User:Livelikemusic/Kelly Capwell

Kelly Capwell
Santa Barbara character
Portrayed by	Robin Wright (1984–1988) Kimberly McArthur (1988–1989) Carrington Garland (1989–1991) Eileen Davidson (1991–1993)
Duration	1984–1993
First appearance	July 30, 1984 (1984-07-30)
Last appearance	January 15, 1993 (1993-01-15)
Classification	Final; regular
Created by	Bridget and Jerome Dobson
Introduced by	Bridget and Jerome Dobson & Jeffrey Hayden Jill Farren Phelps (1988, 1989) Paul Rauch & Bridget and Jerome Dobson (1991)
In-universe information Other names Kelly Perkins Kelly Conrad Kelly Armitage Cecile Hethlwhite Elizabeth Davis Occupation Businesswoman Waitress Family Capwell Parents C.C. Capwell Sophia Capwell Stepfather Ken Mathis (1992–1993) Stepmother Gina DeMott (1985–1987) Siblings Eden Capwell Ted Capwell Half-brothers Mason Capwell Brick Wallace Greg Hughes Channing Capwell III Half-sisters Elena Nikolas Spouse Joe Perkins (1985) Jeffrey Conrad (1987–1989) Quinn Armitage (1990) Grandparents Emmett Capwell Adriana Wayne Aunts and uncles Grant Capwell Nieces and nephews Brandon DeMott Capwell Samantha Wainwright Capwell

Kelly Capwell is a fictional character on Santa Barbara, an American soap opera on the NBC network. Created and introduced by Bridget and Jerome Dobson, along with co-head writer Jeffrey Hayden, the role of Kelly was originated by Robin Wright, who remained with the serial until her departure in 1988. Wright was succeeded by Kimberly McArthur, who later departed in 1989, with Carrington Garland cast in the role. In 1991, Garland was let go from the serial and recast with daytime veteran actress Eileen Davidson, recognized for her role as Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless. Davidson remained in the role until the series finale on January 15, 1993.

Wright's performance in the role has been met with favorable reception from audiences and critics, having garnered her three consecutive nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series in 1986, 1987 and 1988. In 2018, she received her third Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series before winning in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category in 2019. She received two nominations at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1986 and 1988, winning the latter year in the category of Outstanding Heroine: Daytime.

Casting and creation

Robin Wright

Robin Wright's portrayal of Kelly is often citing as being a "fan favorite" by those who watched the serial drama.

During her portrayal, Wright took multiple leaves from the role, during which time Kelly was absent from the canvas; the first occurred from April 1 to April 19, 1985, while she filmed Hollywood Vice Squad (1986). Her second departure occurred from August 16, to December 26, 1986, during such time production on The Princess Bride (1987) occurred. In 1988, Wright opted to exit the role, in pursuit of her burgeoning film career. In 1993, prior to the series finale, she spoke to Soap Opera Weekly about her time on the soap, stating: "Santa Barbara was my first job, and the experience was just great. Judith (McConnell) was like my mother. We were all so close, and that's an unusual thing to have happen. We were like one big family."

Kimberly McArthur

Following Wright's departure from the role, actress Kimberly McArthur was cast in the role, bearing a resemblance to Wright. Once cast, McArthur disclosed she was "proud" to succeed Wright in the role of Kelly, however, questioned if audiences would accept her in the role. Eight months after her debut, McArthur's deal with the serial was not renewed, and she exited the role of Kelly on February 10, 1989.

Carrington Garland

Garland, on her 1991 exit (2020)

Well, I did my first contract and I renegotiated for a second contract and then the Dobsons [Bridget and Jerome, the show's creators] came back to the show after a period of time not being involved with the show for all kinds of legal reasons, and when they came back, they really wanted to restructure the show and what I learned was that they wanted Kelly to be a little older, a little more mature. Kelly [who was ultimately recast with Eileen Davidson, now Y&R's Ashley] ended up having a relationship with Cruz and that was part of that, and me as Kelly, I guess, they didn't see that.

Mara Levinsky, Soap Opera Digest

Upon her casting, Garland expressed her desire "to play this role as long as possible."

In 1991, Garland was let go from the role, and last appeared on September 27 of the same year. In 1993, she spoke with Soap Opera Weekly about her time in the role, stating: "I just went in and did my own thing, and it worked. And I'm thrilled that it did. My working relationship with everyone was very good. It was a very harmonious studio. We were all sensitive to each other and a good time working together."

Discussing her exit with fan site Santa Barbara le site Francais, Garland revealed her exit came at the decision of returning executive producers Bridget and Jerome Dobson, and their desire to make the character "older." In a December 2011 interview with fan site, Santa Barbara Blog, Garland detailed the moment she found out she had been let go. She said, "I actually had a dream the producer called and told me I was leaving. That next day it happened. They pulled me out of my scenes and I only had one day to say goodbye to everyone. I was heartbroken!"

In a 2020 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Garland—now credited as Carrington Garland Goodman—cited her belief that the producers' decision to pair Kelly with Cruz Castillo (A. Martinez) as reason for her departure, stating: "Kelly ended up having a relationship with Cruz and that was part of that, and me as Kelly, I guess, they didn't see that."

Eileen Davidson

Eileen Davidson was cast in the role of Kelly in 1991 and remained until the series finale in 1993.

In 1991, Eileen Davidson was signed to a one-year deal, after which time could be extended.

Character development

Storylines

Kelly Capwell, the daughter of rich businessman C.C. Capwell (Peter Mark Richman), appeared in the very first episode of the series. Although in a relationship with Peter Flint (Stephen Meadows), Kelly was still in love with her childhood sweetheart, Joe Perkins (Dane Witherspoon, Mark Arnold). When Joe was released from prison after serving five years for the murder of her brother, Channing Capwell Jr., Kelly at first denied her love for Joe, but eventually she admitted that she still loved him. Peter, a dangerous gigolo, tried various schemes to separate Joe and Kelly, but was unsuccessful.

Peter turned into a serial killer, murdering 4 women who looked like Kelly and leaving a white carnation beside each victim. Peter eventually attacked Kelly, but she was rescued before her wedding to Joe. After the wedding, however, Peter took Joe hostage. Peter shot Joe, causing him to fall out of a window, and Joe died at the hospital. Peter also tried to kill Kelly, but Cruz Castillo managed to shoot Peter down before he could get to her. Kelly was heartbroken.

Kelly moved away from Santa Barbara for a while, but upon her return she fell in love with Nick Hartley, a promising photographer. Kelly and Nick had a series of amazing adventures together, but their happiness was disturbed when Kelly slept with Nick's brother Dylan. Realizing that she had made a mistake, Kelly told Dylan that it was over between them and that she loves Nick, but Dylan could not let her go. He attacked her, and in self-defense, Kelly pushed Dylan through a window and he died. Gina DeMott accidentally found a videotape showing Kelly pushing Dylan and Kelly was put into an asylum. If it hadn't been for Pearl Bradford, the asylum's Dr. Rawlings might have kept Kelly there forever.

Kelly escaped to Switzerland, where she fell in love with Jeffrey Conrad, a man sent by her father to take care of her. Kelly and Jeffrey returned to Santa Barbara, where Kelly announced that she was pregnant, but she lost the baby. C.C. was, at the time, unaware that Jeffrey was actually the son of his ex-wife Pamela Capwell Conrad. Kelly then sought comfort in the arms of T.J. Daniels, a lover of her mother's. Pamela, jealous of Kelly's and T.J.'s closeness, poisoned Kelly. Jeffrey decided to get rid of Kelly with T.J.'s help, but he eventually reconsidered, and the couple divorced.

Kelly then fell in love with Robert Barr, an ex-lover of her sister Eden Capwell. Kelly worried that Robert and Eden would fall in love again, but eventually she came to accept that Robert loved her. What she did not realize was that Robert's twin brother, Quinn, had kidnapped Robert and was pretending to be him. Quinn soon fell in love with Kelly and decided to tell her the truth, but Kelly was unable to deal with it. Meanwhile, Quinn's accomplice Flame Beaufort killed Robert. Kelly realized that she loved Quinn and ended up pregnant, but she lost the child. Realizing that Quinn needed help to get away from the police, Kelly helped him escape from the country.

Kelly found herself alone again and had series of unsuccessful dates including Cruz's brother Ric. She sought friendship from Cruz, who was divorced from her sister Eden. The two quickly fell in love, but Cruz left Santa Barbara sometime in 1992. Kelly then fell in love with Connor McCabe a police investigator. When the series ended, Kelly was happily in love with him.

References