Adonis Caleb "Donnie" Grayson (né Talbot) is a fictional character from the original series, Generations of Jericho. Created as one of the main characters of the origin series If Tomorrow Comes, Adonis is one of the central characters in the revamped adaptation. Adonis is introduced on May 9, 2002 and written out on January 13, 2012 after 10 years. The character returned for a month long stint from November 18 to December 28, 2012. After a two year absence, Adonis is reintroduced on April 16, 2014. After a two year stint, he is written out again on March 31, 2016. Following a year long absence, Adonis returned on April 30, 2017. Four years later, Adonis is written out on March 21, 2021. On January 1, 2022, the character was reintroduced again. For a decade, the character's most significant plots include his struggle to find his place in his new family and his failed romances with his several love interests. In a very brief amount of time, Adonis becomes one of the cornerstones of the series as he is a linchpin character in the show's mythology.
Adonis is introduced in 2002 estranged adopted brother of Joey Grayson, the daughter of Nicholas Grayson and Amelia Kane, who later becomes the family's bodyguard. It is later revealed that Donnie is also adopted and he is Amelia's son with her ex-husband. The revelation drives a wedge between Nick and Amelia which ultimately leads to their divorce. In the summer of 2005, Donnie becomes a father when his ex-wife gives birth to twins Rushon and Brandy. Thanks to Rushon's birthmark, Donnie is revealed to be Nick's son, the product of the affair that destroyed Nick's first marriage. In 2012, Adonis, along with his sisters Joey and Marina fulfill a 60 year old D'Angelo family prophecy when their grandfather Dante sacrifices himself to protect them. Adonis is written out in 2012 when he joins the FBI. Adonis is reintroduced to the canvas in 2014 indefinitely.
Adonis is also known for his many romances. Upon introduction, Donnie is involved in love triangle with mother and daughter, Chelsea Orion and Sheridan Montgomery. Next Donnie falls for mafia princess Karina Orion though he gets stuck in a marriage of convince with Imani Babatunde when she gets pregnant with his child. The marriage falls apart after Imani suffers a miscarriage and he reunites with Karina. However, Donnie and Karina's brief marriage falls apart when it is revealed to be a business decision for Karina and her family. In addition, Karina's lie of omission about Donnie's son Zane also drives a wedge between them. In 2009, Donnie enters into an unlikely marriage with his ex-girlfriend Samira Kumar, who was actually hired to kill him, and the two fall in love. The marriage produces two children, Caleb and Leela.
Storylines[]
2002–2012[]
On May 9, 2002, 20 year old Donnie Zane breaks up a fight at a local night club and is shocked to find that it's his father, Buster Talbot. Buster reveals he lost custody of Donnie's sister Joey to her biological parents Nicholas and Amelia Grayson and he needs his help to get her back and Donnie refuses. Buster later shows up at Donnie's apartment with Donnie's aunt Estelle Hawkins who reveals they plan to marry so they can regain custody of Joey. Donnie doesn't think any court would take Joey away from her birth parents and Buster shocks Donnie when he reveals that Nick Grayson killed Donnie's mother, Simone. While Adonis doesn't approve of the wedding feeling as if his father and aunt are betraying his late mother, he attends because he wants to see Joey. Trying to cope with the news that the sister whom he has longed for is not his sister, Adonis has a drunken one-night-stand with an older woman called Sheri. After he saves Amelia from a botched mob hit, Nick offers him a job as Amelia's new bodyguard and invites him stay in the guest house at the Grayson estate. Meanwhile, Adonis confronts Buster about his true reason for filing for custody of Joey — her trust fund. At Estelle's insistence, Donnie reluctantly agrees to testify on their behalf at Joey's custody hearing. Donnie begins dating Chelsea Orion after he helps her change a flat tire. Donnie shocks the Graysons when he seemingly turns on his father and tells the court that Buster only wants to get his hands on Joey's trust fund. Estelle is devastated when they lose their custody battle and blames her husband. Meanwhile Buster is relieved that Donnie didn't expose the truth about Nick's involvement in Simone's murder as they haven't found definitive proof. Nick fires Adonis upon discovering he is trying to implicate Nick in his late mother's murder. Nick blackmails him into leaving town threatening to expose his criminal past which leads to Buster disowning him.
Adonis returns to town in 2003, having obtained his private investigator's license when he is hired to investigate the 5 year old murder of Palmer Queen, a crime that Nick's son Terence has already been convicted of. He ingratiates himself to Amelia this time when he accompanies her to a charity gala and rescues her alcoholic mother Katheryn from public humiliation. Adonis and Chelsea elope on June 27. At Katheryn's annual 4th of July party, Chelsea introduces him to her parents, including her mother, Sheridan, whom Adonis recognizes as his one-night-stand, Sheri. Meanwhile, Donnie's investigation exonerates Nick's son Terence, but implicates Terence's wife, Carly. On Nick's birthday, Carly is officially arrested for Palmer's murder leaving Joey torn between her parents and her brother. After Terence skips town and severs all ties with the Graysons, Nick takes out a restraining order against him to keep him away from Joey. However, Donnie and Joey arrange secret meetings with help from Stella and Joey's tutor, Monica Thompson. After divorcing Chelsea, Donnie pursues a romance with Sheridan, but after a few more flings, she ultimately rejects him for Chelsea's sake. When Donnie accompanies Monica to the annual Halloween party for another meeting with Joey, he is shot by Joey's older sister Nikki Mitchell who blames him for Terence's estrangement from the Graysons. Adonis wakes up to the revelation that Amelia is his birth mother who gave him away shortly after birth. While Amelia welcomes Donnie with open arms, Nick blames his stepson for wrecking his children's lives. At Joey's request, Donnie attends Thanksgiving dinner with Amelia and Katheryn, along with Buster. He is shocked when his biological father Gary Fox suddenly arrives. Amelia is furious with her mother for inviting Gary without her knowledge.
In 2004, Katheryn and Amelia invite Donnie to live with them at the Fox estate, but he is hesitant. Meanwhile, Gary and Donnie spend time together and Gary reveals that Amelia had been in hospitalized when he was born. When Buster discovers Katheryn has added Joey to her will, he urges Donnie to forge a relationship with the Fox family while he still has a chance. Donnie isn't interested in money but Buster helps him see that Katheryn just wants a relationship with her grandson. Donnie is relieved when Carly is released when it is revealed that she killed Palmer in self-defense. At Monica's encouragement, Donnie familiarizes himself with his family's dark history, including Amelia's dissociative identity disorder which led to her giving him away. Katheryn plays matchmaker when she sets Donnie and Monica on a date to the Dinah and Livvie Love Valentine's Day concert. Monica and Adonis grow closer when she helps him care for his elderly grandfather Rufus after he suffers a stroke. After nearly sleeping together, Adonis ask Monica to take things slow as he hasn't had much luck in relationships. Donnie confesses that he was falsely accused and convicted of rape in high school. Meanwhile, he is faced with rejection from Gary's 16 year old son Danny. In October 2004, Donnie goes back to Atlanta to finalize the sale of his house and ask Monica to take time and rethink a serious relationship with him. Donnie returns on Thanksgiving and with pressure from Buster, he confronts Nick about his affair with Simone. Not only does Nick deny the affair, he would've been in Jericho City at the time of her murder. Later, Nick's brother Razor admits that he had the affair with Simone.
In 2005, Adonis reveals to Monica that he is still married to his first wife and they slept together when they met again. While they have officially filed for divorce, it will take at least a year before everything is finalized. Despite all of his baggage, Monica is adamant about pursuing a romance with Adonis. Meanwhile, Donnie renews his efforts to find Simone's killer, he stretches himself thin trying to keep Buster from going rogue and ruining his investigation. Rufus decides to move to a longterm rehab facility much to Donnie's dismay. While clearing out his belongings, Rufus gives Adonis an antique hunting knife. In the spring of 2005, Donnie and Monica consummate their relationship and move in together. In June 2005, Estelle shocks Adonis when she identifies the knife as the one that was used to kill Simone. Rufus reveals he gave it to Buster on his wedding day. Donnie ask Estelle to keep quiet about their suspicions while he has the knife tested for DNA and fingerprints. However, she gets into a fight with Buster and accuses him of killing Simone, which he denies. After a partial fingerprint and Simone's blood are found on the knife, Razor gets arrested for the murder. Razor admits he was too high to remember anything. Estelle recalls that Simone's car went missing the night of her murder which is why police assumed it was robbery gone wrong. Nick & Joey accompany Donnie to the police station where he accuses Buster of killing Simone and claims Buster told him he bought a new car that fit the description of Simone's car that disappeared after she died. Donnie agrees to wear a wire to Katheryn's 4th of July party and once Buster gets drunk, Donnie gets him to admit that he took Simone's car which gives the police enough to arrest Buster. Donnie gets Buster to make a full confession: he killed Simone and framed Razor. Adonis is shocked when he is contacted by his divorce attorney who reveals that his wife is heavily pregnant and due to give birth any day. Donnie goes to Atlanta, and this time takes Monica with him. The couple returns with twins Rushon and Brandy in August 2005 and reveal that he has taken custody of the twins while his their mother recovers from a c-section. In November 2005, Amelia shocks Donnie, Gary and Nick when she suggest that Nick is Donnie's father after she sees the Grayson birthmark on Rushon's bellybutton. While Donnie admits that he also had the same birthmark as a child, he requests a paternity test just to be sure. Donnie and Monica split because she feels he isn't stable enough for a relationship right now. Donnie is so overwhelmed when Rufus suffers a stroke and by the news of his paternity that he has a drunken one-night-stand with Karina Orion.
In 2006, Donnie takes the Grayson name in an effort to distance himself from Buster. Meanwhile, he gains sole custody of the twins in his divorce when his ex-wife disappears. On Valentine's Day, after going to his grandfather Terry's wedding alone, Donnie reluctantly attends a speed dating event and runs into Karina. While they click, he leaves with Imani Babatunde, and they have a one-night-stand. Later, Kay sets Donnie up on a disastrous blind date and he runs into Karina afterward and ask her out instead. However, the romance is stalled when Imani reveals she's pregnant and plans to terminate because she isn't married, and Karina agrees. Donnie confides in Joey, Nick and Amelia, that he was already forced to walk away from a child and can't do it again. After he splits with Karina, Donnie pleads with Imani to call off the abortion. After Imani's adamant refusal to give birth to a child out of wedlock, Donnie impulsively proposes and they elope on April 4. The newly weds bond over the pregnancy making Karina extremely jealous. Karina attempts to seduce Donnie but he rejects her refusing to jeopardize his relationship with his child. He is blindsided when Imani suddenly request a divorce but Donnie in turn professes his love. Nick chastises Donnie realizing he is lying and begs Donnie to learn from his mistakes with his first wife. At Kay's 4th of July party, Karina exposes that Imani is drunk and accuses her of lying about the pregnancy. Imani admits that she suffered a miscarried. Donnie is furious with her for lying and she calls him out for lying about his feelings for her. Nick enlist Donnie's help to get Nikki and her children, Trey and Raven away from her drug addict husband Jeremy. After an amicable divorce from Imani, and a hefty settlement from Donnie's trust fund, he reunites with Karina. Soon Donnie opens up to Amelia and Katheryn about the rape accusation and reveals his accuser gave birth to his son and after Buster pulled strings to get him house arrest, her criminal family ran him out of town. In December 2006, Amelia's oldest brother Santo D'Angelo shocks the entire D'Angelo family when he reveals the patriarch Dante D'Angelo is alive and back in town. Though comatose, Dante's presence puts everyone on edge as his enemies could take advantage of his vulnerable state.
In 2007, Adonis goes back to London after Buster is attacked in prison. Buster reveals Donnie's accuser is out for blood. Upon his return, Karina's uncle Dino Zeroni pressures Donnie & Karina to get married. Donnie bonds with his sister Nikki on her 30th birthday when he comforts her after Jeremy files for divorce. Donnie confronts Jeremy who reveals that Tony D'Angelo is blackmailing him. Donnie visits his grandfather and introduces himself and reveals Tony wants him dead just as Dante wakes up and reveals that Tony is actually André. André takes him hostage and imprisons Donnie at the D'Angelo Estate along with Nikki's estranged mom Yolanda. They escape together and Donnie breaks into André's penthouse where finds the real Tony. In October 2007, he is arrested for André's murder as he was the last person to see him alive. When Amelia learns André ordered Donnie's execution before he died, Nick helps him escape to London where he is reunited with his ex-girlfriend Genna Fallon. Horrified at the sight of him, Genna begs him to leave but they are interrupted by a little boy and a bouncer who kicks Donnie out. He visits his childhood home only to be abducted by armed thugs, beaten nearly to death, and delivered to Fallon's Pub, and Genna. Realizing he's going to die, Donnie is shocked when Genna claims that he didn't rape her in high school, and claims she identified the wrong man. He goes to the hospital for treatment and Genna offers to cover his medical bills but Donnie refuses. Before they part way, Genna reveals that she has changed her original statement and Donnie will soon be exonerated. Unfortunately, upon his return, Donnie is arrested for André's murder and sent to prison until the trial. Donnie is devastated to learn Nick was killed by André's henchman after they switched clothes. Nikki marries André's son EJ hoping to facilitate a truce between the Grayson and D'Angelo families and Donnie is exonerated when someone else suddenly confesses to André's murder. Dino later tells Donnie that he bribed a terminally ill cancer patient to confess to André's murder. Dino orders Donnie to marry Karina or else he'll go back to prison. Donnie reluctantly proposes to Karina at midnight on Christmas.
At the engagement party in 2008, Karina introduces Genna as her best friend and when Genna pretends they are meeting for the first time, Donnie goes along with it. Karina reveals she's pregnant and Donnie confides in Genna that he is being forced into the marriage. Donnie shares a happy reunion with Nick is revealed to be alive when EJ rescues him from André's dungeon. Donnie tells Nick about Genna changing her statement. When Donnie meets Genna's son Zane Stewart at the arcade with his nephew Trey, Donnie confronts Genna who reveals he was named by Donnie's deceased best friend. When Donnie and Karina are married in May 2008, he is shocked when a very much alive Chase Stewart arrives at the wedding reception. After the honeymoon, Donnie and Karina go on a double date with Chase and Karina. Donnie is horrified to find Karina is drunk and she admits that she faked the pregnancy on Dino's orders. Donnie is further shocked when Karina reveals Dino and André had been working with Genna's father Seth Krueger to establish an international crime syndicate and the marriage was part of the deal. Donnie demands to know Genna plans to hold up her family's end of the deal and she confesses that he is Zane's father. When Genna tells Chase about their plans to tell Zane the truth, Chase kidnaps him. Donnie and Genna track them to a local train station where Donnie takes a bullet protecting Zane from Chase. Before he is rushed into emergency surgery, Donnie tells Zane he is his father. Donnie awakens to find his family has taken desperate measures to keep him in town as a bitter Karina tried to take him out of town to keep him away from Genna and Zane. While in college, Donnie applied to the FBI and was rejected due to the rape conviction. The Graysons appeal to the bureau to keep him in the country. After Donnie gets Karina to agree to the divorce, he is abducted from the hospital on Halloween by his childhood best friend Samira Kumar who had been posing as a nurse. At her safe house, Samira admits she was hired by an unknown party to kill him. While she won't go through with her assignment, Samira wants Donnie to fake his death. Donnie refuses to walk away from Zane and gets Samira to deliver a letter to his school. With his divorce final, Donnie begs Samira to call off the hit so he can be with his son. As they weigh their options, Donnie and Samira reminisce about their childhood. Out of desperation, Donnie appeals to the FBI for help and they suggest the duo marry as they think it will force Samira's boss out of hiding. He is against it fearing it will further complicate his fragile relationship with Zane. However, when Donnie and Samira are still stuck in the safe house for Christmas, Donnie gets desperate and agrees to the union.
2009[]
With the help of the bureau, Donnie and Samira organize a small ceremony in January 2009 and their families are invited to attend. The wedding upsets Samira's father Muhammad Kumar in particular as he has recently lost his wife and Samira was nowhere to be found due to her assignment. Nick and Amelia force Donnie to tell them the truth about the marriage and Nick sets out to have it annulled but Donnie talks him out of it. He later tells Katheryn about their past and admits that he did have a crush on Samira growing up.
2010[]
2011[]
2012[]
2014–2016[]
2017–2021[]
2022–present[]
Development[]
Creation and background[]
Lloyd's life has always been filled with turmoil. But, after arriving in Crystal Springs, his life would never be the same. Lloyd came to meet up with his parents Tony & Jessica in C. S. Lloyd was suffering from Leukemia at the time and needed a bone marrow transplant. After his mom's friend Nik, gave him the transplant that saved his life, the two form a close bond, almost like a father and son. After Lloyd is shot and falls into a coma, Nik reveals to him that he is really his father. After fully recovering, Lloyd has bad night, and sleeps with his cousin's girlfriend, Monique, the two have son name Jason. Lloyd finds love with Jennifer Martinez and they married in 2009. They have a son, Eric.
Adonis is based on the character of Lloyd Antonio, one of the characters from the origin series, If Tomorrow Comes. As the illegitimate son of mobster Nicolas Walker and mob princess Jessica Antonio, Lloyd finds himself in the middle of two warring families, the Walkers and the Santiagos. He also must deal with Tony Valderama, the man that raised him waging war against his biological father. In the original series, Lloyd has six half siblings and is the father of three children. The character was also featured in a romantic triangle with his first cousin, Michael Thomas, and his wife Monique Thomas. In the origin series, the character was named for R&B singer, Lloyd.
The character was adapted several times, originally known as Chase Evans and later Harper Jones. Ultimately, the character was named Adonis Talbot named for Michael B. Jordan's character in Creed. In flashbacks, Adonis's birth and conception are explained 22 years after his birth. Amelia leaves town in May 1980 to find Nick living in New York. Unbeknownst to Nick, he is interacting with Amelia's alter – Camelia whom seduces Nick as his wife Yolanda walks in on them. After another alter, Lia kills Sterling Fox, Amelia is committed to the Rosewood Psychiatric Institute in England by her estranged husband, Gary Fox. Gary's stepmother Katheryn discovers she is pregnant and conspires with Amelia's mother Cynthia, and another alter, Thia, to put the child up for adoption. Amelia, now as a fourth alter, Princess, gives birth on March 16, 1981 and rejects the child. After Thia forges Amelia's signature to relinquish her parental rights, the child is adopted by Buster and Simone, two employees at the hospital. In 1987, Simone adopts a daughter, Joelle against Buster's wishes, and they separate in early 1990 because of it.
As a child, Donnie befriends Indian exchange student, Samira Kumara whom he is madly in love with. However, she moves away when Donnie is 6 years old. Soon Donnie makes friends with Chase Stewart and Rushon "Rush" Zane and the trio are inseparable. As a teen, Donnie is quite the ladies man but the brief dalliances don't last long. Rush's girlfriend Genna Fallon always says Donnie would be a great catch for someone but he isn't interested in anything serious. In 1997, a 16 year old Donnie steals a bike to go joy riding. Unbeknownst to Donnie, the bike belongs to a local gang and they are looking for him. When they find Rush with the bike instead, he is stabbed to death. Devastated by Rush's death, Adonis and Genna have one-night-stand at a party. Chase finds Genna crying in bed and when she says Donnie hurt her, Chase accuses Donnie of raping Genna and she doesn't deny it. While he maintains his innocence, a paternity test for Genna's unborn child does not help. When Donnie is convicted, Buster uses his law enforcement connections to keep Donnie out of prison. However, Donnie isn't safe and must leave the country to avoid execution at the hands of Genna's vengeful family. Donnie relocates to the United States in 1999 where he enters into a Green card marriage with Tiffany Mitchell.
Personality[]
Relationships[]
References[]
- ^ Walker, Nicolas (January 17, 2010). Crystal Springs Society: Lloyd Walker-Antonio. If Tomorrow Comes. Retrieved on May 20, 2014.
- ^ If Tomorrow Comes|Grayson James (May 12, 2013). Retrieved on May 12, 2013.
External Links[]
- Walker, Nicolas. Adonis Grayson. Generations of Jericho. BC Universe Productions.