Mark Elliott is a fictional character in the American soap opera, Love is a Many Splendored Thing. Numerous actors played him during the run of the show: Sam Wade, David Birney, Michael Hawkins, Vince Cannon, Tom Fuccello.
Torn Between Two Sisters
Mark was the son of Philip and Helen Elliott. He was a very successful architect in San Francisco, California. He was named for his late uncle, former war correspondent and war veteran, Mark Elliott. He was also close to his Amerasian cousin, Mia.
However, he was the target of a battle between two sisters. He was engaged to Iris Donnelly, but his overachieving mother did not necessarily like Iris. She would prefer that he date Iris' sister, former nun, Laura Donnelly instead. Mark broke off his engagement to Iris, and married Laura, to his mother's delight.
Later on, Mark's mother, Helen, after the death of his father, Phil, married Laura's brother, Tom Donnelly, a police officer in San Francisco.
Despite his marriage to Laura, Iris wasn't far from his mind. Even when she met and married politician, Spencer Garrison, he still loved her. However, he made a major blunder, when he mistook Iris for his wife, Laura, and impregnated her. This strained the relationship between the two sisters. However, Iris, out of love and loyalty for her sister, insisted that he make the marriage work for her sake.
Mark and Laura remained married. After the birth of Iris's daughter Maggie, and a failed attempt by Laura to gain custody, the Elliotts adopted another child.