The following is a list of characters from the Procter & Gamble daytime soap opera The Edge of Night, which ran from 1956 to 1984.
A
Nadine Alexander Scott Dorothy Stinnette (1976–1977, 1980) Nadine is a wealthy socialite, the mother of Raven Alexander (Juanin Clay, Sharon Gabet) and later the wife of Ansel Scott (Patrick Horgan). In 1980, Molly Sherwood (Laurinda Barrett) attempts to murder April Cavanaugh Scott (Terry Davis), the wife of Ansel's son Draper Scott (Tony Craig), but accidentally poisons Nadine, who subsequently crashes her car and dies. Nadine leaves everything to Raven and Logan Swift's (Joe Lambie) son Jamey, so Raven schemes to regain custody of Jamey from Logan.
Raven Alexander Juanin Clay (1976–1977); Sharon Gabet (1977–1984) Monticello socialite Charlotte "Raven" Alexander is married to newspaper reporter Kevin Jamison (John Driver) until his death in a car accident in 1978. She later marries and divorces Logan Swift (Joe Lambie), with whom she has a son, Jamey. In 1980, Molly Sherwood (Laurinda Barrett) attempts to murder April Cavanaugh (Terry Davis), the wife of Raven's stepbrother Draper Scott (Tony Craig), but accidentally poisons Raven's mother, Nadine Alexander Scott (Dorothy Stinnette). Nadine subsequently crashes her car and dies. Nadine leaves everything to her grandson Jamey, so Raven schemes to regain custody of Jamey from Logan. Raven marries dashing millionaire Schuyler Whitney (Larkin Malloy), but in 1982 he is revealed to be impostor Jefferson Brown. Jefferson's attempts to kill her fail, and he is himself killed by Libby Webster (Marion Lines). Raven is a happily wealthy widow after Jefferson’s death, until the real Schuyler arrives to reclaim his fortune. Penniless, she plots to seduce, marry and divorce him for the money. However she soon finds herself having real feelings for him. She and Schuyler have a daughter, Charlotte.
Over the course of the series, Raven has relationships with Draper, his father Ansel Scott (Patrick Horgan), playboy Eliot Dorn (Lee Godart) and Police Chief Derek Mallory (Dennis Parker). She briefly works as a private investigator, is considered a suspect in the deaths of her mother Nadine and later Eliot, is arrested for the murder of Peter Nevis, and goes to trial for the murder of her ex-husband Logan. Initially, wealthy Geraldine Saxon (Lois Kibbee), the close friend of Raven's mother Nadine, refers to Raven as an "alley cat" and "uncouth slut", but the women eventually become close.
Gabet was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1982 and 1984.
Beth Anderson Nancy Pinkerton (1963–1967) Beth Moon marries John Paul Anderson (Conard Fowkes) and later John Barnes (Barry Newman), and is engaged to Lee Pollock (Anthony Roberts). She works as a housekeeper for the Capice and Simms families, and is tried but acquitted for the assault of Vera Simms.
Trent Archer Farley Granger (1979) Trent Archer is the superstitious leading man of Mansion of the Damned, a horror film shooting in Monticello which co-stars Nola Madison (Kim Hunter). He quits the movie after accidents, strange occurrences and deaths begin to plague the production.
The role was portrayed from September to October 1979 by film star Granger, who was previously nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1977 for playing Will Vernon on One Life to Live.
Gail Armstrong Millette Alexander (1958–1959) Gail Armstrong is an artist who works in advertising and portrait painting. Engaged to Dr. Hugh Campbell (Wesley Addy), she is accused but later exonerated of jewelry theft. Gail is the first of three characters played by Millette Alexander on The Edge of Night.
Winter Austen Lori Cardille (1978–1979); Stephanie Braxton (1979) Winter Austen works in a department store and begins dating Assistant District Attorney Logan Swift (Joe Lambie). Wade Meecham (Dan Hamilton) comes to town and blackmails her (and later Logan) with the secret that she had previously been in porn films. Winter goes to work for Nicole Cavanaugh (Jayne Bentzen) at the WMON TV station. She shoots and kills Wade but is found not guilty at trial, and pushes Wade's cohort Tank Jarvis (Michael Longfield) to his death off a building roof. Winter attempts to kill Nicole with a pair of scissors at WMON, but falls to her death from a catwalk.
Jinx Avery Kate Capshaw (1981); Susan MacDonald (1981–1982) Jinx is an actress who marries Monticello Police Chief Derek Mallory (Dennis Parker). She attempts suicide, and later dies from a terminal illness.
B
Didi Bannister Mariann Aalda (1981–1984) Lawyer. Married to Calvin Stoner. Sister of Troy Bannister. Dated Julius Newcombe. Hospitalized for nervous breakdown from plot of Louis Van Dine.
Troy Bannister Keith Grant (1982; 1984) Brother of Didi Bannister. Low level hood associated with Eddie Lorimer. Accused then cleared of murder of Ted Loomis.
John Barnes Barry Newman (1964–1967) John Barnes is a lawyer in Mike Karr's law practice who marries Beth Moon Anderson.
Betty Jean Battle Mary Moor (1956–1960) Married to Jack Lane. Mother of Bud Lane. Daughter of Ella and Wynn Battle.
Ursula Bauer Rita Morley (1961–1962)
Chip Beemer Kipp Whitman (1978) Low level criminal in Anthony Saxon's organization. Dated Winter Austen in the past. Stabbed Logan Swift. Shot to death by Raney Cooper.
Edith Berman Patricia Bright (1972–1973) Married to Jake Berman. Mother of Joel Gantry and Lucy Wilson. Murdered by husband Jake.
Jake Berman Ward Costello (1972–1973) Married to Edith Berman. Murdered wife Edith so he would be free to pursue Nicole Travis. Shot in arm by Johnny Dallas to frame Adam Drake with attempted murder. Shot to death by step-son Joel Gantry.
Marilyn Bollon Mary Alice Moore (1956–1957) Secretary for Harry Lane at Lane Trucking. Dated Harry Lane and Douglas Manson. Bludgeoned to death by Harry Lane to stop her blackmail. Cora Lane framed for the murder.
Sid Brennan Meg Myles (1981–1982) Manager of Sid's Tavern. Involved with Eddie Lorimer and left town with him after he reformed.
Jefferson Brown Larkin Malloy (1980–1982) Wealthy playboy Schuyler Whitney comes to Monticello in 1980 and marries socialite Raven Alexander, but is later revealed to be impostor Jefferson Brown, a former government employee who assumed Schuyler's identity after undergoing plastic surgery at Dr. Kenneth Bryson's clinic. He hires Romeo Slade to kill Raven, but changes his mind and shoots Slade to death. Jefferson murders his minion Gunther Wagner and frames Gavin Wylie for the crime. He kills Bobbie Gerard and attempts to kill Raven multiple times in St. Moritz, but is killed by Libby Webster before he can succeed.
Willie Bryan Edward Holmes (1957–1960) Private investigator working with Mike Karr.
Maximillian Bryer Robert Pastene (1958–1959) Motivational speaker and head of Bryer Foundation. Married to Mildred Bryer. Pushed Peggy Collins to her death from a rooftop. Used poison to murder wife Mildred and framed step brother-in-law Dr. Hugh Campbell. Arrested and jailed from crimes.
Mildred Bryer Claudia Morgan (1958–1959) Wife of Maximillian Bryer. Stepsister of Dr. Hugh Campbell. Poisoned to death by husband Max.
Beth Bryson Doris Belack (1981–1982) Wife of Dr. Kenneth Bryson. Stepmother of Valerie Bryson. Nurse at the Rexford Institute. Kidnapped Nancy Karr. Arrested and sent to prison.
Kenneth Bryson James Hawthorne (1981–1982) Dr. Kenneth Bryson is the owner of Rexford Institute, married to nurse Beth Bryson and the father of Valerie Bryson. He goes along with his wife's kidnapping of Nancy Karr, but falls in love with her. He is subsequently arrested and sent to prison, where he dies of a heart attack.
Valerie Bryson Leah Ayres (1981–1983) Photographer. Daughter of Kenneth Bryson. Stepdaughter of Beth Bryson. Helped expose her father's crimes. Involved with Kelly McGrath and Schuyler Whitney
C
Abby Cameron Margaret DePriest (1965–1966) Wife of Roy Cameron. Had affair with Phil Capice. Suspect in husband's murder but cleared.
David Cameron Norman Parker (1982–1983) Agent for intelligence agency working as double agent. Killed Pascal, Nora Fulton, Patricia Devereaux, and Richard Scanlon. Electrocuted to death by Ian Devereaux.
Hugh Campbell Wesley Addy (1958–1959) Dr. Hugh Campbell is a scientist at Winston Grimsley's lab who is framed for the murder of his sister Mildred Campbell. He is acquitted, and marries Gail Armstrong.
Phil Capice Earl Hammond (1957); Robert Webber (1957); Ray MacDonnell (1961–1969) Married to Louise Capice. Adoptive father of Sarah Louise Capice. Had affair with Abby Cameron which ended his marriage. Drugged by Calvin Brenner.
Sarah Louise Capice Mary Breen (1961–1963); Christopher Norris (1968–1970) Adopted daughter of Phil and Louise Capice. Dated Calvin Brenner who was really drugging her father.
Jennings Carlson Jeff Harris (1960) Brother of Victor Carlson. Ran gambling operation with brother. Shot to death by Monticello police.
Victor Carlson Charles Baxter (1960); Byson Sanders (1960–1961) Brother of Jennings Carlson. Ran gambling operation with brother. Had affair with Teresa Vetter and plotted to murder her husband George. Engaged to Judy Marceau. Stabbed to death by Teresa Vetter.
April Cavanaugh Scott Terry Davis (1977–1981) Married to Draper Scott. Mother of Julia Scott and unnamed daughter. Daughter of Margo Huntington. Sister of Miles Cavanaugh. Worked at WMON TV. Falsely convicted of murder of sister-in-law Denise Cavanaugh.
Denise Cavanaugh Holland Taylor (1977–1978, 1980) Nurse Denise Norwood Cavanaugh is the jealous wife of Dr. Miles Cavanaugh. Their marriage is in shambles and he is attracted to reporter Nicole Drake, so Denise plots to kill herself and frame Miles. His sister April is arrested instead. Denise's father, Dr. Gus Norwood, confesses on his deathbed that he injected Denise to save Miles.
Miles Cavanaugh Joel Crothers (1977–1984) Dr. Miles Cavanaugh is married to nurse Denise Norwood Cavanaugh until she dies in a mercy killing by her father Dr. Gus Norwood. Miles next marries Nicole Travis until she is murdered in 1983. He and Beth Correll marry in the last episode of the series. Miles's sister is April Cavanaugh.
Crothers was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1979 and 1984.
Luke Chandler Herb Davis (1973–1978) Police lieutenant. Married to Ada Chandler.
Ron Christopher Burt Douglas (1968–1972) Worked in advertising. Married then divorced then remarried Cookie Pollock. Had affair with Tiffany Whitney.
Harry Constable Dolph Sweet (1967–1968) Owner of Riverboat Casino. Had affair with Ruth Tuttle. Stabbed to death by Ernie Tuttle.
Raney Cooper Kiel Martin (1977–1978) Criminal. Worked with Tony Saxon. Blinded Mike Karr and framed Chip Beemer. Kidnapped Mike Karr. Kidnapped Deborah Saxon. Shot Tony Saxon to death. Killed in shoutout with police.
Beth Correll Sandy Faison (1983–1984) Psychiatrist and radio host. Married to Dr. Miles Cavanaugh. Sister of Liz Corell.
Liz Correll Marcia Cross (1984) Paleontologist. Sister of Beth Correll. Involved with Preacher Emerson.
D
Johnny Dallas John LaGoia (1972–1977) Owner of restaurant The New Moon Cafe. Married to Laurie Ann Karr. Father of John Victor Dallas. Left town with son after Laurie Ann had mental breakdown.
Tracy Dallas Patricia Conwell (1974–1977)
Peter Dalton Stephen Elliott (1957–1958)
Virginia Dalton Cathleen Cordell (1957–1958)
Neil Davenport Earle Hyman (1970–1971) Campaign manager for Colin Whitney's Senate campaign. Assisted Adam Drake in investigating the presumed dead Keith Whitney. Killed after being knocked unconscious by Keith Whitney, placed in car, and pushed over a cliff.
Camilla Devereaux Mary Layne (1982–1983)