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.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.
Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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This week starts with heartbreaking news. Patrick Muldoon, best known for his roles as the original Austin Reed on Days of Our Lives and later as Richard Hart on Melrose Place, died on Sunday, April 19, at the age of 57. Reports indicate his death was sudden following a heart attack.
Muldoon’s sister, Shana Muldoon-Zappa, told TMZ on Monday more details on her brother’s death, “Patrick went to take a shower Sunday morning after drinking coffee with his girlfriend in their Beverly Hills home. His girlfriend decided to check on him after he was taking too long and found him unconscious on the bathroom floor?” Shana added that paramedics rushed over and tried to revive Patrick, but there was nothing anyone could do.
Soap fans first saw Muldoon as Kate’s (Lauren Koslow) son on DAYS back in 1992, where he quickly became a fan favorite during the on-screen love story between Austin and Carrie Brady (Christie Clarke). Patrick left the series in 1995. He later made comeback for appearances in 2011 and 2012.
Photo: JPI
On Melrose Place, he played bad buy Richard Hart from 1995-1996. Patrick launched his acting career while in college landing the role of Matt in the 1990 sitcom Who’s The Boss? alongside the likes of Judith Light (ex-Karen, OLTL) and Tony Danza. Following his graduation, Patrick nabbed a recurring role as Jeffrey Hunter in Saved By The Bell by 1991.
Throughout his decades long career, Muldoon also starred in several motion and TV series including his leading roile in Starship Troopers (1997). He also had parts in Deadlock (2021), Vanquish (2021), Dakota (2022), Marlowe (2022), and Murder At Hollow Creek (2023).
Photo: JPI
Not only was Patrick an actors, but a producer and a musician and singer. He often made appearances and put out music with his band, The Sleeping Masses. Muldoon was the band’s lead singer and guitar player. Patrick was also a producer of TV and film projects.
At the time of his death, Patrick was also an executive producer on a the movie “Kockroach,” which is currently in production.
Taking to his Instagram, just a few days before his death, Muldoon expressed,“So excited to be a part of this amazing project KOCKROACH directed by Matt Ross starring Chris Hemsworth, Taron Edgerton, Zazzie Beetz And Alec Baldwin. Filming now in Australia,” he captioned his post.
Sadly, on April 24, Muldoon can be seen in his 2025 film Dirty Hands also festuring Denise Richards (ex-B&B, RHOBH), which will be released on digital streaming platforms on VOD.
Muldoon is survived by his partner, Miriam Rothbart; parents, Deanna and Patrick Muldoon Sr.; his sister and brother-in-law, Shana and Ahmet Zappa; and their children, Muldoon’s beloved niece Halo and nephew Arrow Zappa.
Share your remembrances and condolences on the loss of Patrick Muldoon via the comment section, which is followed below by the trailer Dirty Hands due out later this week on digital platforms.
All My Children and Hallmark alum, Jonathan Bennett has been cast in the newly-created role on General Hospital as Joe Fitzpatrick.
Look for Bennett to make his debut on the ABC soap opera next month in May. Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans for his work as JR Chandler on All My Children from 2000-2001. Later, he landed the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout role.
Jonathan would go on to star in seven Hallmark Channel movies and then hosting and producing the network’s reality competition show Finding Mr. Christmas, Bennett has also appeared as a contestant on Season 19 of Dancing with the Stars, plus Celebrity Big Brother in 2019, and he starred on Broadway in Spamalot.
Courtesy/ABC
Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital shared to Deadline who first reported the casting news, “We’re so excited to have Jonathan joining our cast. He’s a tremendous talent and will be a fantastic addition to ‘GH.’
After the news broke, Bennett took to his Instagram and shared, “There’s a new guy in town…” Meanwhile, the official General Hospital account shared a pic and expressed, “He’s already tired of us telling him his hair looks sexy pushed back. Welcome to the family, Jonathan Bennett.
Bennett is married to Jaymes Vaughan. Back in 2022, they became the first gay couple to appear on the cover of the wedding magazine, The Knot.
So, what do you think of the casting of Jonathan as Joe Fitzpatrick? Is he the new man for Lucas? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
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