Meredith Lord

Meredith Lord
Lynn Benesch as Meredith Lord Wolek
One Life to Live character
Portrayed by	Trish Van Devere (1968) Lynn Benesch (1969–73, 1987)
Duration	1968–73 1987
First appearance	July 15, 1968 (July 15, 1968)
Last appearance	April 1987 (April 1987)
Created by	Agnes Nixon
Introduced by	Doris Quinlan Paul Rauch (1987)
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Other names	Meredith Lord Wolek
Occupation	Socialite Housewife Hospital volunteer
Trish Van Devere as Meredith Lord
Family Lord Father Victor Lord Mother Eugenia Randolph Lord Siblings Tony Lord Victoria Lord Tina Lord Todd Manning Victor Lord, Jr. Spouse Larry Wolek (1970–73) Sons Daniel Wolek Aunts and uncles Clayton-Powell Lord I Gwendolyn Lord Abbott Dorothy Randolph Nieces and nephews Megan Gordon Brian Kendall Kevin Riley Buchanan Joey Riley Buchanan Jessica Buchanan Natalie Buchanan C. J. Roberts Sarah Roberts Starr Manning Danielle Manning Jack Manning Sam Manning First cousins Richard Abbott Clayton-Powell Lord II Powell Lord III (once removed)

Meredith Lord is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live.

Actress Trish Van Devere originated the role of Meredith from the series pilot aired July 15, 1968 through December 1968. Meredith was then recast by series creator and writer Agnes Nixon to Lynn Benesch, who became most associated with the role by playing the character from January 1969 until the character's onscreen death August 8, 1973. Benesch last appeared in the role briefly in April 1987.

The daughter of newspaper tycoon Victor Lord (then played by Ernest Graves) and his deceased wife Eugenia, Meredith (Trish Van Devere) is the younger sister of main protagonist Victoria Lord (then Gillian Spencer). An assertive free spirit, Meredith defies her father by dating upwardly-mobile Dr. Larry Wolek (then Paul Tulley), a suitor not to Victor's liking. Larry was of Polish descent and his siblings had scrimped to put him through medical school, so he did not come from an old moneyed family like the Lords. In the opening months of the serial, Victor pushed Meredith into an engagement with the more socially-acceptable Dr. Ted Hale (played by Terry Logan). Ted accidentally falls down a flight of stairs at Llanview Hospital while in the company of Larry (then Jim Storm). Hospital nurse Karen Martin (Niki Flacks) overheard, from the other side of the closed stairwell door, Larry and Ted argue over Meredith, and Larry threaten Ted. Karen tells this to the police, leading to Larry's arrest.

Larry stands trial for murder and is nearly convicted, but it is revealed he threatened Ted over keeping Meredith's terminal blood disease a secret. Larry is released from custody and hopes to spend time with Meredith in her remaining days. Meredith learns of her condition from Dr. Steve Hardy (John Beradino), in a crossover role as consultant on her case from ABC sister soap General Hospital. Wanting to spare Larry the pain of watching her die, Meredith runs away to San Francisco and leaves him a "Dear John" letter claiming she no longer loves him. Depressed, Larry confides in his former accuser, Karen.