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Albert Manning (1957–2003) was the abusive biological father of Craig Manning, the ex-husband of the late Julia Manning-Jeremiah, and a reputable surgeon at a Toronto hospital. He was portrayed by Hugh Dillon. In June 2003, he was involved in a car crash and died from his injuries.

Character's Background[]

He refers to his ex-wife, Julia, as having left him for Joey Jeremiah. It is not clear, however, that Julia had ever even met Joey before the Mannings' marriage ended, much less that she cuckolded Albert. Given Albert's emotional disorders and martyrism, it is entirely possible that his characterization was either an exaggeration or a distorted view of past events.

Albert is ill-equipped to handle his stress and anger issues, and has a short fuse with his son. When Craig does not listen to him, Albert beats Craig. After cooling down, Albert tries to emotionally manipulate Craig with gifts and money, but refuses to take responsibility for hurting his son, going say far as to say to him "I don't beat you".

At work, Albert's colleagues saw him in a different light. Craig is told that his father mentions and praises him often, but became quite grief-stricken after Craig departed to live with Joey. For his eulogy, his dedication as a father was quite frequently noted. To quote, "he, Craig, was the greatest gift he ever received. A gift he cherished. A gift he never wanted to relinquish".

Character History[]

Craig[]

As the husband of Julia and father of Craig, when Julia leaves for Joey, Albert is left to take care of Craig on his own. He has held a grudge against his wife, and anybody who had remotely been associated with her in her infidelity, ever since.

First appearing in the second season episode "When Doves Cry", it is apparent that Albert is easily angered and an abusive parent. While Craig was secretly seeing his half-sister her father, Joey Jeremiah, spots Craig. Leaving Albert a message inquiring about Craig, Albert questions his son if he knew anything about it, to which Craig strongly denied. When Craig asks Albert if he was going to call him back, Albert sharply remarks "now why would I do that?"

Later, Albert confronts Joey at Jeremiah Motors. Interrupting a sale, Albert and Joey start discussing about the message Joey left and how it affects Craig. Though Joey wished for their children to be able to get along, Albert had no intention of that and demanded for Joey to leave his family alone. After ransacking Craig's darkroom, he discovered his photo album titled "The Perfect Family", which excluded Albert from the pictures. Sitting quietly and calculating when Craig comes home, Albert confronts his son about the pictures and ends up beating him badly, producing a giant bruise on Craig's stomach.

Albermanning2

Albert Manning sadly watching Craig Manning leave

Although his father expressed his desire for Craig not to see Angela anymore, Craig did otherwise. Albert eventually learned of his son's betrayal when Joey calls, and consequently becomes enraged. He tries to break down Craig's locked door with his golf club, but not before Craig escapes and ends up staying with Sean. When Joey became aware of Craig's abuse, the decision was made that it would in Craig's best interest to stay with Joey. With his son returning to gather his personal Effects, Albert was in a state of despair and sympathy. Attempting to get his son to stay, he gets faced with an ultimatum or harsh realization of the truth; either Craig would go to children's aid, go and stay with Joey until the situation was sorted, or he could stay with his father and continue to get beaten. Albert denies that he beats Craig and lets him go.

Return and Death[]

Albert surprises Craig at school one day and wants to spend more time with him. Craig is hesitant at first but he comes around. He goes to the Medical Centre where his father works and they both go out to eat. They come home and Craig tells Albert about the Science homework. Craig and Albert study together and when Craig sits his drink on the table, his father remarks about using the coaster, then Craig has a visual of his father beating him with a belt, but he snaps back to reality and his father has not gotten mad. He lies to Joey one night to go to dinner with Albert. He gets there, and Albert tries to persuade Craig to come back and live with him. Craig refuses and Albert starts to get angry. He didn't want to beat his son so he decided to walk out of the restaurant to cool off. Craig comes running out after him, trying to get him to stay, but Albert makes rude remarks about Ashley. Craig shoves Albert and Albert smacks him across the face. He then runs to his car and takes off.

Albert manning

Albert Manning's funeral

Later that night, Craig comes home with a scar on his face and Joey wants to know what happened. Craig tells Joey he got in a fight with his father and tells him he's going to Children's Aid. The next day, two officers arrive at the house to inform Craig and Joey of Albert's death due to a car wreck. Craig seems to be happy about his father's death. But he soon goes into a deep depression which turns into rage. At the end of the year school dance after "seeing" his father at the dance, Terri MacGregor helps Craig through his father's death as she had lost a parent as well.

In view of Albert's professional standing and the size of his home, the inheritance Craig receives is remarkably small, providing $10,000. Albert left a trust fund to which Craig did not have any access, but has tuition money as stated by Craig and Caitlin when he wanted to go to a English musical school for the summer to be with Ashley, it has also been said that Albert's estate provides a small amount of money to help cover Craig's expenses.

Quotes[]

  • Craig: "I'm just going to get my stuff."
    Albert: "Craig, just leave it, leave it. Come back when we've cooled down. We’ll talk this thing through."
    Craig: "No, no more talking, okay?"
    Albert "Okay. But you're breaking my heart, you know that? Just like your mother. Just, Craig. I know I've been impatient but work's been really stressful. You can't leave, Craig. I love you."
    Craig: "There are three options, Dad: I can go to Children's Aid right now, I can go stay with Joey while we sort this stuff out...or I can come back here and let you beat me."
    Albert: "I don't beat you." - When Doves Cry (2)

Trivia[]

  • He was shown to be a good cook.
  • Albert shares similarities with Miles Hollingsworth II.
  • He is the fourth character to die in the franchise (although his death occurred off-screen). The others were John Wheeler, Helen Wheeler, Rick, J.T., Anson, Cam, Paula, Adam and Claude.
  • He was the third character to die in a car accident. The first two were John and Helen Wheeler and the fourth was Adam Torres.
  • In Dressed In Black, Craig dressed as his father during his and Ashley's performance of The Taming of the Shrew which depicted Petruchio as being physically and emotionally abusive towards Katherina.
  • The attendees at his funeral included his son Craig, Joey, Caitlin Ryan, Sean Cameron, Ashley Kerwin, Emma Nelson and Daniel Raditch.
  • Sean and Ashley were the only friends of Craig's to have met his father.
  • In It's Tricky, it was revealed that one of the songs on Craig's album Of Two Minds was entitled "A Dedicated Father". If the title were meant ironically, it may have been about Albert.
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