Rumors have been floating around that Tyler Christopher, who just won a Daytime Emmy for best actor, is leaving "General Hospital." But Christopher, who played Nikolas Cassadine on and off for 20 years, is not gone; he is taking time off. Nick Stabile is stepping in to fill the role. No one is saying for how long. As for Christopher's sabbatical, he is in contract negations. According to reports he is taking time off for personal reasons.

The character Nikolas' past is all soap opera. Nikolas came to town when he learned his half sister, Lulu, needed a bone marrow transplant. Although Luke was grateful that Nikolas saved his daughter's life, he hated him because he was the biological child of Laura and Stavros Cassadine. When Luke told Laura she had to choose between Nikolas and their family she chose her family. Although brokenhearted by the rejection, Nikolas stayed in Port Charles.

Over the years he and Laura bonded as son and mother.

His grandmother, the murderous Helena Cassadine, did everything she could to break up that relationship.

Nikolas has had an eventful, daytime-drama-packed life. He has been shot three times. One shooting left him unable to speak. He had amnesia and was conned by a woman who claimed she was his wife. He had a doppelganger named Connor. While Nikolas was being held captive, Connor arrived in Port Charles and let everyone believe he was Nikolas.

Over the years, Nikolas had many loves in his life. Sadly, none of the romances turned out well. The true love of his life, Emily, was murdered by a serial killer. Soon after her death, Nikolas began to have seizures, headaches and visions of Emily. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Nikolas did not want to have surgery, as it would rid him of the visions of Emily. Urged by friends and family, he had the lifesaving surgery. Nikolas began an affair with Courtney. The couple was thrilled that she was going to have a baby. Sadly, she died in childbirth. Spencer is the product of that relationship.

Nikolas also fell in love with Katherine, who claimed she was carrying his child. In truth, she was barren and had been hired by Helena to keep tabs on Nikolas.

After one of his shootings he suffered a stroke. Unable to talk he pushed everyone out of his life. Robin refused to back off and helped him regain his ability to talk. Nikolas fell in love with Robin, but her heart belonged to Jason.

A Russian prince, Nikolas' voice and presence can often be mannered. Over time his girlfriends have loosened him up a bit. He still has that princely swagger.

Nikolas goes from good to bad in a nanosecond. Right now he is pretty bad. He lied, cheated and stole to become head of ELQ. In the process, he became involved with Hayden. Fearing she would uncover his schemes, he had her shot. It was an eventful falling-in-love (talk about meeting cute). Hayden is really the daughter of a Bernie Madoff-like character, and she is trying to repay the people her father suckered. She and Nikolas have a very complicated relationship; they switch from hate to almost love minute by minute.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.