Gina Roma

Gina Roma (born Gina Romalotti; formerly Radison) is a fictional character in the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless. Actress Patty Weaver played the role from the fall of 1982 and was last seen in March 2009.

Casting

The role was portrayed Patty Weaver throughout her entire run on The Young and the Restless. Weaver appeared from 1982 through 1986, before returning in January 1990. She departed again in February 1994. She returned in April 1997 and remained for 6 years before departing again in August 2003. She has returned as a special guest star in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Character

Since 1982, Gina went from being a con artist to a well-respected pillar of the Genoa City community, with the help of her brother, Danny Romalotti (Michael Damian). After spending five years in prison for her crimes, Gina opened Gina's, an upmarket restaurant which became Genoa City's most popular eating establishment.

Gina's parents were "con artists" when she was growing up, and all did their time for their crimes. Her brother, Danny Romalotti, not wanting part of it, ran away from home as a teenager and ended up in Genoa City working as a waiter for Jonas's Restaurant with Paul Williams. In 1982, Gina, (with shortened last name Roma), came to Genoa City after getting out of prison, wanting Danny help to "go straight". For a long time Danny didn't trust her, but got her a singing job at Jonas's. Danny began his career as a teenager rock star doing concerts in Genoa City. He was often joined by his sister, Gina, and friends, Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland), Lauren Fenmore Baldwin (Tracey E. Bregman) and Amy Lewis, who sang with him when he performed on stage. When Jonas decided to move on, Gina bought the restaurant and renamed it Gina's Italian Restaurant.

Lauren Fenmore's divorced father, Neil, began to show interest in Gina. They dated and fell in love. But Lauren long-lost mother, Joanna Manning returned to GC, and Lauren wanted them back together. So she broke up Gina and Neil by exposing that Gina was ex-con. Gina vowed to get even with Lauren.

In 1987, Danny and Gina's father turned up in Genoa City, a homeless drifter just out of prison. He was molded and renamed by Jill Foster Abbott as Rex Sterling to con Kay Chancellor. But Rex and Kay fell in love, and he became a "good guy" after all. (Danny, Gina and Rex ended up becoming very close until Rex's untimely death by gunshot years later, as he surprised Esther Valentine's boyfriend Norman burglarizing their safe.)

In 1989, Rex's former cellmate, Clint Radison, showed up in town. Clint discovered Gina was Rex's daughter and started wooing her, and got her to marry him. But Clint was working on a new scam. He found a woman named Marge (Jeanne Cooper) who worked at a diner that was a dead ringer for Kay. Clint and his cohorts trained Marge to pass for Kay, then held captive Kay and her "ditsy" maid Esther. Meanwhile Marge posing as Kay drove Rex away, and he filed for divorce. Clint was now free to liquidate Kay's assets. But Brock Reynolds made a surprise returned from his missions in India. Brock, with the help of Mitchell Sherman, discovered the ruse, and rescued Kay and Esther. Clint was sentenced to prison, and Gina turned to Brock. They became very close, but Brock was off on another of his missions to save the world before long.

That same year, Danny was attacked by a mugger and received major kidney damage. He needed a transplant to survive. Gina, Paul, Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) and Christine (Lauralee Bell) were all ruled out as possible donors, and things were looking bleak. In a last ditch effort to prove to Christine that he was a changed man and worthy of being reinstated as a lawyer after his prison term had been served, Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc) came to the rescue and donated the needed kidney. After Danny's recovery, Chris made her decision between Danny and Paul, and chose Paul. Danny took Daniel, and went "on the road." Only Gina kept in contact with him, receiving photos of Daniel now and then which she refused to share with Phyllis, whom she still considers the devil!

Gina continued to own and run Gina's for many years, Genoa City's gathering spot, renowned for its excellent Italian food, entertainment and dance floor. She was always there to greet and seat the guests, sing a song now and then, listen to customer's woes or pass on a message, give a newcomer a room upstairs, give a new singer a break, and conveniently overhear conversations which kept her in the know of all of Genoa City's residents. She is a good friend to most of them, especially Katherine Chancellor, which whom she holds opens her restaurant each Thanksgiving with free food for the homeless. Singers to grace the Gina's stage have included Danny, Lauren Fenmore, Callie Rogers (Siena Goines), Ryan McNeil (Scott Reeves), and John Abbott (Jerry Douglas). John joins Gina in song now and then, and is frequently seen at the Abbott mansion for family get-togethers and on John's arm at Genoa City events.

While attending the 2003 Arts Council Gala with John, Gina received a call that her restaurant was on fire. They rushed to the scene and witnessed the place fully engulfed in flames, unaware that the fire had been set by Michael's half-brother Kevin Fisher (Greg Rikaart), in an attempt to murder John's granddaughter Colleen Carlton (Lyndsy Fonseca). Gina lost not only her restaurant, but also her home above the restaurant.

Gina soon got back on her feet and took a position as manager at the elegant restaurant at the Genoa City Athletic Club. It can be assumed Gina left town with her brother Danny following her ex-stepmother Katherine Chancellors funeral. Gina (though not seen) obviously at some point returned to Genoa City because she was referenced as having been in the kitchen when the boiler room exploded at the Athlectic Club. She must have left town again soon after as she has not been mentioned since then.