Prince Nikolas Cassadine and Ava Jerome are fictional characters and a popular divorced couple on the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital.
Casting[]
Actor Tyler Christopher originated the role in 1996 and portrayed him, on and off, until 2016. In 1999, the role was recast Coltin Scott, who portrayed the part until 2003. On October 31, 2019, the role was recast with Marcus Coloma, who appeared on contract until January 26, 2023. He has been portrayed by Adam Huss since 2023.
Ava had been portrayed by actress Maura West on contract since the character's debut on May 8, 2013.
Background[]
"Niva" engagement and wedding rings (2023)
Nikolas is the son of the deceased villain Stavros Cassadine and Mayor Laura Collins. He has two sons, the presumed deceased Spencer from a short affair with the late Courtney Matthews and Ace from a one-night stand with Spencer's late ex-girlfriend, the villainous Esme Prince. He is a prince of the aristocratic Cassadine family.
Ava is the daughter of Delia Ryan Coleridge and late mob boss Victor Jerome. She has two daughters, the deceased Kiki from an affair with the late doctor Silas Clay and Avery, from a one-night stand with her then-boyfriends father, the mob boss Sonny Corinthos. She is a member of the media-owning Jerome mob family.
Storylines[]
On June 13, 2016, Nikolas is revealed to be alive after falling out a window and he is on the same plane as Ava Jerome.
Nikolas and Ava were soon captured by Huxley Lynch, but they managed to escape. They were found in July on Cassadine Island by "Jason" and Sam, who knew all along that Nikolas faked his death. On July 11, after making out with him, Ava found out in Helena's diary that Nikolas had killed Helena by poisoning her tea. Dante, Lulu, Laura, and Kevin joined Nikolas, Ava, Jason, and Sam on Cassadine Island, but as they were all talking, Theo the fisherman walked in and took everyone hostage at gunpoint. On July 18, Theo revealed himself to be Valentin Cassadine, Nikolas' uncle and according to Helena, the most feared Cassadine. Valentin took Nikolas and Ava upstairs and forced Nikolas to give up all his fortune. As Valentin went to shoot Ava, Nikolas attacked him, but ended up getting shot and falling out the balcony. Nikolas was confirmed dead by Ava on July 22, though his body was never found.
Nikolas saves Ava (2019)
Stabbed (2020)
A hug (2021)
Reunited (2021)
Morning after (2021)
"Rough" Valentine's Day (2022)
"Your words are meaningless" (2022)
"I will burn you to the ground" (2022)
"Too late for us" (2022)
Slap! (2023)
I will stop you (2023)
Getting close (2024)
I'm glad I didn't kill you (2024)
On July 16, 2019, Ava asked a professional psychic to try and make contact with Nikolas, wanting to make amends for preventing Valentin from going to prison for Nikolas' murder. However, the psychic's attempts prove unsuccessful and she reveals that Nikolas is not in the spirit world, meaning that he may not be dead.
On August 13, another psychic named Chelsea Lambas warned Laura that her son was in danger and Laura got worried and called Lucky, who was still in Africa. After Lucky assured Laura he was fine, Laura accused Chelsea of being a fraud, but Chelsea said she was referring to her other son, which seems to be another hint that Nikolas could be alive.
It was later revealed in late August that there is a codicil to Mikkos Cassadine's will which could prove that Valentin is not the rightful Cassadine heir, although it is unknown if Jax and Hayden are working with Spencer or a not-so-dead Nikolas.
On October 31, Nikolas was revealed to be alive and was the one who was watching Ava. He was also the mysterious Cassadine ring man who kidnapped Cassandra Pierce in August 2018. He appeared as a masked man at the Metro Court Hotel Halloween Party and after running into Laura, Nikolas followed Ava to her gallery, prompting Ava to draw her gun on him and force him to reveal his face. Nikolas then revealed his face to shock Ava.
On November 4, it was revealed that Nikolas revealed himself to Jax months ago and asked for his help to find the codicil to Mikkos' will which could disinherit Valentin and return the Cassadine estate to the rightful heir, Nikolas. In return, Nikolas had promised Jax the shipping division of Cassadine Industries and he also promised Hayden a generous cut of the Cassadine fortune if she helped Jax search for the codicil. Jax and Hayden were upset with Nikolas since he took a big risk on returning to Port Charles but Nikolas was confident that no one will know he is alive until Valentin is destroyed. Jax reluctantly agreed to let Nikolas stay at his new house until the codicil is found. The next day, Laura went to Jax's house and Nikolas wanted to reveal himself but at the same time he couldn't risk it because he wanted to protect her from Valentin.
On December 4, Nikolas went to Shadybrook Sanitarium and paid a nurse to drug Ava. When Ava was drugged, Nikolas walked in and convinced her that he was in hell and Kiki was there with him which made Ava very upset. Nikolas claimed that she can make amends and that he and Kiki can be at peace if she tells him where Helena's portrait was. Afterwards, Ava gave in and told him she had it at her gallery and begged him to help Kiki and he promised her he would. Eventually, Nikolas left and Ava was shaken up and an emotional wreck after his visit. Unbeknownst to Nikolas, he left his ring under Ava's bed.
Nikolas met with Jax who said he was cutting his losses and ending their partnership since he did not sign up for any of the damage their mission was causing. Nikolas confessed that he staged the incident with Hayden so that she would leave town and also confessed that he knows where Helena's portrait was. Afterwards, Nikolas wore a mask and gloves when he broke into Ava's gallery and was about to look for the portrait but Valentin pulled a gun on him and ordered him to reveal himself. Nikolas assaulted Valentin in self-defense and took off.
On December 9, Jax told Nikolas he was done and he ordered Nikolas to leave but eventually Nikolas learned that he lost his ring. Nikolas hid as Valentin came by Jax's house and offered to partner up with him to find the codicil but Jax said no. Valentin accused Jax of stealing his inheritance and was trying to take him down so he could have Nina all to himself. When he left, Nikolas asked if he still wanted him gone or if he wanted to help get rid of Valentin but Jax said to find the ring. Nikolas remembered that it came off after his visit with Ava at Shadybrook but did not know that Nina took it.
On December 13, Nikolas was on Pier 17 but was hidden while Valentin and Charlotte were there. Charlotte saw Nikolas and said she knew who he was since she saw a picture of him on her mom's phone and Nikolas claimed that her mom knew him since he saved her life one time. Valentin saw her and asked who she was talking to and Charlotte claimed she wasn't sure. Valentin told her that she cannot talk to strangers because it's dangerous and they left to meet Nina. Jax and Carly met with Nikolas and Carly figured out that Ava knows he is alive since his ring was found in her room at Shadybrook and that Ava had a breakthrough overnight. Jax got a text saying that Ava was auctioning Helena's portrait that night which would give Nikolas a chance to get the codicil.
On December 16, Nikolas stayed in the back room while the auction was happening and he was upset when Helena's portrait suddenly burst into flames. Eventually, Trina Robinson spotted him but she didn't see his face. Trina threatened to call the cops on him but he left before she could. Nikolas met with Jax on the pier and said that he was going to destroy Valentin despite the portrait and presumably the codicil being destroyed.
Afterwards, Nikolas went back to the gallery and saw Ava aiming a gun at him. Ava confronted Nikolas about being alive all this time and demanded to know where he was for three years. Nikolas explained that he was pulled out of the water by a yacht crew and was recuperating in Athens. He explained that he learned there was a codicil that Mikkos left which returns the entire Cassadine estate to him and disinherits Valentin. Ava revealed to Nikolas that she has the codicil. She said she would give him the codicil because she wanted Spencer to get back everything that was rightfully his, but there were certain terms to be met.
After Valentin pushes Ava off the parapet at Wyndemere, Nikolas saves her and they get married at Nina's wedding which didn't happen that day. Nikolas and Ava made an arrangement that whoever cheats first in the marriage wouldn't get any of the Cassadine money.
On March 8, 2022, Esme steals an access card and secretly visits Ryan Chamberlain. It was revealed that Esme was working to break up Nikolas and Ava under Ryan's orders and it was revealed that Ryan is Esme's father. Esme ended up living at Wyndemere with Spencer although Ava wanted Esme out. Her relationship with Spencer is all part of her manipulative plan.
Young and emotional, after a couple months Spencer has a hard time keeping up the pretense of treating Esme like a girlfriend he loves. Esme purposefully manipulates him into his behavior and "poor" treatment of her in front of his father. This causes Nikolas to start taking her side and providing her with comfort. His acceptance of Esme repulses Ava, who pushes him away, the same day that Spencer reaches his own breaking point with Esme. Nikolas and Esme are left to commiserate, believing both of their relationships are over.
Continuing her manipulations, flirting, and stroking his ego, Nikolas gives into the temptation Esme offers, and they have sex. Hours later, Ava and Spencer both come home and nearly catch them in the act. Ava was convinced by Nikolas' mother Laura Collins to give their marriage another try, and Cameron reminds Spencer that Trina's future is at stake and he needs to commit to bringing Esme down. Both Nikolas and Esme separately claim to want reconciliation and they all announce the couples are back together - and Nikolas and Esme privately agree to keep their liaison a secret and never tell his wife or her boyfriend that they cheated on them.
On July 28, Nikolas finally confessed to Ava that he slept with Esme. Ava is rightly irate, and vows to "burn him to the ground."
On August 25, Nikolas kisses her at the Quartermaine Mansion fundraiser, when she pushes him away stating "you ruined us when you chose to sleep with Esme!" - then, they discovered a horrified Spencer overhear the conversation. Ava told Nikolas to talk to his son, so Nikolas confessed to sleeping with Esme. Spencer swore to Nikolas that he was done with him.
On New Year's Eve, a pregnant Esme managed to escape from Wyndemere after her room caught on fire. She was later found on the Haunted Star by Spencer and Trina who took her to the hospital since she had hypothermia. Nikolas and everyone learned that Esme had been found and taken to the hospital, but when they found out she was pregnant, Ava confronted Nikolas about it. After Nikolas admitted that he was the father, Ava slapped him. After Det. Dante Falconeri interrogated Esme, everyone learned that she was claiming to have amnesia. Spencer didn't believe it and thought it was all an act, but Kevin Collins seemed to confirm it.
They start divorce proceedings on December 15, 2022, it's official on Jan 26, 2023.
On February 2, 2023, Spencer revealed that he was suing for full custody of his half-brother. Nikolas was appalled and Laura tried to play peacemaker. When Spencer used Nikolas' false confession of killing Esme against him, Nikolas angrily assaulted him and called him a Cassadine.
Nikolas later went to Wyndemere to confront Ava and he was angry that she turned Spencer against him. During the confrontation, Nikolas revealed that he never slept with Elizabeth and Ava wondered why he let her think the worst of him. He revealed that he held Esme hostage in the north tower for a couple months. Eventually Nikolas threatened to take Avery away from Ava so she grabbed a statue and hit Nikolas over the head which knocked him out.
Ava was horrified because she believed she killed Nikolas by accident. When she moved his body to the stables, she was caught by Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt. Austin promised not to tell anyone what Ava was doing and offered to help her cover up Nikolas' "death".
On March 1, 2023, however, Nikolas' body was revealed to be missing from the tack room she and Austin put him in because Austin's cousin, Mason Gatlin was seen watching over a comatose Nikolas in a medical facility on life support.
On August 31, Nikolas is shown be awake and able, and hiding out at Austin's Country House in Pautauk, NY. On September 15, Nikolas left for Europe, ignoring Austin's pleas to go back to PC and his family.
The gallery hosts a NYE 2024 charity fundraiser, when Nikolas sneaks back into town to confront Ava. They argue and trade barbs, which leads to the decision to scheme against Esme. He visits again on the 15th, now getting along far better thanks to their scheme against Esme, and Ava even admits she's glad she didn't kill him, "You say the sweetest things."
Nikolas leaves town again, this time with his son Ace.
On February 5, 2024, Nikolas and Ace come back to town upon hearing about Spencer's death. With her son showing growth and regret, Laura is proud when he turns himself in to the authorities for holding Esme hostage.
On April 25, 2024, Laura discloses to Ava that Nikolas is being transferred out-of-state, which will make it harder to visit him. Ava goes to visit him shortly after, revealing to her ex that she likes living with Sonny and that his meds have been tampered with but she's keeping quiet. Nikolas thinks this will blow up on her, even after she assures him she's got it under control. He then realizes that she likes being in the inner-circle, having the power that being in good with Sonny affords her.
