Jeff Branson briefly played a young Alan in a flashback scene[1] during Carrie Carruther's murder investigation.
They have a son, Alan-Michael Spaulding, but divorce after Alan's affair with Rita Bauer, who is married to Hope's uncle, Ed.
Under duress, he helps Roger Thorpe escape from Springfield although crooked dealings between the two make them lifelong enemies.
Alan was very close to his sister Alexandra growing up, and planned a masked ball in her honor when she comes to town.
Alan disappears in the jungle during the "Dreaming Death" scare that takes the lives of several Springfield residents.
Two years later, Alan turns up alive, having plotted with India Von Halkein and her father to take over Spaulding.
Alan learns that new Spaulding employee Blake Lindsey is really Christina Thorpe, Roger's daughter.
He is sent to prison, periodically appearing as he reveals to Philip the secret that Beth Raines, his long-time love, had not drowned, but is still alive, and living with amnesia.
He shows up in Springfield but remains in hiding while returning to prison on occasion to fool his family into thinking he is still incarcerated.
When Amanda returns to town, it is revealed that she is not Alan's daughter, but his sister through an affair her mother Jennifer had with Brandon.
Gus, brought up in a working-class family, doesn't accept the wealthy Spaulding lifestyle, but time brings them closer.
Alan is shot during the reception by his new stepdaughter, Ashlee Wolfe, and remains in critical condition for several weeks.