Type Fictional family Children Alexis Davis | Original run August 10, 1981— | |
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Address Wyndemere Castle, Spoon IslandPrivate Island in Greece Similar | ||
The Cassadines are a fictional aristocratic family from the American soap opera General Hospital. Created by executive producer Gloria Monty, the family was first introduced in August 1981, with the arrival of brothers Mikkos, Victor, and Tony Cassadine. The Cassadines are descendants of Russian royalty and own their own private island in Greece. Various family members have been sometime residents of Port Charles, living in Wyndemere Castle on Spoon Island. The family is known for their longtime feud with the Spencer family. After the family's initial appearance in 1981, they were absent from the series until the arrival of Stavros Cassadine in 1983. The Cassadine family owns and operates the international conglomerate Cassadine Industries, which is currently controlled by Nikolas Cassadine. The family is currently represented on canvas by Alexis, Valentin, Sam, Kristina, Molly, Danny and Charlotte.
Contents
- Background
- Traditions
- Family members
- Distant ancestors
- Ancestors
- First generation
- Second generation
- Third generation
- Fourth generation
- Other relations
- Cassadine Industries
- Subsidiaries
- Family tree
- References
Background
The Cassadines make their first appearance in the 1980s, when Mikkos Cassadine, the patriarch of the family, along with his brothers Victor and Tony, are involved in various nefarious plans, including the Ice Princess storyline, a plot to freeze the world using a weather machine. When Luke Spencer foils their plan, the great feud between the Spencers and Cassadines begins. Elizabeth Taylor originated the role of villain Helena Cassadine, Mikkos' wife, in this era. Her curse on Luke and Laura's wedding was watched by over 30 million viewers.
Traditions
The Cassadine title of "Prince" passes from eldest son to eldest son, and the authority that goes with it both symbolic and real. If a Cassadine Prince were to die without a male heir the title would die with him and the fortune he controlled would be scattered amongst the surviving family members. The current Cassadine Prince is Spencer Cassadine - though his great uncle Valentin now owns the family wealth.
A traditional masquerade ball thrown in honor of a Cassadine engagement.
Family members
Characters currently on the show are noted in bold; family members through marriage are in italics. Only current spouses or those married at the time of their death appear here.
Distant ancestors
Ancestors
First generation
Second generation
Third generation
Fourth generation
Other relations
Cassadine Industries
This wealthy, international conglomerate was founded by the Cassadines in the late 1970s as a front to cover for their dirty dealings. But the business took off, being controlled by Mikkos Cassadine, Stavros Cassadine, Helena Cassadine, and Nikolas Cassadine among others. Nikolas is currently in charge of the business. It is planned that when he becomes of age, Spencer Cassadine will take over. In December 2005, a single Cassadine Industries account was estimated to be worth $15 million at the time. As of May 2009, Cassadine Industries was estimated to be worth over $20 billion.
Subsidiaries
Family tree
Legend