Paul Williams (The Young and the Restless)
Paul Williams | |||||||||||||
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The Young and the Restless character | |||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Doug Davidson | ||||||||||||
Duration | 1978–2020 | ||||||||||||
First appearance | May 23, 1978 | ||||||||||||
Last appearance | November 19, 2020 | ||||||||||||
Classification | Past; recurring | ||||||||||||
Introduced by | William J. Bell | ||||||||||||
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Paul Williams is a fictional character on the American
The character's most prominent love story occurred when he married attorney
Davidson's performance of Paul has garnered him acclaim from both critics and audiences, and he has emerged as one of the soap opera genre's most popular actors. Davidson's high
Casting
Doug Davidson joined the cast of the show on May 15, 1978; the episode aired on May 23, 1978.
By May 2002, the actor had appeared in over 3,600 episodes of the daytime drama.[10] Reflecting on the "unique demands" of the soap-opera genre, Davidson said: "You must see each day as fresh, but it's also dangerous to invest too much because you do have to come back tomorrow. It's not the Super Bowl every day."[11] In September 2018, Davidson was bumped to recurring status. Davidson hasn’t appeared on Y&R since November 19, 2020.[12]
Storylines
The character Paul Williams was born in May 1960, the son of police detective Carl Williams (Brett Hadley) and
Paul begins dating close friend,
Paul becomes involved with his friend George Rawlins' (Jonathon Farwell) wife Cassandra (
Christine still loves Danny; his mistress
Paul closes his investigative company and begins a partnership with Christine, hiring fledgling PI
He reconciles with first love Nikki, and they become engaged. She then breaks up with Paul, unable to move past her feelings for ex-husband Victor. Paul investigates a businesswoman, Mary Jane Benson, only to discover that she is his unstable sister Patty. Patty goes on a crime spree, poisoning Nikki and Victor's granddaughter Summer Newman (Haley King), kidnapping Colleen Carlton (Tammin Sursok)—who eventually drowns—and shooting Victor three times before escaping. Paul tracks down Nikki, and brings her back to town to help Victor recover.
Patty is found and sent to a mental institution, where Paul visits her regularly. He begins dating Christine's former best friend,
Character development
Portrayal
I think at this juncture, it’s hard to separate. Pretty much my entire adult life I spent on this show, and from arriving at my early 20s and until now, there is a separation between Paul and Doug, but it’s pretty blurred. There’s certain things that I just innately know, like how he’d react to things. It’s hard to, after so many years, it’s truly hard to separate the two.[13]
—Davidson, on distinguishing himself from Paul
Relationships
Paul has had several unsuccessful relationships, and has been described as "often luckless in love".
Paul had a "strong interest" in Cindy Lake (DeAnna Robbins), a prostitute with whom he fell in love. Before their scheduled marriage, Cindy took a bullet for Paul and died.[18] He later fell for a "mysterious" woman, Cassandra Rawlins (Nina Arvesen), the wife of Paul's client George Rawlins (Jonathan Farwell). George was shot through the heart and killed, and Paul was a suspect in his death;[24] The actor credited the Cassandra-and-George storyline with significantly changing Paul's character, telling the Orlando Sentinel: "It was a tremendous story. Until then I was the younger leading man, and this was really a departure for me."[25] He previously described it as his "first adult storyline", in which Bell transformed Paul "from a juvenile lead into a lead male".[26] The actor told BuddyTV it is his favorite storyline: "I usually claim that the most exciting story for me was Cassandra’s storyline, simply because it was the transition from Paul as a young man to an adult."[13]
For years Paul has been romantically involved with Christine Blair, played by Lauralee Bell (daughter of the show's creator, William J. Bell).[27][28] In 2013, the couple were married for a second time during the memorial service for their friend Katherine Chancellor (Jeanne Cooper). Davidson felt that the couple never fell out of love, although they were driven apart by characters such as Isabella Braña (Eva Longoria) and Michael Baldwin (Christian LeBlanc). The actor said, "The fact that they have such a strong foundation and relationship beyond husband and wife, is the reason it’s probably going to last forever."[27]
As a teenager Paul dated Nikki Reed (Melody Thomas Scott), and they remained friends for thirty years.[18] In November 2008, Paul and Nikki slept together. Davidson described their reunion as "love in the purest sense": "They've been friends for 30 years and are supporting each other in the most intimate way possible. They do not judge the rightness or wrongness of their actions, nor do they want to tell anyone about it. They know their kids probably won't understand."[29] He also said, "It was the other end of the trail and I don’t think for Paul, at this juncture, was the love of Nikki’s life, nor was Nikki the love of Paul’s."[30] In 2010 the show explored a romance between Paul and Christine's best friend, Nina Webster (Tricia Cast).[30] Cast has praised the couple's storyline for not being "overly dramatic" and more "normal": "Paul and Nina are less exciting—and I like that. There are no shenanigans ...it’s kind of like a real relationship."[31] However, it yielded to Paul and Christine's ongoing affinity.[27]
Isabella and Ricky
In 2001 Paul cheated on his wife Christine with the mentally unstable Isabella Braña (Eva Longoria), impregnating her.[32][33] The writers had introduced Isabella as a love interest (and eventual spouse) for him when the pregnant Lauralee Bell was written out of the show.[33] During her two years as a character Isabella developed an obsession with Paul, faked her death (framing Christine) and tried to kill Christine. She was committed to a mental institution, where she remains.[33] Michael Logan of TV Guide called Isabella a "nutjob" who made Christine's life a "living hell",[34] and the National Post called Isabella "evil".[35] Of the show not reintroducing Paul and Isabella's son Ricky, Davidson said at the time: "It’s hard to bring something like that up without delving deeper. I always make the assumption that I am communicating with him offscreen."[36]
In 2011 it was announced that Pete Porte would play Paul and Isabella's
Viewer suspicions were confirmed when Ricky turned out to be a psychotic like his mother,[39] acting strangely and tormenting Paul. Davidson described the discovery that Paul had a "psycho son" as painful: "You feel it in your heart, and it’s supported by the things you discover with logic. It’s hard to ignore when people are disappearing or dropping dead".[38] One night, Paul arrived at Ricky's place and found his son holding a knife to Eden Baldwin's (Jessica Heap) throat. Paul pulled out a gun, threatened to shoot Ricky and did so, killing his son. Moments before, Ricky had confessed his crimes to Paul (including murdering his former girlfriend).[38][40] Jillian Bowe of Zap2it asked of the guilt-ridden Paul: "Will this lead him to the brink?"[40] During an interview with On-Air On-Soaps, Davidson said that preparing for the scene where Paul kills his son made him nervous[38] and the storyline was described as one of Paul's toughest yet.[41] About what would happen to Paul after Ricky's death, Davidson felt that it would be "incredibly hard" for the character to come to terms with what happened: "It would be a dark place for the rest of Paul’s life when he thinks of Ricky. It’s like a war veteran. It’s like a part of your life that you have to deal with and go on."[38]
Reception
Davidson's portrayal of Paul has made him one of daytime television's most popular actors in the U.S. He has had a high Q Score, making him a desirable daytime-drama performer. The score is based on "talent, familiarity and likability".[10] Michael Logan of TV Guide has called Davidson "one of daytime's best yet most underrated actors" for his 30-year portrayal of Paul.[29] The Toronto Star has called him "one of soapdom's favorite pin-ups",[42] with Lilana Novakovich calling the actor "one of daytime television's most popular stars".[43] The authors of The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama (1992) have called Williams "one of daytime's leading stars".[44] After ten years on the show he was described as a "veteran" by John Goudas of The Gadsden Times, who noted Davidson's "very large fan following".[5] The Washington Times described Paul as a "hero" to the audience.[45] Donna Gable of USA Today called him "daytime's consummate good guy".[46] When Davidson celebrated thirty years on the show, "Melodie" wrote on Zap2it: "Paul's journey from teenage bad boy to resident hero has been an interesting one and I sure hope we see 30 more years from Doug".[47]
Paul's long-term romance with Lauren Fenmore was disliked by fans during the 1980s. John Goudas of the TimesDaily noted that viewers had wanted Paul to dump Lauren for three years,[19] but by the early 1990s fans wanted the couple back together.[43] Discussing a storyline in which a "loyal and protective" Paul dealt with his sister Patty's dementia, Tommy Garrett of Canyon News called Davidson's performance "strong" and "overpowering" yet "understated": "...each week for the past three decades we wonder how he does it so well".[48] In a separate article, Garrett called Davidson "one of the most popular and beloved actors in television history".[16] Michael Fairman of On-Air On-Soaps praised the actor: "Doug is that dependable performer who can make us smile or break us down in tears."[38] TVSource said, "Through the years we've seen Paul at his best and at his worst, but the one constant has always been the raw honesty and conviction in Davidson’s portrayal".[30]
The storyline in which Peter Porte joined the show as Paul's psychotic son Ricky was praised. Adam Hughes of Yahoo! described the possibilities stemming from his return: "Ricky will undoubtedly open up many old wounds and many new story line possibilities. Will he angrily confront Paul? Will Isabella manage to return home, as well, to see her big boy?"[49] After Paul was forced to shoot (and kill) Ricky, Michael Logan of TV Guide wrote that "the actor tackled his toughest story yet when his character unintentionally killed his own son and nearly went to the slammer. Davidson's performance was so beautiful and poignant it made our souls ache".[41] Zap2it placed Davidson on a list of "Top 10 Male Entertainers" by the end of 2012: "For the better part of a decade, daytime's best male crier, Doug Davidson rode the bench on The Young and the Restless. This was strange, since his popular, P.I. character Paul Williams had previously and consistently driven story on the soap throughout the late 70s, 80s, 90s and early 00s". The website was pleased with Paul's new storylines, saying that the "harrowing image" before Paul shot and killed his son "will stay with us for a while".[50] Dave Masko of the website Huliq called "turning the character of Paul from a mainstay on the series for 30 years, into someone who murders his own son" one of the stops pulled out by The Young and the Restless to boost "slipping" ratings.[51]
For his work on The Young and the Restless, Davidson has been awarded three
In 2012, Paul was named by writers from
He doesn't have the biggest front-burner storylines, yet he always proves to be a character that gets viewers talking. This year was no exception. Whether dealing with Patty, in shock and anguish over shooting his own son, or reuniting with a past love, Paul can be counted on to bring a one-two punch of genuine emotion to each and every scene he is in – it's astounding how Doug Davidson never fails to deliver. Perhaps not the choice one would expect for best use of a character, given that he's not a lead, but he deserves to be recognized.[63]
In 2022, Charlie Mason from the same website placed Paul seventh on his list of the best 25 characters from The Young and the Restless, commenting "There's a good reason that everyone from Eric Braeden (Victor) to, um, the entire audience is always calling for Doug Davidson to get more screentime — and it ain't just nostalgia: We all watched the Emmy winner grow up as Paul, a beach bum — emphasis on the "bum"! — who became the kind of do-right guy that any man would want to be and any woman would want to have."[64]
References
- ^ Davidson taped his first scenes on May 15, 1978; his first airdate was on May 23, 1978.
- ^ Global Regina. Shaw Media. July 22, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ American Media, Inc.Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- Penske Business Media. September 2, 1993. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Goudas, John (August 6, 1989). "Fans dig Doug Davidson". The Gadsden Times. Halifax Media Group. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
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- ^ "Soap Opera Scene". Boca Raton News. Robert and Lora Britt. September 4, 1981. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ISSN 1085-6706.
- ^ Carter, Alan (October 8, 1993). "The Price is Right's New Soap Star Host". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ a b "SoapNet Brings the Only Live Daytime Emmy Preview Show From the Red Carpet; CBS Daytime Stars Doug Davidson And Lesli Kay To Host". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. May 8, 2002. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Bellman, Annmaree (June 14, 2007). "Restless, yes, but staying put". The Age. Fairfax Digital. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- Daytime Confidential. United States: Confidential Media, Inc. (SAY Media). Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ a b "Exclusive Interview: Doug Davidson, from 'The Young and the Restless'". BuddyTV. July 31, 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ a b "A Day In the Life of Doug Davidson". CBS News. CBS Interactive, Inc. February 11, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ISSN 0319-0781.
- ^ a b Garrett, Tommy (May 2, 2010). "Hollywood's Most Handsome Men, Part V". Canyon News. (Glen Kelly). Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon October 20, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ ISSN 0744-8139. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ a b Goudas, John (May 15, 1987). "'Restless' Doug Davidson needs fresh face to love". TimesDaily. Tennessee Valley Printing Co., Inc. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
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- ^ Garrett, Tommy (October 2, 2010). "Tracey Bregman Recht, Television Superstar". Canyon News. Glen Kelly. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
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- ^ "Former soap star at IWU". The Pantagraph. Lee Enterprises. May 14, 1992. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- Tribune Company. Retrieved September 11, 2013.
- ^ "Soaps.com Chats with The Young and the Restless' Doug Davidson". She Knows Soaps. Atomic Online. June 7, 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
- ^ a b c "The Lauralee Bell and Doug Davidson Interview – The Young and the Restless". On-Air On-Soaps. Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon 3 November 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c "32 Years and Still Restless, An Interview with Doug Davidson". TVSource. SoSource Media LLC. June 21, 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ "Y&R's Tricia Cast Talks Nina's Relationship with Paul, Maria Arena Bell's Storytelling & If A Return To Playing Bad Is In the Cards!". On-Air On-Soaps. Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. October 26, 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- Cowles Publishing Company. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ Govani, Shinan (September 27, 2010). "Shinan: Scents & sensitivity". National Post. Postmedia Network, Inc. Archived from the original on September 10, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon November 3, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- American Media, Inc.August 15, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Fairman, Michael (July 22, 2012). "The Doug Davidson Interview – The Young and the Restless". On-Air On-Soaps. Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ "On-Air On-Soaps Names The Best and Worst Of 2012!". On-Air On-Soaps. Michael Fairman Soaps, Inc. December 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
- ^ CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
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- ^ ISSN 0319-0781.
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- ISSN 0732-8494. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ISSN 0734-7456.
- Tribune Media Services. Archived from the originalon November 4, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ Garrett, Tommy (January 10, 2010). "Leading Men, Fighting Knights". Canyon News. Glen Kelly. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
- ^ Hughes, Adam (August 25, 2011). "Peter Porte Coming to 'The Young and the Restless' as Mature Ricky Williams". Yahoo!. Yahoo! Inc. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ "DC's Top 10 Male Entertainers of 2012". Zap2it. Tribune Media Services. December 31, 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ Masko, Dave (July 3, 2012). "Eva Longoria may return to daytime TV role on the Young and the Restless". Huliq.com. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- Internet Movie Database. February 4, 1993. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- Internet Movie Database. February 4, 1993. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1990". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 11 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1991". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 19 July 2004. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ^ "The Soap Opera Digest Awards: 1992". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. 11 April 2003. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
- ^ "'General Hospital' wins Soap Opera awards". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. March 1, 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- Gannett Company. March 12, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.)
{{cite journal}}
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ignored (help - ^ "The 37th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "The 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 1, 2014. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ Goodacre, Kate (June 17, 2013). "Daytime Emmy Awards 2013: The winners and nominees in full". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
- ^ "The 38th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- Soaps She Knows. SHE Media. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- She Media. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
External links
- Paul Williams at Soap Central
- Paul Williams at She Knows Soaps