North and South (U.S.) / Characters

This is the character sheet for North and South (U.S.).

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The Mains

Orry Main

Played by Patrick Swayze

The South Protagonist of the series. Soldier, Plantation Owner, Mill Owner.

Abled in the Adaptation: In the Novel, Orry loses an arm in the Battle of Churubusco. The TV Orry keeps both arms, the battle injury changed to a crippled leg.
Adaptational Skill: The Book I TV version gives Orry fine swordsmanship.
The Alcoholic: Does the Drowning My Sorrows bit several times in Book I, especially in 1860. Gets cleaned up by December.
Cassandra Truth: Decries his fellow Southerners for dooming themselves by Secession. Nobody listens. Warns George about Elkanah Bent. George does not listen.
Disney Death: In the Book II TV version, Orry is seemingly killed by cannon during the Third Battle of Petersburg (April 2 1865). Fortunately, a few weeks later, George locates Orry among the wounded.
Heroic B So D: Several times in Book I.
Race Against the Clock: In the Book II Novel, Orry tells Ashton and James to leave Richmond in ‘’one hour’’ before arrest for their roles in the conspiracy to remove Jefferson Davis. When Ashton pleads for more time, Orry repeats his ultimatum with greater emphasis. This is fulfilled.
Really Gets Around: In the Book I Novel, Orry works up a discreet-but-not-secret string of sexual relationships with women. This was done to establish to the community a satisfying answer to his whereabouts, and not make a connection to any time he and Madeline coincidently made a departure from their plantations, thus protecting their secret meetings at Salvation Chapel.
Shoot the Dog: Orry decides to kill Runaway Slave Priam. He believes he is doing the right thing, because returning Priam will either lead to him getting physically maimed or execution (the idea to, well, you know, let him escape is out of the question in his mindset). Fortunately, George persuades Orry out of shooting him , allowing him to escape.

Madeline Fabray LaMotte Main

Played by Lelsey Anne-Down

Orry's love interest and future wife.

Adaptational Early Appearance: The Book I Novel had her introduction occur in 1844 during Orry's break from West Point and the eve of her wedding to Justin. The TV version moves her introduction to 1842, before Orry meets George and goes to West Point, setting up two years of romantic build-up.
Sympathetic Adulterer: Madeline's husband Justin is an abusive scumbag, so her affair with Orry, whether purely emotional (like in the Book I novel) or both emotional and physical (in the TV adaptation) is treated with sympathy.

Ashton Main Huntoon

Played by Teri Garber

Orry's treacherous and promiscuous sister.

Even Evil Has Loved Ones: The Heaven and Hell adaptation shows Ashton horrified upon finding her brother dead from being stabbed to death by Bent. She may have wanted to drive Orry and Madeline into the poor house to get Mont Royal back from them, but she never wanted to kill her own brother to do it. Needless to say, her bloodcurdling scream as she charged Bent to kill him in Revenge was a mixture of fury, heartbreak, and love for her brother, despite the bad blood between them because of her actions before and during the Civil War against him and the Hazards.
Expy: Scarlett O'Hara.
Happily Ever Before: The Heaven and Hell adaptation seems to end on a good note between Ashton and Fenway. The novel continues on that Fenway saw her actions as the last straw in their relationship, dumping Ashton.
Marriage of Convenience: Ashton only married James Huntoon because his career potential will place her into a position of wealth and power. Unfortunately, James proves incapable of fulfilling her wishes.
Stay in the Kitchen: She believes that acting like the traditional wife is her way to get wealth and influence. Resents Brett for acting against the convention.

James Huntoon

Played by Jim Metzler

Ashton's cuckolded husband.

Adaptational Attractiveness: Jim Metzler doesn't resemble the paunchy and bespectacled James in the novels.
The Coup: The Book II Novel has James willingly join Lamar Powell's plan to assassinate Davis and take over the Confederacy (when that fails, he goes with Powell to Mexico to form a new Confederacy). Averted in the TV version, where he reluctantly joins, but soon changes his loyalties and informs Davis and Orry about the conspiracy, joining Orry when Davis orders them to bring Bent in to punish him for high treason against the Confederacy.
The Dog Bites Back: In the Book II Novel, James gives Ashton an exquisite revenge for her cheating on him. Escaping separately from her husband to Mexico with (or so she believes) existence of her fortune, Ashton is in possession of a letter from James, promised not to be read until a certain time. Alone in Mexico, Ashton eventually opens the letter and learns that James had taken the opportunity (by Lawful right as her husband) to disperse her fortune to distant relatives and charities, rendering her completely penniless. The TV adaptation indicates that he divorces her in anger for her betrayal of their marriage after she confesses to her adultery with Bent behind Huntoon's back.
Hoist by His Own Petard: His radical views on Southern Rights, which made him popular at the time of Secession, render him a liability for any major position in the Confederate Government, only giving him the employment of a lowly clerk. Getting into an argument with Jefferson Davis renders him a Pariah in Richmond society.
Impoverished Patrician: Has a good name and background, but little money.
Spared by the Adaptation: Gets killed by his wife's lover in the Love & War novel. The TV version last sees him riding away with Ashton, intent on divorcing her for betraying their marriage behind his back.
Too Dumb to Live: In the Book II novel Love & War, James knows Lamar Powell is having an affair with Ashton. Instead of taking this hint as a warning, he still decides to travel with Powell to Mexico, believing that his intelligence and skills make him invaluable for the new Confederacy. Powell kills him.

Brett Main Hazard

Played by Genie Francis

Sister to Orry, Cooper, and Ashton. Wife of Billy Hazard.

Noble Bigot: This becomes Brett's character arc in the Book II Novel. A good and sweet person, Brett still possesses the racism of her Southern upbringing. Her growing friendship with freeman Scipio Brown causes her to overcome this bigotry.
Demoted to Extra: In Book III.
Took a Level in Badass: In the Book II TV adaptation, when Ashton finds Billy and threatens to turn him in to the Confederate authorities to get her Revenge on him spurning her for Brett, Brett suddenly appears to protect her husband and keep Ashton at bay with a pitchfork, showing she was done giving her sister the benefit of the doubt and finally saw just how black-hearted Ashton truly was, now understanding why Orry kicked her out of the family after the first attempt on Billy's life just after they were Happily Married.

Cooper Main

Played by Robert Wagner

Brother to Orry, Ashton, and Brett.

Adaptational Late Appearance: The Book III TV version.
Adapted Out: A major character in the first two novels, their TV adaptations omit him, giving some of his characteristics and actions to other characters.

Charles Main

Played by Lewis Smith (Book I & Book II), Kyle Chandler (Book III)

Tillet's nephew and cousin to Orry, Cooper, Ashton, and Brett. Soldier. Becomes the South protagonist.

Ascended Extra: Goes from a supporting character in Book I to the South protagonist in Book III.
Black Sheep: Charles starts out as this, his rebellious nature making him a handful to the family. Fortunately, Orry gives Charles his attention, and teaches him to become a gentleman.
Parental Neglect: Is missing from his son Gus' life for much of his early childhood.
Shell-Shocked Veteran: Becomes this in Book II and III as a result of the major battles he fought in during the Civil War. The TV adaptation shows those fights to include the bloody Battle of Antietam and the Siege of Petersburg, leading to Charles being with Lee's Army of Northern Virginia when they surrender to Grant's Army of the Potomac to end the Civil War.

Tillet Main

Played by Mitchell Ryan

The Patriarch of the Main family. Father of Orry, Cooper, Ashton, and Brett. Husband of Clarissa. Uncle of Charles.

Killed Offscreen: In the TV version of Book I, the Time Skip to 1854 begins with his funeral.

Clarissa Gault Main

Played by Jean Simmons

The Matriarch of the Main Family. Mother of Orry, Cooper, Ashton, and Brett. Husband of Tillet. Aunt of Charles.

Adaptational Badass: The Novel version suffers her husband's death and loses her mind for the remainder of her life. The TV version maintains her wits, and at one point saves Mont Royal from destruction by gun-threatening some Union Soldiers.
Sanity Slippage: In the Book I Novel, the recently widowed Clarissa devotes herself to creating a Family Tree Parchment. She devotes all time to its creation, abandoning all her plantation responsibilities, constantly reworking it again and again, leaving nothing but a mess. She loses her mind.

The Hazards

George Hazard

Played by James Read

The North Protagonist. Soldier and Factory Owner.

Adaptation Deviation: George in Book III. After Constance's murder, the Novel has George suffer Heroic B So D and leave the country for a bit until he recovers. The TV version has him motivated with Revenge, becoming Team Member in the Adaptation with Charles as he hunts down Bent.
The Charmer: In the TV version, his first scene is with his arms around two women. Becomes Ladykiller in Love when he meets Constance and turns Happily Married.

Constance Flynn Hazard

Played by Wendy Kilbourne

George's Irish-Catholic wife. Mother of (in the novels) William & Patricia, and (in the series) Hope.

Beware the Nice Ones: Has done her best to be civil to her hateful sister-in-law Isabel. However, after a train accident, Isabel criticizes Constance for her efforts in saving her twin sons (of whom she was too busy panicking to give any concern). Constance finally yells back at her.

Stanley Hazard

Played by Jonathan Frakes

Older brother to George, Virgilia, and Billy. Factory worker and politician.

Overshadowed by Awesome: Lives under George's Shadow.

Isabel Truscott Hazard

Played by Wendy Fulton (Book I), Mary Crosby (Book II), and Deborah Rush (Book III)

Stanley's ambitious wife.

Conspicuous Consumption: Wishes to show off her wealth, especially during the War.
Everything's Sparkly with Jewelry: Has Stanley buy her necklaces of rubies and diamonds.
Never My Fault: In the Novel, their private train car gets smashed in a crash. As a fire rages, Isabel gets hysterical, abandoning her twin sons. Constance risks life and limb rescuing the children. Does Isabel thank her? No. Instead she yells at Constance for endangering her sons.

Virgilia Hazard Grady

Played by Kirstie Alley

Sister of Stanley, George, and Billy. An abolitionist and nurse.

Adaptational Consent: Subverted. The Book II Novel has Virgilia attracted to Congressman Sam, several times making advances to show she is interested in a relationship, with Sam turning her down because of his reputation (or at least giving her signals that he is interested but that it must be confidential). When Virgilia gets into trouble, she seeks Sam's help, entering a sexual relationship by consent. In the TV version, it is Sam who makes the advances, with Virgilia turning him down due to his marriage. When she gets into trouble, she seeks Sam's help and enters a sexual relationship with him, only here it is Consensual Rape in exchange for protection.

Billy Hazard

Played by John Stockwell (Book I), Parker Stevenson (Book II)

Youngest brother to Stanley, George, and Virgilia. Husband of Brett. Soldier and Engineer.

Demoted to Extra: In the novel version of Book III. The adaptation has him Put on a Bus.

Maude Hazard

Played by Inga Swenson

Matriarch of the Hazard family. Mother of Stanley, George, Virgilia, and Billy.

Spared by the Adaptation: Passes away near the end of the first novel. The TV version has her alive and well in the final episode of Book II.

Other

Elkanah Bent

Played by Philip Casnoff

Orry and George's West Point classmate, and the Main Antagonist of the series.

Adaptational Attractiveness: Mainly because the TV Bent is a Composite Character with the handsome Lamar Powell, Philip Casnoff carries the latter's appearance over the former's bloated figure from the novels.
Becoming the Mask: In the Book II Novel, the Northerner Bent becomes a spy, sneaking across the border to Richmond for information (as well as know about the activities of the Mains). There, he learns about Lamar Powell's conspiracy to overthrow Davis. Disillusioned with the North for not recognizing his "destiny," Bent defects and joins the Confederate Conspiracy.
Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In the Book II Novel, Bent turns coward and abandons his position during the Battle of Shiloh, the War's first "Bloodbath" Battle.

Justin LaMotte

Played by David Carradine

Madeline's first husband. Plantation owner.

Dies Differently in Adaptation: The Book II novel Love & War kills him off comically: shot in the buttocks by one of his militia soldiers and dying from the infection. The TV version gives him a more respectable end: kidnaps Madeline, has a faceoff with Orry that ends with him punched out a window and falling to his death.
Stay in the Kitchen: Justin resents and forbids Madeline speaking her mind.

Forbes LaMotte

Played by William Ostrander

Justin's nephew.

Attempted Rape: Does this to Brett after offering her a carriage ride in the rain in 1860. Brett escapes by clawing his face.
Green-Eyed Monster: Considered himself Brett Main's beau, but the girl always had eyes for Billy Hazard.
Like Father, Like Son: Like Uncle, Like Nephew.

Maum Sally

Played by Natalie Cole

Madeline's loyal maid. A Freedman.

Composite Character: The Book I Novel had Nancy the LaMotte House Slave as Madeline's confidante since her marriage. The TV version has Maum Sally take this role.
Death by Adaptation: Maum Sally and her composite partner Nancy survive the novel. Maum went back to New Orleans shortly after Madeline's marriage, and Nancy ran away with forged papers after Madeline's forced confinement. In the TV version, Maum Sally tries to free Madeline but is fatally pushed down the stairs by Justin.

Semaramis

Played by Erica Gimpel

House slave of the Mains.

Priam

Played by David Harris

Abused house slave of the Mains. Brother of Semaramis.

Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: Salem Jones has another slave trick Priam into having too many drinks. Intoxicated, Priam is persuaded into marching into Mont Royal and confront the master during a party. This act of disobedience gets him punished by getting branded in the face.
Big Brother Instinct: Tries to protect his sister from Salem Jones. This makes him a target for Jones.
Humiliation Conga: The abuse Salem Jones puts on Priam (overwork, whippings, a branding) causes him to run away.

Ezra

Played by Beau Billingslea

Slave of the Mains.

Grady

Played by George Stanford Brown

James Huntoon's slave. Husband of Virgilia.

Cuffey

Played by Forest Whitaker

Slave of the Mains.

We Used to Be Friends: Cuffey played with Charles in their childhood. At the end of Book II, they have a fight to the death.

Salem Jones

Played by Tony Frank

Overseer of the Mains.

Augusta Barclay

Played by Kate McNeil

Widowed Southern farmer.

Sam Greene

Played by David Ogden Stiers

Northern Congressman.

Adaptational Early Appearance: Debuts in the Book II novel (in 1862), but the Book I TV version shows him taking an interest in Virgilia as early as 1848, later springing her from an asylum in 1860, and using his influence to get her Nurse position in 1861.
Adaptational Villainy: The Novels had his affair with Virgilia as consensual on her part; the TV series has Sam demand Concensual Rape on Virgilia, promising in turn to drop the criminal charges levied against her. He soon gains positive evidence that can drop the more criminal charge, but decides to keep this secret for practically a year, continuing to force Virgilia to be his mistress. This leads to his Death by Adaptation by Virgilia when she finds out.
Adaptation Name Change: His last name is Stout in the novels.

Burdetta Halloran

Played by Morgan Fairchild

Southern widow.

Gold Digger: Marries a rich older husband and inherits his fortune.
Riches to Rags: Living in Richmond with its constant economic problems and price increases deplete her fortune.
Woman Scorned: This motivates her to inform Orry about Powell/Bent's actions in both the novel and the series.

Rafe Baudeen

Played by Lee Horsley

Southern Gentleman.

Expy: Rhett Butler.
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Protects Madeline from Elkanah Bent. Bent fatally shoots him.

Madame Conti

Played by Elizabeth Taylor

Bordello Madam.

Nicholas Fabray

Played by Lee Bergere

Madeline's father.

Deathbed Confession: Reveals to Madeline that her mother was mulatto.
Horrible Judge of Character: Justin as a suitor for his daughter.

Gettys

Played by Cliff DeYoung

Klansman.

Death by Adaptation: He is captured and arrested, his fate unknown. In TV version he gets shot.

Characters / North and South (U.S.)

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