Hubbry Logo
Marco DaneMarco DaneMain
Open search
Marco Dane
Community hub
Marco Dane
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Marco Dane
Marco Dane
from Wikipedia
Marco Dane
One Life to Live character
Portrayed by
Duration
  • 1977–1986
  • 1989–1990
  • 1992–1999
First appearanceMarch 22, 1977 (1977-03-22)
Last appearanceNovember 19, 1999 (1999-11-19)
ClassificationFormer, regular
Created byGordon Russell
Introduced by
  • Doris Quinlan
  • Paul Rauch (1989)
  • Wendy Riche (1992)
  • Linda Gottlieb(1994)
Crossover
appearances
General Hospital
In-universe information
Other namesMarco Corelli
Dr. Mario Corelli
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • Con man
  • Pimp
Siblings
  • Mario Corelli
  • Garibaldi Corelli
SpouseEdwina Lewis (1980–1981, 1983–198?)
First cousins

Marco Dane is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live. The role was played by actor Gerald Anthony from its debut in 1977[1] through 1986,[2] and from May 17, 1989, until 1990, and 1994 to 1999. Anthony crossed over in the role on sister soap opera General Hospital on September 2, 1992[3] as Marco, remaining in the role through December 24, 1993, before returning to OLTL on January 5, 1994 and staying until November 19,1999.

Storylines

[edit]

1977–1986, 1989–1990, 1994–1999

[edit]

In 1977, Karen Wolek (Kathryn Breech), fiancée to Llanview Hospital chief of staff Dr. Larry Wolek (Michael Storm), is planning for her impending nuptials when ex-boyfriend Marco Dane arrives in Llanview. Fearful that Larry would not marry her if he were to learn about the confidence tricks and embezzlement schemes she participated in with Marco before her arrival in town, she's agitated at Marco's presence. Karen and Larry marry without Marco divulging Karen's secret past, while Marco planned to blackmail her into another business venture instead. In search for employment, Dorian Lord (Claire Malis) hires Marco as a personal assistant, briefly engaging in a romantic affair with him.

Marco (Anthony) and Karen (Light), 1978

Marco engages in constant schadenfreude in Karen's anxiety over the possibility of the con man telling Larry of all the sordid details of their prior criminal behavior. With the introduction of actress Judith Light in the role of Karen in late 1977, head writer Gordon Russell ramps up the storyline into Marco and Karen's relationship, with the role of Karen becoming a jangled bundle of nerves around Anthony's Marco. With the arrival of the goddaughter of Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley (Erika Slezak), Tina Clayton (Andrea Evans), Marco opens up a brothel while masquerading it as a photography studio. Finally establishing a business venture in Llanview, Marco forces Karen (Light, onward) to become one of his prostitutes in exchange for his silence on their past dealings. After Marco takes clothed photographs of naive, teenaged Tina, he edits the images to make them appear as if Tina posed nude. When Marco publishes the photos of Tina, a livid Viki confronts a nonchalant Marco who concedes to none of Viki's accusations.

Newspaper publisher Viki proceeds with a pursuing an exposé in her family newspaper, The Banner, about Dane's doings. While investigating Marco, Viki starts to suspect Karen of cuckolding her former brother-in-law Larry in multiple extramarital affairs. Growing stressed at keeping the secret of her sexual exploits to herself, when Viki confronted Karen with her suspicions, Karen admits to the affairs and divulges her forced prostitution by Marco to Viki. Simultaneously empathetic to Karen's plight and livid with Marco's lurid behaviors, Viki proceeded to share and publish the story of Marco's business dealings with the help of her husband and editor-in-chief, Joe Riley (Lee Patterson). Before the story could be published, Marco finds the murdered corpse of his brother, Dr. Mario Corelli (Anthony). Marco soon devises a plan to assume the identity of his dead brother in an effort to frame Viki for his apparent murder.

Known for her recurrent bouts with multiple personalities (most notably, "Niki Smith"), Viki's apparent motive of revenge for the damaged reputations of her dear Tina and close friend Karen leads Llanview Police Lieutenant Ed Hall (Al Freeman, Jr.) to arrest the town heroine. Viki is later indicted and charged with the murder of Marco, unbeknownst to anyone Marco had an identical twin brother. When Viki is put on trial for the murder of Marco, Llanview District Attorney Herb Callison (Anthony Call) brings surprise witness "Dr. Mario Corelli" (Marco masquerading as his dead brother) to the witness stand. "Mario" then presents forged letters of threats from Viki to Marco as evidence. Karen convinces her friend and fellow prostitute Katrina Karr (Nancy Snyder) as to the true identity of Marco's murderer, and Katrina directs Karen to a post office box with a letter about the killer. Upon arrival to the post office to retrieve the letter uncovering Marco's murderer, the letter is mysteriously lost and Katrina subsequently hit by a car, resulting in Katrina going into a coma. After a month of trial, Katrina recovers and testifies that Karen's extramarital lover, Talbot Huddleston (Byron Sanders), was Marco's murderer, exonerating Viki at the eleventh hour.[4]

As the 1980s begin, Karen is raped by Brad Vernon (Steve Fletcher), the husband of her younger sister Jenny Wolek Vernon (Brynn Thayer), and confided in Marco (as Mario) as to the apparent assault. Upon learning of her husband's rape of her sister, the pregnant Jenny went into premature labor as Katrina Karr was in-hospital giving birth to her own child. Marco and Karen, now friends again, went about switching the sickly-and-soon-dead body of Karen's niece with the live-born child of Katrina (Kristine Karr) when Karen goes into visit the nursery of newborn children. A distraught Katrina falls into a deep depression while the elated Jenny reveled in being a new mother.

Emotionally disturbed with leading a double life, Marco (continuing to pretend to be Mario) suffers a bout of selective amnesia, which prompts Karen to commit Marco into a sanatorium.[5] After being released from the sanitarium, he courts and engages to marry Banner reporter Edwina Lewis (Margaret Klenck). Before the wedding ceremony can be completed, Dorian (Robin Strasser onward) reports to the Llanview police that Mario Corelli was Marco Dane. Marco, his identity revealed, is arrested for identity fraud, incarcerated in Statesville prison, and Edwina proceeded to break off their engagement. After his release from prison, though, Edwina and Marco reconcile and marry.[6]

Apparently reformed from his criminal ways, partners-in-crime Marco and Karen learns that Tina's (adoptive) father, Ted Clayton, is attempting to swindle the Lord family fortune from Viki. The two devise a plan to foil Ted's plot, much to the chagrin of an out of the loop Edwina, who tells the secretive Marco to move out of their apartment.[7] Marco is later shot in a confrontation with Ted, who is shot dead by Llanview Police Commissioner Ed Hall. As this storyline reaches a dénouement, Edwina enacts divorce proceedings with Marco and the switched baby is returned to Katrina Karr (Nancy Snyder) following the discovering.[8][9]

Unable to sever ties with Edwina, Marco engages in a love triangle between his ex-wife and new romance and sister of Jenny's ex-husband, Samantha Vernon. Edwina and Marco remarry but breakup and divorce yet again when ambitious Edwina leaves Llanview in pursuit of career opportunities. After a series of other exploits involving Viki, Echo DiSavoy (Kim Zimmer), and Clint Buchanan (Clint Ritchie), Marco eventually leaves Llanview in 1986.[10] He returned in 1989, meeting Viki's daughter, actress and multiple-personality sufferer Megan Gordon (Jessica Tuck), masquerading as alter-ego "Ruby Bright". Clint, shadowing his sick stepdaughter, uncovers Marco courting Ruby. Clint divulges to Marco that Ruby was a figment of Megan's personality and the two collaborated in causing Megan to reemerge from her latest bout of mental illness. Marco departs Llanview in 1990 after serving as Megan's manager.

Marco returns to Llanview in 1994. Viki hires Marco to investigate Dorian. Marco then discovers about Joey and Dorian's affair however, blackmails Joey for purchasing stock for Buchanan Enterprises. Marco also makes enemies with Tina's husband David Vickers as he plots to break them up and romance Tina all to herself. When Kelly come to town in 1995, it was revealed that the two had a brief romantic history prior to 1992. Marco also clashes with other Lanview residences such as Antonio, Nora, Cassie, Marty, Todd, & Blair. Marco falls in love with Tea Delgado in 1997 however, he continues to grow frustrated with her connection to Todd. Marco also helps Jessica cover her affair with Will and later pregnancy. With Mel Hayes death, Marco befriends Dorian. Marco also is hired as Lindsey's private investigator and also becomes good friends with Bo and RJ. Lindsey fired Marco when he refused to help her destroy Nora. Marco warns Blair, Tea, and Max that he knows about Todd's location and Todd could return to claim Starr at any time. After feeling his stay in Lanview is complete, Marco shares with bittersweet farewell with friends Max, Renee, RJ, and Viki and leaves Llanview for Europe on November 19, 1999. Marco is last mentioned in August 2002 when he sends Ben a telegram about Viki under her Niki Smith personality and Natalie did not push Ben out the window.

1992–93

[edit]

Now a private investigator, Marco arrives in Port Charles in 1992, much to the intriguing delight of heiress Tracy Quartermaine Hornsby (Jane Elliot), who was in the middle of marital woes. Tracy engaged in an extramarital romance while hiring Marco to investigate the mistress of her husband, Jenny Eckert (Cheryl Richardson), a distant cousin of Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary).[11] Marco, as a side venture, becomes a boxing promoter managing high school student Jagger Cates (Antonio Sabàto, Jr.). Jagger, who was dating at the time Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil), had an obvious romantic attraction to classmate Karen Wexler, much to the displeasure of Brenda.

Karen makes advances at Jagger which go unrequited, for which she reacts badly. Going into a bout of depression, Karen begins taking drugs and working at the Paradise Club strip club, owned by Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). When Jagger discovers Karen and Sonny in bed together and learns she had been stripping and abusing drugs, boxer Jagger engages in an altercation which leaves Sonny greatly injured. An incensed Sonny puts a hit out on Jagger in retaliation, only to put the plan on indefinite hold at the insistence of Marco, who urges him to cancel the planned killing in return for a cut of Jagger's boxing winnings.[12][13]

Marco nearly persuaded Tracy to run off with him with a large cut of Quartermaine money but she left him with blank paper and went alone.

Marco worked briefly for Frank Smith along with Luke Spencer and Sonny Corinthos and helped them break Frank Smith out of prison before leaving town to return to Lanview in 1993.

Marco leaves town and returns to Lanview when Anthony left the series in 1993 to return to OLTL.

Casting and reception

[edit]

Following Anthony's introduction as a day player by head writer Gordon Russell, his Marco soon became one of the soap opera genre's first leading anti-heroes. Regarded as "daytime's answer to Al Pacino,"[14] Marco Dane became a leading fixture on OLTL alongside central characters Victoria Lord (Slezak) and Dr. Larry Wolek (Storm), and is credited, in part, for the show's critical acclaim and ratings successes from late 1970s and into the 1980s.[15]

In 1992, GH executive producer Wendy Riche introduced the role on the fellow ABC serial; Anthony earned his second nomination and first Daytime Emmy Award win for Outstanding Supporting Actor for the latter portrayal in 1993 (his first being in the same category for the role on OLTL in 1982), becoming to the first actor to win an Emmy for a crossover role.[16][17]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Marco Dane is a fictional character from the American daytime soap operas and , portrayed by actor . Introduced in 1977 on as a sleazy pimp who exploits nurse (Judith Light) into after her husband's debts, Dane quickly became a central in one of the series' most acclaimed early storylines. His character was initially planned as short-term but gained popularity due to Anthony's charismatic performance, leading to an extension of the role. Dane's storyline escalated in 1978 when he faked his own murder to frame Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley (), resulting in a high-profile that highlighted themes of redemption and past secrets. During the proceedings, Karen's emotional about her prostitution past—under intense —unraveled the and became a landmark moment in history, spanning over 18 months of episodes and earning praise for its dramatic intensity. portrayed Dane from 1977 to 1986, with returns in 1989–1990, evolving the character from a pure into a complex involved in romances and further intrigues, including a 1982 Daytime Emmy nomination for his performance. In 1992–1993, Marco Dane crossed over to General Hospital, where he stirred drama in Port Charles by romancing Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and clashing with other residents, culminating in Anthony winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1993. The character's arc across both ABC series exemplified the interconnected universe of daytime television, blending villainy with unexpected charm and contributing to enduring fan memories of the genre's golden era.

Creation and development

Conception and introduction

Marco Dane was created for the soap opera as a short-term villainous character, originally envisioned for an eight-day arc to inject immediate tension into the series' narratives. The character debuted on March 22, 1977, portrayed by actor , and was introduced as a sleazy pimp and pornographer based in the fictional town of Llanview, . Dane's initial storyline centered on and other criminal exploits, designed to captivate audiences with the show's signature blend of moral dilemmas and high-stakes drama. Due to strong immediate viewer response and the character's untapped potential for ongoing conflict, producers extended Dane's role far beyond the planned duration, transforming him into a recurring antagonist who influenced multiple Llanview storylines.

Character background

Marcus Aurelius Corelli Dane, commonly known as Marco Dane, is a fictional character originating from the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live. Of Italian-American heritage, Dane's family background centers on his siblings: his twin brother Mario Corelli, who was presumed dead in 1979 following a shooting incident, and his younger sibling Garibaldi Corelli; the series provides no details on his parents or any children. It was later revealed in the storyline that Marco had assumed the identity of his deceased brother Mario to evade authorities and continue his schemes in Llanview. As an anti-hero figure, Marco Dane embodies the of a charismatic , blackmailer, and opportunist, frequently engaging in illicit activities such as pimping, , and while navigating moral ambiguity. His manipulative and cunning nature often draws him into criminal enterprises, including running a fraudulent modeling agency to exploit vulnerable women, yet the character demonstrates potential for redemption through evolving relationships and personal growth. Dane's final on-screen appearance occurred on November 19, 1999, in , after which he exited the series single following several divorces, with his last canonical reference being a non-speaking mention via telegram in August 2002.

Casting and portrayal

Gerald Anthony

Gerald Anthony originated the role of Marco Dane on the ABC soap opera when he was cast in 1977. He portrayed the character from 1977 to 1986, returned from 1989 to 1990, and reprised the role again from 1994 to 1999. Born on July 31, 1951, in , , Anthony was an American actor whose career was prominently featured in daytime television. Anthony reprised the role of Marco Dane in a crossover to the sister soap General Hospital from 1992 to 1993, maintaining the character's core traits during this period. For his performance as Marco on General Hospital, Anthony won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. Anthony died by suicide on May 28, 2004, in Butler, , at the age of 52, precluding any future returns to the role.

Awards and recognition

earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of Marco Dane, receiving several prestigious nominations and awards throughout his tenure on both and . In 1982, Anthony was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding in a Series for his performance as Marco Dane on . Anthony's most notable honor came in 1993, when he won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his depiction of Marco Dane during the character's crossover stint on . This victory marked the first Emmy for the role and underscored the impact of the character's brief but memorable appearance on the sister soap. Beyond the Emmys, Anthony received Soap Opera Digest recognition for Marco Dane's revival arcs and on-screen dynamics. In 1991, he won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Limited Run for reprising the character on . He was nominated in 1994 for the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Scene Stealer for his portrayal on . The 1993 Emmy win highlighted the crossover appeal of Marco Dane, drawing renewed attention to the character and contributing to his subsequent return to One Life to Live in 1994.

Storylines

One Life to Live (1977–1986)

Marco Dane debuted on One Life to Live in 1977 as a sleazy opportunist and former lover of Karen Wolek (), whom he blackmailed over her past involvement in to force her back into the life. Posing as a legitimate businessman, Dane operated a modeling agency in Llanview that served as a front for a , expanding his criminal activities and drawing conflicts with local , including Karen's husband, Dr. Larry Wolek. His scheme intensified when he had an affair with Karen, using her secret to maintain control and prevent her from leaving the operation. Dane's villainy escalated in 1978 when he attempted to blackmail Victoria "Viki" Lord Riley (Erika Slezak) by fabricating compromising photographs of her goddaughter, Tina Clayton, to extort money and influence. The following year, Dane was presumed murdered, with his body discovered in circumstances that pointed to Viki as the killer, leading to her arrest and high-profile trial that disrupted the Lord family's dynamics. During the proceedings, prosecutor Herb Callison grilled witness Karen Wolek, who dramatically confessed her history of prostitution under Dane's coercion, revealing the depth of his manipulative empire and exonerating Viki by casting doubt on the evidence. In a shocking twist, the "death" was revealed to be that of Dane's twin brother, Dr. Mario Corelli, killed by another character; Dane had switched identities with the corpse to fake his demise and frame Viki for the crime. Returning to Llanview in 1980 under the guise of Mario Corelli, Dane continued his deceptions, including assisting Karen in switching her sister Jenny's stillborn baby with a healthy infant born to prostitute Katrina Karr, a plot that haunted the Wolek family for years. His assumed identity unraveled just before his wedding to reporter Edwina Lewis (Margaret Klenck), but the pair reconciled and married later that year, only for the union to dissolve in divorce amid Dane's ongoing schemes by 1981. Dane remarried Edwina in 1983, but this second marriage also ended in divorce in 1984 due to his persistent criminal manipulations and dual-personality struggles from the Corelli impersonation. By the mid-1980s, Dane's arcs shifted toward opportunistic ventures, such as directing a funded by that faced sabotage attempts, further entangling him in Llanview's underworld. His initial run concluded in 1986 after the character was shot in the arm during a confrontation with Ted Clayton but survived, with the departing the role.

One Life to Live (1989–1990)

Marco Dane returned to One Life to Live in 1989 after a three-year absence, reintroduced as a reformed character who had moved beyond his earlier blackmail schemes but retained an opportunistic edge. In Atlantic City, he encountered aspiring entertainer Megan Gordon, who was living under her alter ego Ruby Bright, a free-spirited persona that masked her multiple personality disorder. Marco quickly became involved in her career, cheating a gambler at a casino to facilitate their escape and embarking on weeks of travel that deepened their connection. As Megan's manager, Marco leveraged his charisma to promote her as a singer, orchestrating entertainment schemes such as performances at events like the Daisy Awards, where mishaps like being locked in a closet by rival Spring Skye highlighted the chaotic glamour of their pursuits. These endeavors brought Marco into frequent clashes with Llanview's elite, including Clint Buchanan, who shadowed him and uncovered Ruby's as Viki Lord's daughter. The professional partnership evolved into a brief romantic affair, with Marco falling in love with Ruby's vibrant energy, which allowed the character to explore uncharted emotional depth beyond his previous villainous facade. By 1990, Marco's role as Megan's manager concluded amid the ongoing tensions of their relationship and her personal struggles, leading him to depart Llanview for unspecified new ventures off-screen.

General Hospital (1992–1993)

In 1992, Marco Dane arrived in Port Charles as a , hired by to delve into corporate intrigue and personal scandals surrounding her family and marriage. His prior criminal background in Llanview had sharpened his investigative acumen, enabling a smooth transition into this professional guise. Dane quickly formed a romantic alliance with Quartermaine (portrayed by ), as the pair schemed together on business takeovers within ELQ Enterprises and personal manipulations, including an attempt to abscond with a share of Quartermaine funds—though Tracy ultimately outmaneuvered him by substituting blank for the cash. Dane's activities extended into Port Charles's underworld, where he assumed roles as a promoter and intermediary in illicit operations. He became Jagger Cates's boxing promoter, leveraging the bouts to navigate tensions with emerging mob figure (). In one key confrontation, Dane intervened to prevent Corinthos from ordering a hit on Cates, negotiating instead for a payoff from the fighter's winnings, which diffused immediate mob-related conflicts. Additionally, Dane worked briefly at Corinthos's Paradise , immersing himself in the city's criminal underbelly while using his street-smart wits—evolved from earlier days as a —to broker deals and avoid deeper entanglements. By late 1993, Dane's schemes unraveled amid failed plots and shifting alliances, including a short stint collaborating with and Corinthos under mob boss Frank Smith. Disillusioned and out of leverage in , he departed the city, paving the way for his return to Llanview.

One Life to Live (1994–1999)

Marco Dane returned to Llanview in 1994 as a , hired by to probe the secrets and manipulations of Cramer (). His investigations led to clashes with multiple characters, including members of the Cramer family and various Llanview , as he uncovered layers of and intrigue. Specifically, Marco discovered the affair between and Dorian, subsequently blackmailing Joey into purchasing stock for Buchanan Enterprises. In later developments, Dane became more deeply entangled with old flames like Dorian; she hired him as her personal assistant, resulting in a brief romantic affair blending elements of romance with his ongoing sleuthing efforts. His experience as a on General Hospital enhanced his skills during this arc. Dane departed for Europe on November 19, 1999, after resolving several key investigations, and a telegram in 2002 confirmed his off-screen survival. Throughout this period, the character evolved into a more heroic anti-hero, channeling his past criminal skills toward pursuits of justice rather than personal gain.

Reception and legacy

Critical response

Critics and commentators have praised Marco Dane as a quintessential anti-hero in , evolving from an initial one-dimensional villain—a slick introduced in —into a multifaceted character whose charm and complexity captivated audiences, leading to multiple revivals driven by fan demand. Gerald Anthony's portrayal was described as "daytime's answer to —short, wiry, and explosive," establishing Dane as a legend whose sexy, funny demeanor made him a legitimate TV anti-hero. The character's dynamic with co-stars, particularly Judith Light's Karen Wolek, received widespread acclaim for its intensity and emotional depth, with Light crediting Anthony's collaborative genius for elevating their scenes and contributing to her own Emmy win; their interplay during the late 1970s trial storyline was noted for boosting 's ratings and marking a high point in the show's acclaimed period. Anthony's "extraordinary scenes" with Light and others were highlighted by colleagues as showcasing his unique talent and improvisational skill. Media coverage of Dane's 1992 crossover to lauded the move for enhancing inter-soap connectivity, with Anthony's performance as a earning him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding in 1993 and descriptions as a "scene stealer." In soap magazines and tributes, Marco Dane's arc was celebrated as a key element of 's , with Anthony's portrayal deemed "unforgettable" for its mesmerizing complexity and enduring appeal, as echoed by co-stars like who called him "a great , so much fun to be around."

Impact on soap operas

Marco Dane's crossover to General Hospital from 1992 to 1993 represented a significant inter-connection between ABC's daytime soaps, facilitating a shared universe that encouraged subsequent collaborations and events across the network's programs. This appearance, where Dane schemed alongside established Port Charles characters like Tracy Quartermaine, highlighted the potential for character portability to refresh narratives and draw dual audiences from One Life to Live viewers. As a revivable anti-hero, Marco Dane exemplified the of the scheming investigator or reformed criminal who could return repeatedly to inject conflict and humor into ongoing stories, influencing similar multifaceted villains in other soaps who balanced menace with charm. His evolution from pimp to opportunistic ally, praised for adding complexity to the anti-hero trope, inspired portrayals of characters who transitioned from adversaries to uneasy protagonists. Dane's multiple returns to One Life to Live in 1989 and from 1994 to 1999 occurred during periods of declining ratings in the late 1980s and 1990s. These reprises, including his 1989 stint amid a ratings dip from 6.9 in the 1988–1989 season to 6.3 the following year, and his extended 1994 arc as ratings hovered around 5–6. Following Gerald Anthony's death in , Marco Dane endured in fan discussions and retrospectives as a symbol of resilience, with tributes emphasizing the character's enduring appeal and the loyalty it fostered among audiences navigating the genre's evolving landscape. Online forums and features often reference Dane's antics in highlighting fan devotion, portraying him as an emblem of the medium's ability to revive beloved figures even after an actor's passing. As of 2025, annual tributes continue, including a May 2025 piece on the 21st anniversary of Anthony's death emphasizing his enduring impact.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.