Ever since the former Tad Gardner was a kid, he had a gift: Without even trying, he could get anybody to do anything anytime. He was that charming. Over the years, that's gotten him into a whole heap of trouble, especially with women - and there have been plenty of them. But Tad's heart has grown in proportion to his skill, and now, although his reputation in Pine Valley precedes him, it doesn't paint an entirely accurate portrait of the man he's become - or at least, the man he's trying to become.
Dr. Joe Martin's son, Jeff, also an M.D., took an interest in Tad in 1973, when the boy was hospitalized after being pushed out of a moving vehicle by his father, the evil Ray Gardner. Jeff and his wife, Mary, planned to adopt Tad, but when she was killed, Jeff left town - and left Tad with his parents, Joe and Ruth, who happily adopted him in 1978. But Tad soon began experiencing growing pains and took to smoking marijuana. In 1981, the troubled teenager ran away from his new home, only to return two years later a wily grifter. Reluctantly, he went to work for his mother, Opal Gardner, at her beauty shop, the Glamorama. There, he gave more than shampoos to society dame Marian Colby, much to the chagrin of her daughter, Liza, Jenny's archenemy and one of Tad's conquests.
In 1984, nouveau riche Edna Thornton paid Tad to date her plain daughter, Dottie. The arrangement blew up in Tad's face when his marriage to Dottie prevented him - at least until 1986 - from getting briefly hitched to his true love, Langley Wallingford's daughter, Hillary.
Three years later, Tad met the woman who may be the love of his life, Dixie Cortlandt. After getting her sprung from Laurel Hill Sanitarium, where her husband, Adam Chandler, had locked her up so as to gain sole custody of their son, Adam Jr., Tad made Dixie his wife.
Tad and Dixie's joy was short-lived. When the machinations of Dixie's Uncle Palmer separated the couple in 1990, Tad slept with - and impregnated - Brooke English. Then he was presumed killed in an explosive fall from a bridge during a scuffle with demented redneck Billy Clyde Tuggle.
In 1992, Tad returned to Pine Valley an amnesiac. For months he believed he was vineyard heir Ted Orsini. Upon regaining his memory - and learning that Dixie had married twice in his absence - he wed Brooke, the mother of his son, Jamie. But Tad couldn't stay away from Dixie, and before long, he ended his marriage to Brooke.
When Tad, who had become a TV producer, went after the station manager position at WRCW in 1995, he got stiff competition - and more - from his old flame, Liza. Slowly but surely, she seduced Tad and drove away Dixie. But Tad had no intention of resuming a relationship with Liza, and much to her considerable dismay, he instead began dating - and in 1997, even became engaged to - Gloria Marsh. However, Tad quickly discovered he had competition for his finace - pushy and powerful Dimitri Marick. Tad and Gloria ended their relationship and Gloria eventually left Pine Valley.
In 1997, Tad teamed up with Edmund after Dimitri whisked Edmund's baby daughter, Maddie, away to Vadzel. Tad and Edmund were successful in getting Dimitri to return Maddie to Edmund, but had many close calls with the Hungarian authorities in the process.
Dixie returned to Pine Valley in 1998 and she and Tad worked together to help Opal with her troubles with Palmer. Tad and Dixie grew close again and Dixie finally admitted that she was able to forgive Tad's past mistakes. Wondering if they really had a future together, Tad and Dixie made a pact ala the movie "An Affair To Remember" in which they both agreed to meet on a New York City rooftop if they both wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Tad waited for Dixie on that fateful night and was crushed when she failed to arrive. What Tad didn't know, however, was that Dixie had collapsed on her way to meet him and had been rushed to the hospital.
Fearing she was going to die, Dixie didn't tell Tad that she was suffering from a serious heart condition. For months, Tad and Dixie remained alone in their pain and each thought the other didn't want to have a relationship. During this same time, Tad also learned that Adrian Sword was his half-brother when Opal confessed that she had once had an affair with Adrian's father while married to Ray Gardner. Tad and Adrian got off to a rocky start, but soon learned to tolerate, and even like, one another.
Tad eventually learned the truth about Dixie's illness, thanks to a helpful Liza, and whisked her away to New York City. Tad told Dixie that he knew the truth and professed his love to her. Tad vowed that he would always be there for Dixie and made it clear he wanted her in his life. Dixie happily accepted Tad's proposal and they were married for the third time in May of 1999.
A short time later, Dixie was overjoyed when she learned she was pregnant. Tad didn't share Dixie's joy over the news of her pregnancy as he feared Dixie's health, and quite possibly her life, would be jeopardized if she carried the baby to term. Dixie refused to change her mind about the baby, but did agree to Tad's request for a second opinion.
Tad remained fearful of Dixie's health during her pregnancy, but finally admitted he was looking forward to having a baby daughter with her. Tad and Dixie were then both devastated when Dixie suffered a miscarriage and Tad was apprehensive of Dixie's determination to become pregnant again as quickly as possible.
Adam was very displeased by Junior's closeness with Tad and Adam arranged for Junior to be sent to boarding school. This didn't sit well with Junior, who ran away. Tad and Dixie found Junior and angrily blasted Adam for what he had tried to do. Adam was more determined than ever to keep the Martins out of the lives of his children and set a scheme against Tad in motion. To that end, Adam arranged for Liza to sell her WRCW shares to a "silent partner" and also tricked Stuart and Marian into doing the same. The "silent partner," however, was actually Adam. Tad and Liza learned that Adam was behind the WRCW takeover and vowed to make him pay. A short time later, Tad figured out that Stuart had been impersonating Adam and set out to right some of Adam's misdeeds. With Liza's blessing and Stuart's help, Tad started giving away millions of Adam's money.
By this time, Liza had learned the truth about Colby's paternity. Tad and Dixie began to have their own suspicions and finally figured out the truth about Colby. Tad threatened to tell Jake, but Liza warned him that he would be playing right into Adam's hands. Tad then decided to keep the truth from Jake as the start of the custody trial loomed closer. When Liza announced the truth about Colby's paternity in court, Tad's heart broke for his brother Jake.
Tad and Liza secretly teamed up to destroy Adam. Tad, however, lied to Dixie and assured her that he was not out for revenge against Adam. In the end, Tad helped Liza get control of Chandler Enterprises and Liza had Adam committed to Oak Haven.
Tad blurted the truth about Adam's role in Paolo's attempt to destroy Marian to Stuart. A short time later, Stuart was presumed to have died in a fire after a bitter confrontation with Adam. Tad blamed himself for Stuart's "death" and had an emotional breakdown on his live television show. Dixie's heart ached for Tad and she tried her best to comfort him, but Tad was inconsolable. Tad then left Pine Valley for a while as he tried to come to grips with his emotions.
Tad soon returned to Pine Valley and he and Liza were still determined to bring Adam down. To that end, Tad agreed to run Chandler Enterprises with Liza. Dixie reluctantly accepted Tad's new job as he accepted her going to work for David Hayward.
Tad and Dixie's marriage seemed solid as a rock, but David started growing obsessed with Dixie and became determined to break up her and Tad. The one thing Tad could always count on was Dixie's loyalty and he was shocked when she confessed that David had kissed her and she had kissed him back!
David's infatuation with Dixie continued to grow. David discovered that Jake was researching a drug called Libidozone and realized that Jake was impotent. When David taunted Jake about his condition, Dixie blasted David and quit her job. David tried to apologize became determined to break up Tad and Dixie's marriage. To that end, David began experimenting with Libidozone and found out that it decreased people's inhibitions. At this same time, Tad was growing more and more suspicious of David's intentions towards Dixie.
David was determined to break up Tad and Dixie's marriage and came up with a plan to use Libidozone to make Tad unfaithful. David knew that Leslie was infatuated with Tad and began pointing her in his direction. David saw the perfect opportunity to drug Tad when Ryan threw a party for incredibledreams.com on Adam's yacht. David's plan spun out of control, however, when he dropped the entire flask of Libidozone into the punchbowl, inadvertently drugging all the guests. This act caused the party to literally turn into a ship of fools and the fallout was tremendous!
In the aftermath of the drugging, Tad gave into his impulses and slept with Leslie. Tad was horrified by his actions and explained to Leslie that he was only in love with Dixie. Leslie wasn't about to let Tad go so easily and it was clear she wanted more than a one-night stand!
Leslie's obsession with Tad continued even though he did everything he could to distance himself from her. Leslie even followed Tad to New York City and helped herself to a shower in his hotel room. Tad was furious with Leslie and began to think she might be mentally unstable. Leslie even went so far as to book a room at the Valley Inn in her and Tad's names. Tad was right to be worried about Leslie as it was clear she was losing her grip on reality.
Tad was furious when he learned that Leslie had led Dixie to believe they were having an ongoing affair. Dixie assumed the worst and didn't realize that Tad had been drugged when he had slept with Leslie. Without giving Tad a chance to explain, Dixie turned to David and they made love. Tad was devastated when he found Dixie in David's room and accused her of just looking for an excuse to sleep with David. Tad then walked out on an equally devastated Dixie. Tad became determined to prove to Dixie that David had orchestrated the events that led to him sleeping with Leslie at the yacht party.
David framed Leslie for the Libidozone drugging but Tad was still determined to expose David's crimes. Dixie defended David adamantly and her and Tad's relationship continued to crumble. During this same time, Leslie continued to spin out of control and began to terrorize Dixie.
A desperate Leslie then made one final move to get Tad for herself and after kidnapping Junior, Leslie lured Dixie to Tad's office at the Chandler building. Leslie wanted to Dixie to commit suicide by jumping to her death and a struggle ensued. David arrived on the scene and managed to rescue Dixie but Leslie fell over the railing in the process.
Leslie fell to the pavement below and David was shocked to learn she had survived her injuries. Tad was greatly relieved when he learned that Leslie was still alive as he knew she was his key to exposing David's misdeeds.
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