Dynasty: Go Behind The Scenes Of This Rule-Breaking Soap

After an era like the 1970s, the '80s seemed to be a decade hell-bent on breaking more rules…but also having a little bit more silly fun. Dynasty was the perfect nighttime soap to accomplish both of those goals by showcasing obnoxiously wealthy people that flaunted their oil business money and power, much more overtly and with more campiness, than the Ewings of Dallas fame. Join us as we take a look back on the hit series, as well as some interesting behind-the-scenes facts, and where the cast of Dynasty is today.

Dynasty Entertained Millions

From 1981 to 1989, Dynasty entertained millions with the story of Blake Carrington, the haughty patriarch; Krystle, his cliché bleached blonde secretary who became his wife; his children: Adam, who was kidnapped as a child and suddenly resurfaces, Fallon, sassy, pampered and spoiled rotten; Steven, openly gay and predictably tormented (it was a different time); and Amanda, concealed from Blake by his ex-wife, the shrewd and cunning Alexis.

The heart of the series focused on the struggles between two large corporations, Blake's Denver Carrington and Alexis' ColbyCo. Read on to learn some about interesting and fun backstage stories from the popular TV series. Wait'll you hear the sad story about Rock Hudson.

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Al Corlyey Was The First Openly Gay Character

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Al Corley played Steve Carrington in Dynasty. The Kansas-born actor was excited to land the role on the up and coming series, but he was even more excited and proud about playing the first openly gay main character in a prime-time drama.

He didn't stick around for long though and made a fast exit though when Dynasty producers kowtowed to the network's insistence that his character, Steven, would be "cured" of his homosexuality. Jack Coleman was hired as his replacement although…

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He Got a New Face

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Jack Coleman took over the role of Steve Carrington when Al Corley left. There was one big problem though — the actor looked nothing like Corley. To explain this phenomenon, the story was that Steven was the victim of an oil rig fire and his burns were so severe he had to have extensive plastic surgery. Of course. And apparently, the surgeons couldn't locate a snapshot of the guy's former face to help them along.

Despite the difference in appearance, Coleman was well-received by fans and he remained on the series until the end of the eighth season in 1988.

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Yugoslavians Loved Dynasty

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It's always interesting when a television series or movie does well in a seemingly random country. Dynasty was no different and proved that it had fans around the world.

Not long before Dynasty went off the air for good, it started being broadcast from the beginning in Yugoslavia. The nighttime drama was the most popular show in the country. When it was broadcast every Monday night at 9 p.m., fans flocked to their televisions and the streets were allegedly empty.

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The Bosses on Set Were Bullies

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It's long been rumored that high-ranking crew members on Dynasty weren't exactly friendly or respectful to the cast on the Dynasty set. Lee Bergere was known for playing Joseph Anders on Dynasty and was reportedly fired after he simply asked if his character could possibly get a little more screen time.

Catherine Oxenberg who played Amanda Carrington was allegedly fired over a simple contract dispute. Talk about a hostile work environment!

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Forsythe Was OK With Blackmail But Not Adultery

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The script written for the second half of season seven had Blake Carrington suffering from amnesia and falling in love with Alexis Carrington Colby, his former wife. But the scene didn't go off without a hitch.

According to the cast and crew, John Forsythe refused to be part of any plot involving adultery. When you consider that his character regularly lied to, stole from, cheated, and blackmailed people all the time, his hypocrisy was pretty laughable!

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There Was a Fake Alexis In Season One

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Joan Collins is known for her iconic role Alexis Collins in Dynasty. But the actress wasn't cast as Alexis until after the first season ended and she wasn't around to film the dramatic cliffhanger.

To make due without her on set, when her character was introduced, a friend of the producers played the part. The friend of the producer wore a super wide-brimmed hat, dark sunglasses, and a veil that concealed most of her face.

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Everyone Wanted Heather Locklear

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A decade before Heather Locklear starred in the trendy (and slightly trashy) 90210 as mean girl Amanda, she appeared as a regular in season two of Dynasty. The producers allowed Locklear to concurrently star in T.J. Hooker and continue to appear on Dynasty, which she returned to as a regular in season six.

Her role in Dynasty was the actress's big break and opened the door for her to appear on a slew of other TV series and films. She starred in Melrose Place throughout the '90s and received four consecutive Golden Globe nominations for her work.

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Friends In High Places...Only Help Sometimes

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Jon-Erik Hexum starred with Joan Collins in Making of a Male Model but that didn't help him on Dynasty. He lost the role of Dex Dexter to Michael Nader. But John Forsythe was friends with Linda Evans's family ever since she was a teenager and they met while he was starring in Bachelor Father.

Today Michael Nader is still best-known for his role in Dynasty. He appeared in the series from 1983 through 1989 before branching out and starring in a few made-for-TV movies.

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Dominique Deveraux Was Almost a Widow

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As the character with the most outlandish name, Dominique Deveraux's identity was apparently difficult to nail down. Before the writers decided that she would be the daughter of Blake's father Tom Carrington and his longtime mistress was chosen, they considered billing her as Cecil Colby's real widow and Kirby Ander's long-lost mother. She became one of the most memorable characters on the show.

Dominique Deveraux was played by actress Millie Cox. She made her Dynasty debut in episode 87 and was featured in the series from 1984 through 1987. Following Dynasty, Cox appeared in the series' spin-off, The Colbys.

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Alexis Was Modeled After JR from "Dallas"

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When Collins got wind of the fact that Alexis' character was being written as a low-key passive-aggressive witch, she proposed to the writers that she be more of a mirror image of "Dallas" villain JR. They agreed and made her Denver character as clever, underhanded, vindictive, evil, conniving, and heartless as her male counterpart on "Dallas."

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Alexis and Krystle's Rumored Rifts

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Since Alexis and Krystle were always at each other's throats on "Dynasty" – sometimes literally – the tabloids always featured them arguing, facing off, and throwing shade on each other. Truth be told, those two were friendly off set; it was Collins and Forsythe who did not get along, which surely added to their confrontations on the show.

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Linda Evans Almost Didn't Make It

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Before Joan Collins was so perfectly cast in the role of her life, Sophia Loren, Elizabeth Taylor, and Raquel Welch were all considered to play the role of Alexis. Angie Dickinson was offered the role of Krystle Carrington before Linda Evans landed the part. She also had a male friend with long blond locks who served as her stand-in when the show was filmed.

 

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"Dynasty" Was Rock Hudson's Last Acting Job

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Mega movie star Rock Hudson's role as Daniel Reese on "Dynasty" from December 1984 to April 1985 was his final acting role. Hudson died from complications of AIDS on October 2, 1985. But his part also caused an uproar worldwide because of his illness. In the mid-80s, very little was known about AIDS so…

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AIDS From Kissing?

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When "Dynasty" was on the air, many believed AIDS was easily transmissible by casual contact. When Hudson and Evans shared a single kiss, a minor panic erupted about her "catching" AIDS, a misconception that fanned the fires of terror worldwide when the National Enquirer tabloid published a picture of the two actors in a lip-lock.

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The Jewelry on "Dynasty" Was Fake

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"Dynasty" was almost as famous for its flashy jewelry as its cat fights. But when legendary jewelers such as Tiffany, Harry Winston or Edwar of Beverly Hills failed to lend their creations to the actresses, "Dynasty" costume designer Nolan Miller created fake jewelry so realistic no one knew the difference.

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The Parkhursts and the Corbys

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In the premiere scripts penned for "Dynasty," the two main families on the show were called the Parkhursts and the Corbys instead of the Carringtons and the Colbys. And Alexis was originally named Madeleine. Krystle and Blake Parkhurst? Madeleine Corby? No, those names just don't roll off the tongue right.

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Diahnn Carroll Was Cut By The Budget

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Diahann Carroll was all set to make some cameos as Dominique Deveraux during season eight, but budget problems nixed her return. Word on the street was she would rejoin the regular cast in that role during season ten but "Dynasty" was canceled after the ninth season. Guess it was time to go…and appear in another 40+ TV shows and movies.

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Hide the Baby Bumps

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Creativity and technology now make hiding actresses' pregnancies fairly easy. But back in the '80s, producers repeatedly failed to successfully hide Pamela Bellwood's real-life pregnancy during season 6. Bellwood also missed five episodes in the same season after she gave birth. Seems it would've been easier just to make her character pregnant on the show.

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"Dynasty" Actors Were Fashion Mavens

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"Dallas" had a lot of bells and whistles "Dynasty" never had, but when it came to fashion, "Dynasty" was the winner, hands down. Both Linda Evans and Joan Collins successfully launched their own trendy fashion lines that graced magazine covers around the world, including the memorable glitzy power suits and hefty shoulder pads.

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John Forsythe Is a Buzz Kill

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Most "Dynasty" fans savored every moment of the show from its debut to its finale – even the horrible story line in Moldavia. But John Forsythe said in an "Archive of American Television" interview that while the first couple of seasons of "Dynasty" were good, he felt by the final season that most of the shows were bad.

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A Guilty Pleasure

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In 2005, a made-for-television movie about the series aired on ABC. Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure provided a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s production. The film received mixed reviews, with leads Linda Evans, John Forsythe, and Joan Collins each issuing their own critical press releases.

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Casting the Made-for-TV Version

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Several of the stars in Dynasty: The Making of a Guilty Pleasure were Australian (the movie was primarily produced in Australia). Casting included Nicholas Hammond as Aaron Spelling, Pamela Reed as Esther Shapiro, Alice Krige as Joan Collins, and Bartholomew John as John Forsythe (Blake Carrington).

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The Colbys

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"Dynasty" received a spin-off, in the form of "The Colbys." Originally called "Dynasty II: The Colbys," the series was also produced by Aaron Spelling. Despite an all-star cast (Barbara Stanwyck, Charlton Heston, and Ricardo Montalban) and similar premise to "Dynasty," the show did not do well and lasted only two seasons.

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Extended Dynasty

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The spin-off show follows the Colby family to Los Angeles, California. Wealth, intrigue, scandalous love triangles, and bizarre family storylines featured prominently in the series. Several cast members of the original "Dynasty" guest-starred on "The Colbys," including Diahann Carroll, Gordon Thomson, and Jack Coleman.

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High Praise

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“Dynasty” was produced by the legendary Aaron Spelling. In his last interview about the show, he had high praise for Joan Collins’ performance as Alexis Carrington. "We didn't write Joan Collins. She played Joan Collins,” he said. “Am I right? We wrote a character, but the character could have been played by 50 people and 49 of them would have failed. She made it work." Her co-stars and other show executives agree that Collins was an essential component of the show’s success.

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A Famous Dame

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In 2015, 81-year-old Joan Collins was rewarded for her charitable work when Queen Elizabeth II made her a Dame. Other celebrities named to Damehood include Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench, Angela Lansbury, Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Andrews, and Maggie Smith. The day prior to receiving the honor, Collins tweeted “Only one more day before my investiture as Dame ! I'm super excited.”

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A Sad Secret

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Joan Collins’ younger sister, Jacqueline "Jackie" Collins, was the prolific New York Times bestselling author of romance novels. More than 500 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide. Jackie was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer but kept the news a secret from Joan for six years, only notifying her sister two weeks before her 2015 death.

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The Simpsons

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Joan Collins is frequently referenced in pop culture. One episode of the long-running cartoon "The Simpsons" humorously lampooned Collins because of the hypersexual characters she’s long portrayed as well as her candidness regarding personal conquests. In the episode, two radio DJs are reporting a traffic snarl.

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DJ 1: “Oh no, it seems someone has left a used mattress on the road.”

DJ 2: “Joan Collins must be in town!”

Homer: “Ahahah, that girl sleeps with everybody”

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Heather Locklear, Now

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After "Dynasty," Heather Locklear went on to star as Amanda Woodward on the television drama “Melrose Place.” She also appeared in films such as Money Talks and The Perfect Man. Locklear has experienced some upsetting personal problems, including a 2008 stay in a mental hospital for psychological problems, a DUI charge, and erratic behavior in public recently.

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You Know His Voice

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John Forsythe, who played patriarch Blake Carrington, also performed the voice of the never-seen millionaire Charles Townsend on the hit television show “Charlie’s Angels.” He stepped back into the role for the later film versions: 2000’s Charlie's Angels and and its 2003 sequel Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle.

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Presidential Ties

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In the 1950s, John Forsythe starred as another wealthy gentleman on television. In the sitcom “Bachelor Father,” he played a single man charged with raising his niece after she was orphaned. The actress who portrayed the niece, Noreen Corcoran, was referred for the part by none other than future president Ronald Reagan, then an actor himself.

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Equestrian At Heart

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John Forsythe was a fan of Thoroughbred horse racing and hosted the annual Eclipse Awards during the 1980s. Award categories for the equestrian honors include Outstanding Breeder, Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse, and American Champion Female Turf Horse. Forsythe also served on the Board of Directors of Hollywood Park Racetrack.

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Remembering John Forsythe

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Sadly, Forsythe passed away in April of 2010, from pneumonia. He was 92 when he died. In a 1981 interview, he said “I figure there are a few actors like Marlon Brando, George C. Scott and Laurence Olivier who have been touched by the hand of God. I’m in the next bunch.”

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Catfights, Indeed

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In 2006, several original cast members returned to television for "Dynasty Reunion: Catfights & Caviar." Directed by Michael Dempsey, the special was deemed a "freak show" by the New York Times, which published a blistering critique of the leading ladies' physical appearances: "elderly women hoping that in the right light, with the right hairpiece and strategic tuck, they do not look as if they were falling to bits."

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The Lovely Linda Evans

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Born Linda Evenstad, Evans changed her last name when she decided to pursue a career in acting. In 1960, she guest-starred on an episode of the sitcom “Bachelor Father” alongside John Forsythe. Two decades later, they played husband and wife Blake and Krystle Carrington on “Dynasty.”

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A Woman of Many Talents

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Evans left "Dynasty" shortly before it went off the air, and although she made a few television appearances afterward, dedicated most of her time to operating a chain of fitness centers. In 1983, she penned the book Linda Evans Beauty and Exercise. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Diahann Carroll

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Known to "Dynasty" fans as Dominique Deveraux, Diahann Carroll has led a long and successful career since the show ended. Carroll has made appearances in "A Different World," "Grey's Anatomy," and "White Collar." She was the first African American to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.

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Groundbreaking Work

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Diahann Carroll's performance in the series "Julia" broke many conventions, as she portrayed one of the first professional and well-educated African American characters to appear on television. “There was nothing like this young successful mother on the air. And we thought that it might be a very good stepping stone, ”said Carroll in a later interview.

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Al Corley

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Al Corley, the first actor in Steven Carrington's role, reappeared in character for the 1991 TV miniseries “Dynasty: The Reunion.” Corley also had a singing career, with his song “Square Rooms” becoming a number one hit in France. After a brief romance with Carly Simon, Corley married Jessika Cardinahl. They have three children together.

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Pamela Sue Martin

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Former model Pamela Sue Martin portrayed Fallon Carrington Colby on "Dynasty." But the beautiful actress hid a painful medical condition during the show's time on air: she was suffering from dramatic and embarrassing hair loss. She wore a wig for filming. "I found it hard to cope with everything. It was physically debilitating, and I became thin and stressed. I reacted emotionally, which then affected my body." Although her hair grew back, it thins again when Martin goes through extended stressful situations.