Valentin Cassadine
Valentin Cassadine is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. The character was initially conceived in 2009 by head writer Robert Guza Jr., as a previously unknown member of the wealthy Cassadine family looking to wreak havoc on both the Cassadine and Spencer families. However, initial plans for the character's introduction were delayed and completely abandoned by 2010. In 2016, it was announced that All My Children alumnus James Patrick Stuart had joined the cast in the mystery role of Theo – who is revealed to be Valentin. Valentin is known for being the most evil of the Cassadine sons, having been disowned by his father at a very young age. At one point, he poisons his mother Helena.
Stuart's performance has been met with critical acclaim, having garnered him three consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Storylines
In October 2009, a deathly ill Helena Cassadine confides in her longtime enemy Luke Spencer that she needs his help to fend off her evil stepson Valentin. According to Helena, the illegitimate Valentin had been disowned by his father Mikkos upon his birth, denying him the privileges of being a Cassadine.Helena contacts Valentin hoping to use him against her rebellious grandson, Nikolas but instead, Valentin overpowers Helena taking over the family's private island in Greece and Nicholas slowly poisoning Helena. Valentin's henchmen try to keep Helena and Luke from escaping only for Nikolas to come to her rescue. She warns everyone Nicholas has promised to destroy not only the Cassadines, but also the Spencers. Mikkos's daughter Alexis Davis reveals she had only heard of her brother's treachery toward their father specifically, but Alexis had come to believe the never before seen Valentin was only a front for Helena and her schemes.
Luke later accuses Helena of having had Valentin murdered. She admits she thought Valentin had indeed died before realizing he is actually alive and well. Much like Luke and Alexis, Nikolas believes Valentin is long dead and Helena is just using the threat of Valentin to manipulate him.
In July 2016, fisherman Theo Hart claims to have been trapped on Cassadine Island due to bad weather. Jason and Sam agree to let him stay. Theo feigns surprise at Nikolas also being on the island, and explains they met briefly when Nikolas was a teenager. Theo announces his plans to leave the island when the storm clears only to return and take several hostages at gun point and reveal himself to be Valentin.
He then separates Nikolas and Ava Jerome from the group, demanding he sign over his entire fortune in exchange for Valentin sparing the lives of his friends and family. When Valentin threatens to kill Ava anyway, a struggle ensues and Nikolas is seemingly shot falling out a window to his presumed death. Ava attempts to seduce Valentin only to attack him and attempt her escape. Once caught she returns to the group and tells her version of events to Nik's devastated mother. Valentin shoots Kevin Collins who comes to Laura's defence during the group's escape.
Valentin decides his plan isn't working and while escaping himself sabotages the group's boat, stranding them on the island until a mysterious woman comes to their aid. Using his alias, Valentin makes his way to Port Charles where he has a one-night stand with Nina Reeves, accidentally leaving behind his phone as he goes off to kidnap his grand nephew Spencer. His plans are foiled when Nina finds the phone and tips off Jason and Spencer's uncle, Sonny Corinthos, allowing PCPD commissioner Jordan Ashford to make the arrest. As Valentin is extradited to Greece, he assures Lulu Spencer and Dante Falconeri he isn't involved in her father's apparent death and he also promises to see Nina again despite her turning him in.
Valentin resurfaces in October 2016 to confront his ex-lover Claudette Beaulieu. On Halloween, Valentin claims the Cassadine fortune, starting with the Cassadine home Wyndemere. Valentin also appeals to his sister Alexis to help prove the legitimacy of his claim on the family fortune. He pays a visit to Nina, claiming no ill will toward her for sabotaging his attempt to kidnap Spencer, insisting he was so taken with her he lost his head. He promises to visit again, insisting they feel a mutual attraction, however Nina denies this.
Meanwhile, WSB Agent Anna Devane puts Valentin on notice that he will regret causing trouble for anyone in Port Charles. He retorts with a Latin phrase which startles Anna as it is used by WSB agents; it means "open your eyes". He then shocks Anna's stepson Griffin Munro by claiming Charlotte – Griffin's daughter with Claudette – is actually his child, even agreeing to a DNA test. Valentin discovers Nina's interest in children when he finds her reading a book of baby names. As he leaves, he encourages her to read the page containing his own name, linking him to Valentine's Day and love.
With the help of her colleague Diane Miller, Alexis discovers Mikkos had changed his will before his death, willing the family fortune to his oldest living male heir, Valentin. Anna and Griffin unsuccessfully try to keep Charlotte away from Valentin, but he is awarded custody by the courts and moves into Wyndemere, all the time hinting at a connection to Anna she can't place. Laura leaves Wyndemere in disgust, and although Valentin offers to let her stay, with a loaded comment about the two being family, she leaves anyway. Nina discovers Valentin is actually the father of Charlotte, the lost little girl who appeared in her office. They bond over their mutual dislike of Ava and Charlotte's mother, Claudette, due to Ava having stolen Nina's husband and Claudette having deceived Nina's brother Nathan about Charlotte's paternity.
Valentin begins to pursue Nina romantically, the two sleeping together. Nina asserts she sees a vulnerable, good side to Valentin and adores his daughter Charlotte, a little girl she now believes is motherless after the alleged death of Claudette, who was last seen boarding a plane with Valentin. In 2020, following Nikolas' return the previous year, it is revealed Valentin is not Mikkos' son, but in fact Helena's and his brother Victor's.
On October 8, 2021, it was revealed that Victor Cassadine is actually Valentin's father making him a true Cassadine after all. Wyndemere should
now return to Valentin.
Development
Creation and casting
In late September 2009, it was announced that Matt Borlenghi, best known to daytime viewers for his portrayal of Brian Bodine on All My Children had been cast in the role of Valentin Cassadine. Borlenghi expressed his excitement about joining the cast, admitting that he always wanted to work on the series; "I can't imagine anywhere I'd rather be right now" he continued. The actor further stated "I don't know the extent of my stay, but I can only hope it's long enough for me to hang my shingle up and get down and dirty with Valentin." However, the character of Valentin seemed to have been abandoned completely until 2013, when it was rumored that daytime actor Vincent Irizarry had been hired as a recast. Borlenghi took to Twitter with "Wasn't enough that I got Franco'd before? Hurts." Then head writer Ron Carlivati denied the rumors immediately, claiming that Borlenghi had no reason to be upset. Borlgenhi released a statement in which he explained that the false news "opened an old wound."On June 16, 2016, Soap Opera Digest reported that another All My Children alumnus James Patrick Stuart known for his portrayal of Will Cortlandt would debut in July. Soaps in Depth reported that Stuart would debut as Theo on July 8. "I get bored easily and I love a smorgasbord", the actor said. So when his agent informed him about General Hospital, Stuart couldn't turn it down. At the time, "I was bouncing between soccer games with my children and all of a sudden" Stuart's agent contacted him about Frank Valentini's interest in him for the role. Stuart consulted with his wife who encouraged him to meet with the producers. "The role that they were talking about was so fun, it just seemed like it would be exactly the way that I would want to go back." The only catch was that Stuart had to cancel a trip to Hawaii that conflicted with taping dates. The casting reunites Stuart with his former All My Children co-star Genie Francis as well as Jon Lindstrom, the husband of his former co-star and close friend Cady McClain. While he was flattered to have been handpicked for the role, Stuart credits his close friends Ricky Paull Goldin and Michael E. Knight with convincing him to sign on. "To have the chance to get back and do it again has been really yummy" the actor said of his return to daytime. When asked if he would commit to the series long term during his second stint, Stuart joked "Right now, definitely dating."