In its heyday, Dynasty was one of the most popular shows on television. Aside from viewing parties at colleges nationwide, the series spawned hundreds of products and a short-lived spin-off (The Colbys). The nation was fascinated with rich people and, even more, loved to see them have lots of outrageous problems.
Dynasty is a primetime soap opera that revolves primarily around the wealthy Carrington family. As the series begins, oil baron Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) has fallen in love with his secretary Krystle (Linda Evens) and the two marry. Blake’s adult daughter Fallon (Pamela Sue Martin, later Emma Samms) resents her while his gay son Steven (Al Corley, later Jack Coleman) has lots of problems of his own. The series began in 1981 but really took off once Blake’s infamous ex-wife, Alexis (Joan Collins), showed up. Over the years many characters came and went but the show continued to focus on the rich but troubled family.
Other ongoing characters are played by Gordon Thomson, John James, Michael Nader, Heather Locklear, Pamela Bellwood, Diahann Carroll, Catherine Oxenberg, Lee Bergere, Leann Hunley, Kathleen Beller, Geoffrey Scott, Christopher Cazenove, Terri Garber, Wayne Northrop, Al Corley, Ted McGinley, Michael Praed, Lloyd Bochner, Peter Mark Richman, and Paul Burke.
