Breaking News
Jonathan Jackson Reveals the Reason Behind His Exit from ‘General Hospital’: “We Gave It Our Best Shot”
If you think the quick exit by Jonathan Jackson following the five-time Daytime Emmy-winner’s return to General Hospital was planned way in advance, you can scrap that notion after Jonathan opened up about his decision to exit the ABC daytime drama series as Lucky Spencer sooner than he had hoped.
According to Jackson in a discussion with TV Insider, he revealed that the distance between his home in Tennessee and taping GH in Los Angeles, and being away from his family played a large part in his early departure.
As Jonathan explained it was never his intention to exit his iconic GH role as Luke and Laura’s son only nine months after his heralded and heavily-publicized return in August of 2024. He shared, “It was more of a real, sincere attempt from myself and from General Hospital to make it work for a longer period of time. The hope was to be able to stay on longer.”
Photo: ABC
However, he seemed to allude to that it was always on the table as an ‘bit of an experiment” when he came back to the soap opera. Jackson said, “There was always that possibility because it was a bit of an experiment on my part to see if I could make it work with the family dynamic.” Jonathan has three young children and is married to former GH star, Lisa Vultaggio (ex-Hannah).
He continued, “There were moments where I thought, ‘I think I can find this balance with the family and time back and forth,’ and then you just have to pray about it and try to do what you feel is right. We gave it our best shot, but we weren’t able to keep it going.”
As viewers are seeing an abrupt exit on the airshows, when after Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) turned down Lucky’s marriage proposal, he decides its time to leave Port Charles. Jackson admitted it was sort of sudden when he made his final decision.
Photo: ABC
“I was trying to stay in the moment as much as possible,” explained the actor/singer/writer. That’s really where my mindset was, taking it one day at a time, but also one month at a time, and just seeing how it was feeling. I have to say that none of this would have happened at all if Frank Valentini (EP, GH) wasn’t so open and helpful to even get it this far. So that’s definitely something I’ve been extremely blessed by.”
Photo: JJacksonIG
Now gone from GH (as viewers will see Lucky’s latest exit on the canvas this week), Jonathan said he plans to concentrate on his music where he will be releasing a solo album later this year, the release of a new book of poems, called Anthology of Longing, while leaving the door open for other outside projects. Jackson also plans on touring in 2026 in the UK, and throughout Europe and in the U.S. and performing in the Nashville concert series as well. Jonathan starred as Avery Barkley in the canceled ABC music city drama series.
So, what do you think about the reason behind Jonathan Jackson’s exit? On top of the travel issues, do you think GH missed a huge opportunity to capitalize on his acting prowess, by not having him land in a storyline that might be more enticing for him to rethink his decision? Comment below.
I accept him for his words and feelings… but if the traveling back and forth is the reason.. wasn’t the travel understood before agreeing?
I wish him well nonetheless.
Maybe he should’ve been recurring. Rick Hearst commutes from NJ and John York from Tennessee. They likely have a bit more control on their schedules than a contract performer who has to be available every weekday for shooting.
Right? Yet he’s going to tour with his music, so…. you’re still away from the family. I feel life has a non-committal as his character
Don’t get me wrong, I love Jonathan Jackson, and his portrayal of Lucky is great. But it’s become too unreliable and inconsistent to keep him in the role. Lucky should be front-and-center, driving story regularly. He’s Luke and Laura’s son, has tons of connections to the canvas, and should be a leading man. GH should really consider finding a suitable recast (which they’ve been excellent at recently) and keep Lucky on long-term.
I agree with you Jimmy. They definitely should recast Lucky.
Greg Vaughn
Greg Vaughn can’t even commit to doing Days of Our Lives full time, so it’s not likely he would do that for GH either.
Nothing against Greg’s version of Lucky – though he did seem like a different character entirely. It would be really weird to see that version come back after the real Lucky was around for a while.
One thing I do know…. the temp hire who unfortunately filled in on the day Cyrus the Virus shot “Lucky” with digitalis. That would be a huge NO. Still can’t forgive that guy for what he did to the character of Will Horton on Days. I’ll even give Ben Weston a pass for taking him out with a necktie.
While I agree that it’s highly unlikely that GV would ever return to GH, isn’t it DAYS tight budget that can’t afford him on contract?
We survived 10 years without Lucky. It’ll be a while before we see him again. Not this year, but if Laura has a son return, it’s probably gonna be Nikolas (a recast).
Hey, family comes first.
But yet the article says he’ll be touring for his music in Europe in 2026. Can’t get much further from home and family than that, now can you. GH should recast him.
Making a living to support that family is right up there, too!
I think even though he’s too polite to say, its the terrible storyline he was given upon his return just terrible.No screen time.I don’t blame him a bit.I hope the Hallmark Channel or Great.American Family channel will use him to do some movies. Some GAC shows film in TN.
That would be amazing to her him on Hallmark or GAC
I agree that the writing afforded to him was lackluster and disappointing but those adjectives also perfectly describe JJ’s acting this time around. Just like Lucky didn’t want to stay put in Port Charles, JJ clearly didn’t want to be on the set of GH— he just wanted a paycheck. The picture of him above says it all; he looks bored and passive. It didn’t help that they had his big story centering around covering up for that feckless, insipid, awful Kristina.
Jonathan’s return was a bust from the word go. They had no story for him once we got past the Sidwell stuff in Africa. It was a woefully terrible job by Frank and the writers. Why bother bringing a legacy character like Lucky Spencer back if you’re not gonna write a story for him? This has to go down as one of the worst, most botched big name returns in soap history.
From Johnathan’s end, in my personal opinion, it never seemed like his heart was in it. I’ve seen his career on GH from the start, and he’s not a 5-time Emmy winner for no reason. I know what it looks like when he’s putting his heart and soul into a story, and when someone is phoning it in, and unfortunately, phoning it in is the vibe I got from him during this entire return, aside from a couple moments here and there, such as when he worked with Genie Francis, and she could act opposite a potted plant and make it compelling, and the scenes with Aiden coming out to Lucky. I think they had exactly two scenes together after that, which is another indictment of the writing on this show.
Such a wasted opportunity, Very unfortunate that it came to this. But if the show isn’t gonna write for the character, and if his heart isn’t in it, then it’s best to call it a day, and move on.
This was my first intro to the Lucky character and I haven’t been impressed. I thought the facial fuzz was because of the mess that he had been in, but he never cleaned up. He looks weak and unkempt, like a boy not a man. There’s no chemistry with Elizabeth, she vibes him in the friend zone. So … bye boy
Yes they could have done alot with him. He was an open canvas.
It sounds like it wouldn’t have mattered if they scripted a bigger storyline for him. I do think the writers had bigger plans for a Liz and Lucky reunion but had to change course when it became too difficult for JJ to continue. It sounds like they worked around his schedule as best they could, which may have also added to why it didn’t seem like he had much of a story. Still, I wish he could have made it work. I was excited and looking forward to see what the writers had planned for Liz and Lucky’s love story I tuned in daily. So I was extremely disappointed when Liz turn down Lucky’s proposal and Lucky decided to leave.
As much as I love JJ as Lucky, and the chemistry and relationship he has with Becky Herbst, I wish GH would have made the decision to recast the role of Lucky. I would even welcome Greg Vaughan back as Lucky. I know Frank is leaving the door open for JJ to return, but today’s goodbye seemed so final.
I think Lucky Spencer is an important GH legacy character so he should remain on the canvas even as a recast. Is it really too much to ask that they chemistry test prospective candidates with Becky and Genie to find the right fit? I wish they would.
Sly, I watched GH when Greg Vaughan played Lucky and I loved his portrayal of Lucky the adult. I’d love to have Greg back. That’s unlikely because of his commitment to DOOL. Also, Greg might be hesitant to trust TPTB at GH again. After all, they dumped him to bring back Jonathan Jackson all those years ago. Jackson only managed to stay a brief period then too.
I’m with you. It’s time for permanent Lucky recast.
Funny, I thought Steve Burton lived in Tennessee. Somehow he manages to stay in canvas while traveling back and forth. Just saying. Anyway, good luck to Jonathan in his career and his family. May he have nothing but success, happiness and peace.
To TPTB: Lucky is a very important character to the history of GH and should be a regular, ongoing part of the show. It is time to recast the role.
Steve Burton used to live in Tenessee.
Wish nothing but the best for Jonathan. But GH owed it to the fans to keep Lucky Spencer up front and center. They could of done a recast. Wouldn’t be the first time. I’m very disappointed. I’ve been watching GH 62yrs.
The show clearly dropped the ball from the start when he returned to the show, but that’s a whole different long discussion that I don’t have the patience to get into, I will say, I at least like the fact that even though things are ending for him and Liz, it feels like at least they ended things as friends and He is going away with Aiden and spend quality time with his son, and since he’s not coming back anytime soon, I hope the show still keeps their relationship as co parent and that he won’t be a deadbeat dad with his son. And it is possible to be good friends with an ex, so hopefully we hear liz visits him even if it offscreen . Now the only thing I hope the show does is not ignore Elisabeth and now that Britt is coming back not take advantage of mixing it up with Jason .
I don’t understand why they didn’t just replace a lucky with somebody else so that there’s something good in the show that could happen instead of always terribly bad things. And I all I also believe that Willow should not get custody. It’s about time that she sees what Drew has done this has been carried out so long. So I’m praying that this will happen within the next couple of weeks or next this week would be great.
Well, now the budget has room to bring back Evan Hofer’s DEX! Wooh Hooh!
Maybe you should start a Go Fund Me for your cause.
Dex is dead.
Did you search for Mr. Fairman’s interview that I recommended? Just hit the search icon above and type in ” Evan Hofer opens up on Dex’s deathbed scene”. Again, Evan himself understood Dex’s death was storyline driven.
And mostly, he doesn’t have a magical Aunt Lesil to reanimate him like Britt does.
Family first❣️
I hate it!!! I was so happy to see Lucky return! Please bring him back!!!!
I absolutely loved having him back! But, I’m also a huge fan of his music. He has to do what is best for him and his family. I love that he is taking being a father as a priority! I had a horrible father. So I believe this is a priority for all men and women as mothers. I am proud of him! So long as they do not kill him off he can always come back from time to time.
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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