
clone, Wyman said, "I feel I'm representing all women in business. Not wanting her character to simply be a J.R. Ewing, the amoral oil baron from Falcon Crest 's lead-in series, Dallas, played by Larry Hagman. Hamner had warned Wyman that the press would call Angela a female J. After shooting the original pilot episode of the series, called The Vintage Years in the spring of 1981, featuring Wyman in a silver wig, the actress pushed for changes in Angela. Hamner's concept was "the flip side of The Waltons-this family was infected by wealth, whereas poverty had threatened his Depression story ". Miss Wyman's nice-lady image gives Angie more dimension and sympathy." Hamner said Wyman was chosen to add credibility to the role, and noted "The character is a harsh one. a great actress", and insisted that though she was the ex-wife of US President Ronald Reagan who was elected as president in 1980, her casting had nothing to do with her connection to Reagan. He called Wyman "one of the legendary stars. It had never been offered to her." Hamner said he was looking for a "sympathetic actress" for the role. She said, "I told him I'd heard Barbara Stanwyck had turned it down.

He offered Wyman the lead role of Angela Channing.

Hamner wanted to create a family drama involving the wine industry entitled The Vintage Years. The show was created by Earl Hamner, Jr., who had previously created The Waltons. Lorenzo Lamas and Gina Lollobrigida were also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor/ Actress. Jane Wyman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role as Angela Channing out of two nominations. Moses as their son Cole, and Ana Alicia as heiress Melissa Agretti.
#Falcon crest cast series
Other notable series regulars include Abby Dalton and Margaret Ladd as Angela's daughters Julia and Emma, Lorenzo Lamas as Angela's grandson Lance, Susan Sullivan as Chase's wife Maggie and William R. Jane Wyman stars as Angela Channing, the tyrannical matriarch of the Falcon Crest Winery, opposite Robert Foxworth as Chase Gioberti, Angela's nephew, and later David Selby as Richard Channing, the illegitimate son of Angela's ex-husband. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California wine industry set in the fictitious Tuscany Valley, located northeast of San Francisco and modeled after the real Napa Valley. that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. In addition to Borelli, May is survived by sons Douglas and Christopher, an actor whose credits include The Afterparty, American Crime Story, General Hospital and Selena: The Series.Falcon Crest is an American prime time television soap opera created by Earl Hamner Jr.

In addition to other soap appearances ( As the World Turns, All My Children and One Life to Live), May appeared in various stage productions in both New York and Los Angeles over the years. The two would also appear together on the programs Falcon Crest and O.C. During his 1981-82 Texas stint, May co-starred with wife Carla Borelli.
#Falcon crest cast tv
45, Surfside 6, Combat, The FBI and others.įollowing his 10-year tenure at Edge of Night, May returned to guesting on episodic TV in the late ’70s ( Fantasy Island, Barnaby Jones, The Facts of Life, eventually landing a regular role on the early ’80s NBC daytime soap Texas. Guest appearances in episodic TV followed, including roles on Hawaiian Eye, 77 Sunset Strip, Sugarfoot, Colt. May joined The Edge of Night following a steady TV career that began in 1956 with a starring role in the short-lived drama series West Point.
