Michael Culhane is a fictional character from the
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
television series ''
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
'', created by
Richard and Esther Shapiro
Richard Allen Shapiro (born June 27, 1934) and Esther June Shapiro (née Mayesh; born June 6, 1928) are an American married couple who work as television screenwriters and producers, through their Shapiro Film Corporation. They are best known as ...
. Portrayed by
Wayne Northrop
Wayne Alan Northrop (born April 12, 1947) is an American actor known for his parts in soap operas such as ''Dynasty'' and ''Days of Our Lives''.
Career
Northrop portrayed chauffeur Michael Culhane on ''Dynasty'' from the pilot episode, " Oil" (1 ...
, the character is introduced in the series'
1981 pilot episode as the chauffeur of oil tycoon
Blake Carrington
Blake Alexander Carrington is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. The role of Blake was originally portrayed by actor John Forsythe from 1981 to 1989. Forsythe returned for the min ...
(
John Forsythe
John Forsythe (January 29, 1918 – April 1, 2010) was an American stage, film/television actor, producer, narrator, drama teacher and philanthropist whose career spanned six decades. He also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety s ...
). Michael is also having an affair with Blake's self-indulgent daughter,
Fallon (
Pamela Sue Martin
Pamela Sue Martin (born January 5, 1953) is an American actress, who is best known for starring as Nancy Drew on the television series ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' and as socialite Fallon Carrington Colby on the ABC soap opera ''Dynas ...
). Northrup left the series at the end of the first season, but returned for season seven, during which Michael dates Fallon's sister,
Amanda (
Karen Cellini
Karen Cellini (born May 13, 1958) is an American multidisciplinary live performance artist, producer, writer, and activist. As an actress, she is known for portraying Amanda Carrington in the 1980s prime time drama ''Dynasty'' in 1986.
Career
Ce ...
). In
The CW
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
's
2017 reboot of the series, Michael is portrayed by
Robert Christopher Riley
Robert Christopher Riley (born October 11, 1980) is an American film, television, and stage actor of Trinidadian and Bajan descent. He is known for his role as Terrence Wall in the VH1 television drama series '' Hit The Floor'' from 2013 to 201 ...
.
Original series
Northrop debuted as Michael in the ''
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers from the same family,''Oxford English Dictionary'', "dynasty, ''n''." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 1897. usually in the context of a monarchical system, but sometimes also appearing in republics. A ...
'' pilot episode, "
Oil
An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...
" (1981), and left in the season one finale, "
The Testimony" (1981). He returned in the seventh season premiere "
The Victory" (1986), and left again in the episode "
The Sublet" (1987).
Storylines
Season one
As ''Dynasty'' begins, Carrington chauffeur Michael is involved in a sexual relationship with heiress
Fallon, the daughter of his boss,
Blake Carrington
Blake Alexander Carrington is a fictional character on the ABC television series ''Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. The role of Blake was originally portrayed by actor John Forsythe from 1981 to 1989. Forsythe returned for the min ...
. Michael proves useful to Blake in his shady business dealings, but Blake has him beaten up when he learns of his relationship with Fallon.
Season two
Fired by Blake, Michael leaves town in the episode "
The Verdict
''The Verdict'' is a 1982 American legal drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by David Mamet, adapted from Barry Reed's 1980 novel of the same name. It stars Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, and ...
" without informing Fallon of his departure.
Season seven
Michael returns in the seventh season premiere "
The Victory", in time to save Fallon's sister
Amanda Carrington
Amanda Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC prime time soap opera '' Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. She was portrayed by Catherine Oxenberg for two seasons from 1984 to 1986, and then by Karen Cellini for 13 episod ...
from a fire at La Mirage. The two become romantically involved as Blake gives Michael back his job as Blake's driver, but Blake fires Michael when he sees him kissing Amanda. An angry Michael, not really as poor as he has let on, secretly orchestrates a deal that would give him a piece of Blake's latest venture. However, Amanda's mother
Alexis Colby
Alexis Carrington Colby (; formerly Dexter and Rowan) is a fictional character on the American TV series ''Dynasty''. She is the ex-wife of Blake Carrington (John Forsythe) whose schemes cause one problem after another for him and their children. ...
reveals his schemes, and he leaves Denver again in "
The Sublet".
Reboot
Casting and development
A
pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
for a
''Dynasty'' reboot for
The CW
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
was announced in September 2016,
and Riley was cast as Michael in February 2017.
The new series premiered on The CW on October 11, 2017.
The character is one of several cast as nonwhite for the reboot.
Executive producer
Sallie Patrick
Sallie Patrick is an American screenwriter and television producer. She was the co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner of ''Dynasty'', a 2017 reboot of the 1980s series of the same name.
Early life
Patrick grew up in Atlanta, Georgia.
...
said that with Michael and Carrington butler
Anders
Anders is a male name in Scandinavian languages and Fering, Fering North Frisian, an equivalent of the Greek Andreas ("manly") and the English Andrew. It originated from Andres (name), Andres via metathesis (linguistics), metathesis.
In Sweden, A ...
, "we introduce the theme of upstairs/downstairs, because how can you have a show about the filthy rich without including the people who try their damnedest to keep them clean?"
Storylines
Season one
Carrington chauffeur Michael Culhane (
Robert Christopher Riley
Robert Christopher Riley (born October 11, 1980) is an American film, television, and stage actor of Trinidadian and Bajan descent. He is known for his role as Terrence Wall in the VH1 television drama series '' Hit The Floor'' from 2013 to 201 ...
) is also Fallon's lover and unofficial henchman, though he has feelings for her which seem unrequited. Michael gets photos for Fallon of
Cristal kissing her ex-lover
Matthew Blaisdel
''Dynasty (2017 TV series), Dynasty'' is an American television series based on the Dynasty (1981 TV series), 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name.
In Dynasty (2017 TV series, season 1), season one, heiress Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth G ...
in "
I Hardly Recognized You
The first season of ''Dynasty'', an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS T ...
".
In "
Guilt is for Insecure People
The first season of ''Dynasty'', an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS T ...
", Michael is hesitant to help Fallon find leverage against her father Blake. Meanwhile, Fallon's brother
Steven
Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...
is suspicious of Blake's involvement in Matthew's death, and Michael reveals to him that Blake has Matthew's phone in his possession.
Somewhat frustrated by Fallon's dismissive treatment, Michael becomes involved with
Kori Rucks, Fallon's acquaintance from high school, in "
Private as a Circus".
Their relationship survives Fallon's jealous meddling in "
I Exist Only for Me
The first season of ''Dynasty (2017 TV series), Dynasty'', an American television series based on the Dynasty (1981 TV series), 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 thr ...
".
In "
A Taste of Your Own Medicine
The first season of ''Dynasty'', an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS T ...
", Fallon meets Michael's parents, Louella and James. Michael has led them to believe that he is a vice president at Carrington Atlantic, and Fallon backs him up.
In "
The Best Things in Life
The Best Things in Life (五福到) is a Singaporean drama which aired on Channel 8. It stars Chen Hanwei, Cynthia Koh, Tracy Lee, Terence Cao, Zhang Yaodong, Ya Hui, Phyllis Quek, Ong Ai Leng, Darren Lim & Desmond Tan as the casts if the ...
", Michael's relationship with Kori implodes over his lingering feelings for Fallon.
In "
Rotten Things", Fallon has a falling out with
Monica Colby
Monica Scott Colby is a fictional character from the ABC television series ''Dynasty'' and its spin-off ''The Colbys'', both created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Portrayed by Tracy Scoggins, the character was introduced on ''Dynasty'' in the N ...
, who begins her own romantic relationship with Michael.
When Fallon discovers that Monica is helping Jeff manipulate her into marriage for nefarious reasons in "
Nothing But Trouble", Michael agrees to help Fallon investigate why, and turn the tables on the Colbys.
In "
The Gospel According to Blake Carrington", Michael enlists the help of his computer genius teenage sister, Evie (Elizabeth Youman), who confirms Fallon's suspicions that Jeff has access to all Carrington emails and texts.
On the eve of her faux wedding to Jeff in "
Our Turn Now", Fallon tells Michael she loves him, and asks him to marry her at city hall. He refuses, not wanting something so important to be part of a Carrington plot.
In "
Enter Alexis", Michael learns that his father is seriously ill, and resigns.
Cristal connects James's leukemia diagnosis to a Carrington Atlantic coverup in "
Don't Con a Con Artist".
Louella asks Fallon to keep her distance from Michael in "
Use or Be Used
The first season of ''Dynasty'', an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS T ...
".
In "
A Line from the Past", James dies as the coverup is exposed in the press, and Cristal—in her last act as COO after being fired by Blake—hires Michael.
When Blake pushes back against Fallon's and Michael's efforts toward change in "
Trashy Little Tramp", Michael urges Fallon to do the right thing. She finds incriminating information on Blake, which she uses in a secret meeting with the Carrington Atlantic board to make a case for them to name her CEO in Blake's place.
Fallon professes her love for Michael in "
Dead Scratch
The first season of ''Dynasty'', an American television series based on the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name, originally aired in the United States on The CW from October 11, 2017 through May 11, 2018. The season was produced by CBS T ...
", but he announces his intention to leave Atlanta. When the Carringtons are trapped in the burning trophy room, Michael comes to their rescue.
Season two
In "
Twenty-Three Skidoo", Michael and Fallon have resumed their relationship. Though Fallon and
Liam Ridley
Liam Ridley (real name Jack Liam Ridley Lowden) is a fictional character from The CW's 2017 series ''Dynasty'', a reboot of the 1980s prime time soap opera of the same name. Portrayed by Adam Huber, Liam is the first series regular role in the re ...
are still pretending to be married, Michael proposes, and she accepts.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Culhane, Michael
Dynasty (franchise) characters
Fictional chauffeurs
Male characters in television
Television characters introduced in 1981