Ryan Lavery

Infobox soap character
name = Ryan Lavery
series = All My Children
portrayer = Cameron Mathison
first = January 12, 1998
last =
cause =
creator = Megan McTavish



caption1 = Cameron Mathison as Ryan Lavery


caption2 =


caption3 =
nickname = Six pack (given to him by Kendall Hart)
alias = John Ryan Curry (previously stated as his birth name)
Ryan Aloysius Lavery (full name)
gender = Male
born =
death =
age =
occupation = Former CEO of Cambias Industries
title =
residence = Pine Valley, Pennsylvania
parents = Patrick Lavery
(father, deceased)
Gail Curry Lavery
(mother, deceased)
siblings = Braden Lavery
(brother, deceased)
Jonathan Lavery
(brother)
Erin Lavery
(sister, deceased)
spouse = Gillian Andrassy
(divorced; first time)
Gillian Andrassy
(dissolved; second time)
Greenlee Smythe
(divorced)
Annie Novak Lavery
(invalid; first time)
Annie Novak Lavery
(married/estranged; second time)
children = Unnamed child
(sex unknkown, with Liza, deceased)
Emma Lavery
(daughter, with Annie, via in-vetro)
Unnamed child
(sex unknown, with Greenlee, via in-vetro, deceased)
Spike Lavery
(son, with Kendall, via in-vetro)
Unnamed child
(sex unknown, with Annie, deceased)
romances = Hayley Vaughan Santos
(lovers)
Greenlee Smythe Devane
(lovers)
Gillian Andrassy
(lovers, deceased)
Liza Colby
(fling/one-night stand)
Kendall Hart Slater
(dated/formerly engaged)
Annie Novak Lavery
(dated)
grandchildren =
grandparents =
aunts/uncles =
cousins = Duke Lavery (maternal second cousin once removed, deceased; via Gail Lavery Curry [ [http://www.amcpages.com/amc/ftrees/lavery.php Lavery family tree.] ] )
* This relation is now in contention since it has been re-established on-air that Ryan is a Lavery through his father, not his mother.
relatives = Richie Novak (brother-in-law by Annie)
color = #C80815

Ryan Lavery is a fictional character from the American daytime drama "All My Children", as portrayed by Cameron Mathison from 1998 to 2002 and from 2003 to present. The character has a daughter with current wife Annie, a son with Kendall Hart Slater, and is linked to Kendall's best friend and sometimes enemy Greenlee Smythe.

Ryan had one of the most memorable debuts within the soap opera medium. Going from "a globe-hopping con man with a dizzying rags-to riches-to rags path", the character emerged as one of daytime's "high profile" players.cite news| title=Cameron Mathison|publisher=hollywood.com|accessdate=2007-12-15|url=http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/Cameron_Mathison/1414901] His well-intentioned judgment calls often land him in more trouble than good, he is characteristic of the tragic hero, often seemingly unaware of this flaw.

Background

Cameron Mathison stated that he had not expected to fulfill his dream of becoming an actor.

Eight months after his first audition, he landed the role of Ryan Lavery. He detailed his love for portraying the character, but also acknowledged his interest in other acting fields:

Retconning

Ryan's history has been retconned on more than one occasion. At one point, it was revealed that his birth name was John Ryan Curry [Stated on-air on "All My Children" on October 30 2001.] and that his mother, Gail Lavery, had an affair with Chris Stamp that resulted in his birth. She had married Patrick Curry, [Name given on-air on "All My Children" on October 31 2001.] but later had taken back her maiden name and given it to her children. This was later re-written, and by January 2004, it was revealed that Ryan's full name was Ryan Aloysius Lavery [Stated on-air on "All My Children" on January 22 2004.] and that his father's name was actually Patrick Lavery. [Stated on-air on "All My Children" on July 19 2004.]

toryline

Ryan Lavery arrives in Pine Valley in January 1998 as a con man seeking riches. After getting hired at WRCW, he begins a scheme involving kickback funds. When station manager Liza Colby discovers this, she threatens Ryan with jail time. She says that she will send him to jail unless he marries Gillian Andrassy, who is about to be wed to her nephew, Scott.cite web| title=Ryan Lavery biography|publisher=abc.com|accessdate=2008-02-06|url=http://abc.go.com/daytime/allmychildren/bios/ryan_lavery.html] Ryan and Gillian go through many ups and downs, but eventually fall deeply in love. Their romance ends in tragedy, however, when a hit man takes Gillian's life while trying to kill Anna Devane.

After the death of his wife, Ryan spins out of control, causing him to drink often and take more risks. He begins to come in "contact" with Gillian via psychic Opal Cortlandt. He is unsuccessful at trying to make Opal contact Gillian from the great beyond. In despair, he goes to his and Gillian's special place, the Wildwind turret, holding a candlelight vigil for Gillian, but accidentally sets the turret on fire and is knocked out in the process. Gillian appears to Ryan as a spirit, which revives him and he manages to escape. He is found later by his long-time friend Liza and the two make love out of their shared grief, causing her to become pregnant, which infuriates Adam Chandler. Ryan meets Mia Saunders during a card game and immediately becomes involved with her. They grow closer when Mia relays to him that she and Liza are sisters and that she never knew her father. Ryan and Mia's relationship does not last, however. They drift apart.

A ghostly Gillian orchestrates Ryan to meet Chris Stamp, who is new in town, when Ryan's mother dies (off-camera). Adam investigates Ryan's past, discovering that Ryan's father is a drug dealer. Ryan decides to leave town, but stays when he feels that he should learn more about his family's history. Liza falls down some steps and loses Ryan's baby. Ryan blames Adam for "killing" his baby. Adding to the drama, Chris tells Ryan that he killed his father a long time ago. Ryan does not trust Chris, though, and tries to keep his distance from him.

He meets Kendall Hart for the first time at the Pine Cone Motel. They argue all of the time, but somehow seem to be there for each other during difficult moments. Ryan saves Kendall from a burning room and resuscitates her. This is the start of something more between them, as two lost souls. They enter into a romantic relationship, often bickering but loving each other deeply. Proteus (who has been terrorizing the citizens of Pine Valley). He hides it inside of a doll that belonged to Kendall. When Kendall discovers this, she blackmails Ryan, but he later retrieves it. In a shooting over the Proteus disk, Chris takes a bullet for Ryan and Ryan learns that he is Chris's biological son. The revelation causes Ryan to wonder if this is the reason his stepfather beat him, because he knew the truth. Ryan slowly builds a relationship with Chris.

Ryan and Kendall's relationship deepens. Wanting to see Kendall happy, he tries to bring about a warmer relationship between Kendall and Erica Kane. Erica is Kendall's mother, and the two have a volatile history. Ryan wants to see them develop a mother-daughter bond, while he builds on his father-son bond with Chris.quotation|What Ryan and Kendall have is a serious connection. It was there before; it will be there tomorrow. It's there when they're fighting, it's there when they're happy. It's always there. I think that's the big difference between what Ryan and Kendall have and what Zach and Kendall have. Zach and Kendall have something incredible, but it's not a connection that Ryan and Kendall have. And I'm not talking about a love connection.cite news| first=Erica| last=Brown | title=Cameron Mathison: Bringing Up Baby|publisher="Soap Opera Digest"|accessdate=2008-02-06|url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/features/amc/interviews/matihisonbringingupbaby/] |Cameron Mathison

Losing Kendall

Ryan remains committed to Kendall, despite her feelings of inadequacy. Ryan and Kendall plan to leave Pine Valley together, but their plans are halted. Kendall is accused of burning down Erica's home, suspicion cast her way due to her many threats toward Erica. Ryan and Kendall declare that they are deeply in love with each other, and Ryan defends Kendall to the whole town. Trey Kenyon, Kendall's lawyer in the arson case, suggests that Kendall take a lie detector test to prove her innocence (Trey is the actual arsonist and is hiding this fact). Against Ryan's better judgment, Kendall takes the test and fails. Ryan believes Kendall is not telling the whole truth about the night of the fire, but despite her dishonesty, he proposes marriage to her at her grandmother's gravesite.

In August 2003, Ryan shows up in the Nevada desert. He meets Alexander Cambias, Sr., whose health is rapidly deteriorating. On his deathbed, Alexander leaves Ryan the Cambias fortune when he finds out that Michael Cambias raped Bianca Montgomery. He leaves the fortune with the simple stipulation that only if Alex has no living heir other than Michael, Ryan will receive the money. Ryan returns to Pine Valley and keeps his presence a secret from his old friends, with the exception of Edmund Grey. He soon reveals to the entire town that Alexander Cambias has left him in control of the entire Cambias fortune.

The announcement immediately causes conflict between Ryan and ex-fiancée Kendall, who claims to be married to Michael and thus the true owner of Cambias Industries. Michael's dead body shows up soon after. Even with these fights, the attraction between Ryan and Kendall is still there, and they have a night of passion together. After Michael's time of death negates Kendall's claim to the Cambias fortune, Ryan finds Kendall's sister, Bianca, holding a sonogram. He assumes that she is pregnant, but is shocked when Kendall snatches the sonogram and claims the baby is hers. Ryan refuses to believe the claim. He demands that a DNA test be taken to confirm what she says. Kendall passes the test, but Ryan puts various pieces of the past few months together and silently realizes that Kendall is not pregnant. He knows that she is claiming to be in order to help pregnant Bianca, who is actually carrying Michael's child. Ryan tells Kendall that he is dropping any suit against her that fought her pregnancy claim. He posts her bail when she is arrested for Michael's murder.

Kendall and Erica finally grow close, but Kendall continues to have trust issues. Despite her insecurities, she and Ryan reunite romantically, in what they feel is for good this time. He surprises her with a pouch that will make her appear pregnant. The two become engaged and plan to marry as soon as Kendall is cleared of murder charges. Ryan's friendship with Greenlee Smythe, however, eats away at what little security Kendall has. Her hatred for Greenlee is intensified when Greenlee rips off her dress in court, revealing a fake pregnancy. Kendall believes that Ryan has allied himself with Greenlee and wants her to go to prison. Hurt by her lack of faith in him, a furious Ryan breaks things off with her. Ryan finds it difficult to be with Kendall when she does not fully trust him. No matter his anger at Greenlee's courtroom antics, he sees how truly remorseful she is and the two build a deeper friendship, much to the dismay of Kendall.

Bianca goes public with her pregnancy, and Ryan signs over the company to Bianca and her unborn daughter. Ryan is a great support for Kendall when Bianca's baby, Miranda, is presumed dead after a helicopter crash. Ryan helps Kendall cope with the traumatic loss, and the two grow closer. He is once again prepared to build a future with Kendall. But his friendship with Greenlee continues to upset her.

In her efforts to keep Greenlee from being any part of Fusion Cosmetics (the company Greenlee started with Kendall), Kendall makes an announcement at a Cambias Industries board meeting: While Bianca was in control of the company (since Miranda's passing, it reverted back to Ryan), Kendall had a clause inserted that bars Greenlee from ever working at any Cambias owned company, including Fusion. Ryan views these actions taken by Kendall as wrong and asks her to stop feuding with Greenlee, to instead focus on his love for her. But Kendall finds that she cannot let go of her animosity toward the woman. Furious, Ryan again breaks off his romance with Kendall. He proposes to Greenlee and says, as his wife, she will be co-owner of Cambias and can work at Fusion or any other Cambias company. Ryan vows that their marriage will be platonic. Trusting Ryan, Greenlee agrees.

In May 2004, the two prepare to marry. But at the ceremony, Kendall arrives in place of Greenlee and professes her love to Ryan. She relays to Ryan that Greenlee approved the union and stepped back. Ryan is emotional, but when Greenlee appears and reveals that Kendall locked her in her hotel room to sabotage the wedding, his frustration is evident. Kendall and Greenlee fight, falling into a pool of water, as they duke it out. Ryan jumps into the pool after them and breaks up the fight. Ryan, let down that Kendall once again chose anger over their love, marries Greenlee.

Life with Greenlee

To make sure that their marriage appears valid, Ryan and Greenlee move in together and pretend to be happy newlyweds. They grow close and the marriage of convenience becomes very convenient once he discovers he loves his wife and she returns his feelings. The happy couple comes under attack when demons from his past, in the form of his troubled brother, Jonathan, come to town. Sometime after Chris's death, his journal is found, which reveals that Chris was not Ryan's biological father after all. All the troubles with Jonathan lead Ryan into a downward spiral, sending him into fight clubs and making him believe he should not be a father. Greenlee wants to prove him wrong by getting pregnant. Ryan fakes his own death in an effort to protect his wife and child from himself. When he comes back, he discovers his wife has lost their baby and that Kendall is now acting as their surrogate, Greenlee having used his sperm donation to a clinic while he was presumed dead. Angry that he faked his death, Greenlee refuses to reunite with him, no matter how much he wants to be with her. Soon, it is revealed that the baby Kendall is pregnant with is actually her own baby with Ryan, not Greenlee's. Devastated by what she perceives as her friend's betrayal, Greenlee leaves town.

Annie and amnesia

Some time later, Ryan learns that Emma McDermott is his daughter via his sperm donation as well. It is not long afterwards before he marries Emma's mother, Annie. Greenlee returns to town two years later hoping for another romantic relationship with him. She at first wants his son, Spike, in her custody, believing that he should have been hers, but later drops the custody suit she pulled on Ryan and Kendall. Later, Spike becomes deaf.

Ryan is shot in the head while protecting Kendall from Zach Slater's ex-lover Hannah Nichols, but manages to survive. However, his behavior becomes erratic and unusual.

On February 1 2008, he loses his memory, exactly four years of his life, thinking it is still 2004. He has forgotten about his marriage to Annie and his kids, Emma and Spike. He believes himself to be still engaged to Kendall and is lost when he discovers he is suffering from dissociative amnesia. He is in love with her, but there is one problem; she is now married to Zach. Ryan now believes that Zach has stolen Ryan's entire life, due to the fact that Zach is now owner of Cambias Industries, a title that was given to Ryan by Alexander Cambias, Sr. when he was believed to be dead, and the fact that Ryan's son considers Zach to also be his father.

Some time after much upheaval of Ryan struggling to remember pieces of his life, especially his life with Annie, Greenlee has a sailboating accident when the sail hits her head. Ryan witnesses Greenlee getting hit and rescues her. Her accident makes her realize how much she wants her relationship with Aidan Devane to work. But when Ryan rescues Greenlee from her sailboat accident, the last four years of his life come rushing back to him. He fights his reawakened feelings of being in love with Greenlee as he watches how happy she and Aidan are together.

Annie grows angry and hurt when she realizes that Ryan still loves Greenlee. She starts to scheme to keep Ryan around. She even gets pregnant, but Annie loses this baby when Kendall confronts her about her scheming. Annie later confesses to Ryan for doing some of the things Kendall mentioned (everything but killing Richie Novak, her brother) and tells him how sorry she is but that she does not expect him to forgive her. She asks Ryan to leave. Ryan, devastated and terribly hurt, leaves the hospital room. He receives comfort from his friends, especially Greenlee.

ee also

* Ryan Lavery and Gillian Andrassy

Notes and references