In 2007, Carey turned down the show's offer to place him on recurring status. The character subsequently died offscreen in August 2007, coinciding with the series' 9999th and 10,000th episodes, which brought back characters from the show's past to attend the funeral. In November 2007, Carey briefly reprised the role for three episodes in new scenes in which Asa's video will is played for the family. On July 16, 2008, Carey briefly returned as Asa appearing as a ghost to his son Bo. On July 21, 2008 Carey returned again as Asa appearing in Heaven when he talked to Viki.

Character history

In 1999, it is revealed that Asa's on-again off-again wife Renee Divine had conceived a son by Asa when they had been involved in their youth, and had put the boy up for adoption. Max Holden poses as the missing heir, but Asa and Renee's real son turns out to be Ben Davidson, adopted brother of Sam Rappaport and love interest of Asa's former daughter-in-law Viki Carpenter.

In October 2006, David Vickers finds out that Asa once had an affair with David's mother, Emma Bradley, but Asa denies it. Later, David's brother Dr. Spencer Truman claims to be Asa's son, but a DNA test proves otherwise. A conversation between Asa and his longtime butler Nigel Bartholomew-Smythe hints that there is more to the story.

On August 16 2007, Asa dies in his sleep and is found by Nigel. Grandsons Cord Roberts, Kevin Buchanan and Joey Buchanan (as well as ex-wife Alex Olanov) return temporarily for his funeral. On August 17 2007 Nigel tells a returned Max Holden that Asa does indeed have another son: David Vickers. Max advises Nigel to wait to tell the rest of the family, and an eavesdropping Alex overhears. She begins a search for David herself.

Asa's will is executed in November 2007 as a video is played featuring the Buchanan patriarch. He bequeaths his mansion to former daughter-in-law Nora Hanen, who has been living there with her and Bo's son Matthew since her house burned down; he also leaves his yacht, the Jeb Stuart, and his tropical island, St. Blaize's, to loyal servant Nigel. Asa also notes the existence of his other son, though not his identity, and finally states that he will not be splitting Buchanan Enterprises amongst his heirs and taking the chance that the company will be split up or partially sold. He instead challenges the family to run it as a cohesive team and, if the company's stock rises, be rewarded handsomely in a year. Alex appears, married to an in-the-dark David, and blackmails Nigel with the facts of David's parentage. Not wanting the Buchanans to discover that con man David is one of them, Nigel gives his inheritance to Alex in exchange for her silence. Meanwhile, Buchanan Enterprises up-and-comer Jared Banks — an admirer of Asa's who is already a favorite of widow Renee and circling Natalie Buchanan romantically — overhears Alex's news and pressures Nigel to pass him off as Asa's heir instead. Nigel does, and Jared feigns disinterest, armed with a lock of David's hair to prove his claim.

The many wives of Asa Buchanan

1. Olympia Buchanan (Unknown-1981, dissolved by her death)
2. Pamela Oliver Stuart (1976, invalid)
3. Samantha Vernon (June 24 1981, invalid)
4. Delila Ralston (February 7 1983-1983, divorced)
5. Becky Lee Abbott (July 11 1983-1983, divorced)
6. Pamela Oliver Stuart (January 20 1986-1987, divorced)
7. Renee Divine (November 30 1988-1992, divorced)
8. Blair Cramer (June 16 1992-1992, divorced)
9. Alex Olanov (November 1994, invalid)
10. Alex Olanov (March 19 1996-1996, divorced)
11. Renee Divine (May 18 1999-2001, divorced)
12. Gabrielle Medina (May 2001-February 2002, divorced)
13. Gretel Rae Cummings (August 2002-February 2003, divorced)
14. Renee Divine (February 14 2004-August 16 2007; dissolved by his death)

Notes and references

External links

• Asa Buchanan bio - ABC.com Internet Archive, 8 July 2007.
• Asa Buchanan profile - SoapCentral.com