The Quartermaine family is a fictional family from the ABCsoap opera, General Hospital. Created and introduced by Douglas Marland, the wealthy and eccentric family has been a continuous staple[1] on General Hospital since their introduction in the 1970s.[2] The Quartermaines were first introduced in 1977, when Stuart Damon originated the role of Alan Quartermaine.[2] His parents and sister were next to be brought on canvas.
The Quartermaines are notorious for their socialite status as well as their dysfunctional tendencies.[3] Prone to comedic fights, they annually attempt to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner only for it to be ruined and have to order pizza.[4] At Christmas time, the family has been known for their annual Christmas reading at the Hospital's Pediatric Ward Christmas party, ever since the passing of former Chief of Staff Steve Hardy, until the party remained to be aired. In a 1992 interview, Stuart Damon described the family:
Here's a grouping of characters that, over the years, no matter what else has gone on, works. They're well-drawn, and the family is steeped in history. In soap operas, relationships are the things that work.[2]
Once an integral part of major storyline arcs,[5] the Quartermaines have seen a diminishing amount of screen time[6] since 2006, and many characters of the family have died on-screen.[5][7][8] Soap opera gossip website Daytime Confidential named the family to their list of Top 10 Travesties of 2007, stating: "No. 3: The Systematic Extermination of the Quartermaine family."[9] The website speculated head writer at the time Robert Guza, Jr. was to blame, as they stated as No. 10 on their list of Top 10 Rivalries of 2007: "Guza vs. the Quartermaines and Their Fans: No battle on our list, save Viki vs. Dorian, has been fought for as long or as hard as Guza vs. the Quartermaine family and the fans who support them. The actors who portray(ed) Lila (until she died), Edward, and Alan were all fired at least once before fan outrage and campaigns brought them back in some form. The actors who portray(ed) Ned, Lois, Brook Lynn, AJ, Emily and Justus saw their characters written off or killed."[10]
Family members
Characters currently on the show are noted in bold; family members through marriage are in italics. Only current spouses or those married at the time of their death appear here.
Ancestors
Percival Quartermaine - Brother of Constance Quartermaine. Sailed from England to America on the ship the Courage to start a shipping company in the 1700s. When the Courage was attacked and sunk by pirates in 1704 Percival managed to make it to shore.
Constance Quartermaine – Sister of Percival Quartermaine. Engaged to a Spanish nobleman. Presumably died when the Courage sank in 1704.
ELQ (Edward Louis Quartermaine Industries/Enterprises/International) is a multinational conglomerate headquartered in Port Charles. Owned by the wealthy Quartermaine Family, it is one of the largest businesses in the region. Since 1978, Edward Quartermaine has been the sole owner. It is a rival company with nearby Chandler Enterprises and Buchanan Enterprises.
Subsidiaries
Aladdin's Vault — Company which sells server space, acquired in 2002
