Jerome family

The Jerome family is a fictional family from the original ABC Daytime drama General Hospital. The family was first introduced in January 1987. As one of the most powerful families in organized crime, the Jeromes rose to popularity due to their longstanding feud with antihero Duke Lavery and his heroine wife, Anna Devane. However, by the spring of 1990, all of the major family members had been (presumably) killed off of the series. In 2013, the family was revived as part of an ongoing storyline.

History

The Jerome family was first introduced in early 1987. Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan) and his father, Angus McKay (Guy Doleman), were sent to prison for their various mob activities. Later, a man by the name of Jonathan Lawrence was arrested as the suspect of a hit and run. However, Jonathan was actually out for revenge against Duke and Angus for the murder of his look-alike cousin, Evan Jerome. After Angus committed suicide in February 1987 to end the McKay/Jerome feud once and for all, Angus's daughter Camellia McKay (Elizabeth Keifer) and Duke were put on trial for Evan's murder and forced to reveal the truth: Camellia killed Evan as he raped her.^[1][2] They were acquitted, which didn't sit well with Evan's widow, Veronica, and she put a hit out on Camellia. Fortunately, Evan's father, Victor (Jack Axelrod) called off the hit and banished Veronica.

In 1988, Duke's wife Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) was kidnapped by psychotic Grant Putnam (Brian Patrick Clark). Desperate to find her, Duke turned to the Jeromes for information. Victor's youngest son Julian (Jason Culp), who wanted Duke's assistance in legitimizing the Family business, agreed to help him look for her. After Anna was rescued, Duke felt indebted to Julian; when Julian took a bullet meant for Duke and made a deathbed request that Duke help Victor go straight, Duke agreed.^[2] Meanwhile, Victor's daughter, art dealer Olivia St. John (Tonja Walker), developed an obsession with Duke, and they had a one-night stand, but when he subsequently rejected her, she tried to kill him. Unfortunately, it was Anna who was injured in the attempt, and she lost her and Duke's unborn child.^[2] In late 1988, Victor's illegitimate son, Dino (Chris DeRose), tried to take over the organization. When he failed to frame Julian for a comatose Olivia's shooting, Anna was arrested and tried for the crime. Eventually, Dino's guilt was revealed, and he and his mother Dimitra (Linda Cristal) were sent to prison. Olivia was sent to Pine Circle, a mental hospital, from which she later escaped.

After Duke testified against Victor, Victor had him killed in a warehouse explosion as he was about to enter the Witness Protection Program. In reality, Duke faked his death in the explosion so that Anna would be safe. However, his testimony, along with Olivia's, put Victor in prison at last.^[1] Victor escaped from prison in 1989 and became a secret admirer of Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring). His admiration developed into an obsession, which ended with his death when he swallowed and choked on a necklace he had had custom-made for Lucy. Lucy and Alan Quartermaine (Stuart Damon) dumped Victor's body in the lake.^[1]

In 1990, Julian put a hit out on a man named Jonathan Paget (Greg Beecroft), whom he apparently believed was the newly returned Duke with extensive plastic surgery.^[2] Julian shot and killed Olivia for trying to tip off Anna about Duke's new identity. Julian and "Duke" were both believed to have died during a struggle over a gun in March 1990. Julian's lover, Cheryl Stansbury (Jennifer Anglin), gave birth to his son, Lucas, soon after. Lucas remained on canvas as he was adopted by the Jones family.^[1] In late 1990, Lucy, Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) and several others went in search of the Jerome family diamonds which Victor left to his grandson, Evan Jr. A European music producer by the name of Edge (Mark St. James) claimed to be Evan, Jr. and came to Port Charles to claim the family's belongings. However, it was eventually revealed that Edge was actually a con artist named Eric Jackson, and that the real Evan Jr. was dead.^[2]

In 2013, Ava Jerome (Maura West) came to Port Charles following her young daughter, Kiki (Kristen Alderson) who was dating Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig). Ava passed her daughter off as Franco's (Roger Howarth) daughter in an attempt to get her hands on the Quartermaine family's fortune. In the summer, a man named Derek Wells (William deVry) arrived in Port Charles as the ruthless media mogul who had taken ownership of the local newspaper. "Derek" was revealed to be Julian, working with his younger sister Ava to take back the family's territory from Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). Kiki was revealed to be the daughter of Silas Clay (Michael Easton), thus not making her a Quartermaine by birth. Julian, in the meantime, realized that Sam Morgan (Kelly Monaco) was his daughter from a one-night stand with Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn). He gave a bone marrow transplant to his ailing grandson, Danny, and became intent on staying in Sam and Danny's life, though Ava warned him not to.

Morgan married Kiki so he wouldn't lose her to his brother, Michael (Chad Duell), whom Kiki had been falling for. Kiki, though, eventually found out about Morgan's deceit, and left Morgan, and started a relationship with Michael. Morgan went to work for Julian and Ava, bitterly resenting his father and brother. Eventually, Sonny found out who "Derek" really was, and exposed his identity.

Family members

First generation

• Victor Jerome (Jack Axelrod)
  Victor Jerome is born on November 18, 1928.^[3] Victor was the patriarch of the family. Victor forced Duke into trying to help him legitimize the mob. However, those plans failed due to the fighting between his children. Victor is the father of Dino Antoinelli with Dimitra, Evan, Julian, and Olivia with an unnamed spouse, and Ava with Delia. Victor died on October 20, 1989 after Lucy Coe rejected him and he choked on a piece of jewelry he made for her.

Second generation

• Dino Antoinelli (Chris DeRose)
  Victor's illegitimate son with his longtime mistress, Dimitra Antoinelli. Dino was raised by his mother, and eventually went to work for Victor's organization. It was not until 1988 that his paternity was revealed. A bitter Dino tried to kill his half-sister Olivia in an attempt to take over their father's organization for himself. Dino and Dimitra were later sent to prison for their part in Olivia's attempted murder, and Dino rejected Victor when his father came to visit him.
• Evan Jerome, Sr. (Mentioned character)
  Evan was the oldest legitimate son of Victor, and considered the black sheep of the family. He married a woman named Veronica and together they had a son, Evan, Jr. In 1983, Evan met Duke Lavery in L'Orlean, Canada during a party at the home of Duke's father, Angus McKay. Evan was killed when he tried to rape Angus's daughter, Camelia. Duke and Angus covered up his murder while Camellia suffered a psychotic break and blocked out the event. Veronica wanted revenge, but Victor put an end to her scheming by banishing her to Europe.^[4][5][6]
• Olivia St. John (Tonja Walker)
  Victor's oldest daughter, born Olivia Jerome. She was obsessed with Duke Lavery, going so far as to try and kill him, but instead, his wife, Anna Devane, walked into the trap and miscarried their child. She struggled with her brothers Julian and Dino for control of the family business. Suffered a brain injury after being shot by Dino and was institutionalized. She was killed by Julian after she betrayed him and tried to warn Anna of Julian's plans for revenge on Duke.
• Julian V. Jerome (William deVry)
  Born in 1959, he is Victor's youngest son, and his most favored child. Shielded from the mob while growing up, but later went to work for his father anyway. Julian looked to Duke Lavery to help him legitimize the mob, but when Duke turned on the family and Victor ended up imprisoned, then dead, Julian swore revenge. In addition to faking his death on several occasions, Julian battled with his siblings for control of the empire. In 1990, Julian and Duke were both presumed killed during a struggle over a gun. Julian returned to Port Charles in 2013 looking to rebuild the Jerome Family empire with his younger sister, Ava. Julian has three known children; Lucas Jones with Cheryl Stansbury, Sam Morgan with Alexis Davis, and Leo Falconeri with Olivia Falconeri.
• Ava Jerome (Maura West)
  Victor's illegitimate daughter with Delia Ryan. Ava came to Port Charles in 2013, working with her brother, Julian, to re-establish the family's power in Port Charles. Ava has two daughters: Kiki Jerome with Silas Clay, and Avery Corinthos with Sonny Corinthos.

Third generation

• Evan Jerome, Jr. (Mentioned character)
  Son of Evan Jerome and his wife, Veronica. In 1990, Eric "Edge" Jackson pretended to be Evan Jerome, Jr. According to Victor's will, Evan, Jr. stood to inherit the entire family's estate. With Edge's true identity revealed, Anna Devane learned that the real Evan Jerome was a drug addict who once worked for Edge. The search for the real Evan began, but Edge believed he was already dead.^[7] However, it was later confirmed that Evan Jr. had been killed in a car crash. The diamonds were taken by the IRS to pay Victor's back taxes.^[8]
• Samantha "Sam" Morgan (Kelly Monaco)
  Julian's daughter with Alexis Davis, born on May 11, 1980. Sam was illegally adopted by the McCall family, and grew up to be a con artist like her adoptive father, Cody McCall. She spent the majority of her life taking care of her special needs brother, Danny. Sam had a daughter with mob boss Sonny Corinthos, Lila, who was stillborn. However, she later fell in love with and married Sonny's right-hand man, Jason Morgan; they have a son, Danny.
• Lucas Stansbury Jones (Ryan Carnes)
  Born in 1989, Lucas is Julian's son with Cheryl Stansbury sold on the blackmarket by Victor shortly after birth — Cheryl is led to believe the child is dead. He is illegally adopted by Bobbie Jones, who names him after her brother Luke Spencer. Bobbie's schemes are exposed and she loses custody of the child to Cheryl, who leaves town with Lucas shortly after. When Cheryl dies, Lucas is briefly taken in by his aunt Tiffany Hill before he is legally adopted by Bobbie and her then husband Tony Jones. Lucas comes out as gay right before Tony's death. Lucas is currently married to colleague Brad Cooper.^[9]
• Lauren Katherine "Kiki" Jerome (Hayley Erin)
  Ava's daughter with Dr. Silas Clay born on May 29, 1992. However, Kiki was raised as the daughter of the crazed artist Franco. Kiki was married for a short time to Morgan Corinthos.
• Avery Corinthos
  Ava's daughter with Sonny Corinthos born on November 4, 2014. Avery is stolen at birth by Nina Clay, who skips town with the baby and, with the help of Franco, makes plans to raise the baby as her own. The cops eventually catch up to Franco and Nina, and Avery is returned safely. Avery has been the subject of a bitter custody battle between her parents.
• Leo Falconeri
  Julian's son with Olivia Falconeri born on May 2, 2015. During Olivia's pregnancy, it was believed that Ned Ashton was his father, but at the time of his birth, it was revealed that Julian is Leo's father. Shortly after birth, Olivia and Ned faked Leo's death in order to protect him from Julian's lifestyle. Ned took a prematurely born Leo to upstate New York for treatment and to keep him hidden from Julian. Olivia joined them shortly thereafter. Julian had no idea that Leo was really alive, until Alexis showed him a DNA test. Olivia and Julian later agreed to a shared custody arrangement for Leo.

Fourth generation

• Lila McCall
  Sam's daughter with Sonny Corinthos. Jason Morgan pretended to be Lila's father to hide Sonny and Sam's affair from Carly Corinthos, Sonny's wife at the time. She was stillborn on November 8, 2004 when Sam went into premature labor during an argument with her own mother. Sam intended to name the baby after Jason's late grandmother, Lila Quartermaine, but the baby's legal name at the time of her death was "Baby Girl McCall."
• Daniel Edward "Danny" Morgan
  Sam's son with Jason Morgan, named after her adoptive brother, Danny McCall and Jason's grandfather, Edward Quartermaine. Danny was originally believed to be the son of Franco. Danny was switched at birth with Victor Lord III, who was stillborn, and presumed dead for a while before being reunited with his parents.

In-Laws

• Veronica Jerome (Robyn Millan) - Evan, Sr's wife (19??–83)^[10]
• Jason Morgan (Billy Miller) - Sam's husband. (2011–16, 2016–present)^[11]
• Morgan Corinthos (Bryan Craig) - Kiki's husband. (2013)^[12]
• Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) - Julian's wife. (2016)^[13]
• Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) - Lucas' husband. (2016–present)

Family tree

Legend

Descendants