31 Facts About Opal Cortlandt

Opal Cortlandt is a fictional character from the ABC and The Online Network soap opera, All My Children.

Opal Cortlandt was portrayed by Dorothy Lyman from 1981 to 1983, and by Jill Larson from December 13,1989 to September 2,2013.

Opal Cortlandt remained on the show until the series finale on September 23,2011, and appeared in the short-lived reboot in 2013.

The writers write for me, but a lot of Opal Cortlandt's impulses come from me.

Until Jenny got her big break, Opal Cortlandt made her work at the sleazy bar, Foxy's, as a cocktail waitress while she was in high school so she could support them both.

Later, Opal Cortlandt opened a beauty shop, which she called The Glamorama.

Opal Cortlandt met a handsome widower, Ralph Purdy, whom she quickly became engaged to, and left Pine Valley.

In 1989, Opal Cortlandt returned to Pine Valley and joined forces with Palmer to break up Tad and Dixie's marriage.

Opal Cortlandt alerted the authorities when she learned that Palmer had stashed away a treasure trove of stolen Nazi artwork.

Palmer felt betrayed by Opal Cortlandt and became increasingly nasty to his wife.

At about the same time, Opal Cortlandt learned that the son she'd been forced to abandon while she was still married to Ray Gardner, Adrian Sword, had arrived in Pine Valley.

Opal Cortlandt had had an affair with Frank Dawson, a man who took her in when she was fleeing from the abusive Ray.

Ray showed up at her hiding spot one day and forced Opal Cortlandt to leave with him.

Palmer eventually turned over the paintings, but his marriage to Opal Cortlandt was hopelessly in shambles.

Opal Cortlandt renovated Cortlandt Manor and opened a salon, naming the Glamorama in honor of her former shop.

Opal Cortlandt was jealous as Palmer took on new love interests and was especially horrified when Palmer married scheming Vanessa Bennett, ordering her to stay away from their son, Petey.

Opal Cortlandt maintained an active role in the lives of her family and friends while she adjusted to life without Palmer.

Opal Cortlandt helped Tad mourn the loss of Dixie Cooney after she was presumed dead and she bonded with Krystal Carey, the mother of Tad's daughter Jenny.

Opal Cortlandt continued to have premonitions and read Tarot cards and tried to warn residents of Pine Valley whenever she foresaw something negative headed their way.

Palmer and Opal Cortlandt joined forces in voicing their concerns when their son Petey returned to Pine Valley and set his sights on Adam Chandler's daughter, Colby.

Opal Cortlandt was disappointed when Palmer moved to Switzerland and Petey later joined him there.

Opal Cortlandt was devastated when she learned Palmer was dead and she admitted he was the love of her life.

Opal Cortlandt lamented that she missed her opportunity to tell him that she loved him, but her friends and family assured her that Palmer knew how she felt about him.

Opal Cortlandt proved her loyalty to Erica when Erica was committed to Oak Haven after she stabbed David Hayward.

Erica was sent to Oak Haven for a psychiatric evaluation when no one except for Opal Cortlandt believed her story.

Opal Cortlandt committed herself to Oak Haven and told Erica she was there to break her out.

Opal Cortlandt initially accepted the offer but later declined when she reconnected with a love from her own past.

When Opal Cortlandt returned from Hawaii, she celebrated the news of Tad and Dixie's engagement and she planned to catch up with Erica.

Opal Cortlandt told Erica that Stuart Chandler was alive because of David and Adam was hosting a party later that evening to welcome Stuart home.

Opal Cortlandt helped Erica devise a plan to win Jackson back and they attended Adam's party.

Opal Cortlandt continued to mingle with the other guests, many of which were her family and friends and she celebrated life in Pine Valley as a shot rang out.