Breaking News
Eva LaRue’s Run on ‘General Hospital’ Comes to an End
As predicted, Eva LaRue is out as Natalia Rogers-Ramirez on General Hospital. The actress made her debut back in late February of 2024 as the judgmental and homophobic mother to her daughter, Blaze (formerly played by Jacqueline Grace Lopez) who was at that time in a relationship with Kristina (Kate Mansi).
LaRue’s character was vilified from the start at rightfully so, and while GH tried to figure a potential way to put her in an on-screen pairing with Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), the writing was on the wall for awhile that she was going to be exiting the series.
In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, who confirmed LaRue’s exit, Eva expressed when she felt her time with the soap was drawing near, “I started to feel it in January. They tried to rehabilitate my character, and then all of a sudden, I have these scenes in January where, because Natalia had lied about her ex-husband (Jenz Sidwell) and broken his trust, Sonny was like, ‘We can’t be friends anymore.’ And I thought, ‘Uh-oh, there we go,’ because that (relationship with Sonny) was kind of my character’s only lifeline.”
Photo: ABC
As Eva shared, the fans weren’t buying the relationship between her and Sonny: “They just hated my character so much. I was so vilified that no matter what (the writers) did, it just wasn’t a solid enough rehabilitation that they were gonna buy me with Sonny. And so when they finally let that idea go, I realized, ‘Okay, I’m probably not much longer for this world.’”
Photo: ABC
In a statement on her departure, Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) said, “Eva’s been a dear friend for years and I am so pleased we found an opportunity to work together! What originally was meant as a guest star arc turned into a longer and more satisfying arc, in thanks to Eva’s terrific work and chemistry with our cast. I was thrilled Eva was available to us in this extended role. I wish her all the best in her upcoming projects.”
On today’s June 30th episode of GH, Natalia, when realizing she had no way out of her situation and Sonny wasn’t coming with her to Belize, ingested a dangerous mix of pills and alcohol in a state of despair. Will anyone find her in time? Look for LaRue’s final airdate this week on General Hospital.
Photo: ABC
Daytime fans first knew Eva from her work as All My Children’s Maria Santos, a role she played from 1993-98; 2002-05 and again in appearances in 2010 and 2011. One of the things LaRue noted in her exit interview was she was glad her initial short- term run got extended, which enabled her to share scenes and hang out with several of her former AMC co-stars including: Michael E. Knight, Cameron Mathison, and Finola Hughes.
So, what do you think about Eva exiting GH? Will anyone find Natalia in time? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Welcome to Hell, Natalia!
Eva LaRue is a great actress who was dealt a hard no win role. I will looking forward to seeing her on her next project.
She did play Natalia perfectly since the role was so despised
I agree
Honestly, sometimes it’s best if a guest arc remains a guest arc. Frank Valentini and company tend to take a guest role and overextend it well beyond their use.
Good point. If only she came in as “ Saint Maria of the Push-up Bra” as Erica Kane used to refer to her, she would’ve received support from the fans. Ahem, perhaps I should rephrase that.
It would have been uplifting for sure!
It certainly would shape up the storyline.
she was very good in a thankless role
It’s nice to see that Eva understood the fans and their dislike of her character. She gave it her all. Had the character not had so much baggage, a pairing with Sonny might’ve been feasible.
Natalia’s demise is shaping up to be sadder than a murder. Does Marco now feel guilty? With her mother going (and Kristina in trouble) would a short-term Blaze return be out of the question?
I LOVED Eva on AMC as Maria, but there has not been a character on GH that seemed to be as universally deprised as Natalia. I think fans were mad when Blaze left the show. She was at least driving story. Natalia seemed to be filling a void and the writers didn’t know what to do with her. With Eva and Jonathan both leaving in the past month and with Josh Kelly being bumped to recurring, I think this might be good for a very bloated cast. Now, can we please stop having so much Trina and Kai? Can we have Willow FINALLY see that all of the people telling her to run from Drew aren’t crazy? Can we move the Gio/Dante/BLQ storyline along? The pacing of the show is sometimes a head scratcher.
While her character was rather despised, for those who have watched for years, Natalia may not make the bottom 5 (only counting characters that stayed at least a year):
– Peter August
– Courtney Matthews
– Dawn Winthrop
– Anyone named Eckherdt
Long-time viewers – feel free to add…
CBS needs to reboot another one of the CSI shows and bring Eva on.
I’m sure Eva, Natalia was as bored with the character role as her fans.
I’m so very sorry to see Eva La Rue go. She’s a wonderful actor and I really like her. Natalia, not so much. I was hoping the character would have grown from her horrible beginning with Kristina and Blaze and, perhaps, have some kind of positive relationship with Sonny. I assumed she wasn’t long for this world when we learned she was Sidwell’s ex and Marco’s homophobic mother. Eva deserved a better role. Much luck to her in the future.
Sad to see Eva LaRue go. The character never really caught on but that was not her fault at all. Can’t wait to see her in her next project, and if the other soaps are wise, they’d scoop her up quickly. I could see her being a very formidable
Sparring partner/love interest for Joey Armstrong on beyond the gates.
I liked “Natalia” and thought she and “Sonny” had chemistry. I also would liked to have seen more of her relationship with Marco and Sidwell. A lot of great story potential wasted by killing her off. Why? Because some viewers couldn’t get passed her problem with her children being gay? Couldn’t “redeem” her? From what? She grew as a person, she protected Kristina who was responsible for their car accident, saved Sonny’s life, kept his secret about his heart condition AND accompanied him out of state to the consultation with his cardiologist. They did the character and the actress wrong….
She didn’t keep Sonny’s secret. In fact, she betrayed his secret to the worst possible person, Sidwell. It was Natalia that let Sonny’s most dangerous nemesis know that he just had major heart surgery which likely led to that murder attempt in his hospital room. I also take issue with you saying that they tried to redeem the character. She was nasty to
Marco and rude to Lucas and then she moved on to get behind the wheel while inebriated. I don’t really see that she has redeeming qualities, and sorry, committing perjury to save that awful Kristina to garner favor with Sonny doesn’t cut it. Awful character. Glad she’s gone!
Let’s see. Sonny took AJ’s son for life by threatening to kill AJ. In the end he did kill AJ; ignoring Michael’s pleas not to, even though Michael had told him Ava set AJ up.
Carly drugged AJ when he was in recovery. She then poured alcohol all over him so everyone would think he’d relapsed and therefore she’d still be able to keep him from seeing his son.
Carly not only was never going to let Nina know Nelle had been her daughter; but was never going to tell her Wiley is her grandson. She stole Nina’s DNA and was never going to tell her Willow is her daughter. Carly also stole her mother’s husband.
Tracy withheld her father’s heart medication.
Anna blackmailed Martin and Lucy into helping her spy on Victor Cassadine.
Ava’s a backstabber. She told her “bestie” she’d work on Sonny in hopes of him hearing Nina out, and instead she decided she wanted Sonny and betrayed Nina. Ava framed AJ. She also thought she’d killed Nikloas and continued smiling in Laura’s face.
There are SO MANY characters that have done worse than Natalia. Oh. And I like Kristina. I don’t think she lied to protect Kristina because of Sonny only. I think she realized how truly Kristina and Blaze cared for each other and was still trying to make amends, which is more than other characters do: make amends. Carly has never apologized to anyone she’s truly wronged; and the list is many.
Thank you, Rebecca1, for the great summary of plot points of bad behavior. Sonny and Carly top the list of abject criminality (including murders) and immoral behavior. That is why I have never understood the GH brain trust in keeping these two reprehensible characters as the focal point of this “hospital” show. I never cared for either character, but I know they have their fans.
I don’t disagree with your criticism of Sonny and Carly even a little bit. To use them as a moral compass for the other characters is insane and in my view, has hurt the show tremendously. I was just disagreeing with your summation of Natalia.
But they should be used as a comparison. How many times have viewers who are the biggest Carly and/or Sonny fans found other characters irredeemable..so much so that they want them off the show. To say Natalia was “irredeemable because you thought she was rude to Lucas or told Sidwell (under duress) that Sonny was going to need a heart operation, or you’re unhappy that she stood up for Kristina at trial (another character you don’t like) and don’t trust that she was sincere in her motives..does not make a character not redeemable, especially when other characters are murderers and/or take others kids. Characters who exhibit little empathy with a boatload of cruelty. We don’t all have to like the same characters but there’s a difference between that and thinking relatively minor things they do or say are equal to or worse the truly cruel things other characters have done and said. I just think Natalia went from strong and fierce to humbled and changed to desperate and sad. Rejected. Forlorn. Trapped. Forced by Sonny to leave her life while delusionally thinking he’d stay with her. There was no need to write such a tragic downfall of a strong women…it was sad (to me) and I personally think it would have been wise to expand the Natalia/ Blaze/ Sidwell/ Marco family dynamic, and the struggle between good and evil: Natalia vs Sidwell, the “kids,” how it affected their relationships to other people in Port Charles…even keeping Natalia and Sonny a couple as Sonny and Sidwell begin a treacherous war with each other…
But alas, there are many characters I don’t think should have been killed off; the biggest being Alan Quartermaine and AJ. So many stories that could have been….
Maybe I dozed off during a segment in the last few weeks. Did Sonny actually promise Natalia he’d be living in Belize with her? I don’t remember him saying that to her. I only remember him telling her he would support her financially in Belize.
No Carrie – you didn’t miss a scene. Delusional Natalia just made up in her mind that Sonny setting her up in Belize meant he was going s as well. Like Sonny was going to leave his entire family (who unlike Natalia still like him).
The could’ve done a better job over the last month showing Natalia’s path to borderline insanity, but what’s done is done.
Thanks for confirming. I agree with you. They could have done a better job with it. I should know by now to just lower my expectations. 🙂
Yes and see? Natalia had many flaws— she was judgmental, controlling and rigid. Concurrent with those flaws is that she was organized, had finely tuned executive functioning skills, and she was realistic. Suddenly, without any lead up, Natalia is harboring crazy unrealistic romantic fantasies about Sonny. It doesn’t add up. Adding to the wild incongruity of the writing is that Natalia, a control freak, offing herself with an accidental overdose of booze and drugs. And she could have lived happily ever after in beautiful and blissful Belize.
And we’re supposed to believe this tightly wound, control-loving person has secretly been a lush this whole time. A day-drinking, habitual drunk driver with 2 DWI arrests. Someone who routinely drunk-texts her son and passes out.
What a shame! I’ll miss Eva LaRue. Why the writers had to kill her off … really irks me.
Monday on Entertainment Tonight, the second set of nominations for the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards were announced which included the highly-coveted Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actress and Outstanding Daytime Talk Series.
ET followed suit after Extra announced the nominees, as previously reported, in the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Daytime Drama Series – Actor and Outstanding Daytime Talk Host.
Now, five leading ladies of the soaps are vying for the gold for Lead Actress and the category marked the first-ever nominations for CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when two actresses made the final cut. Only General Hospital is not represented among the actresses this year after Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) took home the trophy last year.
Photo: NATAS
THE FIVE LEADING LADIES OF THE SOAPS ARE …
The 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera), Days of Our Lives, Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), Beyond the Gates, Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers), The Young and the Restless, Heather Tom (Katie Logan), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree), Beyond the Gates.
This marks the first Daytime Emmy nominations for Karla Mosley and Tamara Tunie. In addition, this marks the first-time in her career that Stacy Haiduk had received a Lead Actress nod after two Supporting Actress nominations.
Meanwhile, Michelle Stafford had previously won 3 Emmys – 2 for Lead Actress and 1 for Supporting, but this recognition makes it her 11th overall nomination.
Heather Tom currently is tied for the most all-time Daytime Emmy wins with One Life to Live alum and General Hospital guest star, Erika Slezak. The B&B star has 19 nominations throughout her career.
Photo: ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series category, the nominees are: 3rd Hour of Today, The Drew Barrymore Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Live with Kelly and Mark, Today with Jenna and Friends and The View.
“We’re proud to honor the extraordinary talent and creative teams whose work continues to define and elevate daytime television,” NATAS president and CEO Adam Sharp said in a statement on the nominations. “As the Daytime landscape evolves and new forms of storytelling emerge, we remain committed to recognizing the innovation happening across the industry.”
The rest of the nominations will be revealed tomorrow on Tuesday July 14 starting on The View and then the full list of nominees in both the main and creative arts will be released by NATAS. The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are slated for October 30th in Hollywood, California.
So, what do you think about the women who are vying for the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? Happy with who got in? Who do you feel got snubbed? What do you think of the nominees for Daytime Talk Series? Weigh-in via the comment section.
Monday afternoon, Extra kicked-off the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy nominations with the reveal of two major categories. First, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series — Actor, and second, Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host.
Previous Emmy winners all, the men who will be vying for daytime’s most coveted prize are: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), The Young and the Restless, Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), General Hospital, Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer), The Bold and the Beautiful, Thorsten Kaye (Ridge Forrester), The Bold and the Beautiful, and Christian Jules Le Blanc (Michael Baldwin), The Young and the Restless.
Let’s take a look at the actors Emmy resumes: Eric Braeden has been nominated nine times for Lead Actor and won once in 1998. Steve Burton is a two-time Daytime Emmy winner, both in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category for GH as Jason Morgan and Y&R as Dylan McAvoy. Today’s nomination makes it his 10th overall, and his third time in the the Lead Actor category.
Photo: NATAS
Scott Clifton has won three times previously in 2011, 2013 and 2017 and has the distinction of being the only actor to win in Younger Actor, Supporting and Lead. This is his 8th nomination.
Thorsten Kaye is a two-time Lead Actor winner in 2023 and 2024. Christian LeBlanc has also won three times as Lead Actor in 2005, 2007 and 2009 and this is his first nod in over a decade.
Photo: NBCUniversal
TALK SHOW HOSTS
In the Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host, the nominees are: Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, and Ana Navarro, The View, Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall, Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show, and Sherri Shepherd, Sherri.
Both The Kelly Clarkson Show and Sherri have come to their conclusions as Sherri was canceled after 4 seasons and Kelly Clarkson decided to end her talk show after 7 seasons.
The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards are set to be handed out in a ceremony on October 30 in Hollywood with more details forthcoming. The complete list of 2026 Daytime Emmy nominations will be revealed tomorrow on July 14 beginning at 12pm ET/9am PT via The Emmys.TV social channels and website.
So, what do you think of the race for Lead Actor in a Drama Series? Surprised by any of the nominees? Who are you rooting for? What do you think about the the talk show host category? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
UPDATED: Heartbreaking news to report this Sunday evening, July 13. Two-time Daytime Emmy nominee and beloved soap veteran and television actor Scott Bryce (ex-Craig Montgomery, As the World Turns) has died at the age of 68.
Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, Bryce’s longtime friend and former co-star announced his death via her Facebook under an hour ago (in a post that has now been deleted, but see below). Arnaz expressed, “a wonderful actor, a beautiful man and a terrific husband and father, Scott Bryce, passed tonight. I am going to miss his eyes, his smile, his wit, his brain, his intelligence, his talent, his bravery, his laugh and his hugs. Dearest Jodi, dear Jackson, he’s watching over you now from a place of pure joy and will always be your guide. But, I hate these goodbyes. Rest in peace you marvelous, magnificent man”.
Previously, Bryce was diagnosed with Stage 3 esophageal and stomach cancer back in October of 2024. He had credited early detection as a vital part of his journey. He had underwent medical treatment and had since reported being “on the mend.”
Photo: JPI
SCOTT BRYCE’S RUN AS CRAIG MONTGOMERY WAS MEMORABLE
However, Lucie Arnaz shared on her Facebook post in the comment thread section when asked, that Scott’s cancer had returned. She has appeared in two projects with Bryce, the Indie film, The Pack and the TV series, Sons and Daughters.
Jackson Bryce, Scott’s beloved son, shared a beautiful tribute to his father after his passing on his Instagram where he shared that, “What began as stage three esophageal cancer eventually spread and became brain tumors that took his life away from him.”
Scott was the son of actor Ed Bryce, who was best-known for his role on the soaps as Bill Bauer on Guiding Light from 1959 to 1983. On As the World Turns, Scott had a significant run as Craig Montgomery, and at one point was initially paired on-screen with Meg Ryan (ex-Betsy Stewart). Bryce had appeared on the CBS soap opera from 1982–1991, 1993–1994, and 2007–2008.
AS THE WORLD TURNS CO-STAR PAYS TRIBUTE
On As the Word Turns, Scott’s on-screen romance was with Finn Carter, who played Sierra Esteban was a fan favorite for longtime viewers.
Carter expressed her grief on Instagram following the news of Bryce’s passing sharing, “My sadness knows no bounds. My gratitude for Scott knows even fewer. Scott was the best husband a woman could ask for. As an actor he was fearless, kind, generous and forever looking for ways to grow. And what a sense of humor! It is so difficult to write this as I can not stop crying . Scott , you were a gift that I did not deserve and one the world was freely given . All of my love to you – ah, just can’t stop crying. See you soon ( not too soon) and look forward to recalling our days on As The World Turns . You patiently taught me so much . XO”
It was during his initial run that Scott received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as the manipulative Craig Montgomery. Bryce was nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in both 1986 and 1987.
Bryce exited ATWT in February of 2008 and by December of that year, Jon Lindstrom, (Beyond the Gates, General Hospital) was brought in as the final Craig from 2008-2010 as the soap went off the air. Over the years, Hunt Block and Jeffrey Meek also played the role of Craig.
FROM OAKDALE TO PRIMETIME
In addition, Scott appeared in numerous episodic comedy and drama series throughout his career with roles in: Murphy Brown, The Facts of Life, ER, Law & Order, Reba and Sex and the City and Blue Bloods, The Blacklist, Homeland, 30 Rock to name but a few. On the soaps, Bryce also appeared on One Life to Live in the role of a psychiatrist, Dr. Ed Crosby, from 2006-2007.
Scott is survived by his wife Jodi Stevens and their son, Jackson.
Michael Fairman TV will bring you further updates on this developing story.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Scott Bryce via the comment section below. But first check out these scenes featuring Scott in moments from As the World Turns with Cady McClain and Marie Wilson.
Photo: LArnaz Facebook
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Shares Reaction to His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy Nomination, ‘It Was to Honor Leslie Charleson’
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53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Nominations: Outstanding Lead Actress Drama Series
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Randolph Mantooth, ‘Emergency!’ and ‘Loving’ Actor, Dies at 80
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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Reconnects with Danny; Tristan Roberts Arrives in Port Charles, Lots of Nods to #16
GENERAL HOSPITAL Spoilers Promo: Jason’s Back, Drew Begins to Make His Move, Portia Goes Into a Labor
Scott Bryce, ‘As the World Turns’ Craig Montgomery, Passes Away at 68
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Daphne’s Devastated, Steffy Finds Herself at a Crossroads with Finn
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