As The World Turns
Could Jon Lindstrom be making his way back to General Hospital?
Courtesy/MPRM Comm.
Soap opera favorite, Jon Lindstrom who last played Craig Montgomery on As the World Turns and prior to that Kevin Collins on both Port Charles and General Hospital (And of course, Ryan Chamberlin), is in the news! Last week we interviewed the actor about the DVD release this week of his film, What Happens Next, where Lindstrom takes on a gay role for the first time in his career and is getting wonderful reviews. For the complete interview about the DVD release and Jon’s performance, make sure to log onto frontiersla.com tomorrow!
But in the meantime, Jon’s girlfriend, Cady McClain (Dixie, AMC and Rosanna, ATWT) had taken to her Twitter account with an interesting tease, which ABC Soaps In Depth inferred could be harkening Jon’s return to GH, that could also signal the return of Lucy Coe, played by Lynn Herring! Cady tweeted, “A little bird just told me GH is bringing back some fan favorites. Who will return, I wonder?”
During our conversation with Lindstrom about his film, we asked Jon if he would consider a return to the soaps, what he thought of the dwindling genre where New York City used to be its epicenter, and if he would come back to GH, with Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati in charge. And here were some of our questions and a few of his answers.
We miss seeing your face every day on daytime television. You are so beloved and all your performances have been so wonderful. Would you come back to daytime and do a soap?
JON: Awww, thank you. I would come back to daytime, if there was the right situation. They know where to find me. I am happy to have a discussion anytime. I do not look down on the soaps at all. I have been very busy. I am finishing up work on the first movie I directed, and so I don’t really think about it. If it happens, it will probably be as much of a surprise to me as it is to you.
Has it been hard for you to watch the imploding of the daytime soap genre? And especially New York City, which has lost all of its soap production, most recently One Life to Live and your former show, As the World Turns!
JON: It’s been hard to watch what was once a very healthy industry getting squeezed down to nothing. It did not really have to go that way. I think the shows themselves were partly to blame. They got very grandiose with their budgets. And the soaps should be what makes them great; which was a minimum of sets, not too many characters, and not too many stories, and telling stories on a day-to-day basis about people who get up in the morning and go to work… and not about the mafia and the astronauts. It’s about people, who go to work and get in a car wreck, or their kids get hurt or sick, and you triumph and you press forward, and that is what they are about. That does not mean that things can’t be dramatized, and that you can’t have comic relief like we did with Kevin and Lucy on GH back in the old days. I think it needs to be very, very character driven and not romanticizing some life that nobody has. Most people are not in the mafia.
Really? (Laughs)
JON: If you watch General Hospital, you think they do! (Laughs)
I hope they bring you back to GH now, especially since new executive producer Frank Valentini, and new head writer, Ron Carlivati, are over there and bringing back some old favorites with many more 80’s and 90’s faves just on the horizon. The timing would be great!
JON: I heard that and we will see. Like I said, they know where to find me.
So would you be happy to see a return of Kevin, or Kevin and Lucy to General Hospital? Let us know! And, make sure to check out Jon’s DVD release of What Happens Next available at wolfevideo.com!
As The World Turns
ATWT Alum Martha Byrne Pays Tribute to Eileen Fulton: “The Original Soap Star Who Paved the Way for the Likes of a Susan Lucci or Andrea Evans”
Tributes and remembrances are pouring in for the the late Eileen Fulton, who passed away on July 14th at the age of 91. Fulton broke the soap opera mold back in the early 60’s when she was cast to play Lisa Miller on As the World Turns, who would turn out to be the first villiainess, vixen, and homewrecker of daytime television.
Fans of the soap loved to love to hate her for how she destroyed many lives in her quests to nab a husband; especially one she had set her sights set on. In fact, Lisa was married 8 times during the history of the show. Fulton was with ATWT on and off until the final year of the show in 2010.
Martha Byrne, who has been Fulton’s castmate for a time (Bryne played Lily Snyder from 1985 to 1989 and then again from 1993-2008 where she also played Rose D’Angelo), took to her account on x to share her thoughts on what Eileen meant to the genre, and also spoke on how Fulton handled not being as front and center on the soap operas as the years went by.
Photo: JPI
“What can I say about Eileen Fulton. The original soap star who paved the road for the likes of a Susan Lucci or Andrea Evans,” began Bryne. “Since Eileen started on ATWT when the show was live, there aren’t enough pieces of history for us to truly grasp the enormity of her stardom and presence in the entertainment business. I remember being so impressed that she was a writer. The best part was she would use real stories from behind the scenes and change the names. Maybe that was her way of giving the audience a wink to include them even more.”
Photo: CBS
Bryne went to share, “She (Eileen) loved her fans and she had many. I went to her one woman shows and the place was always packed. As the years went on and her role wasn’t as prominent as it had been she took it with class. I never heard her complain as many did who were frustrated they didn’t have a storyline. She was always a class act and a true pro who knew a storyline or another opportunity was only around the corner. She knew her value and was secure in herself. A national treasure who shaped the entire industry. Thank you Eileen. I’m sure there was a pink feather boa waiting for you just inside the pearly gates.”
So, what did you think about the sentiments shared by Martha on the legendary Eileen Fulton? Would you agree, as we have previously noted, that Lisa as played by Eileen, was really the prototype for all soap opera “bad girls” to follow? Did you appreciate the fact that while having a more diminished role over the last few decades of ATWT, Eileen took it in stride? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
What can I say about Eileen Fulton. The original soap star who paved the road for the likes of a Susan Lucci or Andrea Evans. Since Eileen started on ATWT when the show was live there aren’t enough pieces of history for us to truly grasp the enormity of her stardom and presence… pic.twitter.com/bN3skb2Rws
— Martha Byrne (@MarthaByrne10) July 20, 2025
The iconic Eileen Fulton, who was daytime’s first bad girl as Lisa Miller on As the World Turns, has died at the age of 91. According to the obituary on her passing, Fulton died earlier this week on July 14th in Asheville, North Carolina, after a period of declining health.
Fulton was born Margaret Elizabeth McLarty in Asheville on September 13, 1933. After studying acting in New York City, she changed her name to Eileen Fulton, when in 1960 she was cast in the film, Girl of the Night, co-starring with Anne Francis.
Eileen would change the face of daytime drama when in 1960 she was cast as the disruptor to the family dynamic, Lisa Miller, on the CBS soap opera. Throughout her ATWT run, the character of Lisa would eventually be married eight times to: Bob Hughes (1960–1964), John Eldridge (1965–1967), Michael Shea (1969–1970), Grant Coleman (1975–1979) ,Whit McColl (1982–1984), Earl Mitchell (1986–1987), Eduardo Grimaldi (1994–1995), and Martin Chedwyn (1996).
Photo: CBS
ATWT historians know that Lisa’s full name by the time the series went off the air in 2010 was: Lisa Miller Hughes Eldridge Shea Colman McColl Mitchell Grimaldi Chedwyn. Fulton played the role with only brief interruptions until the show was cancelled that year making her one of the longest-running tenured soap opera actors in US history. Other performers who took on the role of Lisa in Fulton’s absence included: Jane Powell, Maeve McGuire, Pamela King, Betsy Von Furstenberg, Lynn Rogers and Carmen Duncan.
Throughout her time on ATWT, it was Fulton’s eagerness to play Lisa as a villainess that contributed to the character’s popularity and therefore its longevity. She was inducted into the Soap Opera Hall of Fame in 1998 and was awarded a Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In addition, in 1988, Fulton received her first-ever Daytime Emmy Award nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama Series.
The legendary star was also infamous for the grandmother clause she inserted into her contract that guaranteed she would never have to play a grandmother on the soap. In an interview with the LA Times in 2000 she shared, “At that time, grandmothers had no romance at all – and I wasn’t about to let that happen to me.” At some point, this all changed and she became OK with the idea of grandmother-hood. At one point, ATWT fans were so angry at the manipulative villainess played by Fulton that she had to employ a bodyguard to protect her.
Photo: CBS
When Futon stepped away from the show, at one point, she left to star in ATWT”s 1965 spinoff Our Private World, which aired Wednesday and Friday nights on CBS. In the story, Lisa had fled Oakdale after dumping Bob to move to Chicago, where she wed the wealthy John Eldridge (Nicolas Coster, who later would play Eduardo Grimaldi). Our Private World was canceled after four months on the air, and Fulton went back to As the World Turns in 1966.
When Eileen received her Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, she was part of a group of actors who also received the honor that year including: her ATWT co-stars, Don Hastings and Helen Wagner, plus Ruth Warrick, Frances Reid, John Clarke, Ray MacDonnell, Don Hastings, Jeanne Cooper, and Rachel Ames.
Photo: JPI
For a time early in her career, Fulton not only was appearing in As The World Turns, which at that time was broadcast live, she was simultaneously appearing on Broadway in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf and off-Broadway in the long-running musical The Fantasticks.
Fulton performed her cabaret act for many years in venues around New York and Los Angeles. In 1970, she co-authored her first autobiography, How My World Turns. In 1995 she co-authored a second autobiography, As My World Still Turns, to celebrate her 35th anniversary on As the World Turns. She also authored a series of mystery novels. In 2019, Eileen retired from show business and moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Photo: JPI
She is survived by her brother, Charles Furman McLarty (Karen) of Black Mountain; niece Katherine Morris (David) and their children, Everly Ann Morris and Easton Lane Morris of Fort Mill, S.C.; and sister-in-law Chris Page McLarty of Camden, Maine. She was pre-deceased by her parents and her brother, James Fulton McLarty.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Eileen Fulton via the comment section below, but first check out this classic early scene from ATWT featuring Fulton as Lisa, and the 2004 Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award presentation.
As The World Turns
ATWT Alum Tala Ashe Scores Tony Award Nomination; OLTL Alum Jonathan Groff and ‘Glee’ Favorite Darren Criss Also Receive Nods
Nominations for the 78th annual Tony Awards were announced Thursday morning honoring the best in the recent Broadway season.
The awards will be presented on June 8th live from Radio City Music Hall live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ with Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, a Tony winner for The Color Purple, hosting the show.
While musicals Buena Vista Social Club, Maybe Happy Ending and Death Becomes Her topped the nominations with 10 each, the list of Hollywood names and former soap opera alums who will be part of Broadway’s bigges makes it interesting drama for Broadway’s biggest nights.
Photo: JPI
In addition, there were big time snubs including: Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal and Kieran Culkin, who failed to make the nominations list, while other big names including: George Clooney are in the running.
Soap fans should take note that Tala Ashe (ex-Ameera Ali-Aziz, As the World Turns – 2007) scored her first-ever Tony nomination in the Best Featured Actress in a play category for her performance in English. The play takes place in an Iranian classroom where four adult students and their teacher leapfrog through a linguistic playground, this is a funny, stunning triumph about the universal foibles of language and miscommunication.
Photo: JPI
On As the World Turns, Ashe’s Ameera became involved with Luke and Noah, after she fled Iraq when her mother died, after her protector, Noah’s father, the Colonel, was reassigned and imprisoned. Once in Oakdale, when he heard her sad story, Noah (Jake Silbermann) agreed to a marriage of convenience, upsetting then boyfriend Luke Snyder (Van Hansis).
Once again, Tony Award winner, Jonathan Groff (ex-Henry Mackler, One Life to Live -2007) had scored another nomination. This year for his star turn as Bobby Darin in the new musical, Just in Time. Groff is competing in the category alongside former Glee star, Darren Criss, who is nominated for his work as a retired robot in Maybe Happy Ending.
Photo: JPI
Interestingly enough, Jeb Brown who is nominated in the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Dead Outlaw, was formerly the bandmate of Beyond the Gates and General Hospital star, Jon Lindstrom.
Audra McDonald made Tony history scoring her record-setting 11th overall nomination, this year for her starring role in the musical revival of Gypsy. However, she will face-off with former Pussycat Dolls singer, Nicole Scherzinger, who plays Norma Desmond in the latest adaption of Sunset Boulevard, where she is getting all the raves this Broadway season.
Photo: JPI
You can check out the full 78th annual Tony Award nominations here.
So, remember Tala from ATWT as Ameera? Jonathan from OLTL as Henry? Who do you think should take home a Tony Award next month in the Big Apple? Comment below.
‘Brilliant Minds’ Officially Canceled After 2 Seasons at NBC; DAYS Alum Al Calderon, OLTL Alum Teddy Sears and Zachary Quinto Among the Cast
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
DAYS Stephen Nichols Remembers Drake Hogestyn as the ‘Most Vital, Enthusiastic, Committed Man I Ever Knew’ Ahead of the PanCan PurpleStride Walk
DAYS Stephen Nichols and Co-Stars Walk in Honor of Drake Hogestyn at PanCan PurpleStride LA, ‘I Felt Him With Us’
Brandon Barash Granted Restraining Order Against ‘General Hospital’s’ Kirsten Storms
‘Days of Our Lives’ Rob Scott Wilson Talks ‘Turning Heel’ as Necktie Killer, Ben Weston
Paige Herschell Marks One-Year as ‘General Hospital’s’ Jacinda Bracken
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Has Dylan’s Mystery Caller/Stalker Been Revealed to Be an Alive Luna Nozawa?
THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Nick Confesses His Drug Problem to Victor; Joshua Morrow, Mark Grossman, Eric Braeden Bring the Newman Bond
WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus Talks Humble Beginnings, Test and Albert, WrestleMania 22 with Mickie James, Current Women’s Roster (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
Judith Light Talks Her Role in ‘The Terror: The Devil In Silver’ Dropping on AMC+ with Co-Star ‘Downton Abbey’ Alum, Dan Stevens
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Yes!!! I too would like to see the mob stuff go away.
I am excited for what could be a return to the “glory days” of General Hopsital. I am definitely started to watch again. The 80’s, early 90’s cast was when i last watched faithfullyt
I’d love to see Jon Linstrom and Lynn Herring back on GH.
Bring back Nurses Ball. Please.
Put Sonny on the next Freighter out of Port Charles, then bring back Kevin and Lucy.
I agree! I miss them! And while they’re at it, bring back the Nurse’s Ball.
I’m thrilled that so many favorites are coming back to General Hospital. But Valentini must also cut some of the staff. ABC gave Valentini the mandate to make General Hospital profitable, not the other way around. How does increasing the cast make the show solvent?
Get rid of the newbies and put Sonny as a recurring actor (although Dante may stay on contract). People are fed up with this mob bullshit. Guza and Frons wanted to attract the male audience. While this may have worked 5-10 years ago, the mob concept is now outdated, fans are fed up with it and want more tradition on GH. And GH does not even have that many male viewers anyway (at least, not at the present time). Y&R and DAYS both have higher ratios of male viewers than GH does and I wouldn’t be surprised if B&B does too.
Amen Mr. Lindstrom you are so on spot. And we could use some Lucy Coe just for a little comic releif and she still has the best toned arms in the business. Plus both of them can act!!!
kevin and lucy were fun to watch,I was really surprised that general hospital never asked these two back,and if he is coming back to port charles I hope that lucy is not far behind,Im just worried that with so many people ,there will be to many stories going on at the same time ,we dont need that either, even though I would love to see all the oldies come back ,because anything is better then it has been,the mob ,that took over general hospital takes up the whole hour ,this is why I am so happy that john mcbain will join the pcpd ,he definitely knows how to put people behind bars ,bo and john never let anyone get away with murder,so if he puts all the gangsters in prison,there will be room for kevin and lucy.
Hey Barbara T. Got your post. Cable was down at first, and then… I got caught up with some challenges of my own that had me having to prepare and then voice my concerns in a public forum. I’m dead right now, rough week, especially today. Out of town tomorrow, just for the day visiting my alumni on business. I will respond to your post Friday evening or Saturday for sure. Friday, I maybe tired from the drive. I just left a post about Jon/Kevin coming back to GH, below. Have a Goodnite and Wonderful Friday.
glad your back ,there are alot of things happening in the soap world ,and I am also nervous about to many people showing up in port charles,at this time ,they are not saying he will show up ,(kevin),when all my children ended ,I started watching days of our lives ,and I was surprised at all the oldies that showed up there,I use to watch it till it was moved in the one life to live time slot,and I wasnt giving oltl up,as I always said ,the best soap won in that case and that was a very long time ago,maggie was a new member to the hortons.looking forward to hearing what you have to say about several things going on in the soap world,some good some bad and some boring.cant believe we are at the end of week 4 ,with no one life to live.
Got back into town tonight at 8pm, so that’s why I answered your post this morning BC I knew I would be dead when I got in tonight…. as I am. Have you and Scott made up, Lol. At least you have me and Heather which I have corresponded with as well, but not as much as I have with you. I left my TV on today while I was out as I have since OLTL went off, BUT I leave the TV on channel 2, certainly not channel 7…even if that means GH won’t get the ratings. If I’m home, I always put on GH, rather I’m watching or not.., I am listening. But it goes on GH and channel 7 at 3pm. Not before. LOL You wil have to give me a GH update, I have missed it for a few…
Barbara: Look on the page with Whitney, someone is Blasting again…!!
You can tell when a show is being cancelled when you start seeing all of these veterans appear.
No, I dont want to see Kevin back. I think they have hired enough BLAST from the PAST back. I can’t imagine how they will make ALL these past character’s tie into the current cast, especially if the show isn’t canceling. Now if it is cancelling THAN I see how it can be done AS IT WAS done on AMC and OLTL. Therefore with this (possible)annoucement of Jon, GH might be on it’s way out and that’s why porducer’s Frank and Ron were hired to do for GH what they did for OLTL, give GH a SUPERB ending. This is what this is rounding up to look like. BC with the soaps on these buggets they’s are talking about, they are hiring ALLOT of ole cast back, while still having the current cast. That’s a Truck load of stories to tell all at one time for a show that is continueing, unless they plan of firing at least 8 people of the current cast. Former cast cost money to pay and let’s not forget their wardrobs… hummm!
soap surfing again, but there is to much to tell about the comings and goings in port charles,another favorite sight that I go to is soaptown usa,go to the loose lips and there is always some interesting tid bits going on,read the general hospital one.theres alot of information .there are to many ,as you wrote blasts from the past,that are coming to port charles ,we dont need so many stories going on at the same time,I heard that ethan is gone already ,whether that is true or not ,cant say,ron is good with secrets,look how long he kept the victor is alive quiet,I knew he was alive and I kept telling everyone including you that todd is not a killer and trevor st john is still with us,my family doesnt call me the soap queen for nothing, I usually figure out the stories ,even though I was surprised and thought it was brilliant .I know you dont agree, but I want a little piece of landview in port charles ,then it makes one life to live ,not gone forever ,which it looks like its going to stay that way.unless something happens and agnes nixon gets her rights back to continue where abc rudely cut us off.oh and another thing I read at soaptown,I dont even want to say it,but robin is going to die in a mob explosion ,making me continue to hate sonny,even more then I already do.anyway go there and read it ,its a good read.ok now this is for ron and frank,PLEASE DONT KILL ROBIN.let cassandra get blown up,and if you do blow up robin,PLEASE< LET HER WALK AWAY.1loveabcsoaps,do you think they will listen?
No Barb, they never listen to us, BUT I hope they hear Your plea’s!!!!! : )
fell asleep during the emmys ,heard adel or however her name is spelled got 6 of them ,ever since saturday,ive been singing whitney houston songs ,there in my head ,I have a couple of her cds so i listened to them,what a shame ,liked what you said about kim zimmers comment ,what she said is the truth.but i do believe that everyone is in charge of there own life ,and when you choose to do drugs knowing what they can do to you ,you are playing games with your life.never did that stuff,dont like anything that messes with your head,I went nuts one time when they gave me a calm down drug before they rolled me into emergency surgery .after the surgery I remember the nurse yelling at me to breathe,they had to put me on oxygen.so maybe all those drugs she had ,made her not breathe,I remember that after the hell I went through that day,I had to stay in the hospital ,for a week.aside from the pain I had to stay in bed and watched house the I d channel and,I got to watch my beloved soaps without having to get up.I watched a lot of television.did you go to soaptown usa and read the loose lips,Its a good read.
Barb: Your talking about your evening and the Emmys, Whitney and her plights, BUT never FAR BEHIND is your mention of your BELOVED soaps. lol That’s my Barbara!
I don’t think the return of past actors has anything to do with General Hospital getting cancelled. AMC and OLTL brought past actors AFTER they were cancelled while GH is bringing old characters to prevent the show from getting the axe.
I think that GH is trying to imitate Days’ reboot (which BTW was a failure and hasn’t done anything to improve their ratings). But General Hospital has more prominent high profile actors than Days does, so the reboot COULD work for GH even it didn’t for Days
If GH ratings are getting better by April, I think it will continue especially with The Revolution’s poor ratings which has scored a tremendous low of 1,44 total millions last week
sad to see the mob stuff go away, i liked it!! they just never wrote any good stories outside of the mob guys, sadly it seems gh is bringing alot of people back, just like AMC and OLTL did before it went off the air, could GH be doing the same thing to end by summer? hopefully not but it seems like it is.
I would love to see Lynn Herring return just so long as Lucy does not have vampire slayer powers anymore. That was simply ridiculous.
thats right,I forgot about lucys vampire slayer skills ,hey, general hospital started it before the breakout of those vampire movies and shows today. no ,we dont need that ,but you made me lol.kevin and lucy were good together and funny.I waited a long time wondering why the writers never brought them back,with lucys goose.guess they had to many mob stories to write.
Where have U been over this weeknd? Are you watching the Grammy’s? I did a few post, Susan Lucci, Whitney, YOU….. LOL Hit me back.
,Hey David thanks for reminding me about that vampire stuff I never really watched Port Charles, so Mr. Lindstrom real life does not have vampires either. Too Funny!
I really miss Lucy. She was a lot of fun and had so much energy. Bring Lynn Herring back with John
I would absolutely LOVE to see Jon and Lynn both back on GH!