Nikolas Cassadine and Elizabeth Webber

Tyler Christopher and Rebecca Herbst as Nikolas Cassadine and Elizabeth Webber

**Prince Nikolas Cassadine** and **Nurse Elizabeth Webber** are fictional characters and a popular former couple from the original ABC Daytime soap opera, *General Hospital.*

## Casting

Actor Tyler Christopher originated the role in 1996 and portrayed him, on and off, until 2016. Christopher brought home his first Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2016.

At the end of the episode on October 31, 2019, Marcus Coloma joined the cast of *GH* as the new Nikolas Cassadine when Nikolas was revealed to be alive.

Actress Rebecca Herbst originally auditioned for the role of Sarah Webber. Although she did not get the part, *General Hospital* created the role of Sarah's sister, Elizabeth for Herbst to play, and she debuted on August 1, 1997.

In 1999, the role earned Herbst the *Soap Opera Digest* Award for Outstanding Younger Lead Actress, as well as an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress in 1999 and a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2007.

## Background

Nikolas was the son of the late, Prince Stavros Cassadine and Laura Webber. He was also conceived via rape.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Dr. Jeff Webber and his wife, Carolyn Webber. She is also the granddaughter of one of the shows original characters, the late, Dr. Steve Hardy.

Nikolas and Elizabeth met through Lucky Spencer. Lucky was Elizabeth's best friend and Nikolas' half brother. Throughout the years, Nikolas and Elizabeth formed a strong connection and maintained their friendship. To this day, they consider each other best friends. As teenagers, Nikolas, Elizabeth, Lucky and Emily Quartermaine were all best friends, known as the "Four Musketeers."

Nikolas and Elizabeth's friendship spans almost 20 years and their connection knows no bounds. Even after their ill-fated affair in 2009, they reaffirmed that they would always love each other.

Nikolas is one of the only people who calls Elizabeth by the nickname "Liz."

Nikolas was shot and killed by Valentin Cassadine on July 19, 2016.

At the end of the episode on October 31, 2019, Nikolas was revealed to be alive.

## Storylines

One night after an excessive amount of drinking Nikolas and Elizabeth ended up in bed together. The next day both of them decided that they loved Lucky too much to do that to him so they stopped their affair. Shortly after Elizabeth found out she was pregnant.

Helena Cassadine found out Nikolas could be the father and got her hands on the paternity results. Although Lucky was listed as the father, Helena arranged for Nikolas to be listed instead. To Helena, it was a form of revenge to have a Spencer raised by a Cassadine. Although things were strained after the hurt Nikolas and Elizabeth had caused Lucky, they learned to get along for "their" son Aiden.

On the night that Elizabeth's son, Jake was hit by a car, she received confirmation that Lucky was indeed Aiden's father. Initially, Nikolas refused to believe that Aiden was not his, but he came to accept the truth and handed Aiden over to Lucky. Soon after he left town with his son, Spencer. Despite the circumstances of the affair, Nikolas and Elizabeth's friendship remained in tact and eventually they were able to repair their relationship with Lucky as well.

In 2013, Nikolas returned to town and confessed to Elizabeth that he still loved her and wished to resume their relationship. Elizabeth was still in love with Lucky so she turned down Nikolas' romantic advances.

Nikolas and Elizabeth passed each other like "ships in the night," never quite ready for a relationship at the same time. Their feelings for each other remained constant, but they couldn't get the timing right. However, their friendship never waived, despite their inability to get on the same page romantically. The two moved on to new relationships but continue to have each others backs and look out for one another.