General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Andrew Hawkes Reveals How Cullum’s Fate Changed: ‘I Was Supposed to Die When I Was Shot By Rocco on the Pier’
What happens when you play bad so good? You stick around on a daytime soap opera! Such is the case with General Hospital’s Andrew Hawkes who has portrayed the menacing WSB director Ross Cullum since late last year, and whose actions have caused a ripple effect for many characters on the Port Charles canvas.
On his laundry list of crimes and bad deeds: He killed Marco Rios (Adrian Anchondo), he is blackmailing Britt Westbourne (Britt Westbourne), he was behind Anna begin driven crazy, and when he attempted to kill Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) and Britt, he was shot in the back by Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) and that’s just for starters!
On the Sunday, May 31 episode of Maurice Benard’s (Sonny Corinthos) mental health series, State of Mind, Hawkes opened up about his initial terror of landing a role on a soap opera, how he expected to be fired, but then several months in is still thriving in the part.
Courtesy/ABC
ANDREW’S BIGGEST NIGHTMARE COME TRUE
When he auditioned for the part of Cullum, all Andrew knew was”He’s an ex secret service guy who became disillusioned and started getting into the darker side. He’s been putting his life on the line for people that are crooks.”
However, he added, “My biggest nightmare was to be a regular on a soap opera,” explained Hawkes to Benard after experiencing a small role on The Young and the Restless where he has a short two or three line scene, and seeing the process that any series regulars on soaps go through.
Andrew added when he landed the role of Cullum, “I told Frank Valentini (executive producer, GH) this: ‘That I had this experience, and I just want you to know that you’ve made all my nightmares, and my worst fears come true.’ Frank laughed, but I was terrified.”
Photo: ABC
However, Hawkes did admit his elation at being cast in his General Hospital role. But that his elation quickly got concerning> “It was about three weeks till my first shooting day, and then the anxiety set in. I was terrified that first week. I had 65 pages of dialog and Chris McKenna (Brennan) said to me, ‘They really threw you to the wolves right away, didn’t they?'”
LASTED LONGER THAN ORIGINALLY INTENDED
“It was the workload. I thought, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do this,” considered Hawkes. “I’ve always had a decent memory, but this was a different deal under pressure. One take, maybe two, and if you screw up something, maybe you get another take. Even if you suck, it’s like, ‘We’re moving on.’ You have to have a short memory and not let it get in your head. With my character, he has to be so on top of things. I can’t stammer. I can’t screw up a word. That for me is Ross Cullum …confident, self-assured, efficient in everything. When I finally saw my first two episodes, I was just like, ‘I want to die.’ I’m the worst actor on the face of the earth.”‘
Worried he would be shown the front door, Andrew tried to prepare himself and his wife for the news, but he got a major vote of confidence instead! “I started filming around December 2, 2025 and the show filmed up till the 18th where the Christmas break was. I kept saying to my wife, ‘Do not be surprised because they’re probably going to call and fire me. They’re going to fire me over the weekend,’ and It didn’t happen. I was supposed to be on for like two months. I was supposed to die when I was shot by Rocco on the pier, and they kept me around. It’s been an amazing (experience).”
Courtesy/ABC
LOVING MY GH CO-STARS
Andrew also gave props to several of scene partners including Chris McKenna who he said, “He’s a great guy. I love him,” and on working with Kelly Thiebaud where on set Cullum makes Britt’s life miserable, “She’s magnificent. She’s incredibly talented, and what a kind and beautiful human.”
So, do you think Andrew Hawkes is giving us one of the best bad guys in recent soap memory? Are you glad Cullum survived being shot by Rocco? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Love him!!!!
He’s another perfectly cast actor on GH. He is evil, and we don’t even know the whole story yet. He would put the fear of God in me if I ran into him. But you know he’s not permanent, wonder if they are saving him for the return of Steve Burton.
I wish Cullum had died when Rocco shot him. No disrespect to Andrew Hawkes, who is a good actor and came across as a likeable guy on Maurice Benard’s show, but I’m sick of Cullum, and sick of the storyline. I wish they’d move along with it, and get wherever they’re going.
That some random new character from the WSB that we had never heard of before was the big mystery man working with Sidwell, instead of some of the other more interesting directions they could have gone in, was a major letdown and lazy writing, in my opinion.
Cullum (we need actors to stick to one pronunciation of the name), like many characters, has overstayed their welcome. And it goes to show that TPTB are not thinking in a long-term sense, which has been General Hospital‘s issue for some time now. You can’t just do things off-the-cuff. It shows in the end product.
so good at being bad
Let’s not forget that Cullum also stabbed Marco to death before he tried to take out Britt and Jason on the docks and got himself shot in the process.
And – though this hasn’t been revealed yet – I would not be at all surprised if he took time to tamper with Jordan’s car that same night, thus making Cullum the actual cause of her accident. Not Brooklynn, Isaiah, Charlotte & Danny, or anybody else who might have been on the road that night. Jordan has been working “undercover” within the Legion of Dumb, trying to get something she can use against Sidwell and his pals (she doesn’t know yet that Cullum is one of them) but she hasn’t exactly been keeping that secret very well, having conversations with Laura & Curtis about it in full public view. Cullum has been sneaking around in his “WSB agent” capacity, and could have very easily overheard one of those talks, and thus considered Jordan a threat that needed to be removed.
So it seems Cullum’s intention that night was to go on quite the murder spree. Who knows who else might have been on his “to do list”. Or for that matter, who is on the revised version, now that he’s up and walking around again.
Cullum, such a gr8 character!
Carlos Rota and Andrew Hawkes have each created such wonderful characters that I’m keeping my fingers crossed that neither of them gets killed off. I place them in the Faison and Jerry Jacks rogues’ gallery … vicious antagonists that deserve to recur and not be interred!
I love Andrew’s portrayal! The character we all love to hate, so cold and menacing, yet the actor is so kind! I hope Cullum evenutally gets killed and that Andrew gets to come back and play someone else who isn’t quite so evil!
I listened to this State of Mind episode and I was amazed at Andrew’s openness and honesty. What a great conversation he had with Maurice. I really hope the writers at GH figure out a way to turn this “bad” guy into a good guy and keep him around.
Great actor !
Andrew hawk s is great very sorry to see him leave. Another soap should pick him up
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?
On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.
Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
If Anna Devane’s (Finola Hughes) new therapist on General Hospital looks familiar to you, it’s because actress Kearran Giovanni, who plays Dr. Nichols, previously played a doctor on One Life to Live!.
Viewers tuning-in to the Thursday, September 10 episode of GH got their first look at Dr. Nichols who has been brought in to help Anna recover from her PTSD and trauma following the reveal that she has been suffering from a break in reality since before being put in mental health facility in France, after being gaslighted by Cullum and company earlier in the year.
One Life to Live fans will recall that Kearran Giovanni played Dr. Vivian Wright in 2009, and it was then she first worked with current General Hospital EP, Frank Valentini, who at the time was at the helm in Llanview.
Photo: JPI
WHERE ELSE HAVE YOU SEEN KEARRAN GIOVANNI?
Giovanni appeared on OLTL in the recurring role through 2012 and in the final ABC episode of the beloved series was the the ob/gyn who delivered Destiny Evans (Shenell Edmonds) and Matthew Buchanan’s (Eddie Alderson) baby into the world, whom they named Drew Buchanan II after Bo Buchanan’s (Robert S, Woods) late son. In addition, Vivian has been dating Shaun Evans (Sean Ringgold).
In addition to One Life to Love, Giovanni has very impressive credits having appeared in numerous TV series and motion pictures including starring in the TNT drama Major Crimes from 2012-18, ABC’s Designated Survivor 2017-19, the CW’s Black Lightning from 2019-20. Most recently, Giovanni appeared on the Fox series, The Resident and has a recurring role on the CW’s crime series, Walker from 202-2024.
HEALING ANNA
On today’s General Hospital, after Anna’s harrowing meltdown where she almost shot and killed Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) after seeing visions of “Peter August” (Wes Ramsey), Jason (Steve Burton) saved the day and talked Anna down from committing murder. Now, Dr. Nichols was introduced as a valuable staff member at the hospital. Although, this marked the first time in the history of the show we have heard of her character.
So, do you remember seeing Kearran Giovanni on One Life to Live? Happy to see that Anna may have a qualified therapist in charge of her healing, unless the doctor turns out to be not on the up and up? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Anna Breaks Down in Front of Jason and Britt After Shots Are Fired
The Wednesday, September 9 episode of General Hospital featured top-notch performances by Finola Hughes and Steve Burton, as Anna holds Jason and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) at gunpoint on Mount Emerson.
Anna is not in her right mind as hallucinations of Peter (Wes Ramsey) overtake her, egging her on to shoot and kill Britt. Jason begs Anna to put down the gun, but it’s clear Anna is speaking to someone who is not there, but in a direction that is just past Britt.
Suddenly, Anna screams at Britt, “You’re just like your father!” Anna also tells Britt that she knew Britt was aware that she was locked up on Spoon Island and did nothing to save her. Britt turns to Jason and tells him she had no idea Anna was on the Island, “until Cullum showed up in Port Charles.” That declaration gave Jason pause.
Courtesy/ABC
“PETER” TAKES A BULLET
Next, Anna is overcome with angst, filled with tears and screams out, “I won’t let you beat me!” She fires the gun where the imaginary Peter was standing, as Britt screams and Jason dove to cover her. Now completely shaken, Jason took the weapon from Anna and ordered Britt to leave the scene as Anna collapsed in Jason’s arms.
Jason was so concerned for Anna. She reveals she’s been seeing visions of Peter August since France. Jason shared his theory with Anna that she was manifesting her worst fears about Faison. However he knows deep down Anna would never have shot Britt. Jason promises to come back and clean up the area, but would take Anna home first.
Courtesy/ABC
ANNA ADMITS TO EMMA SHE TRIED TO KILL BRITT
At Anna’s, Jason brings her in the front door as Emma is there. Jason tells Emma (Braedyn Bruner) he would like to return and spend the night. A confused and worried Emma get the full story from her grandmother.
Anna explains she tried to kill Britt and she is not as well as she was pretending to be in France. Cut to: Jason cleaning up the site of Anna’s plot against Britt on Mount Emerson. He moves over and finds bullet casings on the ground and examines one of them.
The story climax also signaled the end of the run for Wes Ramsey, who has been showing up on episodes over the last several months as Anna’s dark side conscience. Now that Anna was able to break the psychological hold visions of “Peter” had on her, it ends this latest return of Ramsey’s.
So, what did you think about the scenes between Anna and Jason? Do you think Jason and Britt’s relationship will come to an end now that seemingly Britt revealed she knew Anna was held captive after Cullum came to town? Glad to know Anna won’t be haunted by visions of Peter August anymore? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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