General Hospital
General Hospital Recasts The Role Of Mayor Lomax With Shari Belafonte!

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
Here’s some intruiging casting news out of General Hospital! Shari Belafonte has been cast as the new underhanded Mayor Lomax of Port Charles!
According to Soap Opera Digest, Saidah Arrika Ekulona who has played the part since 2012 is out, and the series has brought in Belafonte.
For those in the know, Shari has a long-running tie to the GH family. Her husband is Sam Behrens, who played Jake Meyer from 1983-1988 (pictured here with Belafonte). Look for Shari to make her GH debut in her new recurring role on January 19th.
Shari is best known for her work as Julie Gilette on the 1980’s television series Hotel, and is the daughter of legendary singer, Harry Belafonte.
So, what do you think about the new Mayor Lomax of Port Charles … Shari Belafonte? Comment below!
Don’t really care for the recasting but hey, love Sam Behrens! Let’s bring back Jake Meyer!
As long as she won’t be in a couple mess of begging someone to love her and all that love gone wrong sappy boring stuff, I’m OK with the recast.
As Lomaxs husband…
I agree! Bobbie needs some lovin’!! Besides Scott, I think Jake would do the trick…maybe, we’d even get more Lucy as a result (older viewers may remember he got Lucy pregnant). Noah Drake is probably on tour, D.L. Brock is dead, Tony Jones is dead, Damian Smith is dead, Stefan Cassadine is dead, Roy DiLucca is living in Miami, and Jerry Jacks seems to have forgotten (like the show) that he was once with Barbara Jean.
Yes Liam! Bobbie and Jake were a great couple! And I believe that’s what started the Lucy/Bobbie rivalry. It was soap magic!
I would love to see Sam with Shari I remember him on GH knots landing and another soap. He is also my Cousin.
Love Sheri, she’s a beauty and talent that’s needed on GH!
Oops, “Shari”.
It’s true, Joe. The mayor is such an obscure figure that most of us do not care for the recast. But, I love Shari Belafonte. If we must have a mayor on GH, I’d rather have Shari than Saidah. I just can’t see Shari playing an unscrupulously bad character en league with the DA.
Why do that I like the actress who played the part. These two bubble head writers are long known for recasting or writing characters into corners so you don’t care or forget they’re even part of the show.
I like the “former” mayor as well
she had a no nonesense approach …. “tough” as nails
ready to pack a whallop
don’t see Shari Belefonte in that arena ???
dang it tho! Sam Behrens…. wasn’t he all that on Knot’s Landing… as Valene husband
Yes, Patrick. But, she could also be bought for a song, no? Did I get that wrong? Isn’t she in the DA’s pocket? It remains to be seen if the recast fits in that same pocket.
Love Shari — excited about this!
Congrats to her! (I also did love Sam as Jake, so it would be an added bonus for him to show up, too.
Lots for him to do!)
Love Shari – think she will be great! And can she PLEASE bring back Sam / Jake Meyer with her!!! PLEASE!!! PC can never have enough Lawyers!! LOL .
Bobbie & Jake were great! <3 Those two!! Think they would still be great together!!
has not been such a major character in the past – will be interesting with re-cast
Wonder if that means a bigger story is coming up? The rigged election? Maybe it’ll bring Felicia back to the canvas too…
Great point and observation, AJ.
Is this another Frank Valentini crush? Didn’t really work for Donna Mills in soap land. Tired of stunt casting. Not to be rude — well, okay, just this onece — but when was the last time Shari did anything relevant? Come on GH, enough with the casting & recasting and over casting!
The role is insignificant/hardly seen..
but- Port Charles needs its’ Mayor.. (no big deal…
hope the character remains insignificant 😉
You’re right, su. I made the same point….the mayor is an obscure figure. However, AJ’s point is foremost in my mind, now that I think about it. Perhaps there’s a story to tell about the rigged election coming to the fore. Shari is a lot more charismatic than Saidah, if that is the case.
I also agree with Ces. I want Shari to act and not sing. Not too interested in that side of her.
I wouldn’t say another FV crush but would definitely say another cheap FV publicity grab by hyping a “name” star in a role that will only last a few days at best.
Mayor Lomax is what I think of as a non-character. Just a prop trotted out on rare occasions to further plot points. I can’t even get a mental picture of the actress who played the role before and I doubt too many would even notice that the role had been recast (yet again) much less with Shari Belafonte if GH wasn’t going out of their way to hype it.
No dis to the very talented Shari B and it’s good of her to do the role but she’s not known for her acting and I expect any of her fans who’d tune in expecting singing would be disappointed. Even if they do try to work in a singing number (from MAYOR LOMAX??) into their Toys For Tots Gala it would still be totally WTF????
IA with you. Enough with the stunts. GH should instead try to focus on actual solid storytelling. There can be room for an occasional guest shot within that but if that’s all you’ve got…you’re toast.
Love your post, KM.
Let me elaborate. KM, I know exactly what you’re saying. I am familiar with Shari…..my Gran loves Harry; so, it goes without saying I grew up hearing about the family, the music etc.
But as I stated above, I, too, am not so certain she can pull off the bad girl act.
Pretty sure I don’t want to see anymore “singers” on the show either. Not my style of music. Tired of stunt casting and just tired of more characters altogether … thought Paul would be a partner for Tracy but alas, he’s turned into another gangster.
None of the current stories are terribly exciting, not unless they can keep Johnny Z on the show!
To have Shari B sing they would have to put out big money..
it is the way it works, she would not perform/sing for free.
lol her manager would never allow it, either..
Why?
That’s a nice recast, since she has some history with GH married to one of GH lawyer guy in real life, so great recast GH
Not familiar with her work, but if this ties up the loose ends to Mayor Lomax’s stories, then I am all for it.
Now I hope they have another fair election for a new mayor since the last one was fraught with “irregularities” and deals and cost us Felicia.
I think the mayor will clash with Paul. I dont think the re-election has anything to do with it?
I was thinking the same thing, Timmm. Perhaps the recast is to bring in a Paul adversary, and not one who can be bought. I think a storyline about Lomax is in the works and it directly involves the DA. If that is the case, it should prove to be interesting.
I haven’t seen a photo of this actress in years. She really resembles her father in this photo.
Cant wait!! She is awesome! I do not think this is stunt casting, we don’t know maybe the other actress got another gig, and they plan to expand the Lomax character. Sheri has the chops to do it and perhaps she wanted to get back into acting. Great addition, just hope she gets screen time.
Yes, and a drop in my Jake Meyer would be nice! He is a lawyer so it is possible
Was the other actress no longer available? Sometimes I think soaps forget that the audience wants actors to remain in their roles and don’t normally take too quickly to recasts, regardless of how often they’re on. I’m just curious about the “why” of this recast. I love Sheri, but I also liked and was familiar with Saidah. You didn’t have to hit viewers who have been with GH for any length of time with the fact that she was the mayor. Now they will. Are they expanding the role?
Well okay BUT bring back JAKE to! PC can always use another attorney AND Bobbi needs a squeeze!
I like the other mayor, also; however, I’m willing to give Shari a chance in the role.
Yes, of course, Belle. I was thinking that Paul and the mayor will be given more air time together. Now, if Lomax and Paul have had an affair in the past, the present Lomax appears too rigid for my taste. Enter Shari. She is so much softer than her predecessor.
I think Robert Scorpio is going to work with his brother and Anna to bring Paul down.
@Harry.
I surely hope so, Harry. Scorpio and Mac should bring Paul, the Don Juan, down. I really like Tracy, and the way Paul is playing her really makes me feel for her. He really is bad news.
I’ve never thought of Shari as a singer, only ever as an actress. She’s an interesting recast for a role that no one likes or wants to see – except to bring Felicia back to the canvas – so I’ll reserve judgment until she appears onscreen.
As with so many others who’ve mentioned it, I would LOVE for Sam Behrens to return as Jake. He was Bobbie’s favourite husband of mine.
I so wish TPTB would let we fans see much more of the characters we’ve loved for so long, such as Mac, Felicia, Lucy, Laura, Bobbie, even Alice, and others who I’ve probably forgotten about since I never see them any more. I can really do without Franco, Nina, Dr. O., Paul Hornsby, Dillon, Jerry Jacks, etc. etc. They take up time that should be reserved for the characters and actors fans really WANT to see. Not too long ago I would have included Kiki in that list, but Hayley Erin has been doing a very good job lately. I have more complaints about who takes up valuable screen time, but this was originally about Shari Belafonte so I’ll quit while I’m ahead (if it isn’t tool late). Welcome, Shari, and feel free to bring your hubby with you!
I already dislike her character, so she’s doing a great job!!!
She is doing a great job. Someone you love to hate.
I knew she looked familiar. She is great in her part as mayor. She looks like”don’t mess with me!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

General Hospital’s Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri) opened up about the burgeoning love triangle forming between his Port Charles alter-go, Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and Ric Lansing (Rick Hearst) after recently aired scenes, plus his hopes for the future of a Dante and Liz pairing, during his appearance on the Sunday, April 23 edition of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli).
On last week’s episodes of GH, Ric has made the decision that he wanted to propose to his ex-wife, only when he showed up at Elizabeth’s front door, he misread the scenario he walked in with Liz tending to Dante’s injured leg from the softball game. From there, the legal eagle’s jealous streak is reemerging which may cause him to act out and do something unforgivable, or will he take the high road? Stay tuned.
Speaking with Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson about where Elizabeth stands in the annals of the long-running soap, Zamprogna said, “She’s up there with Steve and Maurice (Maurice Benard) as one of the most legacy-filled people on the show.”

Courtesy/ABC
HOW DANTE AND ELIZABETH CAME ABOUT
Dominic jokes it’s a far cry for where Dante and Elizabeth previously, recalling, “We had some scenes together years ago and we were both laughing. Becky’s like, ‘Well, I guess we’re not going be paired up anytime soon.’ I remember we laughed immediately after they yelled ‘cut,”‘and said to each other, ‘Well, so much for that!'”
Fast-forward to early 2025 and as Zamprogna remembered it, “Elizabeth Korte (co-head writer, GH) came up to me at the General Hospital Christmas party, and I think it was a year and a half ago and she said, ‘We’re going to have you in scenes with Elizabeth,’ My internal monologue is going, ‘I’m not with Lulu (Alexa Havins) anymore and Sam’s (Kelly Monaco) gone, so maybe they want to see if this works.’ I didn’t want to get scenes with Becky and try to find the chemistry. I just wanted to play whatever honestly was written and came across for both of us and hope it was what people liked, and I don’t know if it is … or not.”
Knowing how beloved Elizabeth is to the GH faithfuls, Zamprogna added, “She got a big fan base with Ric … and a big fan base with with Jason … and you know, you’re going to piss somebody off. But, didn’t Ric drug Elizabeth and put Carly in a panic room?”

Photo: ABC
DANTE AND ELIZABETH PAIRING COULD STIR UP STORY FOR OTHERS IN PORT CHARLES
In closing, Dominic felt that the wide-reaching tentacles of a Dante and Elizabeth relationship is something he is 100% down for. “The triangle thing; I was happy to hear it was with Ric and her, because I felt it’s important to have her the top of it as opposed to Dante, Lulu and Elizabeth.”
Zamprogna added, “When you get into relationships on a soap, things seem to fizzle out a little bit, The buildup is what’s the fun part, and the getting to know each other, and the people who are affected by this coming together. When with this case it’s going to affect: Ric, Sonny, Lulu. There’s so much more story here. To me, it’s going to be a fun story to play.”
You can check out Dominic’s visit to That’s Awesome with Steve and Bradford below.
Now weigh-in: Are you rooting for Dante and Liz, or Dante and Ric at this juncture of the story, or neither guy for Elizabeth? Let us know your thoughts and picks via the comment section.
General Hospital
GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

At the conclusion of today’s August 21 episode of General Hospital, Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) sings a lullaby to baby Dez, that went into a montage to close out the episode as her father Curtis Ashford (Donnell Turner) reports to Pentonville and winds up in his jail cell.
However, in a fun fact, the song entitled, “A Lonely Heart To Give” was actually written by none other than former One Life to Live and General Hospital actor, Patrick J. Gibbons.
Daytime fans first met Gibbons as Sam Manning on One Life to Live. At the time, when he started on the soap, he was just 5-years-old. Gibbons played the part from 2010-2013 on ABC and Prospect Park’s editions of the show. Fast-forward to 2018, Gibbons shows up on General Hospital as Wyatt Hoover, the scout who seemed always be injured, but in the thick of the drama. Patrick had appeared on GH multiple times as Wyatt including: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023.

Photo: ABC
FROM HIS GRANDMOTHER’S DEATH CAME THE INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG
Now in 2026, General Hospital fans are getting to learn about another side of Gibbons’ talent as a songwriter and guitar player after “A Lonely Heart to Give” debuted today! Michael Fairman TV caught up with Patrick, who is now a senior at Penn State entering his final year as a finance major, to get the back-story of how his song wound up on GH!
Gibbons explained he wrote the song in honor of his grandmother who passed away a few years ago with whom he was, very, very close with. “Randomly, my grandmother had a downfall and passed away during the second semester of my sophomore year. I was in my dorm a lot and I was just playing with my guitar. And at the time, I was really into finger-style playing. I wrote the lyric and music to it (with a little help from my guitar teacher Lou), and my mom showed the rough demo to Frank Valentini (EP, General Hospital). He’s like an uncle to me. Frank loved it so much he said, “Finish that up. I want to hear the whole thing, and I want it on the show.”
MAKING MUSIC FOR GENERAL HOSPITAL
Gibbons and his parents took the next steps! “So now, all we needed was a female voice, because I thought that would fit the song well,” Patrick shared. “At the golf club we go to my parents were at a dinner. They liked the singer that was performing and spoke to her about the song, and she says she would like to bring it to her ‘boss’ who ended up being Eric Bazilian of the Hooters fame!” (Bazilian also wrote the smash hit song “One of Us” for Joan Osborne).
Next, “We went in the studio and recorded it and the song came together and it was beautiful. We loved it. They loved it at General Hospital and now they’re putting it the show and they are coming in with a piano, instead of a guitar. Paul Glass, the GH musical director, has been keeping us updated over the last six months of how it was coming along, and when it would air, and how GH put their own arrangement to it. I can’t wait to see and hear what they did with it.”

Photo: JPI
PATRICK’S ONE LIFE TO LIVE FAMILY
Everyone knows that the One Life to Live extended family share a very tight bond, and Patrick said he does stay in touch with a few of his former One Life to Live co-stars, especially those from the Manning family! “I stayed in touch with Kassie DePaiva (ex-Blair) and sent her little videos here and there. She was like my second mom for five years. We keep in contact with Kristen Alderson (ex-Starr) over X the most, and she can’t believe how big I’ve gotten. Like, none of them can! (laughs). I also loved working with Roger Howarth (ex-Todd) and Trevor St. John (ex-Todd and Victor Jr.), and to me since I was so young, they were just my friends, ‘Roger and Trevor,’ not Todd Manning or Victor Jr.”
It was a trip to California and a visit to Port Charles that ultimately led to Gibbons second soap role of Wyatt Hoover. Patrick explains, “In 2016, Frank Valentini invited us out to Los Angeles to visit the set of General Hospital. I think he heard me say, ‘This is so much fun. I miss being on the set.’ He goes, ‘You should come out. I’ll bring you on the show. We can make you a character.'”
A few years later, Patrick’s dream became a reality! “Then, by the summer of 2018, I was playing Wyatt, the scout, and shared scenes with Wes Ramsey (Peter August), and the best was when I shared a scene with Roger Howarth and Michael Easton (ex-John, OLTL and ex-Silas, Finn et al, GH), it was like chemistry from the old days.”

Photo: PGibbons
IT’S ALL IN THE NUMBERS
As to his future aspirations, it’s a career in the finance game that has piqued Gibbons’ real-life interest. But never say never to a return to acting. Patrick explained, “I’ve always enjoyed numbers. And on top of that, one of the biggest parts of finance is being personable and outgoing.”
He continued, “That’s one of the greatest skills I developed growing up. I really love the markets. I’m super interested. I’m never going to close the door to acting. I’m always open to that because I just love it so much. It’s such a great art.”
Take note! If there are any investment bankers or private equity folks among the GH faithful looking for a young analyst next year, Patrick’s DMs are open. You can find him on X at @PatrickJGibbons.”
So, what did you think of the song sung by Trina on today’s GH that was written by Patrick J. Gibbons? Did you enjoy Patrick’s performances as One Life’s Sam and GH’s Wyatt? Would you like to see him back on GH at some point? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Alum Chad Duell Admits That He Didn’t Expect the Role of Michael Corinthos to be Recast, and Would Consider Working on Another Soap (Exclusive)

Chad Duell, the Daytime Emmy-winning actor, who stepped away from the pivotal role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, opened up about: his previous decision to leave the series after nearly 15 years, where’s he’s at now after time away from the demands of a daytime soap opera, and took a stroll down memory lane with some of Michael’s most-acclaimed storyline during his run, during a livestream chat on August 19 on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel.
Viewers last saw Duell on-screen as Michael in January of 2025, and with his successor in the role, Rory Gibson making his debut at the GH Nurses’ Ball in episodes that aired later in May. It was clear that during the conversation, Chad was a bit surprised that the GH brass decided to recast him when he thought he was just taking some much needed time off.
Burn-out of the daily grind of being on a soap was definitely a part of Chad’s decision to take a break. Duell explained “People know when you’re doing something for so long or your character is kind of in the same place for so long or doing the same stuff over and over again, you do get a a little burnt out, you get a little stiff, stale, a little stiff at times. I didn’t want that to be any sort of lasting impression. I have 15 years of a body of work of I’ve done on that show, which is fantastic.”

Photo: ABC
WHILE CHAD WAS AWAY GH RECAST MICHAEL CORINTHOS WITH RORY GIBSON
Chad shared, his mindset when leaving GH was, “I’m taking some time away, we’ll see what happens.” Then he added, “Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen.”
Duell also shared he has not watched a single episode of General Hospital since he left the series, but now feels he reenergized following the loss of his father and stepping away from the GH, “I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again.”

Courtesy/ABC
Even though he is no longer Michael on GH, Chad was very happy with his final storyline where Michael was set on fire when a bomb exploded at Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) penthouse. “It was fun to put him in a dangerous situation, because I was wanting Michael to be in something scary instead of trying to be a hero character or just things happening around him, but to be the center point of tragedy happening to him. (I always saw) Michael as the heart of the (Corinthos) family.”
When Michael was badly burned the show chose not burn his face, which normally a soap does when they are recasting role and switching actors. Chad weighed-in, “They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini (EP, GH) I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me… if that’s what their plan was.”

Courtesy/ABC
MEMORABLE MICHAEL STORYLINES
One of Chad’s most memorable performances was the in the storyline of Michael’s rape while he was sentenced to prison in 2010 and the confession of it in 2011. “It was so well-written and I was very nervous,” recalled Chad. “When I get really nervous about something, it ends up being really good when I do it, because it just means I care a lot about it”
“I have to put a lot of effort and work into it, and I really want it to be good. I was working with Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) and Steve Burton (Jason) a lot during those scenes, and Laura Wright (Carly). It was great working with Steve and Dominic, especially, during that storyline.
A NEW SOAP ROLE FOR CHAD?
As to a future soap opera role, Chad is open to the idea and would love to jump back in to a juicy role, “I know people over at The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless. They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing.”
Meanwhile, Chad has been busy putting out new music under the moniker Duelly and during the interview he explains how he creates his EDM tracks and much more. You can stream his latest single, Static in the Quiet Room on Spotify, Apple Music and You Tube Music.
You can check out the full conversation with Chad Duell below.
Now let us know: what show would you like to see Chad cast on down the line? BTG, DAYS, B&B, Y&R, or a new role on GH? What did you think of his thoughts on the casting switch while he was away in the role of Michael? What was your favorite Michael storyline during Chad’s 15-year run on the ABC soap opera? Let us know via the comment section.
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