Victoria Lord Timeline

Written By ESFC

Sixties & Seventies

1968

  • One Life to Live premieres July 15, with Gillian Spencer originating the role of Victoria Lord.

  • Viki works at The Banner under her domineering father, Victor Lord.

  • Viki falls in love with reporter Joe Riley, whom Victor strongly opposes.

  • Viki begins exhibiting an alternate personality, Niki Smith.

1969

  • Niki Smith becomes involved with Joe's best friend, Vinny Wolek.

  • Viki undergoes psychiatric treatment for her alternate personality.

  • Viki and Joe marry despite Niki's interference in their relationship.

1970

  • Joanne Dorian succeeds Gillian Spencer as Viki.

  • Viki and Joe are married when Joe investigates a drug operation in California.

  • Joe disappears following a car accident and is presumed dead.

  • Viki is devastated by Joe's apparent death.

1971

  • Erika Slezak becomes the third actress to portray Viki, taping her first episode on March 17.

  • Still grieving Joe, Viki grows close to Banner editor Steve Burke.

  • Victor approves of Viki's developing relationship with Steve.

  • Torn between Steve and her hope that Joe is alive, Viki struggles with declaring Joe legally dead.

  • Jealous of Steve's love for Viki, Marcy Wade impersonates Niki Smith.

1972

  • Steve is accused of Marcy's murder but is eventually cleared.

  • Viki has Joe declared legally dead and marries Steve.

  • Joe unexpectedly returns to Llanview, leaving Viki torn between two husbands.

1973

  • Viki spends a night with Joe at Mount Jefferson but decides to remain with Steve.

  • Following a car accident, Viki suffers amnesia that temporarily erases Joe's return from her memory.

  • Meredith dies, and Viki eventually realizes she wants to spend her life with Joe.

1974

  • Laszlo Braedeker (portrayed by Erika's father, Walter Slezak) persuades Steve to grant Viki a divorce.

  • Viki and Joe remarry on September 16.

  • Dorian Cramer blames Viki for losing her hospital privileges, beginning their longstanding feud.

  • Cathy Craig gives birth to Joe's daughter, Megan, on December 2.

1975

  • Viki learns that Megan has a congenital heart defect.

  • While rushing the critically ill Megan to the hospital, Viki has a serious car accident. Megan dies.

  • Victor marries Dorian, much to Viki's dismay.

  • Viki learns that Tony Harris is her half-brother.

1976

  • Victor Lord dies under suspicious circumstances, leaving Viki suspicious of Dorian.

  • Viki gives birth to Kevin Lord Riley.

  • Cathy Craig kidnaps baby Kevin, devastating Viki and Joe.

1977

  • Viki and Joe separate during the ordeal surrounding Kevin's kidnapping.

  • Kevin is returned safely, and Viki and Joe reconcile.

  • Joe undergoes surgery, revealing a benign tumor.

1978

  • Viki becomes guardian to teenager Tina Clayton.

  • Karen Wolek confides in Viki about her involvement in prostitution.

  • Marco Dane blackmails Viki with falsified compromising photographs of Tina.

  • Marco is murdered, and evidence suggests Niki Smith may have returned, implicating Viki.

1979

  • Karen's dramatic courtroom confession about her prostitution helps clear Viki of Marco's murder.

  • Viki becomes pregnant with her second child.

  • Joe's brain tumor returns, and he arranges for Clint Buchanan to succeed him at The Banner.

  • Joe dies at home, leaving Viki devastated.

Eighties

1980

  • Viki gives birth to Joe Riley Jr. (Joey), named in memory of his father.

  • Ted Clayton attempts to manipulate Viki into falling in love with him and drugs her. He is eventually killed.

1981

  • Viki and Clint become professional rivals at The Banner.

  • Viki sues Clint over a controversial newspaper story.

  • Despite their differences, Viki and Clint fall in love.

1982

  • Viki is jailed for refusing to reveal a confidential source in the Jenny/Katrina baby-switching case.

  • Clint proposes to Viki while she is in jail.

  • Viki and Clint marry at Llanfair.

1983

  • The Banner and The Chronicle merge.

  • Clint has an affair with Echo DiSavoy, threatening his marriage to Viki.

  • Echo stages her own murder, nearly resulting in Clint's conviction.

  • Viki forgives Clint, and they reconcile.

1984

  • Mark Pemberton holds Viki and her sons hostage. Viki helps engineer their rescue.

  • Tina returns to Llanview seeking the truth about her parentage.

  • Viki becomes increasingly obsessed with preserving Victor Lord's memory.

1985

  • Tina discovers Victor's secret room and learns that she is Viki's half-sister.

  • Traumatized by the revelation, Viki's alternate personality, Niki Smith, reemerges.

  • Mitch Laurence manipulates Niki in a scheme to obtain the Lord fortune.

  • Niki impersonates Viki for months and divorces Clint.

1986

  • Clint's efforts finally bring Viki back, ending Niki's control.

  • Viki goes undercover in a psychiatric hospital to clear Clint of Dr. Polk's murder.

  • Viki and Clint remarry, and their daughter Jessica is born.

  • Jessica is kidnapped, and Maria Roberts manipulates events to destroy Viki's marriage.

  • Viki suffers an eight-year memory loss, believing Tom Dennison is Joe Riley.

1987

  • Viki is diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and experiences a memorable journey to Heaven.

  • Viki regains her memory and reunites with Clint.

  • Jamie Sanders shoots Clint, leaving him blind.

  • Viki plans to move the family to Arizona for Clint's recovery.

1988

  • Clint is presumed dead after a riding accident but travels back in time to Buchanan City in 1888.

  • Viki reunites with Clint in the Old West, where she portrays her ancestor, Ginny Fletcher.

  • Viki discovers she gave birth to a child while in high school, a memory suppressed through hypnosis arranged by Victor Lord.

  • Michael Grande arrives in Llanview, seeking the secret of Eterna.

1989

  • Viki becomes trapped in the underground city of Eterna.

  • Viki learns that Roger Gordon was her first husband and that Megan Gordon is their daughter.

  • Viki discovers that Victor had her hypnotized to forget Megan's birth and arranged for Roger to raise her.

  • Austin Buchanan holds Viki hostage and shoots her.

  • Roger's presence strains Viki's marriage to Clint, but they begin to reconcile.>

Nineties

1990

  • Viki is elected mayor of Llanview.

  • Following an assassination attempt, Viki suffers a devastating stroke, leaving her paralyzed and unable to speak.

  • Niki Smith emerges and kills Johnny Dee while protecting Tina.

  • Viki struggles through rehabilitation with Clint's support.

  • Dorian challenges Viki's fitness to serve as mayor.

1991

  • Carlo Hesser drugs Viki into becoming Niki and orders her to kill Megan, but Viki prevents the murder.

  • Viki is cleared of Johnny Dee's murder and resigns as mayor.

  • Clint undergoes dangerous surgery, with Viki supporting his recovery.

  • Megan is diagnosed with lupus.

  • Llanfair is destroyed by fire.

1992

  • Viki donates a kidney in a desperate attempt to save Megan.

  • Megan dies despite Viki's efforts, leaving her devastated.

  • Sloan Carpenter arrives in Llanview.

  • Viki's marriage to Clint deteriorates amid disagreements over homosexuality and Andrew Carpenter's support for Billy Douglas.

1993

  • Viki is deeply distressed by Clint's homophobic attitude toward Billy Douglas, a gay teenager befriended by their son Joey, further straining their marriage.

  • Viki develops feelings for Sloan, and she and Clint separate.

  • Viki supports Kevin when he is accused of raping Marty Saybrooke.

  • Sloan's book, Lord of the Banner, raises questions about Victor's death and Dorian's possible involvement.

1994

  • Clint discovers Viki and Sloan in bed together, leading to their divorce.

  • Viki and Sloan investigate Victor Lord's death, believing Dorian is responsible.

  • David Vickers arrives, claiming to be Victor's son, and produces evidence that clears Dorian of murder charges.

  • Seeking revenge against Viki, Dorian begins an affair with Joey, creating a painful rift between mother and son.

  • Viki marries Sloan as his Hodgkin's disease worsens.

1995

  • Sloan dies, leaving Viki devastated.

  • Dorian reveals that Victor sexually abused Viki during childhood, triggering a devastating psychological crisis.

  • Viki's alternate personalities emerge, including Jean Randolph, who imprisons Dorian in Llanfair's secret room.

  • Viki's alters wreak havoc on her family, Llanfair, and The Banner.

  • Viki undergoes intensive treatment for dissociative identity disorder.

  • Viki discovers that her alter Tori, not Dorian, killed Victor Lord.

1996

  • Viki makes progress in treatment and says goodbye to her alternate personalities.

  • Viki befriends her half-brother Todd Manning and reveals the truth about Victor's death.

  • Viki and Cord prevent publication of Dorian's book.

  • Carlo Hesser arranges for Viki to be hypnotized into killing Kevin, but her love for her son overcomes the suggestion.

1997

  • Viki continues supporting Todd despite his troubled behavior and conflicts with Blair.

  • Viki and Dorian join forces to help find a bone marrow donor for Todd's seriously ill daughter, Starr.

  • Viki struggles with Jessica's growing independence and relationship with Cristian Vega.

  • Viki discusses her therapy and past trauma with Jessica, helping her daughter better understand her experiences.

1998

  • Viki and Kevin are held hostage by Todd during the Georgie Phillips murder investigation.

  • Viki considers reconciling with Clint, only to discover he has married Lindsay Rappaport.

  • Viki learns that Jessica is pregnant, creating further family turmoil.

  • Viki is devastated when Todd falsely claims to have dissociative identity disorder, exploiting the illness she struggled to overcome.

  • Feeling deeply betrayed, Viki breaks ties with Todd.

1999

  • Viki narrowly escapes death when she leaves a plane moments before takeoff. Her friend Mel Hayes, Dorian's husband, dies when the plane crashes, leaving Viki devastated.

  • Shaken by the tragedy, Viki reevaluates her life.

  • Viki falls in love with Ben Davidson, a mysterious bartender at Crossroads.

  • Hugo Monroe kidnaps Viki and Dorian, who are eventually rescued.

  • Viki discovers that Ben is married to Skye Chandler, complicating their romance.

The Millennium +

2000

  • Viki is diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoes a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

  • Ben supports Viki through her illness, helping her confront her fears and physical changes.

  • Viki's cancer goes into remission.

  • Viki and Ben marry on November 13.

2001

  • Gina Russo holds Viki hostage, but Viki outwits her by pretending to become Niki and Tommy.

  • Natalie Balsom arrives in Llanview, claiming to be Viki's biological daughter.

  • Viki learns that Natalie and Jessica were switched as infants, throwing the family into turmoil.

  • DNA testing confirms Natalie is Viki and Clint's daughter.

2002

  • Niki Smith resurfaces and takes control of Viki, secretly impersonating her.

  • Determined to remain free, Niki attempts to kill Ben.

  • Ben is accidentally shot during a rescue attempt and falls into a coma.

  • Viki learns that both Jessica and Natalie are her biological daughters.

  • Mitch Laurence returns, claiming he raped Viki years earlier and is Jessica's biological father.

  • May 13–17: One Life to Live broadcasts five consecutive live episodes, with Erika appearing in all five as Viki. The ambitious production requires carefully coordinated performances, including adjustments to Viki's emotional continuity because surrounding episodes had already been taped.

2003

  • Viki discovers that her father, Victor Lord, whom she believed dead since 1976, is apparently alive.

  • Viki and Jessica thwart a plot involving Mitch and Victor to obtain Natalie's heart.

  • Flashbacks to Llanview's Past: During the dramatic summer storylines uncovering deep Lord family history, viewers were treated to rare flashback scenes exploring Victoria's formative teenage years. In a special piece of legacy casting, Erika’s real-life daughter, Amanda Davies, stepped into her mother's iconic shoes to portray the teenage version of Viki.

  • Victor suffers a fatal stroke before Viki can fully confront him about his abuse.

  • Mitch produces a new will, stripping Viki and Todd of their inheritance and forcing Viki from Llanfair.

  • Viki struggles to protect her family and The Banner while Ben remains comatose.

2004

  • Viki ends her relationship with Governor Harrison Brooks after discovering his corruption.

  • On Valentine's Day, Ben briefly awakens from his coma and shares an emotional reunion with Viki.

  • Viki develops life-threatening heart disease and desperately needs a transplant.

  • Ben suffers a fatal brain hemorrhage, leaving Viki devastated.

  • On May 27, Viki receives Ben's heart in a successful transplant, saving her life.

2005

  • Dorian frames Viki for embezzlement at Llanview University. Although cleared, Viki resigns as president and returns to The Banner.

  • Viki discovers that Jessica has dissociative identity disorder and an alternate personality named Tess.

  • During a confrontation with Tess, Viki suffers another heart attack.

  • Clint returns to Llanview, rekindling his relationship with Viki.

2006

  • Niki Smith resurfaces and kidnaps Jessica, hoping to uncover the secret behind Tess.

  • Viki and Clint discover that Jessica was sexually abused during childhood while Niki controlled Viki.

  • Devastated, Viki returns to therapy and ultimately learns to resist Niki's attempts to take control.

2007

  • Viki's renewed romance with Clint ends when he becomes involved with Dorian.

  • Following Asa's death, Viki leaves Llanview and takes a job as a waitress at the Bon Jour Café in Paris, Texas, calling herself “Viki D.”

  • Viki meets Charlie Banks, and their friendship develops into romance.

  • Viki discovers that Marcie McBain is hiding in Paris with Todd's son Sam.

2008

  • Marcie holds Viki hostage at the Bon Jour Café before eventually surrendering to police.

  • Viki returns to Llanview, where Charlie's lies about his son Jared threaten their relationship.

  • Viki and Dorian are involved in a car accident, leaving Viki near death.

  • During another journey to Heaven, Viki reunites with departed loved ones, including Ben.

  • Dorian saves Viki's life with an injection of adrenaline after encouragement from Mel's spirit.

  • Viki and Charlie eventually reconcile.

2009

  • Viki and Charlie marry on August 4 in a double wedding with Clint and Nora.

  • Viki runs for mayor of Llanview and defeats Dorian by a single vote.

  • Mitch Laurence returns, bringing tragedy to the family when Jared Banks is murdered.

  • Viki steps down as mayor-elect before taking office to help her grieving family, allowing Dorian to become mayor.

2010

  • Seeking revenge against Mitch, Charlie accidentally shoots Jessica, nearly destroying his marriage to Viki.

  • Viki and Charlie eventually reconcile.

  • Echo DiSavoy returns to Llanview, reopening old wounds and threatening Viki's marriage.

  • Viki and Dorian form an unlikely alliance against Echo.

2011

  • Viki discovers Charlie and Echo in bed together, ending her marriage.

  • Niki Smith resurfaces and joins forces with Jessica's alternate personality, Tess.

  • Viki struggles to regain control during a confrontation between Niki and Jean Randolph.

  • Charlie leaves Llanview, and Viki signs their divorce papers.

  • Viki grows close to Clint again as he faces serious health problems.

2012

  • Mitch Laurence and Allison Perkins threaten Viki's family following a prison break.

  • Viki nearly dies and experiences another visit to Heaven, where she reunites with Megan.

  • DNA testing confirms that Clint is Jessica's biological father.

  • Clint proposes to Viki again as One Life to Live concludes its ABC run on January 13.

2013

  • One Life to Live returns online on April 29, with Viki running The Banner and engaged to Clint.

  • Viki and Dorian resume their rivalry amid political controversy and financial problems at The Banner.

  • Viki loses millions in the Pellegrino Fund investment and discovers that Clint secretly intervened to protect her.

  • Feeling betrayed by Clint's deception, Viki returns her engagement ring.

  • Clint suffers a public breakdown, leaving their relationship unresolved when the series ends on August 19.

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