Saul Holden is a fictional character on 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 ''
Brothers & Sisters''. He is played by actor
Ron Rifkin
Ron Rifkin (born Saul M. Rifkin; October 31, 1939) is an American actor best known for his roles as Arvin Sloane on the spy drama '' Alias'', Saul Holden on the drama '' Brothers & Sisters'', and District Attorney Ellis Loew in '' L.A. Confiden ...
.
Character history
Background
Saul is
Nora Walker's older brother, and works at Ojai Foods, the Walker family business. He has never been married. He was born on August 11, 1938.
Personal life
Saul once dated
Holly Harper
Holly Harper is a fictional character on the ABC television series '' Brothers & Sisters''. She is portrayed by Patricia Wettig.
Character history
Background
Holly was William Walker's mistress for over 20 years who lived in a house purchase ...
(portrayed by
Patricia Wettig
Patricia Anne Wettig (born December 4, 1951) is an American actress and playwright. She is best known for her role as Nancy Weston in the television series ''Thirtysomething'' (1987–1991), for which she received a Golden Globe Award and three P ...
) until he identified himself as
homosexual. Saul had a relationship in Season 5 with a man named Jonathan (portrayed by
Richard Chamberlain
George Richard Chamberlain (born March 31, 1934) is an American actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show '' Dr. Kildare'' (1961–1966). He subsequently appeared in several TV mini-series, such as ''Shō ...
), who Saul said he loved despite the fact he might have been the one who infected him with
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
. Saul and Jonathan began to date in Season 5.
Season 1
Saul and Nora are very close. He helped her when her husband died, and defended her from their mother's criticism at her birthday party.
Saul had a brief relationship with
Holly Harper
Holly Harper is a fictional character on the ABC television series '' Brothers & Sisters''. She is portrayed by Patricia Wettig.
Character history
Background
Holly was William Walker's mistress for over 20 years who lived in a house purchase ...
, William Walker's former mistress, following William's death. Although this briefly caused friction between Saul and Nora, Saul's feelings toward Holly were in fact ambiguous; it was never fully clear whether his intentions were romantic, platonic or business-related.
In the season finale, it was revealed that Saul once spent a romantic weekend in
Key West with another man, an old friend named Milo (
Michael Nouri
Michael Nouri (born December 9, 1945) is an American screen and stage actor. He is best known for his television roles, including Dr. Neil Roberts on ''The O.C.'', Phil Grey on ''Damages'', Caleb Cortlandt on '' All My Children'', Eli David in ...
) who reappears at
Kitty and
Robert
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...
's engagement party after an absence of 20 years. He tells Saul that he has finally
come out as
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...
. The exact nature of Saul's
sexuality remained ambiguous, though the storyline was developed further in season two.
Season 2
Early in the season, Saul acknowledged to his sister Nora that many years ago he was in love with a man.
Saul has often expressed regret for not starting a family of his own and that he is now too old to do so.
Another important clue concerning Saul's sexual orientation turned up in the episode with Kitty and Robert's wedding. At the wedding reception, Holly and Saul have a conversation at the bar about their past intimate relationship. Holly remarks about how Saul keeps lamenting that he always wanted a family of his own, and how she wishes it had happened for him. Saul suggests that maybe their past relationship could have developed further, but Holly says that she could tell that Saul just wasn't that into her, and that while he may have gone through the motions, he obviously was never "feeling it". Holly proceeds to tell him, "I know men," and that she knew he was not interested in her. She tells him that everyone should be able to be with who they love, carefully avoiding the use of either masculine or feminine pronouns.
Saul finally comes out to his openly gay nephew,
Kevin Walker, after getting arrested for
drunk driving. He tells Kevin that he has missed his entire life and he wants to be happy as a gay man, like Kevin.
Season 4
Despite previously having been linked romantically with a man named Henry, Saul identifies as single through the season.
During the season finale, Saul becomes irate at the fact Kevin and Scotty take HIV testing so lightly, and his annoyance is concern to the young couple. Having never been tested and nervous after discovering a former lover is positive, Saul secretly goes to a local hospital alone to learn that people can live with HIV/AIDS asymptomatically. He is tested and, after Nora pushes him the next morning, calls for his results. He assures her "I'm fine." During the final scene, the Walkers are involved in an enormous car accident in which almost every member of the family is injured. When Kevin, bleeding from an open wound on his hand, runs to Saul, bleeding from an open wound on his head and covered with blood, Saul exclaims, "Don't touch me! You can't," indicating that Saul, most likely, is HIV-positive.
Season 5
In season 5, Saul falls in love, but the man runs away when he learns that Saul is HIV positive. Saul then finds his previous lover, Jonathan, and confronts him about giving him HIV. He eventually forgives him and they start a relationship. Jonathan asks Saul to marry him in the series finale, and he accepts.
References
External links
Press release for ''Brothers & Sisters''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holden, Saul
Brothers & Sisters characters
Fictional gay males
Fictional American Jews
Fictional characters with HIV/AIDS
Television characters introduced in 2006
Fictional LGBT characters in television