Stavares "Steve" Andropoulos and Elizabeth "Betsy" Stewart Andropoulos are fictional characters and a supercouple from the American daytime soap opera As the World Turns, which aired on CBS for nearly 54 years. Steve was portrayed by actor Frank Runyeon, and Betsy was portrayed by actresses Meg Ryan (1982–1984) and later Lindsay Frost (1985–1988). The couple's wedding episode aired on May 30, 1984, attracting approximately 20 million viewers and becoming the second highest-rated hour in American soap opera history.
Storyline
The characters of Steve and Betsy fell in love in 1982. Betsy offered to give Steve her trust fund money to start his own business, but he refused. Steve's brother, Nick, discovered the relationship and suspected Steve was only after Betsy's money. After confronting the couple, Nick suffered a fatal heart attack, extracting a promise from Betsy that she would never marry Steve.
Betsy subsequently married Craig Montgomery after he saved her from an explosion. The marriage was strained by Craig's jealousy, and Betsy eventually fled to Spain. Upon returning to Oakdale, she remained torn between her love for Steve and her commitment to Craig. After becoming pregnant, Betsy believed the child was Craig's and committed to the marriage, though the daughter, Danielle, was later revealed to be Steve's.
Steve was later framed for stealing rare gold coins from Whit McColl and was wanted by police. Betsy helped hide and nurse him back to health when he suffered from blood poisoning and gangrene. During this time, Betsy realized she was still in love with Steve and decided to leave Craig. After giving birth to Danielle, Betsy eventually divorced Craig and married Steve.
The couple's marriage faced financial difficulties. Steve spent lavishly but refused to disclose the source of his money, leading to mounting debt and bankruptcy. After a near-infidelity with Betsy's younger sister Emily, Steve left for Greece. Betsy later learned Steve had been arrested and sentenced to life in a Greek prison for drug trafficking, and she divorced him in 1987. Betsy subsequently left Oakdale in 1988, moving to Wisconsin with her daughter.
Cast
- Meg Ryan and Lindsay Frost – Betsy Stewart
- Frank Runyeon – Steve Andropoulos
- Scott Bryce – Craig Montgomery
- Kim Johnston Ulrich – Diana McColl
- Kathryn Hays – Kim Hughes
- Henderson Forsythe and Patricia Bruder – David and Ellen Stewart
- John Colenback – Dan Stewart
- Kristanna Loken – Danielle (Colleen Broomhall played Danielle as a toddler)
- Nancy Pinkerton – Dorothy Connors
Cultural Impact
Steve and Betsy are widely regarded as one of daytime television's iconic supercouples. Their 1984 wedding episode remains one of the most-watched hours in soap opera history, and the storyline helped launch Meg Ryan's career before she transitioned to film stardom.
