Todd Manning

Todd Manning

Thomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the American daytime drama One Life to Live. The role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. Todd was a college student and fraternity brother to Kevin Buchanan, Zach Rosen, and Powell Lord. In 1993, following a storyline in which he becomes acquainted with Marty Saybrooke, he initiates a gang rape on her with the help of Zach and Powell. The storyline was considered groundbreaking by television critics.

About Todd Manning in brief

Summary Todd ManningThomas Todd Manning is a fictional character from the American daytime drama One Life to Live. The role was originated in 1992 by actor Roger Howarth. Todd was a college student and fraternity brother to Kevin Buchanan, Zach Rosen, and Powell Lord. In 1993, following a storyline in which he becomes acquainted with Marty Saybrooke, he initiates a gang rape on her with the help of Zach and Powell. The storyline was considered groundbreaking by television critics. Howarth left the role in 2003; it was recast with Trevor St. John, physically altered by plastic surgery. After OLTL’s cancellation in 2012, Howarth brought Todd to General Hospital, but returned, along with St. John as Victor Jr., to the online version of OLTL in 2013. Todd has been the subject of numerous soap opera articles, feminist studies, and inspired the creation of a doll in his likeness. He has remained a popular and controversial figure since his creation, and is considered one of soap opera’s breakout characters. He is the product of an affair between his father, Victor Lord, and his mother, Irene Manning, which provided him a fortune and ties to other major characters, including his sisters, Tina and Victoria Lord. Although he formed many relationships, and fathered children, a defining characteristic of his personality was his resistance to close relationships and sexual intimacy. The drive to redeem Todd eventually drew Howarth, who always saw Todd as a villain, to leave the show for a year; he was uncomfortable with the redemption storyline and with many fans’ positive reactions to Todd.

The writers borrowed from nineteenth-century melodrama and Gothic traditions, and literature such as Frankenstein to develop Todd’s development. Todd’s appearance, most notably the scar on his right cheek, emerged as synonymous with him and served to remind him of his past misdeeds against Marty. Todd survives and hides at Llanview, Pennsylvania University’s football team, where he has a one-night stand with Marty. In hiding, he is discovered by Jealously van Roberts and Sarah Roberts. His new love interest, C.J. Roberts, is discovered when he jealously confronts new couple Rebecca and Powell van Roberts. After accidentally killing Suede Pruitt, Todd is shot by Bo; he falls into the Llantano River, presumed dead and is presumed dead. While in prison, he befriends Rebecca and attends counseling sessions to help him escape. He goes after Nora when he is stabbed in the chest with a pair of scissors by Officer Bo Buchanan, but he is rescued by Nora’s love interest. In 2011, it was disclosed Todd had been taken hostage and St. John’s version of the character was really Todd’s identical twin brother, VictorLord, Jr., conditioned to assume Todd’s place. The two fought, but Todd escapes and is found by Bo Buchanan and Rebecca van Roberts, who rescue him. In 2013, Todd escapes but is found dead at Lfairfair.