Alan-Michael Spaulding

Infobox soap character
series = Guiding Light
name= Alan-Michael Spaulding
portrayer =


caption1 =
gender = Male

Alan-Michael Spaulding is a fictional character on the CBS soap opera "Guiding Light". The character is the son of wealthy businessman, Alan Spaulding, and his former wife, Hope Bauer. Alan-Michael was born on-screen on September 23, 1981 but this was subsequently revised to 1970 when he turned 17 years old and then later to 1965 or 1966 during his brief dalliance with Marina Cooper in 2006.

Four actors have regularly portrayed the character; the most recent being Michael Dempsey from November 2005 to May 2007. Rick Hearst was the actor who portrayed him the longest, and is arguably the best known for the role. He was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards, winning his first in 1991. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372556/awards "Rick Hearst's awards page at IMDB.com"] ] The child who played him at birth was a baby girl named Jessica Zutterman.

Carl T. Evans introduced the teenage character on July 4, 1987 when Alan-Michael literally parachuted onto the annual Bauer barbecue. He played Alan-Michael until 1990 when Rick Hearst took over the character, playing him for six years. When he left, Michael Dietz was recast briefly (July 3, 1996 to February 7, 1997). In 2005, "Guiding Light" reintroduced the character with Michael Dempsey in the role.

Family troubles

Alan-Michael was raised to adulthood by his mother in New York and lived near his great great Aunt Trudy Bauer until he came to Springfield to live with his father when he was 17 years old. Until recently, he was the only biological son of his father, Alan Spaulding. Despite this, his adopted older brother, Phillip, seemed to be Alan's favorite and was groomed to take over the business while Alan-Michael was often left feeling overlooked and unloved. He is heavily influenced by his desire to be nothing like his father and brother on a personal level and his deep-rooted need to prove that he's just as capable as they are in business. While Alan and Philip are wholly proud of being Spauldings, Alan-Michael has always seen it as a mixed blessing, and sometimes more of a curse. He also has a deep seated need for his father's approval which is usually at odds with his disdain for him. Conversely, he is much closer with his Aunt Alexandra who is usually an ally to him in business as well as personal matters.

Alan-Michael, despite being a member of the richest and arguably most powerful family in Springfield, resided at The Beacon Hotel upon his return due mainly to his tempestuous relationship with his father. In 2007, he was forced to leave Springfield after Alan framed him for embezzlement stating that he wouldn't lose another son to a vendetta referencing his brother's (Phillip) past troubles.

Family

Alan-Michael is the only child born to the brief marriage of Alan Spaulding and Hope Bauer. His parents were mismatched from the beginning and their relationship was fraught with difficulties. Alan's affair with Vanessa Chamberlain Reardon finally ended the marriage which led Hope to drink. Her battle with alcoholism continued throughout Alan-Michael's early years. When Alan-Michael married Harley Cooper in 1989, his mother refused to attend since Alan would be present at the wedding. Alan-Michael only married Harley to gain his trust fund in 1989, but when he didn't succeed he ended up falling truly in love with her. The marriage however didn't last when Alan made it seem like Harley had cheated on Alan-Michael. Thus Alan-Michael slept with Christina "Blake" Thorpe daughter of Roger Thorpe to get back at Harley. Blake (who pretended she was pregnant) coursed Alan-Michael to divorce Harley which he did and marry her. Not to long after they marriage, Blake faked a miscarriage, but the truth about her fake pregnancy was found out. Alan-Michael left Blake, but throughout the early 90's he and Blake would eventually team up to feud with Alan. However, he soon fell in love and married Eleni Andros. Eleni however had conceived a child before they married thanking it was Alan-Michael's but when it was revealed to be Frank Cooper as the father, Eleni left Alan-Michael to marry Frank. Heartbroken yet again, Alan-Michael took over Spaulding Enterprises. However, later his heart would be wooed by Lucy Cooper whom he'd marry before leaving town in 1995.

Alan-Michael would return in 2005 divorced from Lucy. He and Marina Cooper (ironically the child Eleni conceived with Frank) would have a brief courtship between 2005-2006 and later he'd have a courtship with Ava Peralta before leaving Springfield again.

References

ee also

*Bauer family

External links

* [http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/ftrees/bauer.php Bauer family tree at Soap Opera Central]
* [http://soap-news.com/gl/c/alanmichaelspaulding.htm Alan-Michael Spaulding's profile at Soap News]
* [http://www.soapcentral.com/gl/whoswho/alan-michael.php Alan-Michael Spaulding's profile at Soap Opera Central]