Holly Sutton-Scorpio

Holly Sutton Scorpio is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. The character has been portrayed by actress Emma Samms off-and-on since her debut. She originally appeared from July 1, 1982 to September 5, 1985.^[1][2] With Samms choosing to leave the series amicably to go to ABC's prime time hit Dynasty and its spin-off The Colbys, Holly seemingly perished in a plane crash.^[3] "Fan favorite" Samms had been so popular at General Hospital that Holly was brought back from the dead on January 16, 1992 after a seven-year absence.^[3][4] She stayed in the role until July 22, 1993,^[2] during this time also playing Holly's lookalike half-sister Paloma, a heroic revolutionary.

After a 13-year absence, Samms made a seven-episode return to General Hospital as Holly on February 20, 2006, in time for the series' 11,000th episode.^[5] She reappeared for a three-week run starting May 1, 2006 and then again on June 30, 2006. Samms again made a brief return to the series on May 15, 2009.^[6][7]

In January 2012, it was announced that Samms would once again temporarily step back into the role of Holly, likely as part of her on-screen son's exit storyline.^[8]

Emma Samms came back again for a short stint and first appeared on August 5, 2013.

Storylines

1982–85

Holly met Luke met at a camping trip, when he saw her skinny dipping. He was smitten, and they ended up having a one-night stand. Holly set up Luke, as she played a principal role in an oil scam designed to bilk the citizens of Port Charles out of millions. Luke refused to believe Holly was a professional grifter. Eventually, Holly was forced to admit the truth. Then, Holly was kidnapped. Luke and Robert Scorpio traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia to rescue Holly and recover the money stolen by her ex-cohorts. Still hurt over Holly's deception and unable to fully trust her, Luke and Holly ended up having a terrible argument. Luke packed his things and headed to the mountains. Shortly afterwards, news arrived there had been an avalanche. Luke was presumed dead, but he had broken his back and was recuperating in a remote hospital. Holly discovered she was pregnant with Luke's child and about to be deported. To honor Luke's memory, Robert offered to marry Holly and help raise Luke's child. Soon after the wedding Holly suffered a miscarriage.

Both Robert and Holly were shocked and dismayed when Luke returned alive and well. Luke was deeply hurt to find out his best friend and his ex-lover not only married but had fallen for each other. This ignited one of General Hospital's best love triangle stories. Holly found herself torn between the two men for a while. However, Holly came to realize the man she truly loved was Robert. Robert and Holly Scorpio went on to become one of the most successful couples in GH history. When Luke later reunited with Laura and left town, the Scorpios took over as the main Supercouple on the show and helped maintain the show's stellar ratings. Robert and Holly were hailed by the fans and the press as the most romantic couple in Daytime. They broke the mold of soap couples by being happily married, totally devoted to each other while never being boring and always being frontburner. The chemistry, romance, class, sexiness and charm of this couple would delight millions of fans for the next few years to come.

In 1985, their marriage was put to the test when a secret ex-wife from Robert's past came to town in the form of Anna Devane. While this shocking development drove a wedge between the Scorpios for a time, true love won out. They reconciled and decided to move to Australia. Holly went ahead to Australia first. Robert remained behind to tie up loose ends. However, just after Holly left for Australia Robert found a young girl in his home. Much to his astonishment, Robert learned she was his daughter, Robin, whom Anna had kept hidden. After an adventure in the Asian Quarter, Robert left for Australia to be with Holly.

He returned in 1987 with sad news. Holly had been killed in a plane crash. Robert spent the next few years mourning the loss of his wife and going from one failed relationship to another before remarrying Anna in 1991 after the death of Anna's own spouse, Duke Lavery.

1992–93

In 1992 Holly returned to Port Charles (therefore making Robert and Anna's marriage invalid). She had been in a car accident and fell into a coma. This went on for nearly 2 years. Her family did not let Robert know she was alive. When she awoke, she discovered her husband engaged to another woman. Feeling it was too late to regain the life she had with Robert, she made the painful decision to stay away and let him keep his new "happiness". Their paths crossed again in 1992. Robert was astonished to find Holly alive. Holly kept her true feelings from Robert so as not to come between him and Anna. Bravely, Holly sacrificed her own happiness for what she perceived was his. Robert was angry and hurt but in a short amount of time came to entrust Robin into the care of both Holly and his brother Mac while he left town to try to find the kidnapped Anna. Holly and Robin forged a strong bond that became even stronger when news came: Anna and Robert had died in an explosion.

Before going in search after his kidnapped wife Anna, Robert had divorce papers drawn up upon Holly's request to dissolve his marriage to Holly. However, after his and Anna's death, Holly tore up the divorce papers. Holly, devastated over Robert's "death", continued to help Mac care for Robin for a while. She later dated Bill Eckert, Luke's look-alike cousin, before leaving Port Charles in 1993.

2006, 2009, 2012–

Robert would turn up alive and well in 2006 which drew Holly back to town. She briefly returned in February, 2006 demanding a huge payout for the antidote for a mutant strain of encephalitis while infected several residents of Port Charles. This was a very different Holly than had ever been seen before. She claimed it was her extreme hurt and anger over Robert really being alive all these years and not telling anyone that drove her. But perhaps there is still more to be told of that story? Holly returned again in May, 2006. She was involved in a comedic on-the-run adventure storyline that briefly rekindled the rivalry between Luke and Robert over Holly's affections. Holly was last seen briefly in June 2006 while taking a bubble bath, calling Luke to lead him on a wild goose chase.

Holly reappeared on May 15, 2009^[6][7] to shed light on the question of whether new arrival Ethan Lovett is her son — and whether Luke or Robert may be the father. She confirms she is Ethan's mother and initially reveals Robert is his father on May 22, 2009.^[9] After Robert's daughter Robin tells Ethan that Robert was in Port Charles and not with Holly when Ethan would have been conceived,^[10] Holly confesses to Luke on May 29, 2009 Ethan is in fact his son.^[11] Both Luke and Ethan are angry with Holly. She makes peace with them on June 2, 2009.^[12]

Holly returned to town again in February 2012 just as Helena Cassadine is about to shoot and kill Ethan. Holly confesses that she lied about Ethan's paternity, revealing that Robert is in fact his father, not Luke. She then confesses her love to Luke and that she merely fabricated the DNA results to make her own wishes true. She later confessed that she made it up (and that Ethan is really Luke's son) to protect Ethan's life and that she was asked to come to town by Luke.

Holly left town with Robert to hunt down and protect Ethan from Helena's plot. It was later revealed that Holly had reconciled with Robert. On January 9, 2013 Anna mentioned that Holly was in Switzerland looking after Robert, who was in a coma after being injected by a drug. Holly came to visit Robert while Anna and Duke dealt with Faison. Holly later phoned Mac at the Floating Rib to let him know of Robert's unchanged condition. In 2013 Holly help Luke in his plan to find Jerry Jacks to save his life.

References

External links

• Holly Sutton profile - SoapCentral.com