FRIDAY HALL OF FAMER - CASS WINTHROP

Cass Winthrop is a fictional character on the soap opera 'Another World'. He was portrayed by Stephen Schnetzer from 1982 to 1999. Schnetzer also appeared as Cass on 'As the World Turns' from 1999 to 2002 and again from 2005 to 2006 and on 'Guiding Light' in 2002.

'Another World'
1982-1999
1,030 episodes

'As the World Turns'
1999-2006
28 episodes

'Guiding Light' 
(2002)

GENERAL INFORMATION(From a variety of sources)

First Appearance: July 21, 1982
Last Appearance: June 25, 1999
Portrayer: Stephen Schnetzer

July 21, 1982 - December 5, 1986
July 24, 1987 - June 25, 1999
Arrival: (1982)
Introduced as a new Cory Publishing executive.
(1987)
Returned to resume his life in Bay City.
Departure:
Left to go on an around-the-world honeymoon with Kathleen McKinnon.
Introduction Scenes:
(1982)
To Elena DePoulignac on the Cory Mansion terrace, "Hi, Elena."
(Reintro, 1987)
Mary's Place, explaining the presence of a priest to Vince and Mary McKinnon, "He's here because I asked him to come."
Exit Scenes:
(1986)
The back seat of a car, to Vince McKinnon, supplementing Kathleen McKinnon's exit line, "You heard the lady."
(1999)
Affectionately to Charlie Frame Winthrop in Foster Park, "Come here, you."
Birthday:
October 22.
Other Aliases:
Cass Cadwallader Winthrop (full name).
Krystal Lake (female identity)

Spouses
Kathleen McKinnon
Frankie Frame (RIP)
Lila Roberts
Relatives:Claudia Winthrop (mother)
Unnamed Older Brother (deceased)
Stacey Winthrop (sister)
Megan Singleton (niece) (deceased)
Morgan Winthrop (brother)
Alan Winthrop (cousin)
Children:Charlotte 'Charlie' Frame Winthrop (daughter; with Frankie)
Occupation:
Lawyer
Former co-owner of Wallingford's
Former owner of Winthrop Publishing
Residence:
88 Longridge Road

Cass was born into a bad family. Cass' father died of a heart attack and his mother, Claudia, disowned him due to a childhood event. One of Cass' brothers died of the same disease that would almost claim his daughter's life. Cass is the brother to Morgan and Stacey Winthrop. Cass is an attorney.

Cass is known to be a casanova with the ladies. He began seeing Felicia Gallant, a romance novelist, in the early 1970's. When Cass came to Bay City in 1982, he resumed his fling with Felicia. However, the casanova part of Cass got to him, and he cheated on Felicia with Cecile de Poulignac.   

Cass made his mark as an attorney. He was regarded as one of the state's finest lawyers and had at one time or another represented the lion's share of the cast of characters.

Cass Cadwallader Winthrop came to town as a scheming but good-natured casanova - a skilled attorney who kept looking for shortcuts to success. He was a former lover of Felicia Gallant and the two resumed their complicated romance, though Cass also had eyes for Sally Frame. Cass and Felicia later became best friends and always stood by each other throughout the years.

In 1983, he founded Winthrop Publishing, a publishing company with Felicia as his star author. This was a minor venture that folded before the year was out.

Cass borrowed money from loan shark Tony the Tuna and couldn't pay it back.  So he went in hiding, dressing as a woman named Krystal Lake.  Unfortunately Tony became smitten with Krystal and started dating "her".   Cass finally got out of it by agreeing to turn Tony's niece, Dee, into a high society girl.  

During his long stay in Bay City, Cass was accused of the murders of three people: Alma Rudder, Daphne Grimaldi, and Monique Berajacques. These incidents completely slipped from the memories of Bay City residents soon after.  

Cass formed a partnership with aspiring reporter Kathleen McKinnon, leading to several years of romantic sparring, criminal investigations, dangerous adventures, and the first real love of his life. Cecile, now a widow, tried to get Cass back, kidnapping him and making Kathleen believe Cass had chosen her, but Cass escaped and won her back. At one point, Kathleen was paralyzed by Carl Hutchins and tried to withdraw from the world, but Cass nursed her back to health.

The two finally married, and left Bay City. Some months later, Kathleen was seemingly killed in a plane crash. Cass went into an emotional tailspin that only his and Kathleen's close friend Wallingford was able to bring him out of, telling him that Kathleen had been the best part of him.

In 1983, he founded Winthrop Publishing, a publishing company with Felicia as his star author. This was a minor venture that folded before the year was out.

From 1987-1989, Cass was involved in the fashion business with Nicole Love, handling the legal end of the business. When she left town in 1989, she left him the Design House, which he redesigned and used as his legal offices until 1994.

Cass never thought he would fall for anyone again until he got involved with Nicole Love. With his wedding day to Nicole fast approaching, Cass crossed paths with eccentric detective, Frankie Frame. Frankie proved Nicole had murdered her uncle, Jason Frame, and she was institutionalized.

At first, Cass and Frankie did not like each other (similar to his early relationship with Kathleen), however they came to find they had a lot in common. They fell madly in love.

A few months after they married, Cass discovered Kathleen was alive--she had concealed this to save Cass' life from shadowy criminal forces led by Carl Hutchins. His marriage to Frankie was now invalid and he had to choose between his two wives. Still in the grip of his passion for Kathleen, and knowing she needed him more because of the danger she was in, Cass chose her over Frankie.

Frankie discovered she was pregnant shortly after splitting with Cass, but chose not to tell him. She later miscarried the baby. It soon became apparent that Cass and Kathleen no longer had the same feelings they used to and Cass realized he wanted Frankie back. They grew closer, but upon finding out about Frankie's miscarriage, the pair hit another rough patch. Cass realized why Frankie had lied to him and forgave her, but Frankie was still reluctant to reunite with him because of his previous abandonment (though she had known for a long time that he was still in love with Kathleen).

They eventually managed to reunite and legally marry in a ceremony in Venice surrounded by their loved ones. They honeymooned on the Orient Express.

He was poisoned by Christy Carson in 1993.

Not long after the wedding, Frankie found out she was pregnant again. She gave birth to their beloved daughter Charlotte, nicknamed Charlie. When Charlie was a few months old, it was discovered she had a genetic heart condition. Cass blamed himself for Charlie's illness and the stress triggered his bipolar disorder. Cass refused to accept he was ill, but with the love and support of Frankie and his brother, Morgan, eventually sought treatment.

The shock of learning that it was his genes that were to blame for his daughter Charlie's heart defect consumed him with guilt. He began showing signs of erratic behavior and wild mood swings. His brother Morgan Winthrop, a doctor, noticed that he was exhibiting the symptoms of manic depression. Cass was later diagnosed with this disease.

He first strenuously denied being ill, but when one of his mood swings almost cost Charlie her life, Cass realized that he had to be hospitalized. He received treatment under the care of psychiatrist Emily Bradford, and by the end of the year was able to function on his own, although he was forced to take medication (Lithium) for the rest of his life. The Lithium made him thirsty, and he was often seen with a water bottle at hand.

Frankie was tragically murdered by the Bay City Stalker. Cass tried to move on and be a good father to Charlie. 

In 1995 he gave up his practice to open a bookstore (Wallingford's) with long-time friend Felicia Gallant. After Frankie's death, he found he couldn't bear to go there anymore as it brought back many memories. Since Felicia didn't want to run the store without him, they sold it to Page Turners, a book store chain.

He grieved for months and months. Cass still mentioned his beloved Frankie. In 1998, Cass was consumed with someone's sick plan of reenacting Felicia's novel, "Embers in the Snow". Cass was fearful for his life because his character died in Chapter 13.   

He began a flirtation with Lila Roberts, but she was with Matthew Cory. Once they split up, the two began a relationship. Cass and Lila married on the last episode of 'Another World' (their union seemingly blessed by Frankie's ghost).

In the end, Cass finally realized that his deepest and most lasting feelings were not for any of his many lovers, but for his daughter. Bay City's ultimate playboy had finally grown up.

In late 1999 (after the cancellation of 'Another World'), Cass began appearing on 'As the World Turns', initially defending Margo Hughes against charges that she'd murdered Alec Wallace. After Margo was acquitted in early 2000, Cass remained on 'As the World Turns', frequently interacting with Jake McKinnon (who'd also crossed over to ATWT after 'Another World' ended), and collaborating with his legal colleagues Tom Hughes and Jessica Griffin. The character remained on ATWT through 2002.

So Cass was a basic crossover character - transferred to another series, guest starring on another.  But if you read that summary above, you can see a few possibilities for fanfic storylines that theoretically could link to other TV shows or characters.

Chief among those would be Cass and Frankie's honeymoon on the Orient Express.  O'Bviously Hercule Poirot was long since dead by the time they wed.  But why not just a quick mention that they were in the same cabin as he had during that famous murder investigation.  (I think it would be amusing to have Cass learn from the steward that actually they were in the compartment in which "Ratchett" was murdered, but "best not let my wife find out....")

When they married in Venice, perhaps some incarnation of the Doctor might have shown up, perhaps in connection to a previous 'Doctor Who' episode, "Vampires Of Venice".

Frankie Frame's ghost in Bay City could be a topic for fanfic crossovers involving the casts of 'Supernatural', 'Haunted', 'Ghost Whisperer', 'Deadbeat', and 'The X-Files'.

Just the name "Page Turners" for a book store anywhere in "Telemerica" would be enough for a crossover point. 

And it's never too late for Stephen Schnetzer to appear on 'The Young & The Restless' and 'The Bold & The Beautiful' as Cass Winthrop.

Just sayin', is all.....

Welcome to the Hall, Cass Winthrop!