Carla Gray - wikipedia Carla Gray Carla Gray One Life to Live character Portrayed by Ellen Holly Duration 1968 -- 80 1983 -- 85 First appearance October 7, 1968 ( October 7, 1968 ) Last appearance December 1985 ( December 1985 ) Created by Agnes Nixon Introduced by Doris Quinlan Joseph Stuart ( 1983 ) Classification Former, regular Profile Other names Clara Benari Carla Hall Occupation Actress Secretary Lawyer Residence Arizona Family Mother Sadie Gray Spouse Ed Hall ( 1974 -- 79 ) Jack Scott ( 1979 -- 80 ) Adoptive sons Josh Hall Grandsons Jared Hall ( adoptive ) Aunts and uncles Hazel Scott Carla Gray is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, played by actress Ellen Holly. The role appeared from October 1968 through December 1980, and from May 1983 through December 1985. Carla was one of the original characters created for the show and was featured in a ground - breaking and very controversial storyline about race relations. Carla was a lighter - skinned black American passing as a white woman ( specifically an Italian American ). The fact that Holly 's Carla was actually black was not revealed to the show 's audience until about six months after the character debuted. The revelation was a major shock to viewers, and the series was boycotted by several Southern affiliates. Nevertheless, the controversy attracted much attention and ratings shot up for the then - fledgling soap. Contents 1 Carla 's storyline 1.1 1968 -- 74 1.2 1978 -- 83, 1983 -- 85 2 Impact and reception 2.1 Groundbreaking issues 2.2 Wedding of Ed and Carla Hall 3 Bibliography 4 References Carla 's storyline 1968 -- 74 At the series debut of One Life to Live in July 1968, black American former housemaid Sadie Gray ( Lillian Hayman ) lives in an apartment next door to the white Polish American Wolek family and works as the manager of housekeeping for Llanview Hospital. Sadie acts mainly as a confidante for troubled heroine Anna Wolek ( Doris Belack ) but makes several passing references to a daughter that she vaguely says is `` lost to her. '' Anna and the rest of the Woleks assume that Sadie 's daughter Carla is dead. A few months into the series ' run, Dr. Jim Craig ( Robert Milli ) begins treating a young woman named `` Clara Benari, '' whose illness seems to be psychosomatic -- her physical symptoms stem from some unstated mental conflict. Clara, who is assumed to be Italian American, begins working as Jim 's receptionist. Very quickly, Clara begins dating black American resident physician Price Trainor ( Peter DeAnda ). ABC received several angry letters decrying the portrayal of a black man dating a white woman. Ellen Holly and Lillian Hayman as Carla and Sadie Gray, 1969 Carla soon strikes up a friendship with Anna herself. On a visit to the Wolek apartment, Clara runs into Sadie. It is abruptly revealed that `` Clara Benari '' is Carla Gray, who had not died but run away from home at an early age. Sadie is furious to learn that her daughter was pretending to be white, and Carla herself is mortified -- but not enough to end her ruse there and then. Although heartbroken, Sadie does not reveal her daughter 's secret. While Carla and Sadie try to work out their issues, Carla becomes embroiled in a love triangle. Her employer Jim Craig also falls in love with her, and she reciprocates his feelings. Carla divulges her secret to Jim. Not only is he fine with her true racial makeup, he asks her to marry him, allowing her a chance to continue publicly as `` Clara Benari. '' She briefly accepts the proposal but eventually returns his ring, after realizing she would only be marrying him in order to keep perpetuating a lie. After breaking up with Jim, Carla comes clean to everyone in Llanview about her true heritage, including Price. Price is not in the least sympathetic to Carla 's predicament. If anything, he is even angrier than Sadie at Carla 's ruse. The revelation ruins their relationship once and for all. Price leaves town soon afterwards. Carla is able to mend fences with her mother, though. In 1970, Carla finds herself in another love triangle, this time being courted by high - flying politico Bert Skelly ( Herb Davis ), and police lieutenant Ed Hall ( Al Freeman, Jr. ). Bert is a slick career politician who seems to promise the good life that Carla desires. Ed is a blue - collar, `` salt of the earth '' workingman who initially considers Carla to be a stuck - up princess. In time though, Ed proves to be the love of Carla 's life, and the two became engaged in 1973. However, the road to the altar is not an easy one. Ed blames himself for the death of his good friend Meredith Lord Wolek ( Lynn Benesch ), who is killed during a hostage crisis at the Lord family estate, Llanfair at the same time Carla finds her life on the line. This forces them to postpone the wedding as Carla is first nearly killed when her brakes fail and again when she is lured to the jeweler 's by a mysterious man who poses as a policeman. Carla meets with the man, who points a gun at her and tries to kill her until Joe Riley came to her rescue. The man after Carla is revealed to be Lester Brock, the brother of Earl Brock, who blamed Ed for the murder of his brother. Ed and Carla make it to the altar in October and, surrounded by friends and family, they are married. Carla and Ed had also make proceedings to adopt Joshua West ( Laurence Fishburne ), a little street urchin that Ed had taken in while romancing Carla. Josh soon took the surname Hall and became a son to Ed and Carla. 1978 -- 83, 1983 -- 85 By the mid-1970s, airtime for Carla, Ed, and Josh progressively diminished. Toward the end of the decade, Carla did get the spotlight in one more love triangle : she divorces Ed to marry Dr. Jack Scott ( Arthur Burghardt ), a surgeon who operated on Ed to fix his heart condition. Jack, however, was always planned to be a short term character and was finally killed off in 1980. The same year, Carla leaves Llanview. She returns in 1983 and, after having attended law school in her absence, Carla becomes an Assistant District Attorney. In this new position, she later has to prosecute Ed on manslaughter charges for a police drug bust gone wrong. Also during this time, she is involved with another love triangle. Carla still has feelings for Ed, but she falls in love and nearly marries a football star - turned night club owner Alec Lowndes ( Roger Hill ). It takes time for Carla to get over that situation. After Alec is out of the picture, she eventually comes back to Ed. In September 1985, Carla accepts a job in Arizona similar to what she was doing in Llanview. She leaves with her mother Sadie and moves to Arizona. Soon after Ed and their son Josh leave town and move to Arizona to be with them. Sadie dies off - screen in the 1990s. Ed returns to Llanview in 2000 after grandson Jared Hall ( Herve Clermont ) accepts a job practicing law. Impact and reception Groundbreaking issues Before Carla Gray, there had been no lead African American heroes ( or heroines ) on any daytime soap opera. Prior to creating One Life to Live, Agnes Nixon had worked as head writer on the soap operas The Guiding Light and Another World and already attempted to integrate African - American characters and actors into these shows, but with limited success. A CBS soap opera Love Is a Many Splendored Thing featured an Asian American as a leading heroine, but the character was written out after six months on the air. Carla became the first non-white lead to be featured in a front - burning, sustained storyline for several years on a soap opera. Nixon has said she was inspired to create the Carla Gray character after seeing singer Eartha Kitt in a television interview. Kitt expressed her own frustration at facing prejudice from both white and black audiences because of her light - skinned complexion, and the feeling of not belonging to either group ( Even Carla 's surname `` Gray '' reflects the in - between nature of the character, not `` black '' or `` white '' ). According to actress Ellen Holly 's memoir, One Life : An Autobiography of an African American Actress, Nixon based Carla 's mother Sadie on a maid who worked for Nixon 's family when she was growing up much the same way that Sadie on One Life initially worked as a maid for the Lord family. Unfortunately, Holly depicts a backstage story that diverges far from the ideal storyline shown on air. She claims that despite the Carla Gray storyline being a major reason for the series ' early success ( with One Life to Live having the highest number of non-white viewers ), she faced racist attitudes behind the camera. In her book, Holly is vocal about her frustration at her character being pushed into the background to make way for new white characters, and about being summarily dismissed in 1985 by executive producer and writing consultant Paul Rauch. Rauch fired every black lead or recurring character on the show during his tenure. Wedding of Ed and Carla Hall For the full story of Carla Gray and Ed Hall 's relationship, see Ed Hall ( One Life to Live ). Ed Hall and Carla Gray were initially supposed to marry in the summer of 1973. However, several news breaks chronicling the Watergate scandal were preempting daytime television. This forced One Life to Live to push the wedding into the fall. In its place the story of Lester Brock attempted to kill Carla on numerous occasions would test Carla and Ed 's commitment to each other for a final time before they were to marry. Famous pianist and jazz singer Hazel Scott made a deal with the show 's head - writers to make an appearance on OLTL as well. She would play a famous relative of Carla 's who would sing a song to the newlyweds. Hazel Scott wrote the song herself and appeared in the October 3 and 4 episodes of 1973, in which Carla and Ed married. The wedding was also the first on - screen soap opera wedding of two African American characters. Bibliography Warner, Gary. One Life to Live : Thirty Years of Memories. Hyperion Books ( ISBN 0786863676 ) Holly, Ellen. One Life : An Autobiography of an African American Actress. Kodansha America, 1998 ( ISBN 1568361971 ) References ^ Jump up to : `` Episode # 61 ''. BuddyTV. 7 October 1968. Retrieved 1 August 2012. Jump up ^ Schemering, Christopher. The Soap Opera Encyclopedia, September 1985, pg. 158 - 166, ISBN 0 - 345 - 32459 - 5 ( 1st edition ) Jump up ^ Ellen Holly Biography - FilmReference.com One Life to Live Characters In order of generation and first appearance Key : ( Name ) = character 's spouse ( s ), ( a. ) = adopted family member Lord family 1st gen. Victor Lord Eugenia Randolph Irene Manning Dorian Cramer Gwendolyn Lord Jonathan Abbott 2nd gen. Victoria Lord Roger Gordon Joe Riley Steve Burke Clint Buchanan Sloan Carpenter Ben Davidson Charlie Banks Meredith Lord Larry Wolek Tony Lord Cathy Craig Pat Ashley Richard Abbott Becky Lee Hunt Tina Lord Cord Roberts Cain Rogan David Vickers Todd Manning Blair Cramer Téa Delgado Powell Lord III Victor Lord Jr. Blair Cramer Téa Delgado 3rd gen. Daniel Wolek Brian Kendall Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Jessica Buchanan Tico Santi Antonio Vega Nash Brennan Robert Ford Cutter Wentworth C.J. Roberts Megan Gordon Jake Harrison Sarah Roberts Starr Manning Natalie Buchanan Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Jack Manning Sam Manning Danielle Manning 4th gen. Duke Buchanan Bree Brennan Hope Manning - Thornhart Ryder Ford Liam McBain 5th gen. Zane Buchanan Riley family 1st gen. Joe Riley Victoria Lord Eileen Riley Dave Siegel Tom Dennison Carol Harper 2nd gen. Tim Siegel Jenny Wolek Julie Siegel Mark Toland Megan Craig Riley Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Mari Lynn Dennison 3rd gen. Duke Buchanan 4th gen. Zane Buchanan Wolek family 1st gen. Larry Wolek Karen Martin Meredith Lord Karen Wolek Laurel Chapin Anna Wolek Jim Craig Vince Wolek Wanda Webb Jenny Wolek Tim Siegel Brad Vernon Peter Janssen David Renaldi Karen Wolek Larry Wolek 2nd gen. Cathy Craig ( a. ) Tony Lord Daniel Wolek 3rd gen. Megan Craig Riley Cramer family 1st gen. Lou Cramer Sonya Roskova Betsy Cramer 2nd gen. Dorian Cramer Victor Lord Herb Callison Manuel Santi David Vickers Buchanan Mel Hayes Mitch Laurence Melinda Cramer Peter Janssen Addie Cramer David Vickers 3rd gen. Cassie Reynolds Rob Coronal Bo Buchanan Andrew Carpenter Kevin Buchanan Blair Cramer Asa Buchanan Todd Manning Max Holden Victor Lord Jr. John McBain Elijah Clarke Kelly Cramer Joey Buchanan Kevin Buchanan Paul Cramer Babe Carey Adriana Cramer Rex Balsom Langston Wilde ( a. ) 4th gen. River Carpenter ( a. ) Starr Manning Jack Manning Zane Buchanan 5th gen. Hope Manning - Thornhart Buchanan family 1st gen. Wanda Webb Vince Wolek Paul Webb Donna Webb Asa Buchanan Olympia Bonard Delilah Ralston Becky Lee Hunt Pamela Stuart Renée Divine Blair Cramer Alex Olanov Gabrielle Medina Rae Cummings Pike Buchanan Rebecca Buchanan 2nd gen. Clint Buchanan Victoria Lord Lindsay Farrell Nora Hanen Kimberly Andrews Bo Buchanan Delilah Ralston Didi O'Neill Sarah Gordon Cassie Callison Nora Hanen Rafe Garretson ( a. ) Samantha Vernon Delilah Ralston Austin Buchanan Jason Webb Ben Davidson Skye Chandler Victoria Lord 3rd gen. Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan ( a. ) LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan ( a. ) Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Drew Buchanan Sammi Garretson Cord Roberts Tina Lord Kate Sanders Jessica Buchanan Tico Santi Antonio Vega Nash Brennan Robert Ford Cutter Wentworth David Vickers Buchanan Tina Lord Dorian Cramer Alex Olanov Addie Cramer Matthew Buchanan Natalie Buchanan Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Rex Balsom Jennifer Rappaport Adriana Cramer Gigi Morasco 4th gen. C.J. Roberts Sarah Roberts Duke Buchanan Bree Brennan Shane Balsom Liam McBain Ryder Ford Drew Buchanan II 5th gen. Zane Buchanan Minor families Craigs Jim Craig Anna Wolek Cathy Craig Tony Lord Megan Craig Riley Grays Sadie Gray Carla Gray Ed Hall Jack Scott Josh Hall ( a. ) Hazel Scott Jared Hall Vernons Will Vernon Naomi Vernon Brad Vernon Jenny Wolek Connie O'Neill Samantha Vernon Asa Buchanan Rafe Garretson Kristine Karr Sammi Garretson Laurences Mitch Laurence Dorian Cramer Natalie Buchanan Walker Laurence Miles Laurence Sanders Elizabeth Sanders Charles Sanders Judith Russell Kate Sanders Cord Roberts Jamie Sanders Geoff McGrath Medinas Dante Medina Julia Wheaton Gabrielle Medina Al Holden Max Holden Asa Buchanan Debra Medina Al Holden Gordons Roger Gordon Victoria Lord Carrie Gordon Sarah Gordon Bo Buchanan Megan Gordon Jake Harrison Anna Gordon Thornharts Patrick Thornhart Marty Saybrooke Cole Thornhart Hope Manning - Thornhart Gannons Hank Gannon Nora Hanen Sheila Price Rachel Gannon R.J. Gannon Vegas Diego Vega Carlotta Espinoza Cristian Vega Roseanne Delgado Natalie Buchanan Vanessa Montez Antonio Vega Andy Harrison Jessica Buchanan Delgados Téa Delgado Todd Manning Ross Rayburn Victor Lord Jr. Roseanne Delgado Cristian Vega Tomás Delgado Yvette Moreau Baz Moreau Rappaports Sam Rappaport Lindsay Farrell Will Rappaport Jennifer Rappaport Balsoms Roxy Balsom Walter Balsom Max Holden Natalie Buchanan ( a. ) Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Rex Balsom ( a. ) Jennifer Rappaport Adriana Cramer Gigi Morasco Shane Balsom Schuyler Joplin Liam McBain Williamsons Clarence Williamson Lisa Williamson Evangeline Williamson Layla Williamson McBains Thomas McBain Eve McBain Michael McBain Marcie Walsh John McBain Blair Cramer Shannon McBain Gabriel McBain Liam McBain Evanses Richard Evans Phylicia Wenton Shaun Evans Destiny Evans Greg Evans Drew Buchanan II Fords Eddie Ford Inez Salinger Robert Ford Jessica Buchanan Nate Salinger James Ford Ryder Ford O'Neills Harry O'Neill Didi O'Neill Connie O'Neill Joy O'Neill Pete O'Neill Miscellaneous characters Arturo Bandini Nigel Bartholomew - Smythe Babe Carey Skye Chandler Wade Coleman Rae Cummings Marco Dane Echo DiSavoy Billy Douglas Oliver Fish Steve Hardy Carlo Hesser Max Holden Vincent Jones Jeffrey King Kyle Lewis Hannah O'Connor Alex Olanov Allison Perkins Carl Peterson Rama Patel Vimal Patel Ross Rayburn Markko Rivera Talia Sahid Mark Toland Spencer Truman Cutter Wentworth Aubrey Wentworth Full character list 1960s -- 1970s characters 1980s characters 1990s characters 2000s characters 2010s characters Senior cast ( 20 or more years ) Erika Slezak Michael Storm Robert S. Woods Philip Carey Patricia Elliott Robin Strasser Peter Bartlett Hillary B. Smith Kassie DePaiva Executives Creator : Agnes Nixon Executive producers Doris Quinlan ( 1968 -- 77 ) Joseph Stuart ( 1977 -- 83 ) Jean Arley ( 1983 -- 84 ) Paul Rauch ( 1984 -- 91 ) Linda Gottlieb ( 1991 -- 94 ) Susan Bedsow Horgan ( 1994 -- 96 ) Maxine Levinson ( 1996 -- 97 ) Jill Farren Phelps ( 1997 -- 2001 ) Gary Tomlin ( 2001 -- 02 ) Frank Valentini ( 2003 -- 12 ) Jennifer Pepperman ( 2013 ) Head writers Agnes Nixon Gordon Russell Sam Hall Peggy O'Shea Henry Slesar John William Corrington Joyce Hooper Corrington S. Michael Schnessel Craig Carlson Leah Laiman Josh Griffith Michael Malone Jean Passanante Peggy Sloane Claire Labine Matthew Labine Pamela K. Long Megan McTavish Lorraine Broderick Christopher Whitesell Brian Frons Frank Valentini Dena Higley Ron Carlivati Gary Tomlin Thom Racina Susan Bedsow Horgan Storylines 1968 -- 79 1980 -- 89 1990 -- 99 2000 -- 13 Related topics and sites Llanview Mendorra Full character list Cast members Crew members ABC Daytime Prospect Park OLTL on ABC.com OLTL on Hulu Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carla_Gray&oldid=791370114 '' Categories : One Life to Live characters Fictional characters introduced in 1968 Fictional characters from Pennsylvania Fictional lawyers Fictional actors Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 19 July 2017, at 20 : 23. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who played carla on one life to live
Answer: Ellen Holly