Knots Landing is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. The show was created by David Jacobs as a spin-off of Dallas and initially centred around the lives of four married couples living on a cul-de-sac in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles.
Spanning fourteen years, the show became one of the longest-running primetime dramas on television. In 1997, the cast reunited for a two-part miniseries titled Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac.
Overview Character Actor Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Reunion Kenny Ward James Houghton colspan="4" colspan="11" Ginger Ward Kim Lankford colspan="4" colspan="10" colspan="1" Karen Fairgate MacKenzie Michele Lee colspan="15" Laura Avery Sumner colspan="9" colspan="6" Sid Fairgate Don Murray colspan="3" colspan="12" Richard Avery John Pleshette colspan="4" colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="6" Gary Ewing Ted Shackelford colspan="15" Valene Clements Ewing Gibson Waleksa Ewing Joan Van Ark colspan="13" colspan="1" colspan="1" Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner Donna Mills colspan="1" colspan="9" colspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="1" Mack MacKenzie Kevin Dobson colspan="3" colspan="12" Lilimae Clements Julie Harris colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="6" colspan="6" Diana Fairgate Claudia Lonow colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="7" colspan="1" colspan="1" Ben Gibson Douglas Sheehan colspan="4" colspan="4" colspan="7" Greg Sumner William Devane colspan="4" colspan="11" Joshua Rush Alec Baldwin colspan="5" colspan="2" colspan="8" Ciji Dunne Lisa Hartman colspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="13" Cathy Geary colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="10" Jill Bennett Teri Austin colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="5" Paige Matheson Nicollette Sheridan colspan="6" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="5" colspan="1" Olivia Cunningham Dyer Tonya Crowe colspan="1" colspan="9" colspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" Michael Fairgate Patrick Petersen colspan="10" colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Anne Wintson Matheson Sumner Michelle Phillips colspan="7" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" Frank Williams Larry Riley colspan="8" colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="2" Mary-Frances Sumner Stacy Galina colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="4" Kate Whittaker colspan="11" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="1" Claudia Whittaker Kathleen Noone colspan="11" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="1"
Cast notes
Main Kenny Ward (James Houghton (original cast), 1979–1983) A young record producer. During the series, he struggles to stay faithful to his wife Ginger, cheating on her with Sid Fairgate's daughter Annie, a singer named Sylvie (Stevie Louise Vallance) and Kristin Shepard from Dallas. He settles down and becomes more responsible after Ginger gives birth to their daughter, Erin Molly Ward, in 1981. After four seasons, the family move to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue Ginger's career.
Ginger Kilman Ward (Kim Lankford (original cast), 1979–1983; 1997) A kindergarten teacher, with country music aspirations. She is married to Kenny. They separate due to his infidelity, and she briefly dates pediatrician, Carl Russelman, however reunites with Kenny after the birth of their daughter, Erin Molly, in 1981. She leaves with her family for Nashville in 1983 to pursue a career as a country music singer. 14 years later, Ginger returns to the cul-de-sac for the anniversary party in Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac, where she reveals her and Kenny are now divorced.
Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie (Michele Lee (original cast), 1979–1993; 1997) The wife of Sid Fairgate, and the mother of his children Diana, Eric and Michael Fairgate, who is also the principal character of the series. Later, she marries Mack MacKenzie, and adopts Meg, daughter of Laura Avery and Greg Sumner. She works as a community activist and later proves herself as a businesswoman when she takes over Knots Landing Motors after Sid's death, and becomes joint-owner of Lotus Point with Gary and Abby. She is best friends with Val, who she bonded with from the first day she arrived in Knots Landing. Lee is the only cast member to appear in all 344 episodes, as well as the Back to the Cul-de-Sac miniseries.
Laura Murphy Avery Sumner (Constance McCashin (original cast), 1979–1987) The wife of Richard Avery, and mother of their children Jason and Daniel. Initially an oppressed housewife, she went onto become a successful real estate agent. Later, she marries Greg Sumner, and has his daughter, Meg. Laura died in 1987 of a brain tumor.
William Sidney "Sid" Fairgate (Don Murray (original cast), 1979–1981) Owner of Knots Landing Motors, a used car dealership, and the husband of Karen. He is the father of her three children, Diana, Eric and Michael, as well as Annie, from his first wife Susan Philly. He is hard working, fair and at times stubborn. His car is sabotaged and plunges off a cliff in the second season finale, he dies from his injuries at the start of season three.
Richard Avery (John Pleshette (original cast), 1979–1983; 1987) A corporate lawyer, and later a restaurant owner. Unhappily married to Laura, he struggles when she becomes a successful real-estate agent. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1982, holding Laura hostage at gunpoint, before getting a divorce and leaving town in 1983. He returned briefly in 1987 to attend her funeral and take custody of their two sons Jason and Daniel.
Garrison Arthur "Gary" Ewing (Ted Shackelford (original cast), 1979–1993; 1997; 2013)Brennan, Patricia (1992) "Ted Shackelford Ponders Life after 'Knots Landing'", The Sunday Gazette, March 15, 1992, p. 44. Retrieved January 17, 2016 The troubled middle son of Jock and Ellie Ewing and a recovering alcoholic. He was first played by David Ackroyd in Dallas season two, before Shackelford took over the role from season three's "Return Engagements", the backdoor pilot used to set up Knots Landing. He has been married to Valene since they were teenagers, and is the father of their daughter Lucy (a series regular on Dallas) and later, twins Bobby and Betsy Ewing. Upon moving to California, he begins working for Sid at Knots Landing Motors, where he was eventually promoted to vice president. Later, he is fired by Karen after Sid's death, and destroys his marriage to Val when he has an affair with Abby. After his father dies, he inherits $10 million and marries Abby, which ends after a few years. After a relationship with the scheming Jill Bennett, he remarries Valene. Shackelford is the only cast member along with Michele Lee to remain in the series throughout its entire run, although Shackelford didn't appear in every episode. He also reprises the role for three episodes of the 2012 revival of Dallas.
Valene "Val" Clements Ewing Ewing Gibson Waleska Ewing (Joan Van Ark (original cast), 1979–1992; 1993; 1997; 2013) Gary's wife and the mother of his children, Lucy, Bobby and Betsy Ewing (who are born in 1984). Valene is from Shula, Tennessee and married Gary when they were teenagers in the 1960s, but under J. R.'s influence was made an outcast from the Ewing family and became estranged from her daughter Lucy for many years. After remarrying Gary in 1979, the couple moved to Knots Landing, befriending her neighbor Karen. After Gary cheats on her with Abby, Val marries journalist Ben Gibson, and then the psychotic Danny Waleska, before finally marrying Gary for the third time. Van Ark left the show after 13 seasons, with Val presumed dead in a car accident, however returns alive in the two-part series finale. Van Ark also reprises the role in Back to the Cul-de-Sac and for an episode of the 2012 revival of Dallas.
Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner (Donna Mills, 1980–1989; 1993; 1997) The neighborhood troublemaker. She is the younger sister of Sid, who rarely gets along with his wife Karen. Abby arrives from San Luis Obispo, California after divorcing her first husband, Jeff Cunningham, and begins working as a bookkeeper at Knots Landing Motors. Abby seduces Richard, and later Gary, destroying his marriage to Val. She then marries Gary herself, mainly for his inheritance. She becomes co-owner of Lotus Point with Gary and Karen, before her and Gary divorce. Later Abby marries Greg Sumner to help his political career, but the marriage lasts only a few months before she moves to Japan. Mills had appeared in almost every episode, the moment she joined the cast in season two, with the exception of 1, and left the show after season ten, but returned for the two-part series finale in 1993, and again for Back to the Cul-de-Sac.
Marion Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie (Kevin Dobson, 1982–1993; 1997) An attorney and federal prosecutor who marries Karen after Sid's death. Later, he works for politician Greg Sumner, his old college friend and eventual rival, before opening his own private practice. Doug Savant plays a younger version of the character from 1986 to 1987. Dobson had appeared in almost every episode, the moment he joined the cast in season 4, with the exception of 4 episodes, in the final season.
Lilimae Clements (Julie Harris, 1980; 1981–1987) Valene's mother. Though they'd been estranged for many years, after Lilimae virtually abandoned Valene as a teenager in her quest to become a country music singer, Lilimae reappeared in Valene's life for a season one episode. She returns in a recurring role in season three, after moving in with Valene and Gary. She is a series regular from seasons four through nine, before leaving the show to go travelling with her lover Al Baker.
Diana Fairgate Roberts (Claudia Lonow, 1979–1984; 1993; 1997) Sid and Karen's daughter. She is closer to her aunt Abby than her own mother. Later, she falls in love and marries the sociopathic Chip Roberts (Michael Sabatino). Diana eventually leaves Knots Landing to study fashion designing in New York City, although she returned in a recurring role in season fourteen and in Back to the Cul-de-Sac.
Ben Gibson (Douglas Sheehan, 1983–1987) Valene's second husband. He was a journalist, who later worked at Abby's television station but disappeared in South America.
Greg Sumner (William Devane, 1983–1993, 1997) Mack's friend from college and his eventual rival. Initially a politician, Greg became a businessman after inheriting his father's corporation, Galveston Industries. He marries Laura, and is the father of her daughter, Meg. After her death in 1987, Meg is adopted by Karen and Mack. Later, he has an affair with Paige, Mack's daughter, and marries Abby to help his political career. Joshua Devane plays a younger version of the character from 1986 to 1990.
Joshua Rush (Alec Baldwin, 1984–1985) Lilimae's son whom she abandoned as a baby. He was raised by his preacher father and later became a televangelist. After marrying Cathy Geary, he becomes increasingly unstable and violent. After threatening Val, and trying to kill Cathy, he dies accidentally after falling off a roof.
Ciji Dunne (Lisa Hartman, 1982–1983) & Cathy Geary Rush (Lisa Hartman, 1983–1986) Ciji is a singer who is murdered, leaving almost everyone in Knots Landing a suspect. Some months later, Ciji's doppelgänger Cathy Geary shows up after being released from prison. Gary tries to help Cathy get a fresh start and falls for her, later it is revealed that Abby hired Cathy to distract him. Despite this, they remain friends. Hartman becomes a series regular in seasons six and seven, and later marries Lilimae's son Joshua Rush, who ends up abusing her.
Jill Bennett (Teri Austin, 1985–1989) Mack's former colleague who falls in love with Gary. She becomes threatened by Gary's close friendship with ex-wife Valene and tries to murder her. She accidentally kills herself after locking herself in the trunk of Gary's car in an attempt to frame him for kidnapping.
Paige Matheson (Nicollette Sheridan, 1986–1993; 1997)