General Hospital
General Hospital’s John J. York Reveals Potential Transplant Donor: “I Believe They Found a Match”
Promising news for General Hospital’s John J. York (Mac Scorpio). The actor who went public with his health battle shared Friday on Good Morning America that a life-saving blood stem cell transplant donor may have been located.
An emotional York told GMA, “I believe they found a match, perfect match, which will make me cry. So we’re going to start our testing and do all that kind of stuff coming up here in about a week, and then I believe the transplant will happen, fingers crossed, in November.”
Through his association with the Be The Match organization, York located the now potential donor to help in his fight against myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple smoldering myeloma, two blood and bone marrow disorders. “
Photo: JPI
York went on to explain the difficulties he faced in trying to find a match: “Many of my family members were tested and most of them were 6 out of 12; apparently there’s markers that have to be reached. So they were on standby.”
When asked just what the GH fan favorite would want to say if given the opportunity to speak to the donor that appears to be a match, in tears, John expressed: “Thank you for saving my life. For letting me spend more time with my wife and my daughter and my son-in-law and my grandchildren and seeing this beautiful blue sky.”
John has played Mac Scorpio for 32 years and until recently had kept his battle with these two blood cancers private, but came forward to clarify why he is taking time away from GH, and how he is been trying to find a life-saving donor match.
Watch York’s segment from GMA below.
Now, share your thoughts and well-wishes as John awaits the test results from his potential donor, to hopefully undergo this life-saving transplant in November via the comment section.
“I believe they found a match, perfect match, which will make me cry.”
“General Hospital” star John J. York opens up to @evapilgrim about his cancer diagnosis and working with “Be the Match.” pic.twitter.com/VlnReywRZu
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 22, 2023
I’m hoping and praying for John. This news is so encouraging and how wonderful that someone volunteered to be a donor. Wishing a speedy recovery and hope to see our beloved Mac back on GH soon!
It’s so nice when good things happen to good people. Fingers crossed all goes well for a successful transplant and smooth recovery. John did a great thing by making this public and raising awareness so others can hopefully benefit as well.
Glad to hear he’s still taping so we’ll see Mac on screen through October. Maybe even have the Cody reveal before JJY goes on hiatus. As he’s given Frank and the writers a heads up, there should be no need for a temporary recast.
I would think they would not have the Cody-Mac reveal until something progresses with Scott’s lawsuit on his behalf. Surely for drama it will come down to Cody having to choose between the money from the lawsuit (which depends on him lying that Taub is his father) or admitting Mac is his dad. A “redo” of his previous chance.
And he’ll either make the honest and honorable choice this time with much emotion… or make the wrong choice and be found out and disgraced, depending on which direction the writers want to go. And who knows what writers we will have at that point!
I don’t even know how he plans on staying with the show; he and his wife are living in Tennessee. So even if G-d Willing he’s cured, I don’t see him having much story with Cody. Two separate things: I almost cried when I found out he has a potential donor. I’m thrilled for him. As for GH, I always loved Mac & was pissed that they phased him out of the show. Even with his return, he’s barely had screen time or a story. And now? As said, if he’s living so far from where the show is filmed I don’t expect to see much of him or Mac/Cody stories…that’s disappointing. But first things first, let’s hope he comes through this…
Yes, first and foremost is a full recovery for John.
As for the commute, most times of the year, the shooting schedule is determined a month prior to filming date (with show airing 3-8 weeks after film date). Kathleen Gati (Arizona) and Lynn Herring (Northern California) are two examples of recurring folks that regularly come long distances. Don’t let that sway you (especially since Lucy has had more story and been on more episodes this year than some contract performers). Kin Shriner also regularly flew back and forth from Ft. Lauderdale for years.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I briefly met JJY on plane earlier this year. It was from Nashville to LA. Turns out it was the week they filmed the Nurses Ball. So, it’s a commute he’s accustomed to so don’t let that sway you that we won’t see much of Mac down the line.
While I was disappointed to see Mac’s lack of story for years, Frank has mixed in the recurring vets in major stories. Case in point, Lucy and currently Ned. Kevin/Ryan also had a good run for a few years. Let’s hold out hope that this momentum picks up with Mac when JJY returns.
I’m on the Bone Marrow Registry
I might get called once or twice in my lifetime, but can not be over the age 60 so there is lots of time to use me if I’m needed..
I am a rare type/rare to come up as a match just one of the reasons I volunteered and so little to do to save a life.
I wish John York transplant success and long life–
I’ll be keeping this in my prayers and I’m happy for John and his family.
General Hospital
Dee Wallace to Play the Late Jackie Zeman’s On-Screen Sister on ‘The Bay’
The Daytime Emmy-winning streaming series,The Bay, has revealed some major casting news. Former General Hospital guest star, Dee Wallace (ex-Patricia Spencer), who is best known for her roles in the blockbuster films ET and Cujo, is joining the show for its ninth season.
Wallace will take on the role of Charlotte Grace, who in story, happens to be the sister of Sofia Madison, played by the late Jackie Zeman (ex-Bobbie Spencer, GH).
In an intriguing twist, Dee came to General Hospital as the older sister of Luke (Tony Geary) and Bobbie. Patricia was key to the plot in the “Fluke” storyline where GH played out the harrowing backstory that Luke killed both his parents to protect himself and his siblings.
Photo: JPI
Dee was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 2016 for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series for her work on GH.
Additional casting news from The Bay for season 9 includes: Mack Wilds, best known for his role as Dixon on 90210, joining the show as a recast Will Campbell. The character was last seen in season 3.
Photo: Oliviadabonet
In addition, Olivia d’Abo who played Karen Arnold on the the sitcom, The Wonder Years joins the show in the role of Felicia “Fifi” Garrett-Martin, the daughter of Lex Martin played by Tristan Rogers.
What do you think of Dee Wallace playing the on-screen sister, once again to the late Jackie Zeman on The Bay? Comment below.
General Hospital
GH’s Adam J. Harrington Reveals the Behind the Scenes Story of Becoming John “Jagger” Cates
When Adam J. Harrington showed up on all-new episodes of General Hospital, it shocked viewers of the long-running ABC soap opera, because he was the recast John “Jagger” Cates.
The character was previously played more than 30 years ago by Antonio Sabato Jr., and as fans of the soap have seen, Harrington’s version of Jagger and his circumstances are quite different. As it turns out, Adam was in the dark at what GH role he would be eventually cast in.
Speaking with GH co-stars, Steve Burton (Jason) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) on their Daily Drama podcast, Harrington shared the behind the scenes journey that led him to being the new version of John.
Photo: ABC
Adam shared, “I went into a chemistry read with Laura Wright (Carly) for a different character. I was told I wasn’t going to get the character, but hang tight, there’s something else. Then, that kind of took a couple of months and now we’re in December (2023), and then all of a sudden it was like, ‘here you go.'”
Once Adam was given a role on GH, he explained, “I still didn’t know who I was playing. I should have asked at that point. So the deal gets done, and I go, ‘By the way, who am I playing?'”
Photo: ABC
That’s the point where the GH powers-that-be let him in on just what he was about to take on. “They sent me a one sheet with John “Jagger” Kates in the description,” shared Adam. “It wasn’t until I went on YouTube and spent a good three or four days, watching all of Steve (Burton’s) storylines in the nineties (that I figured it out). By the way, they were fantastic. The production value … it was amazing the level of the acting, and the relationships you guys had. I really enjoyed it. So, that’s how I found out (about the character).”
Burton and Anderson asked Harrington about his thoughts on being a recast. “I thought it was important to go back to his circumstances and his upbringing, because that wouldn’t change no matter what he had become in the 20 or 30 or 70 years since we’ve seen him,” Adam shared. “I looked at what Antonio Sabato Jr. did and thought, ‘There was no way in hell I can even touch that or even come close, nor do I want to.’ The only thing I recognized was given his upbringing and what he’d gone through, it was a common sense of humor in there that’s either used defensively or as a way of getting through the world.”
Photo: JPI
As to how Adam should approach the part given it was a recast, he noted, “What I had been told from the brass is don’t worry about following that same emotional storyline. He’s gone away for a very, very, very long time, become successful and he’s come back. Basically, they were saying, you bring in you.”
Being part of the fabric of GH for awhile now, Harrington expressed, “I will say this about my experience so far. I am in absolute awe of the cast and the crew and watching how you do this on a train that refuses to stop. I said to a friend, ‘I’m on a train that’s going a hundred miles an hour, and they slow down to about 90 to kick you off after your scene is done.'”
So, what are your thoughts on Adam as John “Jagger” Cates after now seeing how the role has evolved and changed since its original version over 30 years ago? Comment below.
General Hospital
John J. York Back at General Hospital
On Friday, May 10th, General Hospital fans received some wonderful images and news. John J. York who has played the beloved Mac Scorpio on the ABC daytime drama series is back at work and taping all-new episodes of the show.
“Mac is back!” read the General Hospital social media post hashtag. John is pictured with longtime leading lady, Kristina Wagner and in other pics with Wagner, along with his TV son, Josh Kelly. York has played the younger brother of Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) since 1991.
Previously, York announced he was taking time off from GH to undergo treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple smoldering myeloma (two blood and bone marrow disorders). This included chemo treatments, finding a blood doner match for blood stem cell transplant and more.
Courtesy/GHIG
Late in 2023, York shared an update on his health on social media. At that time, John expressed, “(Things) are actually going along very well. I’m still in the middle stages of everything.” He added, “I’m feeling really good. Hopefully, hopefully, things go the way they are, maybe be back on the show late spring, early summer.
York’s return pics were greeted with wonderful excitement from his GH co-stars on the Instagram post, including co-stars Finola Hughes (Anna) and Cameron Mathison (Drew).
Michael Fairman TV is wishing John well, and thrilled to see he is back at work.
Share your thoughts as “Mac is Back” to General Hospital via the comment section below.
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