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
Vincent Pastore of ‘Sopranos’ Fame and ‘General Hospital’s’ Maximus Giambetti Dies at 80
Vincent Pastore, best known for his memorable role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos has passed away.
The veteran actor was found dead on August 1st in his home in the Bronx, New York. Pastore was 80-years-old. The cause of death is yet to be determined.
As well as his role on The Sopranos, many soap fans will recall he played multiple smaller roles on the beloved One Life to Live from 1995 and 2004. However, in 2008, he landed the short-term role as Maximus Giambetti on General Hospital.
PASTORE WANTED TO BE ON GENERAL HOSPITAL
Maximus was the mobster father of Sonny Corinthos’ (Maurice Benard) bodyguards: Max (Derk Cheetwood) and Milo (Drew Cheetwood)
According to Soap Opera Digest, Pastore told Soaps In Depth back in 2009, after appearing in a SOAPnet promotional campaign as a celebrity fan of General Hospital: “‘I’d love to be on the show. So they called up GH’s casting director (Mark Teschner) and Bobby (Robert Guza Jr. ex-head writer, GH) and they wrote me in!”
Pastore was a huge General Hospital fan from way back, who at one point told producers that he would watch the ABC soap opera while working in bars and nightclubs in the 70s and 80s.
Throughout his decades long career, Pastore appeared in films including: Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way and Men of Respect, The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the 1996 HBO TV movie Gotti.
In TV, besides The Sopranos, Pastore’s credits included: Law & Order, The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, plus the miniseries The Last Don II. Most recently, Vincent was a series regular on Gravesend and guest starred on Yellowjackets.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Vincent Pastore on his memorable role on ‘The Sopranos’ and his time on ‘General Hospital’ via the comment section below.
As had been teased since Jason Morgan’s (Steve Burton) captivity by the WSB and his release on General Hospital, he is clearly having issues speaking about what happened to him, after he was dragged away from Port Charles when he took the fall for Rocco (Finn Carr) who shot WSB director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Now. as Jason tries to reacclimate to life back in Port Charles, he has already displayed that he wants to do better for his son, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) and the people he loves and to show up for them.
In addition, things took a turn on the Friday, July 31 episode where after Sonny (Maurice Benard) questioned Jason if he was having an issue with Ric (Rick Hearst) working side by side with his half-brother, Jason had something to say.
Courtesy/ABC
An emotional Jason tells Sonny, “I can’t work for you anymore.” The moment left Sonny dumbfounded, and viewers won’t know the pick-up of the conversation till Monday’s August 3 episode of GH.
Could it be that this time Jason will cut ties with Sonny and the mob for good? If so, it would be the end of an era for Jason and Sonny, sort of the Batman and Robin of GH with a twist.
Previous teases from the GH co-head writing team of Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte, and Burton himself on his podcast That’s Awesome ,seem to indicate there is a change coming for Jason that sends him off in a different path in his life.
However, we should learn Jason’s reasons shortly, and if Sonny can talk him back into the mob, or can just wish Jason the best and let him go. But now the question becomes, if Jason exits life as Sonny’s right hand man and henchman, what do you see him doing with his life? We do know that Jason is aware that Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) has tied to the WSB, since he escorted him to Port Charles via Jakarta on the plane which may be a clue.
Weigh-in below: Do you want Jason to go work for the Quartermaines and truly join the family in full? Do you see him doing something to help those in need, or do you see him going undercover with the WSB to expose some of the treacherous things they perpetrated on him and others, or do you see Jason doing something completely different with his life? If so, what? Let us know your hopes and thoughts for Jason in the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
That was quick! Christian Howard, who now looks to have literally stepped in for Nathan Dean to wrap up a few episodes for the character of Ethan Lovett made a quick exit on Friday’s July 31 episode of General Hospital.
GH viewers were stunned earlier this week on the Monday, July 27 episode when a voiceover announcer shared that Christian Howard was now playing Ethan Lovett. Next, Ethan hits the sheets with Ava Jerome, played by three-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Maura West. All seemed to be moving forward when suddenly at the end of the Thursday, July 30 episode, Ethan spots newcomer Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) at the Metro Court Pool, and makes a quick getaway.
Then, it’s revealed after packing his bags at Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) house, that out of nowhere, Ethan received a lead on an incredible opportunity so he has to say goodbye to Lulu and run out of town and was leaving Port Charles.
Courtesy/ABC
RUNNING OUT OF TOWN
In fact, Ethan was in such a hurry, he forgot to say goodbye to Ava who had been waiting for him at the Metro Court pool. There is clearly a connection to Hudson and baby Phoebe after Ethan spotted the guy, because Ethan also glanced over to the baby and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) at the Metro Court pool, before he ran to Lulu’s to pack his things. All of this points to Howard being an emergency recast for Dean.
It’s definitely been a week of change on-screen on the ABC soap with the news of Maxie, Spinelli, James, Georgie and Bailey all suddenly leaving Port Charles for Australia, after Spinelli got an offer he could not turn down.
That exit was written because Kirsten Storms is at this time,, and the very foreseeable future, not returning to General Hospital and is living in Tennessee. As she had documented via her Instagram stories and posts, she has been going through several personal ordeals. In addition to Storms, Ryan Paevey also exited the series earlier this month when he ended his run as Cassius Faison, while leaving the door open for his return down the line.
So, will newcomers Kelly Kruger (Serena Baldwin), Dean Geyer (Tristan Roberts) and Troy Lennon Appel fill the void of the multitude of exits? What are your theories on Christian Howard’s departure as Ethan Lovett on GH? Let us know via the comment section below.
Vincent Pastore of ‘Sopranos’ Fame and ‘General Hospital’s’ Maximus Giambetti Dies at 80
GENERAL HOSPITAL: If Jason Leaves the Mob, What Will He Do Next?
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint
‘Knots Landing’ Favorite Donna Mills Joins ‘OnlyFans’
Y&R Alum Brenda Dickson Breaks Silence On Her Arrest, ‘Everyone in the LAPD Knows Who Jill Abbott Is’
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie is Disowned By The Logan Sisters
‘General Hospital’ Writes Maxie Jones and Her Family Off The Show
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
‘Knots Landing’ Favorite Donna Mills Joins ‘OnlyFans’
Y&R Alum Brenda Dickson Breaks Silence On Her Arrest, ‘Everyone in the LAPD Knows Who Jill Abbott Is’
‘The Young and the Restless’ Eric Braeden Talks Daytime Emmy Nomination, State of Nikki and Victor’s Marriage, and His Co-Stars (Exclusive)
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Drew and Willow Have Their Long-Awaited Showdown; Only She Gains the Upperhand and the End of Their Marriage
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Drew Emerges from Nina’s Murder Attempt Ready to Confront Willow
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