Some of the Carrington family. Bottom, from left to right: Fallon, Alexis, Blake, and Krystle. Top, from right to left: Dana, Adam, Steven, Sammy Jo, and Jeff.
Some unmarked spoilers below.
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In general
- The Beautiful Elite: The family fits the bill.
- Big, Screwed-Up Family: One of the most screwed up families in primetime soap history.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: They may be family, but that doesn't mean much when everyone has an agenda.
- Long-Lost Relative: Done to death with Adam, Amanda, Dominique, Jackie, Ben, Leslie, and Caress.
- Love Dodecahedron: The Carringtons' dating pool seems to be consistent of the same people other people in their family have previously dated.
- Really Gets Around: With the exception of Blake and Krystle, everyone's like this.
- Tangled Family Tree: As the show goes on, the Carringtons become this.
Main Characters (Contract)
Blake Carrington
"You're like a man on a mountain sometimes, your mountain - and you don't want anyone to climb it with you."
Played By: John Forsythe (1981-89, 1991)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
The lead character, the patriarch of the Carrington family. Initially a ruthless and manipulative business man and CEO of Denver-Carrington, he slowly becomes kinder as the seasons progress. The husband of Krystle Carrington and ex-husband of Alexis Colby. Father of Adam, Fallon, Steven, Amanda, and Krystina. The only character to appear in every episode.
- Abusive Parents: At the receiving and giving ends.
- He had a tumultuous relationship with his father Tom, which was only reconciled on the man's deathbed.
- With his own children, he varies with this:
- He initially views his elder daughter Fallon as little more than a trophy despite her being quite savvy when it comes to business matters. He also disliked her promiscuity.
- His relationship with Steven is not much better. He disapproves of Steven's homosexuality and even accidentally killed Steven's ex-lover Ted Dainard in an argument in season 1, though he regrets that. Additionally, when he learns of Steven's friendship with another gay man and suspects something more, he tries to take custody of Steven's son Danny despite nothing indicating that Steven was anything other than a good parent. Blake only seems to like Steven when he's in relationships with women.
- He's frequently disgusted with Adam, who feels that he can never be a real Carrington. Granted, Adam's a Manipulative Bastard whose abusive tendencies have led to people getting hurt, so it's understandable that Blake doesn't always trust him.
- Really, only his relationships with lost-long daughter Amanda and youngest daughter Krystina are consistently loving.
- Assassination Attempt: One early in the series left him temporarily blind.
- Butt-Monkey: Let's see:
- At the end of season 1, he's arrested for the murder of Steven's ex-boyfriend Ted Dinard, whom he pushed down in an argument and caused him to strike his head. He's later charged and convicted of the murder but gets a suspended sentence.
- At the end of season 2, he's left for dead at a cliff by Nick Toscanni.
- In season 4, his deal in a company falls through, causing him to fall into a depression and on the brink of financial ruin.
- At the end of season 5, Blake and his family are at a wedding that gets shot up and they're all left for dead.
- In the season 6 finale, Blake and Krystle lose their assets and home.
- In the season 8 finale, his wife goes missing, shortly after he loses a gubernatorial campaign.
- At the end of season 9 (the final episode), Blake is shot and wounded, with his fate up in the air.
- Cain and Abel: Played with.
- With his brother Ben, who (in season 6) acts as the Cain despite being the more affable of the brothers successfully schemed to take over Blake's life including his home. They gradually reconcile.
- Averted with Dominique, whom he generally gets along with.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Has shades of this in his business practices.
- Crazy Jealous Guy: With Krystle in the first couple of seasons. In season 1, he's distrustful of her because of her prior relationship with one of his employees, Matthew Blaisdel, and has people spy on her in order to see her activities.
- Easy Amnesia: In season 7, he loses his memories in the aftermath of an oil rig fire.
- Friend to All Children: He's quite found of his grandchildren.
- Happily Married: Played with.
- He was originally in love with Alexis, though her affairs and his ruthless personality eventually lead to the destruction of their marriage and their volatile relationship during the show.
- His marriage to Krystle is rocky at first. Originally, they appear happy until Krystle learns of Blake's more unsavory personality traits and deeds in addition to his suspicions about her relationship with her ex-lover Matthew Blaisdel, which leads to Krystle nearly leaving him in season 1 (the only reason why she initially returns to Blake is because he's accused of the murder of Ted . Gradually, with Blake becoming kinder in later seasons, they become this.
- Heteronormative Crusader: Tried to take custody of Steven's son Danny because he believes that as a gay man, Steven can't possibly be a good parent.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Generally, Blake can be manipulative, ruthless, and cruel when he needs to be in both business matters and (unfortunately) family matters. Nevertheless, he cares about his family and is generally well-intentioned even if the way he goes around it can be damaging.
- Jerkass: Has countless moments where he acts terrible towards people, but especially Alexis.
- Like Father, Like Son: Blake's eldest son Adam has a lot of his and Alexis' manipulative tendencies.
- Luke, I Am Your Father / Luke, You Are My Father: Learns that Adam and Amanda are his long-lost children during seasons 3 and 5, respectively.
- Manipulative Bastard: In business and family matters, he can be this.
- Marital Rape License: He rapes Krystle in a season 1 episode because she refuses to have sex with him. This strikes a wedge in between the couple for some time.
- May–December Romance: With both Alexis and Krystle. In real life, John Forsythe was 15 years older than Joan Collins (Alexis) and 24 years older than Linda Evans (Krystle), the latter of whom once played a friend of Forsythe's character's daughter in a previous show Bachelor Father.
- Missing Mom: His ill mother died in a fire, which he blames his brother Ben for because he should've been watching him. This leads to them being estranged for decades before Ben launches a revenge plan against Blake in season 6.
- Moral Myopia: In season 1, he rapes Krystle when she won't have sex with him and tries to downplay it the morning after. When Adam reveals he did the same thing to Kirby in season 4, he's disgusted.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Subverted twice.
- In season 3, Steven is declared dead in the aftermath of an oil rig explosion but it turns out he survived,
albeit with extensive facial reconstruction surgery. - In season 5, Fallon is also believed to be deceased after a deadly plane crash results in a woman's body being identified as Fallon's because she was wearing her ring. This woman is buried and the family believes she's dead for nearly a year before it turns out that was the wrong woman after Fallon turns up alive but amnesiac.
- In season 3, Steven is declared dead in the aftermath of an oil rig explosion but it turns out he survived,
- Papa Wolf: Yes, he's often at odds with them but mess with his kids, you'll regret it.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: He's homophobic towards his younger son Steven, which remains a recurring element until the miniseries, where he finally accepts his son's sexuality.
- Second Love: His wife Krystle, after having been single for years after divorcing Alexis.
- Self-Made Man: He built Denver-Carrington from the ground up.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Due to John Forsythe's influence, Blake is softened significantly as the series goes on.
- Villain Protagonist: He's the main focus of the show and does some really bad things. But especially in earlier seasons.
Krystle Grant Carrington (formerly Jennings)
"Krystle Carrington is a tender, loving, woman—a passionate romantic living the life of every girl's dream, yet, bringing to it common sense, compassion and seal of approval. She is truly a beautiful human being."note
Played By: Linda Evans (1981-89, 1991)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Wedding" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
Krystle is Blake's second wife. Previously his secretary, they began a relationship which leads to their wedding at the start of the series. The moral center of the Carrington clan. A regular character until midway through season 9, though returned for the 1991 miniseries.
- Antagonistic Offspring:
- Well, niece, but Sammy Jo could be quite the manipulator towards Krystle.
- Her stepchildren Fallon and Adam weren't kinder towards her when they first met her. While Fallon changed her ways, Adam was still mean towards Krystle on occasion.
- Averted with Steven, Amanda, and Krystina.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Krystle can be quite snarky and aggressive when the time comes.
- Big Good: She's this to the Carrington family.
- Cat Fight: Occasionally with Alexis, one of the most iconic elements of Dynasty.
- She also has a cat fight with her lookalike Rita.
- Convenient Miscarriage: Subverted. In season 2, she suffers a miscarriage after she's dragged by a horse frightened by Alexis purposely shooting off her rifle near them. It's not convenient because she wanted the child.
- Culture Shock: Her modest beginnings cause her to become isolated from the family and friends she knew beforehand.
- Dude Magnet: Krystle attracts many men.
- Foil: To Alexis. Where Krystle came from a poor background in Ohio, Alexis was the daughter of a tailor to the British royal family. Where Krystle is kindhearted and generally moral, Alexis is generally manipulative and can be unsavory to reach an end. Both women are outspoken when the time comes for them to defend their goals and both are dedicated to their children, even if Alexis doesn't always understand them and Krystle doesn't always agree with them. Is it any wonder these two are usually enemies?
- Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: The kindest of the Carringtons.
- Happily Married: To Blake, though they had a rocky relationship for several early seasons.
- Hidden Depths: Her cat fights with Alexis indicate that she's quite good at physical fighting. For example, her first cat fight with Alexis in season 2.
- Law of Inverse Fertility: Initially surprised at her pregnancy in season 2, Krystle comes around to the idea of motherhood. Then, she has a miscarriage after a horseback riding accident and told she can't have any more children as a result. Two seasons later, she falls pregnant again and is excited at the Surprise Pregnancy, but this child (Krystina) is born prematurely after Krystle suffers a fall down a staircase but ultimately survives.
- Mama Bear: Can be this to her daughter and stepchildren.
- May–December Romance: Krystle is about in her late 30s/early 40s at the start of the show, while Blake appears to be in his early 60s. (The two actors, Linda Evans and John Forsythe, were 24 years apart in real life; Evans even played a friend of Forsythe's character's niece on his previous show Bachelor Father when she was a teen).
- Morality Pet: Served as this to Blake and arguably, the rest of the family.
- Nice Girl: Krystle is easily the kindest and most moral character on the show, and usually tries to moderate conflicts within the family.
- Oops! I Forgot I Was Married: Downplayed. Her first marriage to Mark Jennings turned out to be still valid when she married Blake in season 1, meaning her marriage to Blake wasn't legal, but she originally believed it had been dissolved (it hadn't; Mark tried to get one in Mexico but that didn't take). They legally divorce in season 3, and Blake and Krystle officially marry.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: Played with. She's implicitly okay with Steven being gay but in late season 2 when he calls out the family for their bigotry and asks if any of them will publicly acknowledge that he is gay, only Fallon says "Steven is gay" so while Krystle looks ashamed along with the rest of the family (possibly out of regret for not standing up for him or because she genuinely feels that she can't publicly acknowledge it). However, she seems to accept his later relationships with Luke and Bart, regardless.
- The Pollyanna: Has an optimistic life outlook.
- Precision F-Strike: She has the honor of being the first person to use the word "bitch" on American primetime network television. For context, the following conversation occurs after Alexis causes Krystle to have a miscarriage and Krystle loses custody of her great-nephew Danny.Krystle: You miserable bitch![Pushes Alexis into a nearby pond and they both fall in]
- Put on a Bus: After suffering severe headaches that made her lose her identity in season 9, she underwent a surgery to repair it, only to be placed in a coma. She would stay in this condition for the remainder of the show, facilitating Evans' departure from the show. She returns for the miniseries.
- Rags to Riches: Originally Blake's secretary, she becomes his second wife and part of the wealthy Carrington family.
- Sexy Secretary: Was this to Blake.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: With Alexis.
- Stealth Insult: Sometimes.
- Krystle (to Alexis): "I love your desk. The tusks, they're so you."
- Volleying Insults: With Alexis, who's generally her enemy.
- Wicked Stepmother: Averted. She always acts kind towards her stepchildren. However, it's an inverted situation with Fallon, who acts terrible towards Krystle for two-and-a-half seasons until the two eventually come to like each other.
Alexis Colby
"You either love her or hate her. And she seems to enjoy it either way."
Played By: Joan Collins (1981-89, 1991)note
First appearance: "Enter Alexis" (1981)note
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
The most iconic character of Dynasty, Alexis first shows up in season 2 as Blake's first wife, long exiled from Denver. The mother of Adam, Fallon, Steven, and Amanda. Longtime enemy of Blake's second wife Krystle.
- Amicable Exes: Oh, so averted with Blake, whom she constantly schemes against and wants to destroy financially and personally. At the same time however, she occasionally seems to harbor feelings for Blake, though because Status Quo Is God, this will be resolved.
- Zigzagged with Dex, whom she has a complicated relationship with post-divorce but whom she seems to care for
- Antagonistic Offspring: Fallon distrusts her, while she and Adam don't always see eye-to-eye.
- Breakout Character: Of the show.
- Cain and Abel: With her sister Caress. She's arguably the Cain to Caress' Abel (at least in the mind of Caress), though both are quite manipulative.
- Cat Fight: Usually with Krystle, but also with Dominique and her cousin Sable.
- Dark Secret: In season 2, it's revealed that Alexis and Blake had a son who was kidnapped as a baby and never returned. Until season 3, where we meet Adam Carrington, alive and well.
- Deadpan Snarker: She has quite the biting wit.
- Kirby: "You bitch."Alexis: "If I am, take a lesson from me. You may need it in life."
- Divorce in Reno: Well, not Reno, but she travels to St. Thomas to gain a quick divorce from Dex after discovering his affair with Amanda.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Alexis is disturbed to learn that Adam had Jeff's office decorated in toxic paint, causing the latter to suffer a severe illness.
- Evil Brit: She's usually the antagonist of the series and is quite British.
- Foil: Designed as one to Krystle. Where Krystle is the good-natured, kindhearted, and moralistic center of the Carrington family, Alexis is the scheming, manipulative, and ambitious businesswoman who's not above using those around her for personal gain.
- Frame-Up: Alexis is accused of murdering Mark Jennings, but in reality it was Congressman Neal McVane.
- Hidden Depths: She's a proficient painter.
- I Have Many Names: Usually, she's Alexis Colby (TheOtherWiki lists her as such on her page). But alternatively she's been Alexis Morrell (her maiden name), Alexis Carrington, Alexis Dexter, and Alexis Rowan. Or if you want to combine all of them, she's Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan.
- Iconic Sequel Character: Though the show's most iconic character, Alexis doesn't physically appear onscreen until the start of season 2.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Occasionally. She genuinely loves her children, even if she doesn't always agree with them.
- Jerkass: She can be downright unpleasant and is the show's main antagonist.
- Kick the Dog: She's fond of these moments, but especially towards Krystle and Sammy Jo.
- Lady in a Power Suit: Her specialty.
- Like Father, Like Son: Or like mother like son. Both Alexis and Adam possess manipulative tendencies that lead to them dominating those around them. To a degree, her daughter Fallon also has this trait in common with her mother.
- Loophole Abuse: She uses this in order to get the house behind the Carrington manor in season 2.
- Mama Bear: Very protective of her children and grandchildren.
- Manipulative Bitch: Arguably her defining trait since her schemes against Blake and Krystle are often the center of the show's drama.
- May–December Romance: With both Blake and Dex. She's younger than Blake, who's about a decade or so older, and they married when she was quite young (in her teens, if memory serves). With Dex, she's older than him though the two were quite loving of each other
- Mrs. Robinson: Has several affairs with younger men such as Dex Dexter and Mark Jennings and is quite attractive.
- My Greatest Failure: Harbors guilt about not continuing the search for Adam.
- Not Actually His Child: Subverted twice.
- She tells Blake that Fallon isn't his daughter but rather Cecil Colby's. A blood test reveals that Blake is Fallon's biological father.
- Later, she's told by Neal McVane that Adam isn't actually her child and that the real Adam had died in the kidnapping attempt. A year later, it's revealed that this story was fabricated.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: Played with.
- She's usually kind and protective towards Jeff, Fallon's on/off husband, though she does use him to sign over her grandson (Jeff's son) LB's shares in Denver-Carrington to him while he was under the influence of toxic paint fumes.
- Her relationship with Claudia varies, though they aren't really friends. Additionally, she blackmails Adam's then-fiancee Kirby into leaving him - though this came after Kirby held her at gunpoint and attempted to kill her, though Alexis was never really good to her beforehand.
- She's contempuous of Steven's ex, Sammy Jo, whom she considers trash and deems her attempts at being a Beta Bitch laughable.
- Alexis' relationship with Blake's father Tom, however, was apparently positive since she seems fond of the man and vice versa.
- Meanwhile, she's manipulative of Blake's brother Ben, though also had an affair with him.
- Open-Minded Parent: Played with in regards to Steven's sexuality. She seems to accept it quicker than Blake but when she and the rest of the Carringtons are called out by Steven for not acknowledging his homosexuality, she seems more ashamed at this (though possibly that's because she might believe he has a point).
- Outliving One's Offspring: Subverted twice:
- In season 3, Steven is declared dead in the aftermath of an oil rig explosion but it turns out he survived, albeit with extensive facial reconstruction surgery.
- In season 5, Fallon is also believed to be deceased after a deadly plane crash results in a woman's body being identified as Fallon's because she was wearing her ring. This woman is buried and the family believes she's dead for nearly a year before it turns out that was the wrong woman after Fallon turns up alive but amnesiac.
- In season 3, Steven is declared dead in the aftermath of an oil rig explosion but it turns out he survived,
- Overly Long Name: Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan.
- Parental Abandonment: She did this to her three younger children when they were children. When Blake forced her to leave, he stipulated that Alexis could never see the children again, which remained for 17 years. In the case of Amanda, Alexis had her adopted out to a cousin in England and didn't tell her of her relation to both her and Blake until she was about 20 years old. Unsurprisingly, Steven, Fallon, and Amanda have mixed feelings about Alexis' return to their lives after being gone so long.
- Parental Favoritism: Steven's the child she's the closest to.
- Pimped-Out Dress: Alexis is a fan of this.
- Really Gets Around: In addition to the four men she's been married to, she has numerous relationships with men throughout the series.
- Revenge: Oh, yeah. And usually against Blake. For example, her arc in season 6 has her and Blake's brother Ben successfully go after his company, assets, and home.
- Rich Bitch: A given.
- The Rival: Her rivalry with Krystle is the stuff of primetime soap opera legends.
- Second Love: Dex, who's her on/off lover for much of her time on the show. To a lesser degree, Cecil (though they married on his deathbed
- Serial Spouse: Married four times to Blake Carrington, Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter, and Sean Rowan.
- Shoulders of Doom: She loves shoulder pads.
- Smug Snake: She can be irritatingly condescending to Krystal whenever they meet.
- Teen Pregnancy: Implied. She had her son Adam a year after she married Blake at 17. You do the math.
- Uncertain Doom: At the end of season 9, she and Dex fall off a balcony. The show was cancelled shortly thereafter. Subverted in the miniseries, where it's revealed that Alexis survived but it's unclear if Dex did too.
Fallon Carrington Colby
Played By: Pamela Sue Martin (1981-84), Emma Samms (1985-89, 1991)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
The original Fallon Carrington, as played by Pamela Sue Martin.
The second Fallon Carrington, as played by Emma Samms.
Blake and Alexis' headstrong and assertive elder daughter, an heiress who dislikes her role as the trophy to her father and wants to break out of that role.- Alien Abduction: At the end of The Colbys, Fallon appears to be abducted by aliens. Whether it was a hallucination or not is left up in the air.
- Antagonistic Offspring: Towards her mother Alexis, who abandoned her for 17 years. However, she shot Roger Grimes after she saw him beat her when she was eight years old, as revealed in season 9.
- Awful Wedded Life: Her romance and marriage to Jeff was fraught with this as Fallon had married Jeff even though she wasn't in love with him at the time.
- Cain and Abel: She never gets along with Adam.
- Cat Fight: With Sammy Jo over Jeff in season 9, which ends when they realize that neither of them want him.
- Childhood Friend Romance: With Jeff, though it's largely on/off.
- Cool Big Sis: She loves her brother Steven and wants him to be happy. This is best demonstrated where in the season 2 episode "The Two Princes" she's the only one of the Carringtons to acknowledge that Steven is gay.
- Daddy's Girl: Conflicts aside, Fallon adores Blake. In season 2, she's devastated at the possibility that she isn't his daughter. Of course, this turns out not to be the case.
- Deadpan Snarker: Her acerbic wit is part of her character.Fallon: "Adam's dull wit needs all the sharpening it can get."
- Easy Amnesia: At the end of season 5 and the first episodes of season 6. It's implied that an accident that left her briefly paralyzed in season 4 was to blame.
- '80s Hair: Loves big haired styles, especially after the recast.
- Good Girls Avoid Abortion: In season 2, Fallon decides to get one but turns away at the last second.
- Happily Married: To Jeff by the end of the miniseries, though it took a long time to get there.
- Like Parent, Like Child: She's as intelligent and business savvy as her dad. She's also as manipulative and promiscuous as her mother.
- The Lost Lenore: She was this to Jeff after she died. Except she didn't die.
- Mama Bear: Fallon is quite motherly towards her children. She once snaps out of a psychosomatic disorder when she sees her toddler son L.B. crawling towards the mansion's pool to save him.
- Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: At the receiving and giving ends of this. In season 2, she's told by Alexis that Cecil Colby is her father, though this turns out to not be true. On The Colbys, Fallon's not sure who's the father of her daughter Lauren ( it's Jeff) for a while.
- Marriage of Convenience: She married Jeff so Denver-Carrington could be financially secure with the help of Jeff's uncle Cecil.
- Missing Mom: Alexis was this to Fallon for 17 years and when she returns, Fallon isn't happy about it. Their current relationship is complicated as a result. Additionally, Fallon during her "dead" period was this to her son L.B.
- Never a Self-Made Woman: Fallon wants to avoid this trope and her father Blake tries to invoke this when he sideswipes her attempts to join Denver-Carrington. She however plays around with this trope as Fallon manages to successfully run her father's struggling hotel La Mirage for several seasons.
- Not Quite Dead: In season 5, she's presumed dead after the charred body of a woman wearing her ring is found with Peter De Vilbis, Fallon's lover, in the aftermath of an explosive plane crash. The woman is buried but it turns out at the end of the season that Fallon is still alive.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Emma Samms' British accent occasionally shined through in the role.
- Parent with New Paramour: Initially, Fallon hates Krystle as she thinks she's a Gold Digger. By season 3, the two have a much closer relationship, due to in no small part because of Alexis' return.
- Put on a Bus: At the end of season 4, she disappears after a car accident (in real life, this was done because Pamela Sue Martin was leaving the show). Then again, midway through season 6, when she and Jeff move to California for The Colbys. She returns to Denver both times.
- Rape as Drama: Miles forces himself on Fallon, which leads to the Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe situation from above.
- Really Gets Around: In addition to Jeff, she also married his cousin Miles and had numerous affairs with other men as Michael Culhane, Mark Jennings, and Peter De Vilbis.
- Relationship Revolving Door: With Jeff for most of the series. She's originally the object of desire for him, though she initially doesn't have feelings for him. However, she marries him to secure her father's company by having Cecil Colby secretly get Blake out of a financial jam. Fallon sleeps around as does Jeff, which leads to their first divorce. This pattern occurs for the remainder of the series as well as on The Colbys. They're together by the end of the miniseries.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Usually with her mother.
- Surprise Incest: Fallon kisses Adam when they first meet, only to learn later they're brother and sister. This damages her relationship with him as a result.
- Subverted in season 2, Alexis tells Fallon that she's the daughter of Cecil Colby, thus making her husband Jeff her cousin. Except a blood test reveals that Blake is indeed her father.
- Transplant: To The Colbys for its two-season run.
- Wicked Stepmother: Inverted, she's a wicked stepdaughter to Krystle. At first, though she Took a Level in Kindness towards Krystle as the series went on.
Steven Carrington
Al Corley as Steven Carrington.
Jack Coleman as Steven Carrington.
Played By: Al Corley (1981-82, 1991), Jack Coleman (1983-88)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "Colorado Roulette" (1988)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
The sensitive and intuitive younger son of Blake and Alexis, who struggles with his sexuality and his familial ties.
- All Gays are Promiscuous: Subverted, though Sammy Jo invokes this trope in her testimony at the custody trial of their son Danny simply to spite Steven.
- Ambiguously Bi: A case could be made that Steven's bisexual given his genuine affection for his male and female partners, though given the No Bisexuals trope being in full force here, it's never considered as a possibility.
- Antagonistic Offspring: To Blake, but only because the former is a homophobe who can't accept his son for who he is. If anything, it's usually inverted.
- Beware the Nice Ones: The most moral of the Carrington kids, Steven can throw down when he (or his family)'s threatened.
- Bury Your Gays: Subverted. He survives the oil rig explosion in season 3 and again in the aftermath of the Moldovian massacre in the season 5 finale; his boyfriend Luke isn't so lucky in the latter event.
- But Not Too Gay: His relationships with Claudia and Sammy Jo are more sexualized than his relationships with men. This was a reason why his original actor, Al Corley, quit the role while second actor Jack Coleman would later mention how Steven's relationship with Luke was a No Hugging, No Kissing situation.
- Cain and Abel: Usually, the Abel to Adam's Cain. Averted with Fallon, whom he adores.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Does this a lot to Blake.
- Cure Your Gays: His father Blake believes that Steven could "change". It seemingly "works" for a while with his romances with Claudia and Sammy Jo, but they never lasted. He ends up with Bart Fallmont in the miniseries.
- Enemy Mine: He works with Walter Lankershim, his father's business rival, to spite Blake in season 1. He also works with his mother Alexis to avoid working with Blake.
- Foil: To Blake and Adam, both of whom are amoral, ruthless, and manipulative businessmen who use unsavory methods to benefit the companies they own/work for whilst Steven is generally moralistic in both business practices and familial matters.
- Gayngst: His storylines are usually full of this.
- Good Parents: To his son Danny.Steven at Danny's custody trial: "I won't answer that. What he's asking in essence is if I'm guilty of being gay. Well, nobody, not my father's lawyer, not you, not anybody in this courtroom or outside of it has the right to ask this because there is no guilt in that issue. Everybody in this state and in this country has the right to live his own life the way he wants. Provided that he's a decent human-being, isn't a man entitled to raise his own child whether he's homosexual or not? I am and will always be Danny's father. And a good one no matter what my lifestyle is."
- Like Father, Unlike Son: Blake is a ruthless businessman who usually doesn't care who he steps over to benefit his business. Steven is a kindhearted man who doesn't like to screw over people and yet expected to follow in Blake's role. Additionally his distaste for his father's capitalistic values and amoral business practices (not to mention his sexuality) drive a huge wedge in between the two.
- Luke, You Are My Father: A variation. After he returns to Denver, he meets his infant son Danny (conceived with Sammy Jo shortly before their split).
- Missing Mom: Alexis was this to him for 17 years. Unlike Fallon, Steven's drawn to her specifically because of this absence.
- Momma's Boy: Complicated as their relationship is, Steven does love Alexis. He also loves Krystle, his stepmother.
- Nice Guy: Generally, Steven's a pretty kindhearted dude.
- The Nth Doctor: Steven's face is completely changed after his accident in season 3, to explain away Jack Coleman's physical difference from Al Corley.
- No Bisexuals: Depending on what season and how it was written, Steven may or may not have had some genuine attraction to Claudia and Sammy Jo. Not that it ever lasted. By the reunion mini-series he had settled down permanently with Bart Fallmont, a love interest from a previous season. During that time, bisexuality is never mentioned as a possibility.
- According to Esther Shapiro, she intended for Steven to be sexually confused for about two seasons before coming out as gay, but both ABC and social conservative groups put an end to that.
- According to
- Not Quite Dead: Declared dead in the aftermath of an oil rig explosion in season 3, though it turns out Steven survived but had significant facial reconstruction surgery afterwards. Late in the season, he returns to Denver.
- Parent with New Paramour: Type 1. He gets along with Krystle from the series outset.
- Put on a Bus: Once in the penultimate episode in season 2, where Steven goes off to Indonesia (Al Corley had decided to leave the show) and again in season 8, when he leaves Colorado (Jack Coleman also decided to leave). Subverted in season 7, when he's brought back into the fold shortly before his intended departure.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Does this to the rest of his family in the season 2 episode "The Two Princes".Blake: I wanted you to be a man.Steven: I am a man. Just not your kind. You know, I'm finally facing up something here. I tried to live a lie, to please you. Not any more. From now on, I'm gonna live my life my way. I'm a homosexual, dad. I'm a gay! And I want you to face it. And say it. Say it! Steven is gay! Somebody say it!(Beat)Fallon: Steven is gay!Steven: You really know what hurts me the most, is I hate what you all stand for. I hate your values, your morals and your blindness. But, I love you, I love you all very much. [Steven starts to leave as L.B. cries] The heir apparent; the little Carrington prince - God help that poor baby.
- Relationship Revolving Door: With Claudia and Sammy Jo at various points.
- Straight Gay: Has no campy mannerisms associated with being Camp Gay. The same applies for his boyfriends.
- Token Good Teammate: Arguably, with Krystle, of the Carrington family. He's easily the most moral of the Carrington kids at least.
Adam Carrington
"I've played heavies before but none as demonic as Adam. He's the most rotten guy in prime time."
Played By: Gordon Thomson (1982-89), Robin Sachs (1991)
First appearance: "The Plea" (1982)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
The long-lost eldest son of Blake and Alexis, he follows in his parents' footsteps by being a Manipulative Bastard whose amorality and manipulations make him of the show's most prominent villains.
- Amoral Attorney: Is/was an attorney and easily one of the most amoral characters on the show.
- Antagonistic Offspring: He betrays Blake and Alexis several times though they forgive him.
- Cain and Abel: The Cain to both his actual brother Steven and his brother-in-law Jeff, the latter of whom he poisons out of jealousy.
- The Charmer: Adam is (superficially) charming.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Kidnapped from his birth family as a baby, raised by the woman who kidnapped him, and had a drug problem in his teens that led to a mental breakdown.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Even Adam is surprised when he indirectly allows Sammy Jo to kidnap Danny.
- Forced Out of the Closet: He does this to Bart Fallmont.
- Freudian Excuse: Getting kidnapped as a baby and being raised by his kidnapper, depriving him of his birth family, is often used as an excuse for Adam's more abominable actions.
- Green-Eyed Monster: He's frequently jealous of Steven and Jeff to the point where he sabotages them.
- Happily Adopted: Subverted. He came to dislike the woman who kidnapped and raised him, Kate Torrance. He also sheds his original alias "Michael Torrance" as he becomes more invested in the Carringtons.
- Jerkass: A manipulative, amoral, self-serving man whose jealousy is often a motivator for his wicked deeds.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Whenever it appears he'll be redeemed, he squanders it with his own jealousy.
- Karma Houdini: Gets away with raping Kirby and poisoning Jeff.
- Long-Lost Relative: Revealed to be the long-missing (and presumed dead) eldest son of Blake and Alexis in season 3. Subverted in season 7 when Neal McVane reveals to Adam that the actual son of Blake and Alexis had died in the kidnapping attempt. Then it's double subverted a year later when it's revealed that McVane's story was fabricated; Adam is indeed his parents' son.
- The Lost Lenore: Claudia.
- Manipulative Bastard: Adam's defining trait is that he's always cunning and scheming in both business and personal matters.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: He's disdainful of Steven's homosexuality, once leading to a fight between the two.
- Made
Harsher in Hindsight in 2017, where Thomson came out as gay and explained in an interview of his self-loathing over being gay.
- Made
- Rape as Drama: He rapes Kirby Anders in season 3, resulting in her pregnancy.
- Really Gets Around: Goes through women like it's going out of style.
- Surprise Incest: He kisses Fallon when they first meet and learn later from Alexis that they're siblings. Adam brushes it off, though... Fallon not so much.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: As much as he betrays them, he also wants his parents' approval.
Amanda Carrington
Catherine Oxenberg as Amanda Carrington.
Karen Cellini as Amanda Carrington.
Played By: Catherine Oxenberg (1984-86), Karen Cellini (1986-87)
First appearance: "Amanda" (1984)
Last series appearance: "The Rig" (1987)
Final appearance: "The Rig" (1987)
The charming but naive youngest of the Carrington children, she was born after Alexis was exiled from Denver and Blake (and by extension, Adam, Fallon, Steven, and Krystle) was unaware of her existence until she arrives at Alexis' apartment in season 5.
- Blood-Splattered Wedding Dress: Averted. It doesn't appear bloodstained after the massacre at her wedding.
- Cat Fight: With Sammy Jo at the end of season 6. That leads to them falling into the pool of La Mirage.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: After her Put on a Bus moment in season 7, Amanda is never mentioned again, even in the miniseries.
- Daddy's Girl: Becomes one to Blake.
- English Rose: Her character was undoubtedly created to capitalise on the Princess Diana phenomenon that was reaching fever-pitch in the US by the time of her arrival in the series (1984). As well as having a look of Diana (she's portrayed her twice before), for added prestige, actress Catherine Oxenberg is a cousin of the British Royal Family through her mother, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. In appearance, Amanda is a beautiful, composed young Englishwoman with refined features and big, Sloane-ranger hair. In personality, whilst she can be a bit of a princess, she's fundamentally a sweet, good-hearted character — unlike her mother, the series' infamous Evil Brit, Alexis. Averted with Karen Cellini's later portrayal.
- Gene Hunting: Tries to find who her biological father is. Alexis initially tells her it's a ski instructor she had an affair with, but Amanda finds out that her real father is actually Blake Carrington.
- Happily Adopted: Downplayed. Was raised normally by her mother's cousin Rosalind Bedford in London, though wants to know more about her parents.
- Luke, You Are My Father: Pulls this on Alexis in her debut episode "Amanda", revealing that she knew that Alexis was her birth mother while Rosalind Bedford was her adoptive mother.
- Nice Girl: In relation to everyone else, though can be spoiled at times.
- Nobility Marries Money: Her marriage to Prince Michael of Moldavia at the end of season 5. It doesn't last.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Her second actress, Karen Cellini, uses an American accent when playing Amanda, whilst her OG actress Catherine Oxenberg had a British one.
- Put on a Bus: Midway through season 7, Amanda goes back to England to "think". She's never seen or referred to again.
Jeff Colby
John James as Jeff Colby.
Played By: John James (1981-89, 1991)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
Fallon's on/off husband, a business executive of the Carringtons' rivals, the Colby family. The only other main character, apart from Blake, to appear in both the premiere and the finale.
- Awful Wedded Life: His marriage to Fallon is perpetually rocky.
- Cain and Abel: Jeff plays the role Abel to brother-in-law Adam's Cain. Also the Abel to his cousin/ half-brother Miles.
- The Charmer: Jeff's a charming guy.
- Childhood Friend Romance: His relationships with Fallon and Kirby, both of whom he knew from childhood, qualify as this.
- Elopement: Does this with Fallon in season 1.
- Family Relationship Switcheroo: Let's see. Jeff spent much of his life believing that his father was Phillip Colby and he died before he was born. In reality, Phillip isn't dead and he wasn't Jeff's dad. Phillip's brother Jason was actually Jeff's biological father, thus making Phillip's children Miles, Monica, and Bliss his half-siblings. Except it turned out Miles and Monica were conceived from a rape and weren't biologically Jason's after all.
- Good Parents: This to his children.
- Happily Married: Occasionally, to Fallon. They are this at the end of the miniseries.
- Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe:
- His daughter Lauren's paternity is initially questioned since Miles had raped Fallon, though Jeff turned out to be her father.
- Jeff himself. He believed himself to be the son of Frankie and her husband Phillip, though he was actually the product of an affair Frankie had with Phillip's brother Jason, who he believed was his uncle.
- Marry for Love: What he thought he was doing when he married Fallon. She would disagree.
- Nephewism: Raised by his uncle Cecil.
- Nice Guy: One of the kinder characters on Dynasty.
- Papa Wolf: To L.B. and Lauren.
- Parental Abandonment: His father died before he was born, while his mother left the family, leaving Jeff to be raised by his uncle Cecil. The Colbys reveals that several things about this backstory being false. 1) Jeff's father isn't dead, 2) Jeff's father isn't actually his father, 3) Jeff's actual father is his "uncle" Jason Colby, and 4) his mother was forced to give Jeff up to Cecil.
- Put on a Bus: In season 6, he and Fallon move to California to live with Jeff's family. They came back after the cancellation of ''The Colbys''.
- Really Gets Around: In addition to Fallon, he's had relationships with Claudia, Kirby, Sammy Jo, Nicole Simpson, Lady Ashley Mitchell, etc.
- Relationship Revolving Door: How he and Fallon are doing as a couple (or even as friends) depends on the season.
- The Rival: To Adam.
- Serial Spouse: Married three times (one of which was faked) and engaged a fourth.
- Transplant: On The Colbys for its two seasons.
Claudia Blaisdel Carrington
Played By: Pamela Bellwood (1981-86)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Choice (a.k.a. The Vendetta)" (1986)
Final appearance: "The Choice (a.k.a. The Vendetta)" (1986)
Pamela Bellwood as Claudia Blaisdel Carrington.
Originally a friend of Krystle's, she later married into the Carrington family (initially with Steven, then with Adam).- Broken Bird: Poor Claudia. She never had strong mental health to begin with, but being institutionalized before the series begins, going through her husband's affair with Krystle and his decision to take their daughter to South America only for both to die in an accident while there, her suffering a mental breakdown as a result (leading to her re-institutionalization), being cheated on by Steven, her Near-Death Experience at the Moldavian Massacre, her relationship with Adam ending, and having three marriages collapse on her before a fire she accidentally caused kills her and several others makes her quite the tragic character.
- Butt-Monkey: Claudia's life is just full of tragedy from beginning to end and she's frequently used by the Carringtons. See the entry for Broken Bird above.
- Driven to Suicide: Subverted in season 2, when she attempts to overdose but is saved by Blake and Nick. Her own death at the end of season 6 is accidental, as a candle she was holding knocked over and set La Mirage on fire, trapping her in her room.
- Good Stepmother: Gets along with Steven's son Danny.
- Killed Off for Real: Dies in a fire she accidentally caused at La Mirage in the season 6 finale.
- Mama Bear: To Lindsay and Danny.
- Marriage of Convenience: She married Steven to gain custody of Danny.
- Mood-Swinger: Owning to her mental illness.
- Nice Girl: Generally, Claudia is an affable person.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Her daughter Lindsay is killed in a car accident in South America, which she learns about in season 2.
- Put on a Bus: At the start of season 3, she suffers a mental breakdown after learning her husband and daughter were killed in South America and was institutionalized after an incident where she was accused of kidnapping L.B. Colby and accidentally dropping "him" off a rooftop - which turned out to be a baby doll and not the missing L.B. She returns once towards the end of the season and more permanently in season 4.
- Rags to Riches: Her relationship and marriage to Steven - and later to Adam - moves her from middle class to upper class overnight.
- Relationship Revolving Door: With Steven.
- Sanity Slippage: Before the series began, then again in season 2/3, and once more in season 6.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Her life is basically one long one. She got pregnant at a young age and had a Shotgun Wedding as a result. She suffered a mental breakdown and was institutionalized two years before Dynasty began. When she's released, her marriage is on the rocks as Matthew has feelings for his ex Krystle and Claudia starts an affair with Steven. Matthew then runs away with their daughter Lindsay, and she learns the following season, that they died in an accident in South America. She suffers another breakdown, resulting in an incident where she's accused of kidnapping L.B. Colby and drops "him" off a rooftop - which turned out only to be a baby doll. She's re-institutionalized soon afterwards. A year later, Claudia rekindles her romance with Steven, which ends when both start sleeping with other people. Shortly afterwards, she's nearly a victim at the Moldavian Massacre and she begins a relationship with Adam. That soon ends acrimoniously and she attempts a venture by digging at one of Blake's oil wells, only to discover it's dry. Finally having enough, she moves to La Mirage and suffers yet another breakdown, which accidentally causes a fire and kills her in the process.
- Shotgun Wedding: With her first husband Matthew.
- Sibling Triangle: With Steven and Adam.
- Teen Pregnancy: Claudia had her daughter Lindsay as a teenager.
Sammy Jo Dean Carrington
Heather Locklear as Sammy Jo Carrington.
Played By: Heather Locklear (1981-89, 1991)
First appearance: "Reconciliation" (1981)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
Krystle's niece who comes to live with the Carringtons, though has bigger plans in mind when she arrives.- '80s Hair: Just look at her folder image.
- Beta Bitch: Sammy Jo's own schemes are secondary to that of Alexis, but Alexis proves to be the bigger bitch than her.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: So often that even her kindhearted aunt isn't sure to trust her.
- Con Woman: Becomes one. However, one such attempt at conning the Carringtons into giving her her inheritance, results in Krystle's kidnapping, something which Sammy Jo never intended to happen, leading to her to give up these schemes, at least temporarily.
- Disneyland Dad: She tries to win Danny's affections by giving him gifts.
- The Ditz: Her schemes don't always work in part because she doesn't think things all the way through.
- Dumb Blonde: If this conversation is an indicator:Fallon: "That's kind of a dumb question."Sammy Jo: "Well, it comes from kind of a dumb girl, doesn't it? I mean, isn't that what you still think of me?"Fallon: "Look, I'm giving the party because I love my brother. I just figured you might wanna be there with him. So don't bother RSVPing."Sammy Jo: "What's that mean?"Fallon: "Oh, nothing. I just made it up."
- Even Evil Has Standards: Evil is stretching it, but in season 6, she attempts to get her inheritance from the Carringtons with the help of a man named Joel Abrigore by having a Krystle lookalike named Rita impersonate her aunt in order to get the money. However, Krystle is kidnapped by Joel when she accidentally discovers Rita. Eventually, Sammy Jo becomes disillusioned with the plan and helps Krystle to escape.
- Fourth-Date Marriage: She married Steven very shortly after meeting him (the episode where she first appears and the episode when she marries Steven aired a month apart). It doesn't last.
- Get-Rich-Quick Scheme: Sammy Jo loves these. However, after a plan to extort the Carringtons to get her inheritance, results in Krystle's kidnapping.
- Gold Digger: Sammy Jo is easily the biggest example of this. She likely learned it from her stepfather. At one point, she even ransoms her own son for money.
- Hayseed Name: Sammy Jo is originally from rural Ohio.
- It's All About Me: She's quite self-centered.
- Karma Houdini: Blake and Krystle don't press charges against Sammy Jo after her plan to extort them results in Krystle's kidnapping because 1) Sammy Jo helped Krystle escape and 2) she tries to help them capture Joel and Rita.
- The Lad-ette: She's into cars and can be tomboyish at times.
- Laughably Evil: Alexis thinks of her as this and disrespects Sammy Jo for it.
- Lower-Class Lout: Originally from a poor background in Ohio, Sammy Jo's regarded as such.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Meets her biological father Daniel Reese in season 5, though he dies soon afterwards.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: Alexis hates her, but Sammy Jo does nothing positive to gain her favor either.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: She tries to use her first name "Samantha" in order to show she's changed, but no one calls her that. She eventually drops it.
- Parental Abandonment: Does this to Danny, whom she leaves with the Carringtons. She later returns and tries to be a better mother to him.
- Her mother died when she was young, she never knew her biological dad, and her stepdad all but left her with Krystle.
- Really Gets Around: Like everyone else.
- Recurring Character: Until season 6, where she moves back to Denver and becomes central to season-long storylines.
- Serial Spouse: Downplayed. Married twice and proposed to three total times. None of them last.
- Woman Scorned: After the end of relationship with Steven, she displays shades of this. For example in season 4, Sammy Jo is brought to her son Danny's custody trial to testify and she lies to the judge, saying that Steven is promiscuous simply to spite him.
Joseph Anders
Played By: Lee Bergere (1981-83)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Bungalow" (1983)
Final appearance: "The Bungalow" (1983)
Lee Bergere as Joseph Anders.
The majordomo of the Carrington family.- Blackmail: At the receiving end of this by Alexis, who threatens to reveal to Kirby that her mother was a murderer who was institutionalized.
- Dark Secret: His wife Alicia was a murderer and he wanted to hide this from Kirby.
- Deadpan Snarker / Servile Snarker: Occasionally at Krystle and Alexis' expenses.
- Driven to Suicide: Anders commits suicide in season 4 after his attempt on Alexis' life fails.
- Insistent Terminology: He's not a butler, he's a majordomo.
- The Jeeves: Considered such.
- Killed Off for Real: When his plan to kill Alexis fails (and nearly kills Krystle as well), he telephones Blake and apologizes for it before committing suicide.
- Loyal to the Position: Anders is loyal to Blake Carrington and the manor. Initially disliking Krystle, he eventually comes to respect her.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: His reaction to Jeff marrying his daughter is not positive.
- Papa Wolf: To his daughter Kirby.
- Servile Snarker: Initially to Krystle, though he does this to Alexis as well.
Cecil Colby
Lloyd Bochner as Cecil Colby.
Played By: Lloyd Bochner (1981-82)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Wedding" (1982)
Final appearance: "The Wedding" (1982)
Blake Carrington's business rival and Jeff Colby's uncle who raised him. Alexis Colby's second husband.
- Always Someone Better: Blake is this to Cecil, as he's more successful in his business ventures.
- Evil Uncle: To Jeff.
- Faux Affably Evil: He's a fierce rival of Blake, but isn't above being polite or dignified if he wants to be.
- Foil: He's more or less one to Blake.
- Hollywood Heart Attack: Has one in the season 2 finale. A second one at the hospital kills him in early season 3.
- Jerkass: Cecil is generally not the nicest guy.
- Killed Off for Real: His death from a heart attack at the start of season 3 leads to Alexis gaining Colby Co.
- Manipulative Bastard: Has this in common with Blake, though not with Jeff.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: One of his more notorious aliases, Logan Rhinewood.
- Nephewism: Raised Jeff from infancy.
- Second Love: Initially to Alexis. They marry on his deathbed.
Kirby Anders Colby
Kathleen Beller as Kirby Anders.
Played By: Kathleen Beller (1982-84, 1991)
First appearance: "Kirby" (1982)
Last series appearance: "The Nightmare" (1984)
Final appearance: "Dynasty: The Reunion" (1991)
Anders' daughter. Childhood friend of Fallon, Steven, and Jeff. Marries Jeff and was engaged to Adam.- And Now You Must Marry Me: A variation. After learning Kirby is pregnant with his child months after he raped her, Adam wants her to marry him. She actually agrees to this (even after she miscarries), but eventually backs out and leaves Denver.
- The Bus Came Back: In the 1991 miniseries.
- Child by Rape: Subverted. The baby dies in the womb after she is hospitalized for seizures.
- Childhood Friend Romance: With Jeff, whom she briefly marries.
- Daddy's Girl: She loves her dad and vice versa. She's absolutely crushed when she learns of his suicide.
- The Ghost: In season 8, even though her brother Sean pulling a Roaring Rampage of Revenge on Alexis to avenge her and their father is central to the season's plot.
- Love Triangle: Involved with one between her, Jeff, and Adam.
- Missing Mom: Her mother was a murderer who later died in an institution.
- New Old Flame: She eventually gets back together with Adam in the miniseries.
- Nice Girl: Kirby's generally a kind person, though becomes wiser during her time with the Carringtons.
- Put on a Bus: Returns to Paris at the end of season 4.
- Rape as Drama: In season 3, Adam rapes Kirby while drunk. This results in Kirby getting pregnant.
- Took a Level in Cynic: After being around the Carringtons for about two years, Kirby has become more cynical of the world.
- Tragic Stillbirth: Her child with Adam dies when she goes into premature labor.
- You Killed My Father: Attempts to shoot Alexis after learning that her blackmailing of her father led to his suicide, but doesn't go through with it.
Dominique Deveraux
Diahann Carroll as Dominique Deveraux.
Played By: Diahann Carroll (1984-87)
First appearance: "New Lady in Town" (1984)
Last series appearance: "Shadow Play" (1987)
Final appearance: "Shadow Play" (1987)
The half-sister of Blake Carrington, a wealthy businesswoman and recording artist.
- Alliterative Name: Dominique Devereaux. Her real name, Millie Cox, is an aversion.
- Awful Wedded Life: Her marriage to Brady Lloyd.
- Cain and Abel: Averted with Blake.
- Cat Fight: With Alexis.
- Deadpan Snarker: Occasionally.
- Half-Sibling Angst: She wants Blake and Tom to know that she's their half-sister and daughter, respectively, but initially has problems with getting them to believe her.
- Luke, You Are My Father: Reveals to Tom Carrington on his deathbed that she is his daughter. He acknowledges her.
- New Old Flame: She rekindles her romance with Garrett Boydston, which leads to an engagement which promptly ends when Dominique learns he lied about having a wife in order to end their romance the first time around.
- Nice to the Waiter: Owing to her humble beginnings.
- Put on a Bus: In "Shadow Play", she goes to Europe to restart her singing career.
- Rags to Riches: She grew up poor and worked her way up to the top, becoming a successful businesswoman and internationally renowned recording artist.
- The Rival: To Alexis.
- Sassy Black Woman: Downplayed, though when she has to deal with Alexis, she can bring the snark.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Again, with Alexis, and she's really adept at it.Alexis: "Dominique. Wasn't there a singing nun by that name?"Dominique Deveraux: "If there was, you'd better start praying to her."
- Token Minority: Of the Carrington clan, alongside her daughter Jackie.
- Wham Line: "Won't it just knock their socks off when they find out I'm a Carrington?"
- Your Son All Along: Eventually reveals to Garrett Boydston that he is her daughter Jackie's father, not a man she had an affair with.
Dex Dexter
Michael Nader as Dex Dexter.
Played By: Michael Nader (1983-89)
First appearance: "Dex" (1983)
Last series appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Final appearance: "Catch 22" (1989)
Alexis' Second Love and third husband, her longest relationship in-series, a businessman and CEO of Dexter International.
- Amicable Exes: Played with. His relationship with Alexis goes up and down throughout the series, but generally the two still care for one another in some way. Dex is generally protective of Alexis, such as the time she married Sean Rowan.. Oddly enough, he generally gets along fine with Alexis's decidedly not amicable ex Blake.
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: With Alexis and later Amanda.
- The Charmer: He's quite charming.
- Has a Type: Apparently, Carrington women (Alexis, Amanda, Leslie).
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Can be aggressive and rude, but otherwise he provides some moral foundation in the show.
- Kiss-Kiss-Slap: How his relationships frequently begin.
- May–December Romance: He's about a decade younger than Alexis, but they have a romance. He's also about two decades older than Amanda, whom he has an on/off affair with.
- Morality Pet: Sometimes, Dex acts like this to Alexis.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: No one calls him Farnsworth.
- Only Sane Man: Easily one of the most levelheaded characters on the show.
- Relationship Revolving Door: Again, with Alexis.
- Second Love: To Alexis.
- Uncertain Doom: Dex and Alexis fall off a balcony at the conclusion of season 9. It's revealed in the miniseries that Alexis survived but Dex was "not as fortunate". Whether Dex died or was injured is never made clear.
- Wicked Stepfather: Inverted. Adam's usually antagonistic towards him. He sleeps with Amanda, though has a love/hate relationship with her.
Dana Warring Carrington
Leann Hunley as Dana Warring.
Played By: Leann Hunley (1986-88)
First appearance: "Reward" (1986)
Last series appearance: "Broken Krystle" (1988)
Final appearance: "Broken Krystle" (1988)
Adam's wife, who turns out to have numerous secrets she's hiding from the Carringtons.
- Dark Secret: She was a classmate of Adam's (though he doesn't remember her in the present day) and they had sex in high school, resulting in her pregnancy. However, she had a botched abortion, which rendered her unable to have children.
- '80s Hair: She sports big hair.
- Law of Inverse Fertility: She wants to have a child with her husband Adam but due to an abortion in high school (ironically with Adam's child), she can't conceive anymore. So, she and Adam decide to get a surrogate, who promptly decides to keep the baby with her husband. This breaks up Adam and Dana's marriage for good.
- Nice Girl: Generally.
- Put on a Bus: At the start of season 9, after her marriage to Adam collapses.
- Second Love: To Adam.
- Sexy Secretary: Begins as an assistant to Blake and was quite beautiful.
Supporting characters
General tropes
- Advertised Extra: Downplayed. Given the opening titles usually credit guest stars in the credit regardless of how many episodes they actually appear, this is sometimes the effect.
- Arc Villain: Several of them.
Matthew Blaisdel
Played By: Bo Hopkins (1981, 1987)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
'''Last series appearance: "The Siege Part II" (1987)
Final appearance: "The Siege Part II" (1987)
Bo Hopkins as Matthew Blaisdel.
Claudia's first husband and Krystle's ex-lover. A major character in season 1. Seemingly killed offscreen in season 2, he returns as a two-episode villain in season 8.
- All Love Is Unrequited: He wants Krystle in season 8, though by this point, she's firmly in love with Blake unlike in season 1, where she nearly left him for Matthew.
- Betty and Veronica: Seemingly the Betty to Blake's Veronica, with Krystle being the Archie.
- He's the Veronica to Steven's Betty, with Claudia the Archie.
- Foil: To Blake. Matthew's middle class, where Blake is one of the wealthiest businessmen in the country. Both men love Krystle but treat her differently: Matthew's kind to Krystle but Blake is not always that to her. Additionally, where Blake is often a distrustful Crazy Jealous Guy, Matthew's more respectful of Krystle's decisions. Krystle even chooses to leave with Matthew in late season 1, but goes back to Blake when she learns of his arrest. It's telling that when Matthew returns in season 8, Krystle chooses her husband Blake because he now respects her as an individual rather than a simple trophy while Matthew wanted her for himself and ignored that she had changed in the six years since he had last seen her.
- Even their treatment of Steven varies in season 1: Blake hates the fact that Steven is gay and wants him to "change", while Matthew accepts it and defends Steven from homophobic co-workers.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He can be gruff and rude, but ultimately tries to be a good guy.
- Jerkass: He runs away with Lindsay after learning of Claudia's affair with Steven at Blake's murder trial, despite the fact that his wife had forgiven his infidelity and was comatose as a result of a car accident that resulted after the trial.
- Killed Off for Real: In season 2, Blake is informed that he died in a car accident with Lindsay in South America, though they Never Found the Body of either. It's subverted at the end of season 7, when it's revealed that Matthew's actually alive and is now taking the Carringtons hostage in order to get Krystle to get back with him. He's fatally stabbed by Steven to stop him from killing his family.
- Love Triangle: Two, within the same season. With Krystle and Claudia, and also with Claudia and Steven.
- Moral Myopia: When he has an affair with Krystle, he expects Claudia to give their marriage a try despite it. When Claudia has an affair with Steven, he leaves her and takes their daughter with him.
- Outliving One's Offspring: His daughter Lindsay died in the car accident.
- Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: His death in season 2? Yeah, didn't happen, as revealed in season 7.
- Rich Suitor, Poor Suitor: Matthew's the poor suitor to Blake's rich suitor.
- Sanity Slippage: Displays this upon his return in season 8.
- Shotgun Wedding: Married Claudia when she fell pregnant with Lindsay.
- Wham Shot: His return in the season 7 finale, having been assumed to be dead for about five years.
Lindsay Blaisdel
Played By: Katy Kurtzman (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Testimony" (1981)
Final appearance: "The Testimony" (1981)
Katy Kurtzman as Lindsay Blaisdel.
Claudia and Matthew's daughter.
- Bratty Teenage Daughter: In shades.
- Drama Queen: Lindsay's prone to melodrama.
- It's All About Me: One of her personality traits.
- Killed Off for Real / Killed Offscreen: In season 2, she and Matthew are declared dead in an accident in South America. As revealed in season 8, Matthew survived while Lindsay died from her injuries shortly afterwards.
- Satellite Character: To her parents.
- Teen Pregnancy: The result of one.
Michael Culhane
Played By: Wayne Northrop (1981, 1987)
First appearance: "Oil" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Sublet" (1987)
Final appearance: "The Sublet" (1987)
Wayne Northrop as Michael Culhane.
The Carrington family chauffeur and Fallon's on/off lover.
- The Bus Came Back: For a several-episode arc in season 7.
- The Casanova: Has relationships with Fallon and Amanda.
- Put on a Bus: Leaves the Carrington mansion between seasons 1 and 2 without telling Fallon.
- Servile Snarker: Occasionally makes snarky remarks about his boss Blake.
Nick Toscanni
Played By: James Farentino (1981-82)
First appearance: "Alexis' Secret" (1981)
Last series appearance: "The Cliff" (1982)
Final appearance: "The Cliff" (1982)
James Farentino as Nick Toscanni.
Blake's doctor who holds a grunge against him.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Nick appears to be a kind doctor, but actually is a manipulative revenge seeker who wants Blake dead because he believes he's responsible for the death of his brother.
- The Charmer: Nick's quite charming.
- Dark and Troubled Past: His younger brother, an employee of Denver-Carrington, was detained in the Middle East and jailed. When Blake didn't send any help for the man, he hanged himself in prison.
- Dr. Jerk: Played with. He's generally affable and even saves Claudia from a suicide attempt while also getting her treatment, but wants Krystle for himself, sleeps with Fallon, and wants Blake dead for his alleged responsibility in the death of his brother, who committed suicide in jail when Blake (his employer) didn't send help for him. Additionally, Nick arranges for Blake's infant grandson L.B. to be kidnapped.
- Hospital Hottie: He's a handsome doctor who appears to be a Chick Magnet.
- It's Personal: His brother died in a Middle Eastern prison by hanging himself when his employer Blake (allegedly) didn't send help for him.
- Jerkass: Just look at the spoilers for Dr. Jerk.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: He leaves town at the end of season 2 after leaving Blake for dead. What happened to him afterwards is never elaborated on.
Mark Jennings
Played By: Geoffrey Scott (1982-84)
First appearance: "Mark" (1982)
Last series appearance: "The Engagement" (1984)
Final appearance: "The Engagement" (1984)
Geoffrey Scott as Mark Jennings.
Krystle's first husband and Alexis' bodyguard/lover.
- Betty and Veronica: Krystle's the Archie, Blake's the Betty (comparatively), and Mark's the Veronica.
- The Charmer: Mark has this trait going for him.
- Killed Off for Real: He's pushed to his death from Alexis' apartment balcony in late season 4 by Congressman Neal McVane, who then frames Alexis for the murder.
- Middle Name Basis: His full name is Samuel Mark Jennings.
- Near-Rape Experience: Mark attempts to rape Krystle at one point, which damages their relationship even further.
- Oops! I Forgot I Was Married: Well, Mark knew that the marriage was still valid after he attempted to get it resolved in Mexico but did nothing to tell Krystle about it.
- Really Gets Around: He was married to Krystle and had affairs with Alexis and Fallon.
- Starter Marriage: Mark is Krystle's first husband who's initially reluctant to dissolve their marriage.
Tracy Kendall
Played By: Deborah Adair
Peter De Vilbis
Played By: Helmut Berger
First appearance: "Peter De Vilbis" (1983)
Final appearance: "The Vigil" (1984)
Helmut Berger as Peter De Vilbis.
Fallon's lover.- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Initially looking like a charismatic man, he's actually a con man, an adulterer, and a drug addict.
- The Charmer: Peter's charm is what draws women to him.
- Jerkass: He's not the nice guy he initially appears to be.
- Killed Offscreen: Peter and an unidentified woman (mistaken for Fallon) are killed in a plane crash a couple months after the former's last appearance on the show.
- Millionaire Playboy: What he appears to be.
Prince Michael of Moldavia
Played By: Michael Praed
First appearance: "The Ball" (1985)
Final appearance: "The Dismissal" (1986)
Michael Praed as Michael of Moldavia.
The crown prince of Moldavia, who romances and marries Amanda.- Antagonistic Offspring: Hates his father, Galen the King of Moldavia.
- The Charmer: Handsome and charming.
- Hunk: Quite attractive.
- Love Triangle: Briefly with Amanda and his ex, Elena. Later with Amanda and Dex.
- Missing Mom: His mother is absent from his life.
- Nobility Marries Money: He married Amanda at the end of season 5. It lasts a year.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Has the actor's British accent though his character's from an Eastern European country.
- Put on a Bus: Towards the end of season 6, he leaves Denver after it becomes clear to him that his marriage to Amanda is irreparably damaged.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: While his father Galen gets political asylum in Portugal, it's clear that Michael won't join him there because he dislikes the man. So, it's unclear what happened to Michael after his marriage to Amanda ends.
Daniel Reece
Played By: Rock Hudson
First appearance: "That Holiday Spirit" (1984)
Final appearance: "Sammy Jo" (1985)
Rock Hudson as Daniel Reece.
Krystle's former friend and Sammy Jo's father.- Killed Offscreen: Daniel's killed in a mission.
- The Lost Lenore: Iris Grant Dean, Sammy Jo's mother.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: He's the biological father of Sammy Jo.
- Millionaire Playboy: The image he projects, though is more moral than this image suggests.
- Settle for Sibling: Downplayed. The love of his life was Iris, but he also had feelings for Krystle. This isn't reciprocated.
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Dies shortly after connecting with his daughter and reuniting with his old friend.
- Walking Spoiler: Yes.
Lady Ashley Mitchell
Played By: Ali MacGraw
Rita Lesley
Played By: Linda Evans
Joel Abrigore
Played By: George Hamilton
Ben Carrington
Played By: Christopher Cazenove
First appearance: "Ben" (1986)
Final appearance: "Shadow Play" (1987)
Christopher Cazenove as Ben Carrington.
- Cain and Abel: In practice, at first, he's the Cain to Blake's Abel. In personality, he works more as the Abel than Blake does.
- Cain and Abel and Seth: Blake, Ben, and Dominique.
- Disappeared Dad: To his daughter Leslie, though they later reconcile.
- Long-Lost Relative: Wasn't as much as mentioned before season 6.
- Luke, I Might Be Your Father: Had an affair with Emily Fallmont, who confesses that her son Clay might be his.
- Not Even Bothering with the Accent: Has an English accent despite being American (who lived in Australia for 20 years, which makes it even more confusing).
- Revenge: Wants this on Blake. His ex-sister-in-law Alexis exploits this and both even succeed in this plan in the season 6 finale.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Went from wanting revenge on his brother, to being closer to him.
- The Unfavorite: Of his father's two sons because he's blamed for not being there when his ill mother was trapped in a house fire when he should've been watching her.
- We Used to Be Friends: Was quite close to his brother before their mother died. They gradually rekindle their friendship.
Caress Morell
Played By: Kate O'Mara
First appearance: "Suspicions" (1986)
Final appearance: "The Letter" (1986)
Kate O'Mara as Caress Morell.
Alexis' sister.- Blackmail: Did this to Emily Fallmont, indirectly causing her death. She regrets doing this, however.
- Cain and Abel: She views herself as the Abel to Alexis' Cain. It's somewhat debatable since both have traits associated with the Cain aspect of the trope.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Imprisoned in Venezuela for years because she took the blame for some unspecified involvement in the death of Zach Powers' wife and blames Alexis for it.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Despises her birth name Cassandra.
- Evil Brit: A revenge-minded woman who's also quite British. Downplayed in her later appearances.
- Foil: She's this to Ben Carrington. Both are the (comparatively) moral siblings to unscrupulous major characters. However, where Ben reconciles with Blake, Caress never really does with Alexis.
- The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry: She's always been competing with her sister.
- Long-Lost Relative: She's Alexis' sister.
- Meaningful Name: Her birth name is Cassandra and she believes herself to be telling the truth only to be shot down by everyone.
- Revenge: She's definitely Alexis' sister in this regard. She plans revenge against Alexis and later Ben Carrington.
- What Happened to the Mouse?: Despite the fact that her last appearance has her decide to leave Denver to get dirt on Ben Carrington, which could've led to a return storyline, she never appears again after "The Letter".
Leslie Saunders Carrington
Played By: Terri Garber
First appearance: "The Rig" (1987)
Final appearance: "Colorado Roulette" (1988)
Ben's daughter, Blake's niece.- Disappeared Dad: Her father was this to her during her childhood and early adulthood. They eventually reconciled.
Clay Fallmont
Played By: Ted McGinley
Sean Rowan
Played By: James Healey
A mysterious man who saves Alexis from an accident and whom she falls in love with.
- Revenge: He wants revenge on the Carrington clan, especially Alexis, for their treatment of his late father Anders and his sister Kirby.
Sable Scott Colby
Played By: Stephanie Beacham (1985, 1988-89)
First appearance: "The Titans" (1985)
Final appearance: "Catch-22" (1989)
Stephanie Beacham as Sable Scott Colby.
Alexis' cousin and Jeff's aunt.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Arguably to Caress. Both have rivalries with Alexis and both are relatives to her. However, it's a variation, because Sable was introduced before Caress and her relationship to Alexis wasn't established in her first appearance like Caress.
- Transplant: A variation. She's technically introduced on Dynasty in its Poorly Disguised Pilot in season 5 in order to reveal who would be the main cast of The Colbys. A season after that show was cancelled, Sable and her daughter Monica move to Dynasty for its final season.
