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Scott Clifton to exit ABC’s “One Life to Live.”
Earlier today, Daytime Confidential’s Jamey Giddens tweeted cryptic hints alluding to the exit of an actor from ABC’s One Life to Live. Eventually he revealed the rumors were regarding Scott Clifton was leaving his role as Schulyer Joplin. Soap Opera Digest confirmed the rumors of the exit, as well as the actor himself. Just a few minutes a go, Clifton tweeted, “Hey guys, just want to let you know the rumors are true: I killed JFK. (Oh, wait, the OTHER rumor? Yeah that’s true too. OLTL let me go.)”
Clifton joined the cast of One Life to Live in 2009 in the role of Schuyler Joplin. Originally Brett Claywell (Kyle Lewis) cast as Schuyler, but after executives re-thought the role, Claywell was replaced with Clifton. For four years, Clifton starred as Dillon Quartermaine on ABC’s flagship soap General Hospital. Dillon, son of Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and Paul Hornsby (portrayed by Paul Satterfield), was an aspiring director and got himself him trouble from time to time. After departing the series in 2007, he made a brief return later in the year. Clifton’s work on General Hospital earned him three Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actor in 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Schuyler Joplin arrived in Llanview as a high school teacher at Llanview High and befriended Starr Manning (Kristen Alderson), daughter of Todd Manning (Trevor St. John), who had recruited Schuyler’s mother Dr. Leah Joplin (Maureen Mueller), Starr’s obstetrician to help him steal Starr’s baby. The plan went awry when Dr. Joplin tried to protect her career. When Jessica Buchanan’s (Bree Williamson) died from Rh disease and was switched with Starr’s healthy baby, Dr. Joplin believed she was at fault for the child’s death and committed suicide. Starr distraught with grief kissed Schuyler and tried to seduce the high school teacher. Starr’s boyfriend, Cole Thornhart (Brandon Buddy) reported Schuyler to the school board for trying to seduce a student and got him suspended from his teaching job. Schuyler gets mixed up with his ex-girlfriend Stacy Morasco (Crystal Hunt) when she comes to town wanting to steal her sister, Gigi’s (Farah Fath) boyfriend, Rex Balsom (John Paul Lavoisier). Schuyler teams up with Gigi to turn the tables on Stacy, but he ends up falling for Gigi in the process. Stacy discovers she is pregnant by Rex, loses the baby after an altercation with Gigi. She drugs Schuyler with the intention of having sex with him to get pregnant so she can keep Rex. Only after seducing Oliver Fish (Scott Evans) does she discover she is pregnant but tells Schuyler it’s his baby so he will help her in her plans to keep Rex. The plan was beneficial to both Stacy and Schuyler, who wanted to keep Gigi for himself.
Later, it is revealed that Rex is the son of Mitch Laurence, who decides to kidnap Stacy and to raise her baby as his heir. Stacy reveals to Mitch the baby is not Rex’s but Schuyler’s and he abandons her in a blizzard atop of Llanview Mountain. Gigi stumbles upon Stacy in labor and they find a cabin so Stacy can deliver her baby. Gigi helps her sister deliver the baby, but Gigi believes the baby is in distress and decides to take the baby to the hospital, leaving Stacy at the cabin. Stacy leaves the cabin trying to find her way back to civilization and falls through the frozen lake. Despite rescue efforts by Rex and Schuyler, and it is presumed Stacy drowns below the ice. With Sierra Rose now motherless, Gigi learns the truth about her parentage from Schuyler at the hospital. Gigi decides she will fight for custody of her sister’s baby, but Schuyler believing the baby is his, will be fighting for custody as well. Stacy’s best friend, Kim (Amanda Setton) has intentions to do all she can to protect her friend’s baby and makes arrangements to fight for custody. All the while, the real father of the baby, Oliver Fish, decides it’s in the child’s best interests he not reveal the truth, against the wishes of his boyfriend, Kyle Lewis (Brett Claywell).
Though specific information regarding the actor’s exit is uknown at press time, it’s safe to say Clifton made a good impression while working at OLTL. Executive producer Frank Valentini spoke highly of the actor to SOD, “I loved working with Scott Clifton and he is a true gentleman.”
Clifton additionally tweets, “Had a blast working on the show, with a KILLER conclusion. I really hope you guys keep watching ’cause I did some work I’m really proud of.” Questions from fans regarding a possible return to General Hospital sparked a reply from Clifton by saying, “So, a lot of questions about returning to GH as ‘Dillon.’ I honestly think that’s up to them, but I’d be open to it. They’re like family. Otherwise, it’s gonna be about going back to my roots: Move to LA and audition my ass off. That’s where it’s at, man. Life’s a gamble.”
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