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General Hospital

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General Hospital
GenreSoap opera
Created byFrank & Doris Hursley
Written byDan O'Connor
Chris Van Etten
StarringPresent cast
Past cast
Theme music composerJack Urbont
Paul Glass
Steve Hopkins
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons62
No. of episodes15,600
(as of August 19, 2024)
Production
Executive producersFrank Valentini (2012-present}
(and others)
Production locationsThe Prospect Studios
Los Angeles, California
Camera setupMultiple-camera setup
Running time30 minutes (1963-1976)
45 minutes (1976-1978)
60 minutes (1978-present)
Production companiesSelmur Productions
(1963-1968)
ABC Signature (1968-present)
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseApril 1, 1963 (1963-04-01) –
present

General Hospital (commonly abbreviated GH) is the longest-running ABC Daytime American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company television network. It is also the longest-running serial produced in Hollywood (having been taped at the Prospect Avenue ABC Television Center West and Sunset-Gower Studios).

Set in the fictional city of Port Charles, New York, General Hospital debuted on April 1, 1963, the same day that rival network NBC launched its own medical daytime drama, The Doctors. The show originally aired for a half-hour until the network expanded it to the unusual length of 45 minutes in 1976, and then to a full hour in 1978. The serial was created by soap writers Frank and Doris Hursley, a husband-and-wife team.

General Hospital is credited for starting several trends in the soap opera genre in the 1980s, most notably that of the fast-paced action-adventure plotlines that were remarkably different from the more traditional domestic and social issues that had been the sole focus of most soap operas during the previous decades. In 2003, when GH was celebrating its 40th anniversary, TV Guide named it "The Greatest Soap Opera Of All Time." In addition, GH was also named as one of TIME Magazine's "Top 100 Television Shows of All Time."

Current cast members

[change | change source]
Actor Character Status
Kristen Alderson Kiki Jerome 2013—
Bradford Anderson Damian Spinelli 2006—
Maurice Benard Sonny Corinthos 1993—
Sean Blakemore Shawn Butler 2011—
Teresa Castillo[1] Sabrina Santiago 2012—
Bryan Craig Morgan Corinthos 2013—
Jimmy Deshler Rafe Kovich, Jr. 2013—
Chad Duell Michael Corinthos 2010—
Michael Easton Dr. Silas Clay 2013—
Jane Elliot Tracy Quartermaine 1978–80, 1989–93, 1996, 2003—
Genie Francis[2] Laura Spencer Baldwin 1976–84, 1993–2002, 2006, 2008, 2013—
Anthony Geary Luke Spencer 1978–84, 1993—
Nancy Lee Grahn Alexis Davis 1996—
Rebecca Herbst Elizabeth Webber 1997—
Roger Howarth TBA 2013—
Finola Hughes Anna Devane 1985–91, 1995, 2006–08, 2012—
Sean Kanan A. J. Quartermaine 1993–97, 2012—
Lisa LoCicero Olivia Falconeri 2008—
Kelly Monaco Sam Morgan 2003—
Emme Rylan Lulu Spencer-Falconeri 2013—
Marc Anthony Samuel[3] Felix DuBois[4] 2012—
Kirsten Storms Maxie Jones 2005–11, 2012—
Kelly Sullivan Connie Falconeri 2011—
Kelly Thiebaud[5][6] Dr. Britt Westbourne 2012—
Jason Thompson Dr. Patrick Drake 2005—
Maura West Ava Jerome 2013—
Laura Wright Carly Corinthos Jacks 2005—
John J. York Mac Scorpio 1991—
Dominic Zamprogna Dante Falconeri 2009—

Recurring cast

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Actor Character Duration
Denise Alexander Dr. Lesley Webber 1973–84, 1996–2009, 2013—
Nicholas Bechtel Spencer Cassadine 2013—
Ian Buchanan Duke Lavery
1986–89, 2012—
Leslie Charleson Dr. Monica Quartermaine 1977—[7]
Derk Cheetwood Max Giambetti 2002—
Drew Cheetwood Milo Giambetti 2006—
Peter Hansen Lee Baldwin 1965—1976, 1977—1986, 1990, 2004
Tyler Christopher Nikolas Cassadine 1996–99, 2003–11, 2013—
Jason David Aiden Spencer 2012—
Sonya Eddy Epiphany Johnson 2006—
Saidah Arrika Ekulona Mayor Janice Lomax 2012—[8]
Blake Gibbons Coleman Ratcliffe 2002—
Carolyn Hennesy Diane Miller 2007—[9]
Lynn Herring Lucy Coe 1986–2004, 2012—
Sarah Johnson Josslyn Jacks 2012—
Jaxon and Jakob Kring Danny Morgan 2012—
Jon Lindstrom Dr. Kevin Collins 1993–97, 2004, 2013—
Michael Leone Cameron Spencer 2013—
Robin Mattson Heather Webber 1980–83, 2004, 2012—
Haley Pullos Molly Lansing 2009—
Tequan Richmond T. J. Ashford 2012—
Kin Shriner Scott Baldwin 1977–83, 1987–93, 1998, 2000–04, 2007–08, 2013—
Brooklyn Rae Silzer Emma Scorpio-Drake 2011—
Kristina Wagner Felicia Jones 1984–2003, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2012—
Bergen Williams Alice Gunderson 2001—
Emily Wilson Ellie Trout 2012—

Upcoming cast changes

[change | change source]

Debuting and returning

[change | change source]
Actor Character Date Reference
Samantha Logan Taylor DuBois June 4 [10]

References

[change | change source]
  1. "Ins&Outs". New Nurse Ready to Play Doctor!. Soaps In Depth. October 1, 2012. p. 10.
  2. Fairman, Michael (January 16, 2013). "GH EP Frank Valentini On Genie Francis' Return: 'It's not a guest appearance. We've hired her, we've absolutely hired her!'". On-Air On-Soaps. michaelfairmansoaps.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  3. Lewis, Errol (November 20, 2012). "Marc Samuel Joins 'General Hospital' as New Contract Player". Soap Opera Network. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  4. Newcbomb, Roger (December 5, 2012). "GENERAL HOSPITAL's New Gay Character: Felix Dubois". We Love Soaps. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  5. "Kelly Thiebaud Put on Contract as General Hospital's Bitchy Britt!". daytimeconfidential.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  6. "Students Working". matthewbarryteaches.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved April 9, 2013.
  7. "Character Monica Quartermaine Biography". General Hospital. ABC Daytime. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  8. "Saidah Arrika Ekulona". Saidah Arrika Ekulona Official Website. www.mssaidah.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  9. "Diane Returns to GH!". Soap Opera Digest. soapoperadigest.com. 20 September 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  10. "GH's Felix Gets A Sister". Soap Opera Digest. American Media, Inc. May 15, 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.