General Hospital
BREAKING NEWS: Erika Slezak to Join the Cast of ‘General Hospital,’ Six-Time Daytime Emmy-Winner Signs Short-Term Deal
UPDATED: In the “dreams do come true department” for fans of One Life to Life and daytime soap operas, now comes word that six-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Erika Slezak (ex-Viki, OLTL) will be joining the cast of ABC’s General Hospital this fall.
According to the news from Slezak herself, via her fan club president Walter Miller, Erika has signed a short-term contract with the ABC soap opera. At present, “Erika does not know which character she will be playing, or when her scenes will air, but she is excited to be working again with executive producer Frank Valentini and the cast of GH!”
For over four decades, Erika played the central heroine on One Life to Life from 1971 until its final episode that aired on January 13, 2012 following its cancellation by ABC, and for one season in the online version of the soap opera via Prospect Park in 2013. Since the end of ‘One Life,’ Slezak has appeared in numerous episodic television series including The Resident and Blue Bloods.

Photo: JPI
Previously, Frank Valentini worked with Erika during his tenure at One Life to Live where he served as the series executive producer from 2003-2012 as well as his years working his way up the ranks. When the series ended its run on network television, ABC brought Valentini over to GH in 2012 where he has remained for the past 13 years.

Photo: ABC
Several former OLTL cast members have made it on to the GH soundstages reprising their roles from Llanview, or creating new roles including the likes of: Roger Howarth (Todd, Franco, Austin), Michael Easton (John, Silas, Finn) Kristen Alderson (Starr, Kiki), Kassie DePaiva (Blair), Hillary B. Smith (Nora), Florenzia Lozano (Téa), Mark Lawson (Dustin), Bree Williamson (Claudette), and Chris McKenna (Brennan) to name but a few.
It should be noted that on General Hospital, after waking up out of her coma, Lulu (Alexa Havins) got a new job working as a reporter for the “Llanview Banner.” As any One Life to Live fan knows, ‘The Banner” was the newspaper originally owned by the Lord family. After Victor Lord died, Viki became its owner and publisher with several twists and turns along the way. Could that be the new tie-in that brings Erika to GH? Stay tuned.
Following Michael Fairman TV’s breaking news story of Erika’s return to daytime, General Hospital’s EP Frank Valentini took to his account on X and confirmed her upcoming arrival, expressing, “I am thrilled to confirm that my dear friend and former One Life to Live colleague, Erika Slezak, will appear on General Hospital this fall. Stay tuned as we prepare to introduce another daytime legend to Port Charles. #GH #OLTL”
So, what do you think of Erika Slezak joining the cast of General Hospital? Who do you hope she plays? Have you missed seeing the iconic star of daytime television? Comment below.
I am thrilled to confirm that my dear friend and former “One Life to Live” colleague, Erika Slezak, will appear on @GeneralHospital this Fall. Stay tuned as we prepare to introduce another daytime legend to Port Charles. #GH #OLTL pic.twitter.com/Rxu5fWKSvJ
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) June 12, 2025
Oh Thank the heavens above. I hope she is playing Vicki and leads her back to Landview and the return of OLTL !!
Don’t get too excitied. OLTL has been, is, and will be no more. Not trying to be mean, just being a realist.
Understood. I just like to dream and hope a little.
If she can’t play Vicki , then she must play a role connected to the Q’s somehow. Would love to see her go toe to toe with Traci. She could keep up!
One of Martin’s exes lol
Or…Monica’s death will come out this summer. Maybe Erica could play Monica’s sister.
Monica was adopted and never knew her birth parents. Erika likely won’t be airing until at the earliest late September as Frank said she’d be joining in the fall.
But she could play Monica’s long lost biological sister.
Well, consider me shocked. Will Viki make a trip to Port Charles to cover a story for The Banner? Or, who could she possibly be? A patient at the hospital with a long story to tell? Felicia’s never-before-seen mother?
Regardless, it will be great to see a daytime legend back on the screen. We should probably just get the 2025 Guest Performance Emmy ready for her.
Felicia’s mother HAS been seen, as June Lockhart. She could, I suppose, be a recast.
June Lockhart (who is weeks away from her 100th birthday) played Felicia’s GRANDMOTHER. Her mother was never shown.
Erika (approaching 79) would fit the age group perfectly. Although, I doubt this is the character she’ll play.
June Lockhart played Felicia’s GrandMother
Well, this is truly surprising; I’m glad it’s known: this is a short-term gig.
So I’m excited… but if they have her playing Monica imma cry
They’re not recasting Monica.
I can’t imagine Frank green lighting that nor Erika taking over that role. I’m sure she’d never want anyone to play Viki after her. And yes, I’m aware that both Leslie Charleson and Erika Slezak did not originate the roles of Monica and Viki.
Plus:
They were just waiting for the other Q storylines to come to a head before moving onto that major one.
Thank you. And how did you do that?
She let it slip during an event recently.
Yeah but that formatting with a box that one must click on if they want to read a spoiler? Pretty, pretty good.
Oh, that. Last button on the toolbar where we write our messages.
Your toolbar must be different than most. The box I type in is just a box with no toolbars.
Come on. That would be disrespectful to both LC and ES. Not going to happen.
Maybe as Niki Smith!
I might’ve laughed this off before watching the end of Thursday’s episode. Could be way off here, but Willow is a prime candidate for DID. Her mental health is questionable going back to the Dawn of Day years.
I’d prefer not to have this tired soap trope (Frank already went down that ride with Connie). If they do, they could say the Reeves and the Lords go way back and Nina would contract an old family friend to help her daughter. That said, Erika deserves a better storyline than that.
THIS MAKES ME SO EXCITED. Slezak is daytime royalty and I am so glad she will be back on screen even if for a short story. The cast is already so bloated so I hope this doesn’t steal too much from the current cast. While I would love to see her show up as Victoria Lord Buchanan, I dont see a reason for Viki to visit PC. But I dont know if I have the patience to get to know her as another character. I am excited to see daytime vets still working. I LOVED seeing Colleen Zenk on Y&R as Aunt Jordan(although an ill conceived character) Colleen’s talent showed through. I cannot wait to see Ms. Slezak! Welcome Back!
I agree. The royalty is so appreciated as many soap actors from the glory days are slowly passing away. I was a ATWT and GL girl in the 70s, 80s, 90s, etc until they were both cancelled, and then I did move towards GH, following a number of the actors from CBS to ABC. Colleen was excellent (and Jordan, not so much). I have always wanted to watch Erika since she got paired with GL’s Ross Marler on OLTL, so I very much look forward to her new “short term” role on GH.
It makes me so sad that so many I watched growing up are passing away. Alas, is life but doesn’t make it any less sad. David Canary(Adam/Stuart AMC), Ben Hendrickson(Hal, ATWT) and so many more. So anytime I can see a soap vet, I welcome it.
Wow! I am sure it will be a good story, with Erika Slezak involved.
But the GH writers will also be involved… so a “good story” isn’t a given.
Happy to see daytime soaps other than Days remembering and creating roles for the old daytime grand dames. I would love to see more Linda Dano, Robin Strasser, and Victoria Wyndham again but in original roles and not recasts.
If she ends up having scenes with Sonny, I will barf!
James…me, too Brother!!!!! Also, if she ends up having scenes with that SCUMBAG Drew, I will very, very angrily throw myself out of an open window…preferably my own living room window!!!!! LOL
Talk to you later, Brother.
Peace.
Truly excited to see Erika Slezak back on daytime!
I bet she’ll be coming to see Lulu about the story she was hired to write for the Llanview Banner.
If she’s Viki I could see it, but I don’t think she will be, tbh.
Short term unrelated character, that’s fine. OLTL crossover? Not so much.
Recast of Monica or any other GH character? Unthinkable.
So Happy to See Her Again!
Maybe they will finally have Monica pass, as she did in real life, and Erika will play her long lost sister
Monica was adopted and there’s no record of her birth parents.
However, in the 80’s, spa owner Lorena Sharpe was supposed to be a first cousin, but I’m not sure if that was adopted or biological. She left town with Derek Barrington. It would be a real stretch to bring Lorena back as only Anna, Felicia, and Holly would remember her.
I always thought Erika Slezak is the only person who could have replaced Susan Flannery as Stephanie on B&B, but if I have to tune in to GH to catch this powerhouse, consider it done!
I only have one request GH, although the GH cast is full of heavy hitters, I plead the show to please put Erika in scenes with the fabulous Jane Elliot, I’m just salivating at these two heavy hitters going head to toe.
Yes, and throw in Kim Zimmer, too. All interacted with the late Jerry verDorn, aka Ross Marler (GL) and Clint Buchanan (OLTL). Jane’s Carrie on GL was historical.
Kim will never be on GH as long as Frank is EVP. She had done rather sharp words about Echo’s return to OLTL after GL went off the air.
All for some Slezak-Elliot scenes, though.
I hope she gets a better storyline than Jonathan Jackson did.
I am shocked and thrilled. Shocked because GH is done in Los Angeles and Erika is a very happy east coast person. Thrilled because I LOVE Erika Slezak. It will be such a wonderful treat to see her on daytime again. I can’t wait to see what character they create for her and which of the GH regulars she’ll interact with. She could show up as Viki. GH has made reference to Llanview University and The Banner. Whoever she plays, I’m sure she’ll be great. Fall cannot come soon enough. Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!!!!!!!!!
Slezak has always maintained she’d do a stint on any west coast soap, but only if it were short-term.
I’m guessing the west coast commute is why they’re emphasizing the short-term contract. GH has done this a couple of times for Emma Samms, who lives full time in England. Maybe Erika is renting a house for a few months in LA?
If she is playing Viki, will she mention that Clint, Tina, and Rene have all passed on?
Jessica Tuck was spotted in the studio recently. Would Viki run into a resurrected Cassandra Pierce or Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna) and tell them how much they remind them of her children?
I am over the moon with this news! I can’t wait to see her in PC. I hope it’s as Viki Buchanan just to add the cozy comfort of the soap worlds intersecting.
I hope GH handles this opportunity with grace and class befitting Ms. Slezak. I do not need see her play Viki Buchanan. It seems audiences like to have their universes of characters and places (Chicago, L&O), FBI, ABC dramas), but sometimes taking an actor and character out of place is not all that satisfying. It can be very distracting to service of the current story in play. More interesting for me to have a favorite in a new well-written role that makes for strong story. Although I enjoyed seeing her on screen again, the wonderful Colleen Zenk was let down by Y&R with that silly Aunt Jordan character and story so again GH, please be smart with the esteemed Ms. Slezak and showcase her talents in the brightest light. This is very exciting news indeed!
I agree completely. She’s such a fabulous actor I would love to see her work with new material worthy of her talent. My only disappointment is that it’s a short term visit. Got my fingers crossed she has such a fabulous, creatively challenging time that she decides to stay on for longer.
Please,please give her a role worthy of her talent and status
Great News! Just make sure the writers give her great material to work with on screen. If so, she should easily take her 7th Emmy with a 2025 Guest Performance Emmy! Also, expect ratings to improve to more than 2 Million viewers in the Fall! Now we just need to get Kim Zimmer back in Daytime!
Thank you Frank!!! Some live to far to be on permanently, but if they are willing to commute, AWESOME!!! I would post pics of us if I could. Pickled Tink to hear this great addition!!!
As for her role, I almost guarantee the set up of connection with Lulu & The Banner, which weirdly is distributed in Llanview PA, AND Port Chuckles, NY. Also, a connection as one of Martin’s exes is possible. Just pray the writing is good! Thanks again to Frank, so far so good, if you’re reading this.
I’m still smiling about this days after it was announced. So nice to have a long-time favorite back (even one from a different show), and short-term works beautifully, really, given that the cast is already pretty large and there’s only so much room for a star of Slezak’s stature. But temporarily, of course they can find room, without damaging the show’s structure (let’s see how the writers do with that, but it’s possible at least). Win-win-win, provided the writing is there. (Oh, I do hope they have her go toe to toe with Jane Elliott. What fun that could be.)
Viki comes to Port Charles to look for her long-missing son and is shocked to discover that he has had amnesia, changed his name to Jack Brennan. So they finally reunite after all these years.
I know that Leslie ( Monica) is a little older than Erika (Vicki) but it would be an honor for a legend to recast a legend because the character Monica Quatermaine has a lot to do and so much more to offer her family and the hospital, community and friends of Port Charles even if just for a short term… Because they are both Icons it would be a Great Opportunity and and Honor to get Monica affairs in Order for a Lifetime Homegoing Celebration surrounded by the City of Port Charles and hand it over to Jason and Traci
I loved Erika as Vicki but I just cannot image her replacing Leslie. It just would feel so disrespectful to Leslie Charleston.
I do find it odd how soap opera roles are expected “never to age or pass away” which real actors do.
No, No, No. That’s not how you “honor a legend”. Asking Erika to play Monica would be dishonorable to two legends. It’s going to be hard for many viewers to accept Erika as anyone other than Viki – they wouldn’t burden her with a role no one would believe her in.
The show has navigated without Monica on screen for the past few years out of respect for LC. If they were going to recast, it would’ve been a long time ago.
And finally, Erika is only one year younger than Leslie.
She’ll play Sasha’s gaslighting, money-stealing mother-in-law as the mysterious person who has been messing with Daisy. Makes perfect sense seeing it’s short term.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Britt and Rocco Say Their Goodbyes, Then She Gets Arrested; Anna Reveals “Nathan West” is an Imposter

On the Friday, June 26 episode of General Hospital, emotional moments, a new duo on the run, the end of the line for Britt and an eye-opening moment between Anna and Felicia were the order of the day. Let’s take a look at what went down, but first let’s give a round of applause for Kelly Thiebaud (Britt) and Finn Carr (Rocco) on their goodbye scenes.
In the story, Rocco insists to his parents, Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) and Lulu (Alexa Havins) that he wouldn’t leave Tortola without Britt. Dante is getting impatient because Britt brought all the trouble in recent months to his son. They need to protect him and they can’t if he stays with Britt. Lulu tells Britt she is the only one who can do the right thing, right now.
Britt explained it is too dangerous for Rocco to stay with her. She was very selfish and made a lot of terrible decisions along the way and Cullum is tracking her down because she did not finish the project he enlisted her for. She convinces Rocco to go with his parents and gives him a little token of something that reminded her of when he was a baby which is a bottle to blow bubbles with.

Courtesy/ABC
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Rocco makes Britt promise to take her medication to ward off her Huntington’s disease symptoms and to keep changing locations so she is not caught. The two share a final hug as both are in tears. Dante makes a call. While in the car ready to leave Britt behind, Rocco says he will never forgive himself is something happened to Britt.
Back inside, Britt is ready to inject herself with her medication but is unaware that Cullum has now tainted it with poison! But she is saved from that, when two police officers burst through the door to arrest her for kidnapping charges! Did Dante call the local police? Is he doing this to keep her safe or to pay her back?
In Port Charles, Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) arrives at Crimson, completely unaware that the man in the elevator is following her. Nina (Cynthia Watros) and Charlotte have an argument about Willow (Katelyn MacMullen). Suddenly, Willow calls her mother that she is being questioned by the PCPD, and Nina learns, it is as a suspect for being the other driver that left Jordan and Curtis injured by the side of the road on Route 91.
ARRIVALS AND DESTINATIONS IN QUESTION
Chase (Josh Swickard) comes to Willow’s rescue much to Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Justine’s (Nazneen Contractor) chagrin. Willow learns Lucy and Drew are the supposed witnesses against her. Chase figures out when Joe (Jonathan Bennett) was alone with Drew, he got him to blink in a way that implicated her. However, in a shocking moment, Justine reveals that the trip log from Willow’s BMW SUV placed her at the scene of the accident just second before it occurred.
Meanwhile, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) comes by Crimson to see Charlotte. He says he broke into the WSB office to get info to expose Cullum as a double agent. Charlotte blows a gasket! She can’t believe that he would do something so stupid that it could have gotten him killed. She firmly tells Danny that best thing he can do to help Jason is to stay out of things. Danny storms out, but notices the stranger in the elevator who now steps into the Crimson lobby.

Courtesy/ABC
The man tells Charlotte he is Agent Mark McKay with the WSB and he has orders to bring her in. When she resisted, he was about to chloroform her, when Danny knocked him out and took off with Charlotte.
ANNA PUTS HER TRUST IN FELICIA
In France, after having some private time with Emma (Braedyn Bruner), Anna (Finola Hughes) wants to talk to Felicia (Kristina Wagner). She tells her best friend she was trying to figure out what memories of her past with Faison, she could trust and not trust. Since Felicia knows her best she is hoping she can believe what she is about to tell her.
It is then that Anna says, “Nathan West (Ryan Paevey) is not who he says he is.” Felicia looks dumb-founded. Will she believe her friend … or think she has drummed this all up in her mind? Stay tuned.
So, what did you think about the goodbye scenes featuring Finn Carr and Kelly Thiebaud? Did you reach for the hankies? Do you believe that soon, Cassius will be caught for his duplicity and the truth about Britt’s “illness” will come to light? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below. But first check out the scenes featuring Anna on her road to recovery in France
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Drops First Single EDM/Dance Track ‘If You Need Me’

Last weekend, we shared the news that General Hospital alum and Daytime Emmy winner, Chad Duell (ex-Michael Corinthos) was releasing his first single today on June 26th and it has indeed dropped! And for those readers who guessed that Duell’s first track out of the gate was going to be an EDM/Dance/House track … you are correct, sir!
The song entitled, “If You Need Me” is perfect for the late night clubs and can be found on Spotify and other major streaming platforms! Duell is noted as the performing artist, but as the composer/ lyricist and the beatmaker of the track. For his music projects, Chad is going solely by the name of “Duelly” which has been his social media handle for years.
Taking to his Instagram on Friday, Duell explained his deep dive into making music, expressing, “I’ve wanted to make music for a long time… I just never did it. It always felt like this huge, overwhelming thing to learn. All the technical side of it, the programs, everything that goes into actually building a track… it was easy to keep pushing it off. A couple months ago I finally just decided to go for it.”

Photo: JPI
BIT BY BIT PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Chad added, “Since then I’ve been putting in a lot of time learning, experimenting, figuring things out, and slowly starting to find a sound I’m really proud of. This first release is more of a dance/EDM vibe, but I’ve also been working on a lot of different styles behind the scenes that I’m just as excited about. At some point I realized I could keep holding onto everything trying to make it perfect… or I could just start putting music out and grow as I go.”
Stepping out of his own way, Duell firmly says, “So that’s what I’m doing. My first track “If You Need Me” is out now. More coming soon… this is just the beginning.”
As GH viewers know, Chad made the decision to step away from General Hospital after a 15-year run with the series where his last episode aired in January of 2025. By May of last year, the role was recast with Rory Gibson debuting in the part.
Give a listen below to Duelly’s “If You Need Me,” and let us know what you thought of it via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: What Did You Think of the Return of Anna Devane, and What’s In the Letter?

Finola Hughes made her dramatic return on-screen on the Wednesday, June 24 episode of General Hospital. Viewers will see Finola as Anna Devane again on tomorrow’s June 26th episode.
In the story, while in the French mental health facility, Anna has a session with Dr. Laurent. She tell her she now knows she was never kidnapped and that Cesar Faison is dead.
As she continued with her ruse, she went on to say she understands she was enlisted back into the WSB on a secret mission, and through that she relived all the trauma she endured by Faison, which caused her to have a psychotic break. Anna promises Dr. Laurent that her treatment plan had helped her so much in figuring out what was real, and what was in her imagination.

Courtesy/ABC
ANNA’S GOT HER OWN PLAN TO ESCAPE
In a smart move (hopefully) Anna told Laurent if she could talk to someone else who had known Faison that it might aid in her recover. She was given the phone and she called Felicia (Kristina Wagner), who agreed to fly to France in the morning. Dr. Laurent claims she is pleased with Anna’s progress, but that they still have a very long long way to go.
Now by herself, Anna pulled out a packet of letters from a bedside table. There is one in particular that she is fixated on. What does it contain? Is this all a part of her escape plan? Will she warn Felicia that “Nathan” is really Cassius (Ryan Paevey)? If so, will Felicia even believe her?
In a summer preview with Soap Opera Digest, GH co-head writers Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten shared, “We’ll see echoes of Anna’s earliest incarnation as she returns to Port Charles with deadly intentions.”
So, were you happy to see Anna Devane back on your screens? What do you think is in the particular letter she was staring at? Will Felicia help Anna escape or not believe a word she says? Weigh-in via the comment section. But first, you can check out some of the scenes from Anna’s on-screen return below.
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