Nikolas Cassadine

Nikolas Cassadine
Tyler Christopher as Nikolas Cassadine
General Hospital
Portrayed by	Tyler Christopher (1996–1999; 2003–2011; 2011-) Stephen Martines (1999–2003) Chris Beetem (2005)
Duration	1996-2011
First appearance	July 15, 1996
Last appearance	December 26, 2011
Cause/reason	Returned to Zurich
Created by	Richard Culliton Karen Harris
Profile
Gender	Male
Occupation	Owner/CEO of Cassadine Industries Co-owner of Metro Court Hotel
Title	Prince of Russian nobility
Residence	Zurich, Switzerland
Coltin Scott as Nikolas Cassadine
Relationships Parents Stavros Cassadine Laura Webber Sibling(s) Lucky Spencer Lulu Spencer Spouse(s) Lydia Karenin (divorced; 2003) Mary Bishop (invalid; 2004) Emily Quartermaine (divorced; 2004-2005] Romances Sarah Webber Katherine Bell Gia Campbell Courtney Matthews Emily Quartermaine Claudia Zacchara Nadine Crowell Elizabeth Webber Rebecca Shaw Brook Lynn Ashton Children Spencer Cassadine Grandparents Mikkos Cassadine Helena Cassadine Goryon Gray Lesley Webber Rick Webber (adoptive) Aunts and uncles Stefan Cassadine Alexis Davis Valentin Cassadine Kristina Cassadine Mike Webber (adoptive) Rick Webber Jr. (adoptive) Nieces and nephews Cameron Spencer (adoptive) Jacob Spencer (legal) Aiden Spencer First cousins Sam McCall Kristina Davis Molly Lansing Lila McCall (once removed) Other relatives Stanislaus Cassadine (great-great-grandfather) Victor Cassadine (great-uncle) Tony Cassadine (great-uncle) Sophia Cassadine (great-aunt)

Prince Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine ^[1] is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated by Tyler Christopher, who played the character from 1996–1999, and then after a four-year hiatus resumed the role in 2003 and left the show in 2011. Stephen Martines (under the stage name "Coltin Scott") played the role from 1999 to 2003, and Chris Beetem temporarily took over the character in December 2005.^[2]

Character history

Nikolas is a Greek Prince and the current head of his family's legacy, Cassadine Industries. He is the son of Stavros Cassadine and Laura Spencer. Nikolas faces a constant struggle to define his own identity within the context of the history of the Cassadine and Spencer families. He and his half brother Lucky Spencer have both been victimized by the matriarch of the family, Helena Cassadine, in a variety of ways, and both have been caught in the crossfire between Lucky's father, Luke Spencer and his personal war with the Cassadines.

Early years

Nikolas is the son of Laura Webber and the late Stavros Cassadine. Laura had been kidnapped by Stavros as an act of revenge against Luke Spencer for the events leading to the death of his father Mikkos Cassadine. On one of these occasions, she met Stavros' kind-hearted brother Stefan Cassadine and soon, the two became romantic. When Laura discovered she was pregnant, she hoped he was the father. When the child was born, he was named Nikolas, after Tsar Nicholas II. Laura desperately wanted a normal life for her son, not the life of a prince as head of the corrupt Cassadine family. Laura was eventually able to escape the island with Stefan's help, who promised to look after Nikolas while she reunited with her husband Luke. Stavros pursued her, but appeared to die after falling down a flight of stairs. When Laura tried to secretly reclaim Nikolas, his grandmother Helena Cassadine murdered Laura's mother Lesley Webber. To protect her loved ones, Laura told no one about her son. Stefan took control of rearing Nikolas when he turned seven, and banished Helena from his life. As a child he was both happy and lonely. He both loved his mother and resented her for being absent from his life.

Teen years

Fifteen-year-old Nikolas first came to Port Charles after donating his bone marrow to his sister Lulu. Nikolas had known growing up he had a half-brother, Lucky, but was unaware he had a little half-sister. He easily bonded with Lulu, though. When he met Lucky, there was instant animosity. Their early relationship was characterized by revealing family secrets in order to hurt one another. Lucky revealed Helena killed Lesley. After a heated argument, Nikolas fell down a flight of stairs and had to be hospitalized. Though Laura explained Nikolas didn't have a place in her life anymore, he stayed in Port Charles and eventually became best friends with Emily Quartermaine, who began to develop romantic feelings for him.

Laura eventually learned Lesley was alive, having been saved by Stefan from his mother's plot, and was in a catatonic state resulting from a complication from the drug he used to fake her death. When Laura went to visit her mother, the house they were in exploded. Both were presumed killed. Most of the town blamed the Cassadines. Nikolas's only allies were Emily, nurse Bobbie Spencer, and businesswoman Katherine Bell. When it was discovered the explosion was a hoax to protect Lesley, the town turned against the Spencers. Stefan, who had married Bobbie, drove Laura out of town when he became convinced she would continue to hurt Nikolas. Nikolas and Lucky worked through their animosity and became friends. Laura returned to Port Charles determined to foster her relationship with her son. The two bonded when it appeared Lucky had perished in a fire.

The Cassadine Prince

Emily Quartermaine and Nikolas Cassadine.

Helena was actually holding Lucky hostage. Stavros was alive, having been cryogenically frozen by Helena to stave off death. When Helena was defeated and Stavros appeared to die again, Stefan deemed Nikolas ready to take on the mantle of the Cassadine Prince. Though his aunt Alexis Davis was there for him, Nikolas was plagued by insecurities after Stefan left for Europe. He was devastated when Laura entered a catatonic state after the murder of her adoptive father Rick Webber. As a result of losing their mother, Lucky, Lulu, and Nikolas became extremely close. Though Nikolas had romanced both Sarah Webber and Gia Campbell, his greatest love turned out to be his first friend Emily. As Emily battled breast cancer, Nikolas became her most trusted confidant. As their feelings grew, Emily became torn between Nikolas and her first love Zander Smith. Believing she was dying, Emily married Zander as her last gift to him, though she eventually entered remission. Eventually Emily and Nikolas could no longer resist and slept with one another. Witnessing their adultery started Zander on a downward spiral, and Emily ended their marriage. Zander went on to kidnap Emily, but was killed by the police. Stefan also interfered, but eventually committed suicide.

When a car accident left Nikolas with amnesia, war widow Mary Bishop took him in, leaving Port Charles and Emily to believe he died. Mary lied to Nikolas, telling him he was her late husband Connor. Emily eventually discovered the deception and carefully worked to unlock Nikolas' fragile mind. Finally remembering Emily, the two reconciled, causing Mary to breakdown at the second loss of her "husband." Mary eventually died after going on a murder spree, then being shot by Nikolas and hospitalized It was strongly implied Emily did this. Helena returned to stop the what she deemed an unworthy relationship for her grandson, who in turn threw her off of a cliff. To spare Emily the pain of a trial, Nikolas pled guilty to murder. The two married before he was sent to prison. Nikolas' doppelgänger Connor Bishop returned to town, and began romancing Emily on the orders of a very much alive Helena and as revenge for the death of his wife Mary. Connor raped Emily, who emotionally retreated from her husband. The strain on the marriage became too much, and Nikolas began an affair with also unhappily married Courtney Jacks. While Courtney ended her marriage to Jasper Jacks, Emily and Nikolas divorced as well. When Courtney became pregnant, it was unclear if the father was Nikolas or Jax. When Jax learned Nikolas was the father, he switched the results of a DNA test in order to protect Courtney and the baby from Helena.

Fatherhood

After misinterpreting a close moment between Nikolas and Emily, a pregnant Courtney leaves town and is briefly abducted by Helena. After her escape, she returns to Port Charles in the middle of an encephalitis outbreak. She and Nikolas both become ill. Because of her illness, a C-section was necessary to save the baby, though at great risk to her health. She told Jax she wanted to name the baby John Michael, after Jax's father and her father. Jax revealed Nikolas was the real father. When Nikolas was summoned to her room to learn the truth, Courtney died without telling him of Jax's deception. Nikolas was devastated by her death and by Jax not letting him visit John Michael, who Courtney had planned to raise with Nikolas. Courtney's obstetrician became suspicious of the behavior of Jax and his new girlfriend Carly Corinthos in relation to John, and began to investigate the DNA test. The real results of the test were received by Robin Scorpio, a friend of Nikolas and Jax, though a bitter rival of Carly's. During John's baptism, Robin revealed the truth to Nikolas.

Though bitter at the manipulations of Jax and Carly, Nikolas was able to heal some of the wounds between his father's family and his mother's when he changed John's name to Spencer. Emily and Nikolas began to become close again, as they fought against Helena having any influence on the baby's life. Nikolas also hired a nanny named Colleen McHenry. Colleen turned out to be unstable, and her obsession with Nikolas resulted in him being injured. She was eventually fired when Emily discovered all of the other fathers she had worked with had been murdered. He was overjoyed when his mother Laura emerged from her catatonic state, though it was only a brief respite. Nikolas and Emily reunited, and made plans to spend the holidays at Wyndemere with Spencer, as a family. As the holidays drew near Nikolas consented to allow Spencer to play baby Jesus in the Christmas pageant, with Morgan and Michael. As the performance was about to begin, a weary Nikolas and Emily were in shock to discover Spencer had been kidnapped by Colleen. Helena was eventually able to get the baby. Helena attempted to christen him as the next Cassadine heir, but Emily and Nikolas were able to thwart her. Nikolas eventually had Spencer baptized and name Emily as his godmother.

Tragic times

Nikolas and Emily continued their romance, and they attended a fundriaser at the Metro Court. They soon were held hostage with several of their friends when a team of mercenaries led by a plastic surgery disguised Jerry Jacks attempted to rob the hotel's safe. They both helped care for an injured Robin. Nikolas supported Emily when her father Alan Quartermaine died as a result of the incident. After the crisis had passed, Jerry, using the alias James Craig, injected Nikolas with an experimental poison in a bid to have Nikolas finance a new life for him with the Cassadine fortune. Robin discovered Jerry with Nikolas. Jerry forced her to pretend she was involved with Nikolas. Though Nikolas had ended his relationship with her, Emily learned the truth and worked with Robin to save him. When Jerry's identity was revealed, he ended up giving Nikolas the antidote.

As he recovered, Nikolas began exhibiting strange symptoms, including uncontrolled violence and anger. When he revealed he was also suffering from blackouts, they went to Dr. Patrick Drake for a diagnosis, who could find nothing wrong with him. Nikolas and Emily planned a romantic Black and White Ball to celebrate their love before facing the reality of his illness. Though the night began well, Nikolas was crushed when he awoke from one of his blackouts to find Emily had been murdered the same way Leticia had been. Nikolas was eventually diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, and one of its symptoms was his hallucinations of Emily. Patrick was able to get Nikolas to see a specialist in Switzerland, and a course of treatment became possible. Nikolas began to befriend nurse Nadine Crowell, who was able to get Nikolas to admit his reluctance to treat his tumor was because the tumor allowed him to see "Emily". With Nadine's encouragement, Nikolas begins treatment while also hoping his hallucinations will lead him to the identity of Emily's killer. When he realizes Diego Alcazar is the killer, the two fight and Diego is inadvertently killed when chains become wrapped around his neck. When Dr. Ian Devlin tells Nikolas he has an experimental drug to allow him more time with his visions of Emily, Nikolas agrees to pay him ten million dollars. He also starts a program to allow patients without insurance to be treated at General Hospital, much to the pleasure of Emily's mother Dr. Monica Quartermaine.

Moving on

Convinced Emily would want this and for the sake of his son, Nikolas decides to go forward with the surgery to remove his tumor and visions of Emily. Emily visits one last time, leaving her engagement ring in his hand while he is in surgery. While working on a clinic dedicated to Emily, Nikolas romantic sparks begin to fly between Nikolas and his former nurse Nadine. The two share kisses, and even waltz at Wyndamere. Nikolas also finds him self attracted to Claudia Zacchara. The two bond and share a kiss. Nikolas is taken aback when she reveals she is responsible for the comatose state of Michael Corinthos. In order to avoid her being murdered, Nikolas agrees to keep her secret, though he also decides to keep his distance from her. When Nadine is nearly killed in a fire started by Jerry, Nikolas brings her to recuperate at Wyndemere and tells her he is starting to fall in love with her. The two eventually make love, though their relationship is tested when they must fake getting married to ease the last days of Nadine's dying aunt Raylene. After talking with Raylene, Nikolas admits to himself though he cares for her, Nadine's feelings for him are much stronger.

When Carly throws a benefit at General Hospital to raise money for children suffering from traumatic brain injuries, Nikolas and Nadine attend. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman named Rebecca who looks just like the deceased Emily Quartermaine, though with shorter, lighter hair, is seen around the hospital. While the benefit is going on, a biotoxin is released from a patient's stomach and spreads through the vents to the benefit location. Nikolas was outside making a phone call when he saw Rebecca. But the news of the biotoxin made him run to help Nadine. Later, when the hospital was set on fire, Nikolas saved Rebecca, though she told him to stay away. Nadine broke up with Nikolas when she realized how attached he was to Rebecca.

When Lucky started to date Rebecca, it bothered both Nikolas and Elizabeth. That night, Elizabeth and Nik went to Jake's and got drunk. In the midst of talking about Lucky, Rebecca, Emily and their friendship with each other, they started to kiss, witnessed by Rebecca and Lucky. Lucky stormed out and went back to Rebecca's room at Kelly's. They were about to make love when Lucky stopped because he kept thinking about Elizabeth. Back at the bar, Coleman Ratcliffe informed Elizabeth and Nikolas that Lucky and Rebecca witnessed the kiss, causing Elizabeth to feel slightly guilty.

As Elizabeth and Lucky decided to go forward with a relationship, Elizabeth still finds herself increasingly attracted to Nikolas. After Jake is injured at the carnival Lucky proposes to Elizabeth again in the hospital, but she tells him she has to think about it. She goes to Wyndemere to see Nikolas. Nikolas and Elizabeth give into their attraction and have sex in the living room at Wyndemere, though they regret it immediately. With a plan of revenge in mind, Nikolas starts dating Rebecca again, determined to make her pay for using Emily's memory to scam him. He also hopes Rebecca can distract him from Elizabeth.

Nikolas breaks off his relationship with Rebecca, disclosing to her how he even offered Ethan money to taker her away, but Ethan declined. After Rebecca tells Lucky that Nikolas was cold and detached as he ended things with her, Lucky tells Rebecca that Nikolas seemed subdued when Lucky spoke with him earlier about calling off the engagement to Elizabeth. Rebecca interprets this as a sign of regret from Nikolas and shows up to surprise Nikolas at his stable. Nikolas tells her he will never be able to care for her. Rebecca takes this to mean Emily and tells him she is willing to keep trying anyway. Elizabeth and Nikolas wrestle with their feelings for months and have to deal with Rebecca finding out about them. Eventually, Rebecca leaves town without telling Lucky the truth. Lucky finds out eventually and confronts Nikolas and Elizabeth, saying he's done with both of them.

Elizabeth's Pregnancy and Aiden

On Valentine's Day, Elizabeth goes to the church where her and Lucky were married and passes out from hypothermia. Lucky finds her and takes her to the hospital. She finds out she is pregnant and the baby could be either Nikolas' or Lucky's. Elizabeth, Lucky, and Nikolas are blindsided when Kelly tells them Elizabeth's pregnant. After finding Elizabeth on the hospital roof looking ready to jump, Steve, Lucky and Nikolas agree she needs to go to Shadybrook. Lucky and Nikolas manage to convince Elizabeth it's in her and her children's best interests if she went to Shadybrook for treatment. Nikolas stuns Lucky when he tells him he plans on asking Elizabeth to marry him. Nikolas asks Elizabeth if she'd be willing to take a paternity test sooner rather than later. When the paternity test is taken, Lucky is revealed to be the father of Elizabeth's baby. However, Helena tampered with the results, making it seem that Nikolas is the father. During the pregnancy, Elizabeth and Nikolas mend their relationship, with the help of Shirley, a terminal patient they both befriend. On July 19, 2010, Nikolas became a "father" to a baby boy named Aiden Alexi Nikolossovich Casssadine.

In September, Nikolas invites Brook Lynn to be his escort for a formal dinner in France. She continues to work as his escort for social commitments, and eventually their professional relationship blossoms into a brief romance. Elizabeth and others disapprove of their relationship. Brook Lynn and Nikolas eventually break up amicably and she leaves town to pursue a music career.

When Jake Webber (Elizabeth and Lucky's son) is killed by Luke in a hit-and-run accident, Nikolas manages to repair his relationship with Lucky, helping him pull through his grief and setting up a wedding night for Lucky and his new wife Siobhan McKenna. Nikolas participates in a forced intervention meant to coax Luke into rehab for his alleged alcoholism after Jake's death. He briefly agrees to finally enter rehab later on, but flees almost immediately. Lulu believes that she can lure Luke back to Port Charles by managing Luke's casino, the Haunted Star. Nikolas gives Lulu money to buy the casino from Luke's wife Tracy.

Aiden's paternity revealed

On the night of Jake's death, Elizabeth receives the mailed results of a third paternity test for Aiden (prompted by her belief that Aiden too closely resembles Lucky), and learns that Lucky is Aiden's father, not Nikolas. She keeps this revelation secret for several months, not wishing to add to anyone's pain. She finally tells Lucky the truth when he begins a downward spiral after he sets fire to the Spencer house and indirectly causes harm to his wife, Siobhan. Next, she tells Nikolas, who initially refuses to believe it and convinces himself that Elizabeth lied to Lucky about it to keep him sober. Desperate, Nikolas packs up to leave town with Spencer & Aiden with the intent to flee the country and go underground, but after visiting Emily's grave, he realizes that leaving the country with Aiden wouldn't be fair to anyone and would only start a new war between the Spencers and the Cassadines. On June 30, 2011, Nikolas leaves Aiden in the care of Elizabeth and Lucky and leaves for Switzerland with Spencer, coinciding with Helena's return.

Nikolas briefly returns in July 2011, when he comes to Cassadine Island, where Lulu is looking for Luke, to speak with Helena. After telling Helena to stay away from Aiden and to never speak of him again, Nikolas tells Lulu how he always felt second to Lucky because everyone was worried about how Lucky felt when he was growing up. He also tells Lulu her search for Luke is just like their mother's belief that Luke was a good man, which eventually destroyed their marriage. He leaves, and Lulu realizes her mistake and returns to Port Charles.

See also

• Cassadine family
• Hardy/Webber family
• Nikolas Cassadine and Emily Quartermaine

References

1. ^ http://www.soapcentral.com/gh/recaps/1998/980720.php#thu
2. ^ soapcentral.com profile

External links

• Character profile at Soapcentral.com