Vince Wolek is a fictional character from the American soap opera, ''

One Life to Live ''One Life to Live'' (often abbreviated as ''OLTL'') is an American soap opera broadcast on the ABC television network for more than 43 years, from July 15, 1968, to January 13, 2012, and then on the internet as a web series on Hulu and iTunes ...

''. Actor

Antony Ponzini Antony Ponzini (June 1, 1933 – December 30, 2002) was an American actor. Some of Ponzini's credits include roles on soap operas ''The Edge of Night'', '' Another World'', and being a member of the original cast of ''One Life to Live'' as Vinc ...

originated the role from the debut episode in 1968 through 1975, and briefly reappeared in 1987.

Casting

Vincent was created by series creator

Agnes Nixon Agnes Nixon ( Eckhardt; December 10, 1922 – September 28, 2016) was an American television writer and producer, and the creator of the ABC soap operas ''One Life to Live'', ''All My Children'', as well as ''Loving'' and its spin-off '' The Ci ...

, who cast Antony Ponzini in the role which debuted on the first episode of the serial July 15, 1968. Ponzini went on to play the role for over seven years, leaving the role in November 1975. Upon Ponzini's exit, executive producer Doris Quinlan recast Vincent to

Jordan Charney Jordan Charney (born April 1, 1937) is an American character actor. Many of his earliest roles were on daytime television, with appearances in numerous soaps. Jordan created the role of creepy Julian Dark in the early to mid-1960s on the CBS so ...

, who played the role from November 1975 through 1977. Michael Ingram became the third actor to play Vincent, from 1977 through 1981. Ponzini returned to the role briefly during a storyline involving Viki having a

near-death experience A near-death experience (NDE) is a profound personal experience associated with death or impending death which researchers claim share similar characteristics. When positive, such experiences may encompass a variety of sensations including detac ...

of going to Heaven in 1987.

Storylines

Enter Vinny

In 1968, Vince (Ponzini) falls in love with fun-loving party girl Niki Smith (

Gillian Spencer Gillian Spencer (born December 18, 1939) is an American soap opera actress and writer. She had supporting roles on the soaps ''The Secret Storm'' as Lynn Wilkins Warren from 1961-1962 and ''The Edge of Night'' as Leora Davies in 1963 before join ...

); little does he know that "Niki" was a symptom of the

multiple personality disorder Dissociative identity disorder (DID), better known as multiple personality disorder or multiple personality syndrome, is a mental disorder characterized by the presence of at least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states. The di ...

suffered by media heiress Victoria "Viki" Lord—the girlfriend of Vince's best friend and reporter Joe Riley (

Lee Patterson Lee Patterson (March 31, 1929 – February 14, 2007) was a Canadian film and television actor. Life and career Patterson was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, as Beverley Frank Atherly Patterson. He attended the Ontario College of Art and D ...

). Eventually Vince learns the truth and, though heartbroken, tells Viki about her alter ego. Viki seeks medical treatment and proceeds to marry Joe in June 1969. During the wedding in June 1969, Niki reemerges and flees the ceremony with an ecstatic Vince. When Vince urges Niki to marry him, Niki's panic results in Viki regaining control and marries Joe. In 1970, Vince unwittingly becomes involved with the

Llanview Llanview, Pennsylvania is the fictional setting for the long-running American soap opera ''One Life to Live''. The city exists in the same fictional universe as cities from other existing or defunct ABC daytime dramas, including Pine Valley, Penn ...

drug trade, becoming soon implicated in a drug-related murder. He is eventually cleared of wrongdoing, but not before Joe, investigating Llanview's increasing drug problem for ''The Banner'', is presumed dead after apparently driving off a cliff in California. Vince and Joe's sister

Eileen Riley Siegel Eileen Riley Siegel is a fictional character on the American soap opera ''One Life to Live''. The role was played by Patricia Roe from July 1968 until March 1972, and by Alice Hirson from March 1972 until the character's last appearance in May 197 ...

(

Patricia Roe Patricia Roe (September 18, 1928 – May 18, 2005), later known as Patricia Roe Bell, was an American actress, best known for her work in Broadway theatre and in the soap operas ''The Guiding Light'' (Sara McIntyre) and ''One Life to Live'' (Eile ...

) refuse to give up the hope Joe is alive, and were upset when Viki (

Erika Slezak Erika Alma Hermina Slezak (; born August 5, 1946) is an American actress, best known for her role as Victoria "Viki" Lord on the American daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'' from 1971 through the television finale in 2012 and again in the ...

onward) signs papers declaring Joe dead in 1972 to marry Steve Burke (Bernie Grant). Vince and Eileen (

Alice Hirson Alice Hirson (born March 10, 1929) is an American actress best known for her roles on television. She began her career on stage, before roles on daytime soap operas. She is best known for her roles as Mavis Anderson in the CBS prime time soap ope ...

onward) are both vindicated when Joe reappears before Viki's wedding to Steve.

Later life and Wanda

After leaving briefly, Vince returns to Llanview ill and is nursed back to health by sassy tell-it-like-it-is waitress Wanda Webb (

Marilyn Chris Marilyn Chris (born May 19, 1938) is an American actress, possibly best known as Wanda Webb Wolek on the ABC soap opera, '' One Life to Live''. Education Born in Brooklyn, New York, Chris attended the High School of Performing Arts and City ...

). By the time Joe and Viki reunite in 1973, Vince becomes a police officer for the Llanview Police Department; that year during an investigation with Lt. Ed Hall ( Al Freeman, Jr.), Vince and sister-in-law Meredith Lord Wolek (

Lynn Benesch Lynn Benesch, born Lynn Benish in Westchester, New York, aka Lynn Chester, is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as Meredith Lord on the daytime drama ''One Life to Live'' from 1969 to 1973. In 1972 she won praise for her ...

) are held hostage at Llanfair carriage house for the prized art collection of

Victor Lord Victor Dalby Lord is a fictional character and patriarch of the Lord family from the American soap opera ''One Life to Live''. An original protagonist on the series, Victor is introduced in the first episode as the preeminent mass media magnate ...

( Ernest Graves). Meredith dies after suffering a concussion while she and Vince attempted an escape. Vince soon falls in love Wanda, and the two marry on

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, throu ...

1975. Ponzini soon departs the series. Actor

assumed the part and character, becoming more of a canvas, supporting role. Vince (Ingram) is later poisoned by the adoptive father of

Tina Lord Tina Lord Roberts is a fictional character from the American daytime soap opera ''One Life to Live'', originally and last played by Andrea Evans. The character is the daughter of original series patriarch Victor Lord, and sister to long-running ch ...

, Ted Clayton (

Mark Goddard Mark Goddard (born Charles Harvey Goddard; July 24, 1936) is an American actor who has starred in a number of television programs. He is probably best known for portraying Major Don West in the CBS series ''Lost in Space'' (1965–1968). He ...

), July 9, 1981. Vince (Ponzini) last appears when Viki visits Heaven in April 1987.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolek, Vince One Life to Live characters Television characters introduced in 1968 Fictional characters from Pennsylvania Fictional police detectives Fictional police lieutenants American male characters in television Fictional Polish-American people