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Send mail to Gordon Thomson at: Gordon Thomson (AJ, Sunset Beach) c/o Sunset Beach NBC-TV 3000 W. Alameda Ave. Burbank, CA 91523

"I'm on board for three years," an enthusiastic Gordon Thomson, tells Digest Online. Thomson premiered last week on Sunset Beach in the role of Armando Deschanel, Jr. (A.J.). Viewers were introduced to A.J. on a cruise ship, just as his former lover, Olivia, was about to go overboard. He saved her, but that's not the last we'll see of him. The character has arrived in Sunset Beach, where he has a "ruthless, yet somewhat secretive agenda" to play out.

So which of Thomson's past characters does A.J. remind the popular soap veteran (ex-Mason, Santa Barbara; ex-Adam, Dynasty; ex-Patrick, Young & Restless) of the most? "He's a little bit like Adam," Thomson answers. "There's some anger there. A.J. discovered his family when he was in his twenties, and he feels cheated. [A.J. ] has the same background as far as money goes, except that his family lost their money eventually."

But unlike Adam, A.J. is not a man motivated by wealth or greed. "He's [motivated] by his hatred for Gregory... [He] just hates him!" shares Thomson. "Why they hate each other will be explained. When they were young, Gregory was a bully. There's much more to the story, though."

A.J. also has another deep tie to Sunset Beach: he is Cole's father, a truth he recently learned. Naturally, one might assume that A.J. and Cole's deep hatred for Gregory will bond father and son. Not in the near future, reveals Thomson.

"[Cole] loathes A.J.," observes Thomson, pointing out that Cole is angry with A.J. for the way he neglected Cole's mother, Elaine. "I think he'll eventually understand that [A.J. is] not a son of a bitch and [A.J.] understands what he's going through."

Like most great soap characters, A.J. is a man of mystery, the actor adds. "The writers have a lot to play with," Thomson says. "He's interesting... it's easy to say that, but it's true. He's a passionate man. We don't know quite yet what he's passionate about, but learning about who he is is part of what will make this a great story."

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