Live)
John McBain is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, portrayed by Michael Easton since October 1, 2003.-Natalie and Evangeline:...

 in an investigation. The following year, Oliver is set up on a blind date with Layla Williamson
Layla Williamson
Layla Williamson is a fictional character on the American daytime soap opera One Life to Live, who has been portrayed by Tika Sumpter from July 15, 2005 to September 14, 2010 on a contract basis and on November 9, 2010, November 10, 2010, January 21, 2011 and January 24, 2011 on a recurring...

. Oliver hopes to spend some time with her at the "Go Red" charity ball, but she is busy as a volunteer and has dismissed Fish as a geek; on February 17, 2009, Oliver wakes up after a night of sex with party crasher Stacy Morasco. He immediately breaks things off with Layla, thinking he has met the love of his life. Oliver is disappointed when Stacy later dismisses their evening together as a one-night stand. After cutbacks on the Cherryvale police force, Oliver moves to Llanview and is working as a security guard at Llanview Hospital in March 2009 when Rex Balsom
Rex Balsom
Rex Balsom is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, portrayed by John-Paul Lavoisier since May 9, 2002.With the character initially named "Jamie" prior to production, then-Executive Producer Gary Tomlin "toyed with the idea" of putting Rex in a gay storyline;...

 and Natalie Buchanan
Natalie Buchanan
Natalie Buchanan Banks is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, One Life to Live and daughter of former supercouple Victoria Lord and Clint Buchanan...

 break in to view security tapes. Oliver is soon put back on duty with the Llanview police while Antonio is out of town on special assignment. Suspended from the force, John is doing his own investigation into a series of murders and asks Oliver to limited access to the case files. On April 1, 2009, Oliver runs into new Llanview resident Kyle Lewis
Kyle Lewis
Kyle Lewis is a fictional character on the popular long running daytime soap opera One Life to Live. He is portrayed by Brett Claywell who made his first appearance on February 14, 2009 and remained on the show until April 16, 2010...

, a medical student; the two recognize each other and have an uncomfortable reunion. Oliver and Kyle are later revealed to be former members of the defunct "Kappa Alpha Delta" (KAD) fraternity of Llanview University, which coincidentally is linked to the murders. When evidence surfaces seemingly linking John to the crimes on April 17, 2009, Oliver and Talia are tasked to bring him in for questioning; Talia is stabbed to death by the killer while Oliver is on the other side of the house.

Layla and Oliver begin seeing each other again. Kyle takes an unusual interest in the couple and comments to Cristian Vega
Cristian Vega
Cristian Vega is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live. The character was most notably portrayed by David Fumero, who played Cristian from June 26, 1998 to September 8, 2011.-Casting:...

 that Oliver is not being honest with Layla. A protective Cristian wants to know more, but an uncomfortable Kyle vaguely maintains that though "something happened" in college, Oliver could be a different person today. Meanwhile, Oliver is hesitant about consummating his relationship with a bewildered Layla, and makes a point to advertise their relationship at the police station. Cristian reads a note Oliver leaves for Kyle asking him to stay away because Oliver is not "that guy" anymore. Confronted by Cristian, Kyle will only say that Oliver messed up a relationship in college because he cared more about what people thought, so he walked away and acted like it never happened. A sullen Kyle laments to his landlord Roxy Balsom
Roxy Balsom
Roxanne Louise "Roxy" Balsom is a fictional character on ABC's daytime drama One Life to Live...

 about a guy who will not tell the truth, and she notes that he may be lying "to keep his world from spinning out of control." Confused by Oliver's need to prove himself to his fellow police officers, Layla asks him if he is gay. The accusation angers him, and he cites his night with Stacy as proof that he is not.

On August 6, 2009, Cristian puts together all that he has heard and figures out that Kyle and Oliver must have been romantically involved in college. Meanwhile, Kyle confides in a supportive Roxy that Oliver cannot admit his feelings because of his ultra-conservative family. After Roxy tells Oliver that Kyle is crazy about him, Oliver confronts Kyle. During the confrontation, Kyle reminds Oliver that they loved each other and that he still loves Oliver. Oliver claims their relationship had been a "phase" and a "failed experiment." Kyle begs Oliver to admit that it was real, finally pulling him into a kiss. Cristian stumbles upon them; Oliver pushes Kyle away and denies that he is gay, but Cristian insists that Oliver be honest with Layla, or Cristian will. Later, Oliver seems poised to open up to Layla until he receives a phone call from his parents, who are overjoyed to hear that he has a girlfriend. Oliver and Layla sleep together, and Cristian keeps silent. Oliver apologizes to a bitter Kyle but insists that he is serious about Layla. Their intimate moment is again interrupted by Cristian, but this time Kyle backs up Oliver's story that his romantic connection to Oliver has always been one-sided. Kyle realizes that Oliver will never be with him, and decides to move on. When Kyle meets and makes a date with a man named Nick Chavez, Oliver remembers his recent kiss with Kyle and warns Nick away from Kyle, citing Kyle's troubles with the law. Nick inadvertently clues Layla in to Kyle and Oliver's past relationship and she confronts Oliver, who admits that he and Kyle were sleeping together in college but maintains that he is not gay, and loves her. Layla breaks up with him. The next morning he wakes up in bed with Stacy; secretly plotting to get pregnant and pass the child off as Rex Balsom
Rex Balsom
Rex Balsom is a fictional character on the American daytime drama One Life to Live, portrayed by John-Paul Lavoisier since May 9, 2002.With the character initially named "Jamie" prior to production, then-Executive Producer Gary Tomlin "toyed with the idea" of putting Rex in a gay storyline;...

's, Stacy had overheard a confrontation between Oliver and Kyle, and taking advantage of Oliver's desperate desire to be straight, had gotten him drunk and seduced him. Sick of lying and the troubles it has caused for others, Oliver returns home and finally admits that he is gay to a supportive Cristian and Layla.

In September 2009, Oliver receives a Medal of Honor from the Llanview Police Department for his assistance in bringing down a drug ring and foiling a hostage situation. His parents George and Barbara visit and come to believe that Cristian is gay when George finds a book about coming out. When George condemns Cristian, an angry Oliver defends him, and then blurts out that he is gay. George is disgusted, and further troubled by Oliver's revelation that Barbara had stumbled upon him and Kyle in bed together while they were in college. George angrily storms out and, after apologizing to an emotional Oliver, Barbara follows. The next day, Oliver reveals to his mother that though he loved Kyle, he broke up with him because of Barbara's negative reaction when she walked in on them. Barbara admits that she may never understand Oliver's choices, but she still loves him. George manages to say goodbye to Oliver, but acknowledges that he cannot accept his son's "lifestyle."

Oliver and Kyle finally manage to have the break-up talk they never had. Oliver wonders what would have happened if his mother had never walked in on them, but Kyle says that Oliver probably would not have come out any sooner, to which Oliver agrees. Cristian later encourages Oliver to tell Kyle how he feels. Oliver soon tells Kyle that he loves him and wants him back, but Kyle is now dating Nick exclusively and tells Oliver that they have both changed since college and that Oliver should move on with someone else. Oliver later witnesses Kyle accept Nick's public marriage proposal at the Buenos Dias Café. The wedding, scheduled for the following day, is part of a mass gay wedding to be broadcast on national television as a demonstration against the state laws that ban same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....

. A devastated Oliver is on crowd control duty; overhearing homophobic remarks by a fellow police officer, Oliver emotionally reveals to everyone that he is gay and proud of it. Kyle tells Oliver that he is proud of him, and when the ceremony begins, Kyle realizes that he is still in love with Oliver. He stops the ceremony and declares his love for Oliver, who happily agrees to reconcile. Oliver and Kyle go on several dates so that they can reconnect; when they finally decide to consummate their new relationship, they are interrupted by the news that Nick has been gay-bashed. Determined to come between Kyle and Oliver, Nick schemes to keep them apart, first by manipulating events so that he can stay with Kyle and have Kyle take care of him as he recovers. Oliver gets suspicious of Nick, which incites an argument between Oliver and Kyle. Nick consoles an upset Kyle, and when Nick kisses him, Kyle realizes that Oliver is right about Nick. Nick comes clean and agrees to leave. Kyle tracks Oliver down and apologizes; Oliver forgives him and they finally make love.

On March 29, 2010 Oliver finds out that he is the father of Stacy's daughter Sierra. With Stacy presumed dead, Oliver and Kyle go to court seeking custody of Sierra from Stacy's sister Gigi Morasco
Gigi Morasco
Gigi Morasco is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera One Life to Live. She was portrayed by Farah Fath since October 24, 2007 to June 29, 2011 and October 2011 to present . She returned as a ghost on August 1, 2011 .-Background and Arrival:Gigi was born in 1979 and was briefly presumed dead...

. At first resistant, Gigi finally volunteers to surrender Sierra to Oliver. On April 12, 2010, Kyle and Oliver walk out of the courthouse, having won custody. However, Oliver lets Gigi know that he wants her, Shane, and Rex to be a part of Sierra's life.

External links

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