Robin Scorpio
Robin Scorpio-Drake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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General Hospital and All My Children character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
File:KM Robin.png Kimberly McCullough as Robin Scorpio-Drake | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Kimberly McCullough | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Duration | 1985–2001, 2004–13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
First appearance | September 6, 1985 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last appearance | March 25, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Created by |
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Introduced by |
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Book appearances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake (formerly Soltini) is a fictional character from the ABC Daytime soap opera General Hospital and its primetime SOAPnet spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, originated and portrayed by Kimberly McCullough on and off from 1985 to 2013.[1] The character came to mainstream attention during a 1990s story arc where her boyfriend Stone Cates dies from AIDS and Robin is diagnosed as HIV-positive.[2][3] Robin is also famous in the soap community for having been one of the few long-term soap characters to age in real time, not SORASed like most other child actors.[4]
Casting
A seven-year-old McCullough was one of three actresses narrowed down for the part of five-year-old Robin, and was brought in to screen test with her on-screen parents Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) and Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio).[5] Hughes recalled the event to MSN TV: "We just started improvising with her, like anything. We were throwing things at her and she was just talking away. Tristan and I were looking at each other over her head going, 'This is it! This is what we wanted.'"[5] Improvisation skills were key for General Hospital's process in the 1980s. As Hughes explained: "It was very improvised. Very loose. We used to just talk around the plot and maybe every now and again dip our toe in the actual storyline."[5]
McCullough debuted on September 6, 1985, and stayed with the series until September 12, 1996.[1] Afterwards, she returned as a series regular for brief stints: January 17, 1997 to February 3, 1997; January 2, 1998 to January 20, 1999; June 20–21, 2000 (for The Nurses' Ball); and July 16, 2004. She appeared on "Port Charles" in 1998, for one episode.[1] She also appeared on May 30–31, 2001 and June 4, 2001 on All My Children when Robin reunited with her mother Anna. McCullough returned full-time to the show starting on October 12, 2005.[6] She also appeared on both seasons of the spin-off series General Hospital: Night Shift in 2007 and 2008.[1]
For her work as Robin, McCullough has won two Daytime Emmy Awards, one for Outstanding Juvenile Female in 1989 and one for Outstanding Younger Actress in 1996.[1][7][8] McCullough also earned two Soap Opera Digest Awards, for Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress in 1986 and Outstanding Child Actor in 1993, as well as a 1987 Young Artist Award.[1]
In November 2011, McCullough announced her plans to leave General Hospital in the early months of 2012 to pursue her dream of directing full-time.[3] This came only weeks after a controversial plot,[9] where Lisa Niles (portrayed by Brianna Brown) threatens to inject Robin's blood into her husband, Patrick Drake, which was hard on McCullough and her co-star Jason Thompson considering Robin's critically acclaimed HIV-story.[10] While the character was killed off on February 21, 2012, McCullough continued to make several appearances as an apparition in numerous scenes with her loved ones. Frank Valentini, Ron Carlivati and McCullough discussed her departure, and Carlivati, who was uncomfortable with the idea of Robin being "completely dead", rewrote her story. McCullough's scene on March 27, 2012 showed Robin to be alive, leaving the door open for her to return.[11]
On July 16, 2012, Soap Opera Digest announced that McCullough would return to the series for a series of guest spots.[12][13] She started her series of guest starring spots on July 19, 2012. In the fall of 2012, Soap Opera Digest confirmed that McCullough would reprise her role as Robin starting on November 6.[14]
Storylines
1985–92
Robin Soltini arrives in Port Charles with the woman she believes to be her grandmother, Filomena Soltini. She had grown up thinking her mother, Anna Devane, was a family friend. Her father, Robert Scorpio, has no idea that he shares a daughter with Anna and is surprised to find Robin in his living room. During her childhood, Robin's grandmother is killed and she faces tough times when her parents are supposedly murdered in an explosion. She is then raised by her Uncle Mac Scorpio.
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1993–99
In 1993, Robin meets Michael 'Stone' Cates, and although they initially do not get along, they began dating in 1994 against her Uncle Mac's wishes. Stone had been a street kid now taken in and working for Sonny Corinthos. In 1995, Stone learns he is HIV+ and eventually contracts AIDS due to his length of time without treatment. After his first HIV test came back negative, he did not take another one six months later. Robin and her family are shocked to learn that she is also HIV+. Robin and Stone fall deeply in love, and she is devastated when Stone eventually dies from AIDS. Robin is at Jason Morgan's bedside when he wakes up from a coma following a car accident caused by his brother A. J. Quartermaine. A few months later, they begin to bond and start dating. Jason helps Robin cope with Stone's death and her medical status, while Robin helps Jason cope with his memory loss following the accident. They fall in love despite protests from her uncle Mac Scorpio. She introduces him to Sonny Corinthos, soon his employer, and the three become great friends. Robin eventually enrolls in school at Yale, returning on weekends and holidays to visit. After an emotional break-up with Jason due to his involvement with the mob, Robin leaves Port Charles. She returns in 1998 to help her friend Brenda Barrett from her recent break-up. During this time, Robin becomes friends with Nikolas Cassadine and the two bond over their similar childhoods. Robin reconciles with Jason and they move in together with baby Michael, who Jason is taking care of for his friend Carly. However, their relationship begins to deteriorate when Carly moves home and into their cottage. Robin eventually reveals to Jason's brother A.J. that he (and not Jason) is the father of Carly's son. Jason is furious and they end their relationship. Robin leaves town heartbroken in 1999, moving to Paris.
2005—
Robin returns to Port Charles in 2005 to help save Jason Morgan's life, and brings Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson) to town to operate. Robin and Patrick bicker and flirt, and eventually start dating despite Patrick's anti-commitment reputation. They work together during an encephalitis outbreak in February 2006. The crisis brings Robin's presumed-dead father to town, Robert Scorpio (Rogers), but he leaves shortly thereafter. Robin sees him again when she joins Lulu Spencer (then Julie Marie Berman) and Dillon Quartermaine (Scott Clifton) to the Markham Islands to rescue Robert and Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary). She also sees her mother Anna Devane, having previously found out she was alive and reunited with her in 2001 in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, Robin and Patrick admit their love for one another. In late 2006, they help Luke Spencer reconnect with his catatonic wife, Laura, with an experimental drug. In early 2007, Robin is part of a group held hostage at the Metro Court Hotel and is shot in the abdomen. A few months later, Robin realizes she wants to have a child while Patrick strongly does not, and they break up. In late 2007, after the funeral of her cousin Georgie Jones (Lindze Letherman), Robin goes to Patrick for comfort and they sleep together. Robin discovers she is pregnant, but does not tell Patrick since she had been planning on using a sperm donor. Patrick figures out the truth, and the couple slowly starts to become close again. In the summer of 2008, Robin's father's is diagnosed with colon cancer but pulls through. Patrick proposes to Robin but she turns him down. They eventually plan an October wedding, which is cut short when Robin goes into labor. Robin names the baby Emma Grace Scorpio-Drake, who, after a brief scare, is shown not to be infected by Robin's HIV. Patrick and Robin wed the day after Christmas.
In early 2009, Robin begins suffering from postpartum depression. After months of refusing help, she agrees to treatment and eventually bonds with her daughter. In early 2010, Robin and Patrick begin to bicker. In June, Robin takes a trip to Africa to help with an AIDS program. Patrick is upset to not be included in her decision, and voices his jealousy over her connection to her late boyfriend Stone. The night Robin returns, Patrick sleeps with Lisa Niles (Brianna Brown). Lisa slowly begins to show her jealously after Patrick refuses to sleep with her again. Lisa cuts Robin out of photos, steals Robin's HIV medicine and takes Emma from the babysitter. Patrick confesses his affair to Robin and she kicks him out of the house. She confronts Lisa, who then intentionally jumps in front of Robin's car and claims Robin tried to kill her. Lisa replaces Robin's medication with sedatives, resulting in Robin crashing her car. Lisa kidnaps her, and Robin escapes but falls in a well. Suffering from exhaustion and hypothermia, she hallucinates Stone. Patrick eventually finds Robin, with Lisa close after him. Lisa attempts to shoot herself and is sent to a mental institution. She returns shortly, having passed her psychiatric evaluations. After Emma's birthday party, a fire starts and Lisa saves Robin and Emma. Robin accuses Lisa of starting the fire, and Lisa petitions to have Robin fired. Robin's cousin Maxie Jones (Kirsten Storms) catches Lisa attempting to inject Robin's IV bag with sodium pentothal, and Lisa flees. She is put on probation and her petition against Robin is dismissed.
In early 2011, Robin serves as the maid of honor at Sonny's wedding to Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil). Brenda is kidnapped and injected with a neurotoxin, and Robin saves her with an antidote. Patrick comforts Robin during the crisis and they begin to repair their relationship. When Jake Spencer is hit by a car and dies, Robin realizes life is short and reconciles with Patrick. Lisa attempts to kill Robin and frame Patrick, but they figure out her plan and she is arrested. In late June 2011, Lisa holds Robin, Patrick, Steve and Maxie hostage at General Hospital. Eventually there is a struggle where Lisa lets Patrick inject her with drain cleaner. She falls into a coma. Meanwhile, Robin is appointed Chief of Staff. When Jasper Jacks kidnaps his daughter Josslyn Jacks, he goes to Robin for help. Sonny finds them and accidentally shoots Robin in the arm instead of Jax. In October, Robin and Patrick join Matt, Elizabeth, Steve and Olivia on a boat to celebrate Matt's medical achievement. Lisa sneaks on board and ties up Patrick and Robin. Lisa tries to inject Patrick with Robin's blood, but Robin and Lisa struggle and Lisa runs away. Lisa is found dead and everyone becomes suspects. In December, Robin tells Jason her HIV meds are not working. She later works on a protocol to save Jason, who is again experiencing head trauma. She is caught in a lab explosion and presumed dead, later seen being held captive. Her captor is seen to be Ewen Keenan, later revealed to be working for Jerry Jacks. She is later seen being held captive by Duke Lavery, shown to be Cesar Faison in disguise. After Faison is apprehended, his accomplice Dr. Obrecht tries to kill Robin, and her father Robert catches her. They struggle and Robert is injected, falling into a coma. Obrecht escapes with Robin and takes her to Jerry Jacks.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "SOAP STAR STATS: Kimberly McCullough (Robin, 'GH')". Soap Opera Digest. SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
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timestamp mismatch; July 10, 2010 suggested (help) - ^ "Love and AIDS in the Afternoon". In Media Res: A MediaCommons Project. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ a b "Kimberly McCullough to Leave 'General Hospital' in Another Blow to Soaps". The Wrap. thewrap.com. November 22, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ Aurthur, Kate (November 30, 2005). "Prepare the O.R. (and A.A.): Dr. Drake Is Back". The New York Times. nytimes.com. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
- ^ a b c Barnert, Deanna (February 8, 2012). "McCullough and Hughes Talk Reunion and Robin's Exit". MSN TV. social.entertainment.msn.com. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
- ^ TV Guide News (August 31, 2005). "Did TVGuide.com call it or what?..." TV Guide. tvguide.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
- ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1989". Soap Opera Digest. SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on May 27, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
- ^ "Daytime Emmy Winners & Nominees: 1996". Soap Opera Digest. SoapOperaDigest.com. Archived from the original on June 3, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2009.
- ^ "HIV as a Weapon: Has 'General Hospital' Gone Too Far?". The Faster Times. www.thefastertimes.com. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
- ^ "Jason Thompson Reacts to GH's Latest HIV Storyline Twist". DaytimeConfidential.com. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
- ^ Michael Fairman (March 29, 2012). "GH's Ron Carlivati and Kimberly McCullough on the decision to have Robin turn up ALIVE!". Michael Fairman: On Air, On Soaps. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ^ "Kimberly McCullough Back To GH!". Soap Opera Digest. Soapoperadigest.com. July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ Simms, Richard M. (July 16, 2012). "Robin Returns To GH! Robin Returns To GH!". ABC Soaps In Depth. ABC.soapsindepth.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Comings and Goings". Soap Opera Digest. November 13, 2012 (Vol. 37, No. 46). p. 13.
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External links
- All My Children characters
- General Hospital: Night Shift characters
- Child characters in television
- Fictional adoptees
- Fictional American people of English descent
- Fictional characters with HIV/AIDS
- Fictional doctors
- Fictional medical personnel
- General Hospital characters
- Fictional characters introduced in 1985