Abby Cunningham

Abby Fairgate Cunningham Ewing Sumner was a major character, played by the actress Donna Mills, in the long-running USA prime-time drama serial Knots Landing.

The character appeared from 1980 to 1989, and then again in the 1993 finale episode and the 1997 reunion show Knots Landing: Back To The Cul-de-Sac. Abby was also related by marriage to the Ewing family in Knots Landing's sister-show Dallas, although the character never appeared on-screen in Dallas, and briefly referred to.

Abby was added to the Knots Landing cast in 1980, becoming a focus for many storylines and a crucial antagonist between the other characters. Abby's main drive was the acquisition of wealth and power, and her machinations and schemes were at the heart of most of the tangled storylines during the 1980s run of the show.

Residences:
16969 Seaview Circle 1980-1983,
Beach house 1983-1984,
Gary's ranch 1984-1987,
Beach house 1987-1988,
Greg Sumner's ranch 1988-1989, Japan 1989-1993,
16969 Seaview Circle 1993-Present

Family Tree

Marriages

Jeff Cunningham
Children: Olivia Cunningham, Brian Cunningham.
Mother-in-law: Annette Cunningham

Ended in divorce

Gary Ewing
Abby became step-mother to Lucy Ewing Cooper, and later twins Bobby and Betsy Ewing
Abby's mother-in-law became Miss Ellie Ewing. (Jock Ewing, who would have been her father-in-law, was recently deceased)
Abby's brothers-in-law became J.R. Ewing, Bobby Ewing, along with half-brother-in-law Ray Krebbs
Abby's cousin-in-laws became Jamie Ewing Barnes and Jack Ewing
Ended in divorce

Charles Scott III
Marriage annulled

Greg Sumner
Abby became step-mother to Mary Francis Sumner and Meg Sumner
Abby's sister-in-law became Claudia Sumner Whitaker
(Ruth and Paul Galveston, who would have been her in-law's, were deceased by this time)
Ended in divorce

Abby had two brother's; Paul Fairgate Sr (who was deceased) and Sid Fairgate.
Abby was sister-in-law to Susan Philby (Sid's first marriage) and also to Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie (Sid's second marriage).
Abby was also the aunt of Paul Fairgate JR, Annie Fairgate, the daughter of Sid and Susan, and Diana, Eric and Michael Fairgate, the children of Sid and Karen

Extra-Marital Relationships

Kenny Ward (whilst he was married to Ginger Ward)
Richard Avery (whilst he was married to Laura Avery)
J.R. Ewing (whilst he was married to Sue Ellen Ewing)
Gary Ewing (whilst he was married to Valene Ewing)
Greg Summer
Peter Hollister
Charles Scott III (whilst he was married to Judith Scott)
Ted Melcher

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu