Laura Spencer
Actor History
Floy Dean (1966)
Susan Flannery (1966 to 1975)
Susan Oliver (1975 to 1976)
Rosemary Forsyth (1976 to 1980)
Jaime Lyn Bauer (1993 to 2000; 2003)
Also Known As
Monica (at The Meadows)
Occupation
Psychiatrist
Resides At
Africa (assumed)
Marital Status
Single
Past Marriages
Michael Horton I (married December 1967; divorced 1974)
William Horton (divorced)
Relatives
James Spencer (father)
Carrie Spencer (mother)
Children
Mike Horton (son; with Bill; from rape)
Jennifer Horton (daughter; with Bill)
Jeremy Horton (grandson; via Mike)
Abigail Deveraux (granddaughter; via Jennifer)
Jack Deveraux Jr. (grandson; via Jennifer)
Flings & Affairs
Tony Merritt
Jack Deveraux Sr.
Daniel Scott
Crimes Committed
Helped Jack escape from Salem after he was accused of murder
Shot at Kristen Blake
Brief Character History
Laura Spencer Horton started out as a young psychiatric intern at Salem University Hospital where she caught the eye of Bill Horton. Laura and Bill would eventually become engaged, but that engagement would be broken off when Bill suddenly left Salem in 1967 after learning he could never be a surgeon due to tuberculosis in his hand. In the summer of 1967 Laura was assigned to evaluate Susan Martin's state of mind for the courts when Susan Martin stood trial for killing her husband David. In the process Laura would spend many days and nights working with Mickey Horton, and eventually the two would fall in love and marry in December of 1968. Later that year Laura would be rapped in her office by a drunken Bill Horton. When Bill couldn't remember the details the next day Laura told him she turned him away to prevent any feuds between Bill and his brother Mickey. However, shortly afterwards Laura would learn she was pregnant, and things became more complicated when Tom found out about her pregnancy from a lab report. Tom had also recently learned Mickey was sterile. Laura explained to Tom that Bill had raped her, so in order to protect Mickey Tom and Laura agreed to keep her pregnancy and Mickey's sterile condition a secret.
In her eight month Laura was in an auto accident and as a result her unborn child was delivered prematurely by Cesarean, and on September 28, 1968 Michael William Horton was born. In 1970 Laura and Mickey's marriage began to fall apart, and they separated for a time but eventually worked things out by the end of the year. In 1971 Mickey and Laura would again have troubles after his affair with Linda Patterson was made public. Laura and Mickey would agree to remain married and try to make things work for Mike's sake. In 1972 Bill and Laura began to fall in love when Laura learned the true reason Bill went to jail. Laura planned to divorce Mickey and marry Bill, but when the two were overheard talking by Mike he assumed they were having an affair and ran out into the street and was hit by a car. Mike survived, and Laura realized she could not abandon her husband and child. In 1973 Mickey suffered a heart attack after his son Michael lashed out at him for the pain he had caused his mother Laura by having an affair with his secretary. Mickey was rushed to surgery and survived the operation performed by his brother Bill. Though he survived the operation Mickey suffered a stroke which erased his memory, and caused Mickey to leave Salem. With Mickey out of the way Laura was free to love Bill, however her marriage to Mickey was still an obstacle, and Mickey could not be legally declared dead for seven years.
When Mickey was discovered to be alive he granted Laura a divorce so he could remain with Maggie Simmons. On December 4, 1976 Bill and Laura Horton were married. A year later Laura Horton gave birth to their daughter Jennifer Rose Horton on September 11, 1976. After the birth of her daughter Laura Horton fell into a deep depression, but seemed to have overcome it with the help of her husband Bill and Dr. Marlena Evans. Laura began to sink deeper and deeper into depression as she learned Bill had an affair with a co worker Dr. Kate Winograd. Soon Laura began to hear voices and see her dead mothers Ghost. Laura eventually went over the edge and tried to hang herself at her dead mother's wish. Bill found Laura in time, but she had slipped out of reality. Laura was admitted to a sanitarium where she would spend the next 17 years of her life.
In 1993, Kate Roberts began to pay Laura visits at the sanitarium. Laura was very aware of what was going on around her, but the sanitarium was keeping her drugged in order to milk the Horton family of money. When Vivian Alamain was sent to the same sanitarium Laura was in, Vivian took an interest in Laura. Laura realized that Vivian was her ticket out. Vivian soon learned that Laura was being kept in a catatonic state thanks to the drugs the nurses were feeding her. Vivian got her servant, Ivan, to pose as a nurse and make sure that Laura was not fed the drugs. Laura slowly began to come out of her catatonic state. When Vivian escaped from the sanitarium to see what was going on in Salem, Kate spotted Vivian and reported it. Vivian was scheduled for a lobotomy. However, Laura managed to break out of her room and rescue Vivian. A fire started and Laura and Vivian fled Pinehaven, the sanitarium, and Pinehaven burned to the ground. The two hid out at the Alamain mansion until Laura fully recovered.
Laura finally got her revenge when she walked into the murder trial of Curtis Reed and accused Kate Roberts of trying. Kate was called to the stand to testify about her relationship to Curtis Reed. When Kate claimed that she did not know the man, Laura revealed that she was married to him. Later, Vivian and Laura also slandered Kate at a Titan business dinner. Vivian revealed that Kate's "dead" husband was alive when Kate married Victor, which nulls their marriage. Laura revealed that Kate slept with her husband, Bill Horton, and gave birth to his son Lucas. Laura recovered from her experience, but also stole prescription drugs and became dependant on them. Laura moved into her daughters house along with Mike Horton, who recently returned form the mid-east. Mike helped his mother ween herself from the pills and he also helped her study to get her medical license back.
Laura Horton spotted Peter talking with a man on the docks and Peter feared that Laura would eventually learn that the man was a drug dealer. Peter enlisted the aid of Daniel Scott to gaslight Laura. Daniel dated Laura and even had her office repainted. However, the paint was toxic and it caused Laura to become drowsy. Using a speaker built into a souvenir bust in Laura's room, Peter made Laura believe that he was planning on killing Jennifer. Laura looked like she was going insane and was going to be re-committed to an asylum. Afraid, Laura ran away and hid out with Vivian's help Peter's plan failed when Jen fell asleep in her mom's office overnight and became convinced that foreign troops were invading America (or some whacked out story). Jen had actually heard a story on the radio and became confused. Laura returned to the hospital after Jen was admitted. When she was spotted, Laura fled and ended up trapped on a faulty fire escape. Jen came after her mother and ended up trapped as well. Peter eventually rescued the two and came off looking like a hero. Mike had Laura's office analyzed and they blamed Laura and Jen's hallucinations on the paint. Daniel Scott left town and Peter decided that Laura was no longer a threat.
Laura went to "The Meadows" to recuperate and met and fell in love with a man named Clarke. Laura was using the alias Monica and she did not know that Clarke was actually her ex-son-in-law Jack. The two ended up making love. Only when Jack and Laura returned to Salem did they discover the truth. Thing were made uncomfortable when Jack moved back into the house he shared with Jen. Jack still owned half of the house and therefore had a right to live there. Jack and Laura decided to keep their brief affair a secret, but Laura fell in love with Jack and she hoped that once Jen married Peter then she'd be free to love Jack. Meanwhile, Jen decided to try to find the man her mother fell in love with at the Meadows, not knowing it was Jack.
Peter Blake and Jennifer went to Aremid to be married. Laura hoped that after Jen married Peter, Jack would be hers. Jack's last chance to keep Jen from marrying Peter failed when Peter had learned that Jack and Laura had an affair at The Meadows. Laura was upset and Jack went into her room to comfort her, but they soon ended up kissing. Jennifer walked in on them and was horrified. Jack and Laura admitted to their affair at The Meadows. A crushed Jen turned to Peter support and soon married him. In June of 96, Marlena Evans was kidnapped by Stefano DiMera. Rachel felt that she may know where Stefano took Marlena, so she has Laura put her under hypnosis. While under, Rachel reveals that Peter was involved with Jude StClair. Laura confronted Peter about this, but she decided to keep it to herself in order not to hurt Jen.
Peter and Jennifer flew to Paris when they learned that Kristen and Rachel were caught in an explosion. Jack came to Paris as well, hoping to help his friends and find dirt on Peter, and Laura tagged along. Jack and Jen decided to try to find Stefano's lair in the underground. Jack found some books with Peter's name in them, but at the same time Peter set off charges to destroy what was left of the tunnels. Jack and Jen were caught in the explosion, but managed to escape. Jack learned that Daniel Scott is also in Paris and lures him into a high-priced poker game. When Daniel couldn't pay his debt, Jack paid it for him in order for the goods on Peter. Daniel confessed everything and Jack told Jen the truth about Peter. Jen didn't believe Jack, but Laura came forward with what she knew about Peter as well. Eventually, Jen learned that Peter had gaslighted Laura, which sent Laura into shock and disrupted her life. Jen eventually left Peter.
Late that year, Peter attempted to kidnap Jen, but was killed in a struggle with Jack Deveraux . Jack was arrested and sent to jail for the murder. Salem gathered for Peter's funeral. After the funeral, Laura saw Kristen adjusting her pregnancy pad when she thought nobody was looking. Laura ran back into the church to tell Marlena, who had suspected something was amiss with Kristen, but she ended up coming face to face with Stefano and Peter. Stefano revealed that the body in the casket was Daniel Scott, with a latex mask of Peter on. Stefano kidnapped Laura and took both her and Peter to the Blake house. Peter was very ill still and he forced Laura to care for him. Kristen eventually stumbled upon both Laura and Peter. Stefano wanted to take Laura with her when he and Peter left the country, but Kristen and Peter asked if there was another way to solve the problem. Stefano eventually had one of his scientists zap Laura's mind with a laser that would remove her memory for the last few days. Stefano placed Laura out in Salem park on a bench and he and Peter skipped town.
After being found and brought home, Laura began to sleep walk and slowly started to remember what happened to her. To prevent her from fully regaining her memory, Stefano hired Nurse Lynn Burke to act as Laura's private nurse and to secretly drug her with pills that would suppress her memory. Laura found herself drawn to the Blake house and began to remember what happened to her, but Kristen showed up and knocked her out. Kristen also had the secret room in the Blake House sealed. Laura remembered the room, being zapped with a laser, and Peter being alive, but nobody believed her. Laura eventually informed Lynn that she no longer needed her services or the pills she was taking. Laura had finally regained her memory and was determined to prove that Peter was alive by having his coffin exhumed. Upon learning what she was doing, Kristen convinced Ivan and Vivian to help her dig up the coffin and have the body cremated. Kristen covered by saying she had found papers of Peter's saying he wished to be cremated. Laura went over to confront Kristen and ended up breaking down, thanks to being over medicated by Lynn and Kristen. Laura ended up in the hospital. Nurse Lynn was still drugging Laura in the hospital, which kept her unconscious. Having not heard from Stefano in awhile, Nurse Lynn asked Kristen if she should keep drugging Laura. Unaware that Kristen was actually Susan, Nurse Lynn agreed not to keep drugging Laura, because Susan had told her to stop. Lynn learned that Stefano was back in town and was going to kidnap Marlena and Laura. Lynn felt sorry for Laura and helped her flee the hospital. Susan Banks had planned an Elvis themed wedding for herself and John, which Kristen and Marlena were forced to watch from the secret room. Desperate to stop the wedding, Kristen tried to dig through the wall and ended up hitting a gas line, which knocked Kristen and Marlena unconscious. Stefano showed up dressed as a waiter and was planning to escape with Marlena. Unfortunately, Laura showed up, still wearing her pajamas from the hospital, and accused Kristen, who was really Susan, of kidnapping Marlena. Laura slapped Susan and her fake teeth landed in Vivian's glass of champagne. Susan confessed everything and John managed to save Kristen and Marlena from the secret room, both had passed out. In the end, Kristen was fully exposed for trying to get rid of Marlena and John and Marlena were reunited.
Peter returned from the dead in the fall of 1998 and hired Trent Davis to kidnap Jennifer. When Jennifer was kidnapped, Jack Deveraux broke out of prison and rescued her. Jack and Jen both returned to Salem by Christmas and Laura helped them escape Salem. Jack and Jen ended up joining the Ward's World Famous Circus, owned by Jasper Ward. Jack confessed his problems to Jasper, who understood and still gave Jack a job as an animal keeper. Jen got in on the act and replaced the woman who Ernesto threw daggers at. Even Abbey joined the circus as a clown. Peter returned to the DiMera Mansion and Stefano helped him try to locate Jen and get a cure for his jungle madness. Stefano came up with the idea of planting a listening device on Laura, who they suspected knew where Jack and Jen were. Laura Horton, Maggie Horton, and Celeste Perrault all went to the Salem Spa for some relaxation. Peter disguised himself as a masseuse and planed to plant the device on Laura, but almost killed her during another Jungle Madness attack. Later, Laura set a trap for Peter by inadvertently hinting that Jack and Jen were in Dayton, Ohio. Kristen overheard Laura, who told Peter. Peter raced to Dayton, Ohio, as did the police who Laura tipped off. Unfortunately, the circus Jack and Jen were hiding in was in Dayton, Ohio. Jasper covered for Jack and Jen and Peter returned home when Stefano warned him the entire thing was a trap set by Laura.
The circus Jack and Jen were hiding out in was on the verge of going broke. Jack convinces Jaspar Ward to take the circus to Salem, Jack had a plan to trap Jennifer. Upon arriving in Salem, Jack sent Hope some tickets and asked her to come to the circus. However, Peter followed Hope and attacked her, but she was saved by Bo. Peter tipped the FBI off to where Jack was hiding and he was arrested. Peter kidnapped Jen, but also attacked her and knocked her unconscious. When Jen came too she fled. Jen hoped in Jasper's car and took off and Peter followed her. Jen's car eventually went off the road and exploded. Peter stopped at a phone booth and found Jasper Ward calling the police to report news about Jennifer, but Peter attacked him and put him in a coma. Jack was placed back in prison and Laura came to see him. Earlier, Laura confronted Kristen and vowed to find Peter and make them both pay. After leaving, Laura realized she had lost her prescription of Placiden, unaware that Kristen had found it. Laura told Jack that she had bought a gun and was going to take care of the DiMera. Later, Abe came to see Jack to tell him that a woman's body was found in the car Jen was driving. Jack refused to believe it was Jen, until they showed him a necklace Peter had bought for her that was found in the wreckage. The necklace had an inscription from Peter to Jen. Jack and the rest of Salem were forced to admit that Jen was dead.
Jack was let out of jail to attend Jen's funeral. Laura slipped out of the church to find Kristen and make her pay. Peter showed up with a shotgun and started shooting. Suddenly, Jen's spirit rose from her coffin. Jen convinced Peter to turn himself in. Jack was released from prison immediately. Jen told her that Jasper was supposed to tell them all that her death was faked, but Jen wasn't aware that Jasper was in a coma. Peter was taken to jail and managed to get Peter placed in a white-collar- crime prison instead and he would be up for parole in a few years. In February of 1998, Kristen DiMera was found dead. A funeral for Kristen was held at St. Lukes and all of Salem attended. Laura attended, wearing a bright red outfit. During the service, Laura recalled going to the Blake House the day of Jen's funeral and shooting at Kristen.
Abe and Roman learned from the coroner that the drug in Kristen's system was Placiden. Upon hearing this, Marlena tells Roman that Placiden is the drug that she prescribed for Laura. Marlena and Roman went to the Blake house and upon searching they found Laura's prescription bottle. The case was reopened and Laura became the number one suspect. Marlena Evans confronted Laura with the bottle of Placiden from the Blake House and asked her if she killed Kristen. Laura said no and was appalled by her best friend's accusation. Abe and Roman got a search warrant to search Laura's house and they found the coat she was wearing the night of "Kristen's" murder. A button matching the ones on her coat was found at the Blake house, but Laura had sown one on where she had lost one. Laura was driving to the Penthouse Grill for Susan and Edmund's wedding when she became caught up in her thoughts and crashed her car. Laura was taken to the hospital and soon after was arrested for Kristen's murder. Marlena learned about Laura's arrest and came to the station, but Laura blamed Marlena for her arrest. Laura admitted that she went to the Blake house and shot at Kristen, but because Kristen didn't die of a gun shoot wound, she was innocent. However, Abe suggests that when she didn't kill Kristen with her gun, she drugged her instead. Laura insisted that she lost her prescription long ago and Kristen must have found it and been using it. Marlena decided to have Kristen's body exhumed to see if Kristen how long the Placiden had been in Kristen's system.
Meanwhile, Celeste began to remember more and more about the night Kristen was killed, after Stefano administered the cure for her Jungle Madness. Laura was put on trial for killing Kristen DiMera. Mickey pleaded with her to take an insanity plea, but she refused. Luckily, Stefano showed up with Celeste, who's story got Laura off the hook for killing Kristen. Celeste remembered being at the Blake house and seeing Laura shoot at Kristen, and that Kristen fell down. Laura left, but Kristen got up. However, Laura was convicted of attempted murder and was ordered to be institutionalized pending a psychiatric evaluation. Marlena pulled some strings and managed to allow Laura to come home as an out patient. Laura was touched that Marlena did this and they became friends once again. Laura is now on the back, back burner of the show since Jack and Jennifer left for Africa.
Laura returned to town briefly for Jack and Jennifer's 2003 wedding.
