General Hospital
GH and ATWT Alum Martin West Dead at 82
On New Year’s Eve, former General Hospital and As the World Turns star Martin West passed away at the age of 82. Longtime GH viewers will recall he was the last actor to portray original series character of Phil Brewer. West’s run lasted from 1967-1975.
During West’s years on GH, in story: Phil was presumed dead in a plane crash and returned with amnesia as “Harold Williamson.” Throughout the years, Phil’s great love was Nurse Jessie Brewer (Emily McLaughlin). But when he returned, he took up with Diana Maynard (Valerie Scarrett). Eventually, Phil was killed-off and Jessie was accused his murder. Lo and behold it turned out the murderer was Augusta McLeod (Judith McConnell).

Photo: ABC
After his time on GH, West headed to Oakdale and As the World Turns as the replacement for the part of Don Hughes. He played that role from 1977-1978. He also appeared on primetime’s Dallas in the role of Phil McKenna in 1981.

Photo: IMDB
West’s other television credits included: Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Ironside, Highway to Heaven, Matlock, and LA Law. In addition, Martin appeared in many motion pictures from: The Andersonville Trial, Hitchcock’s Family Plot, and Mac and Me.
He is survived by his life partner, Ann Chernow and his three children, and two stepchildren.
Share your condolences and remembrances for Martin via the comment section below.
I wish his whole story as Phil wasnt missing…
Me, too, Jimh… Please see my other, lengthier comment here.
I remember him very well as Phil Brewer. He played the role the longest. May he rest in peace.
Phil Brewer.. .wow that’s going way back. I can barely remember him, except for the way he died by somebody bashing his head in with a big geode rock.
And Wally from Leave it to Beaver being the cop who investigated the murder.
My heart is heavy at this sad news…
I started watching GH in 1969, as Martin West played Phil Brewer and the lovely, popular, mesmerizing Valerie Starrett created the role of Diana Maynard. — I only wish a picture of Martin West with Valerie Starrett had accompanied this feature. And @Jimh, I will give some storyline details here. I know you and I have been down this road before… — Of course, Phil was involved with Jessie Brewer as well.
In story, Phil was working at a diner (as a cook, I think), with the alias of “Harold Williamson,” and Diana was a waitress at the diner. They started a love affair, but things went sour (to say the least) over time, as Phil raped Diana, after she became involved with Dr. Peter Taylor. If memory serves, Phil fathered both of Diana’s children: Tracy (boy) and Martha. Peter offered to marry Diana to give her unborn baby a name, even though they weren’t in love at the time of their nuptials.
The Phil Brewer murder mystery was quite engrossing. Jessie was arrested for Phil’s murder (via geode, as mentioned by @Satan), as she was found with Phil’s body. But there were a total of 5 suspects: Jessie, Diana, Peter, Jim Hobart (Audrey’s husband), and Augusta McLeod (revealed to be the murderer).
My memory of some of the storyline details is a bit hazy, but to this day, Valerie Starrett reigns supreme as my all-time favorite soap star. Years ago, I opined (perhaps ad nauseam?) my fandom for Starrett on these pages. (She played the role from 1969 until 1977.) Some storylines I remember vividly. Peter and Diana Taylor were a “supercouple” before the term was coined.
But Martin West as Phil (Harold) was Valerie Starrett’s first screen partner and love interest before Diana became a nurse and met her soulmate Peter Taylor.
So for the dearly departed Mr. Martin West, in my small way, I thank you and honor you for your impressive, entertaining work on GH. Like Starrett, you are not only an unsung hero of GH’s rich history but also a source of much nostalgic appreciation from this fan (and, I’m sure, many others). Your storyline hooked me into a decades-long viewership of GH. Those early days are ingrained in my mind. Rest in peace, Dear Sir…
my memory of the show is a bit fuzzy.from this era..used to watch it with my gram when at her house in the 60s/early 1970…do recall her as a waitress tho…i had a feeling you would be writing here!!!
Great to hear back from you, Jimh! Glad we share fond remembrances of those times… Take care, Friend!
Thanks for sharing this! Phil was dead and buried by the time I started watching but Diana was around and was a favorite character of mine from the get-go. I definitely heard the name Phil Brewer over the years though and appreciate his (and Mr. West’s) part in the history of GH.
John, thanks a million for your reply! Glad to read that Diana was a favorite of yours as well. I feel fortunate being able to remember so much of the GH story of that time, particularly all the ups and downs to the Diana and Peter relationship. And Martin West was so good at playing a villain; that particular triangle provided such a compelling dynamic. Best to you, Friend!
Thank you for the words on Valerie; she was my fav too.
Hello Louise W! Great to hear from another Valerie Starrett fan! And you’re right about those black-and-white days. So sad to hear about Martin West… Take care, Friend.
Thank you
Thank you for posting this; hadn’t heard this news. That picture says it all: GH in it’s black and white days; they were the best. Loved all those actors. RIP Martin!
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Receives 3 ‘Critics Choice Real TV Awards’ Nominations for Hallmark Series, ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’
Many things are coming up roses for Jonathan Bennett! On the heels of the news that he is set to debut this month in the role of Joe Fitzpatrick on General Hospital, who is rumored to be a new love interest for Lucas Jones (Van Hansis), comes the news that Bennett’s reality series, Finding Mr. Christmas has received 3 nomination for the Critics Choice Real TV Awards.
Bennett’s Hallmark Channel series finds itself in tough competition alongside fellow nominees: RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV), Squid Game: The Challenge (Netflix), Survivor 50 (CBS), Top Chef (Bravo) and The Traitors (Peacock). In addition, Jonathan himself is nominated for Best Show Host and the series participants as the Best Ensemble Cast in an Unscripted Series.
The Critics Choice Association (CCA) revealed the nominees for the eighth annual Critics Choice Real TV Awards on Thursday, which recognize excellence in nonfiction, unscripted and reality programming across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms. Winners will be announced online at CriticsChoice.com on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 9:00am PT/12:00pm ET.

Photo: Hallmark
Taking to his Instagram to celebrate the nominations, GH’s Bennett, enthused, “3 Critic Choice Nominations! I’m so proud of the FINDING MR CHRISTMAS and to be in the company of all the legends in all these categories is so surreal! Congrats to Hallmark Channel and to our nominated cast and nominated show and everyone who made this magical show possible. This is crazy! This gives FMC 6 Critics Choice nominations in 2 years. Not bad for a little show on Hallmark Channel. What are your thoughts on our show?” Jumping first into the comment thread was one of his new GH co-stars, Dominic Zamprogna (Dante) who expressed, “Yeah buddy!!!🔥🔥”
In the series, Bennett, the host and co-creator spends eight weeks guiding 10 aspiring actors through a series of “festive face-offs” and acting challenges alongside actors like soap opera notables, Hunter King (ex-Summer, Y&R) and Alison Sweeney (Sami, DAYS). Along the way, they develop their skills and a bond with one another. The show, which is available on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Plus, highlights LGBTQ+ representation with openly gay contestants vying to be the next Hallmark star.
It should be noted that Traitors received the most Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations with 6 nods, followed by Dancing with the Stars with 4.
Bennett is very familiar to daytime fans having started his career as JR Chandler on All My Children in 2000-2001, before landing the part of Aaron Samuels in the motion picture, Mean Girls in 2004 starring Lindsay Lohan, which would become his breakout performance.
You can check out the full list of Critics Choice Real TV Award nominations here.
So, excited for Jonathan Bennett’s General Hospital debut this month? Have you ever watched Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark? Let us know via the comment section below.
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General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Kelly Thiebaud on Britt and Cassius Sibling Drama, But Who Will Ultimately Blow His Cover?
On the April 30 episode of General Hospital, Britt (Kelly Thiebaud) had some choice words and warning for her brother Cassius Faison (Ryan Paevey) who has been masquerading as his twin, the very dead, Nathan West.
As the story has unfolded, viewers learned that Britt knew all along that when “Nathan” showed up in Port Charles seemingly resurrected with a missing 7 years of his life unexplained, that Cassius was taking his place.
Now in developments on today’s GH, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy) is figuring out that this guy pretending to be Nathan is someone else, and Cassius learns from Britt, that Joss is not just a ditzy sorority girl as he claimed, but a WSB agent! The moment stuns Cassius. Are the walls about to close in on him and his charade?

Courtesy/ABC
Daytime Emmy winner, Kelly Thiebaud spoke to Soap Opera Digest, about the story point and getting the opportunity this time back at GH to work with Ryan Paevey, when she hadn’t had the chance to before.
BROTHERLY LOVE?
Thiebaud expressed on sharing scenes with Ryan Paevey, “It’s just been so wonderful to have him back and to actually work with him! When he first came onto the show (as Nathan at the end of 2013) I was kind of heading out — it was right towards the end of my contract, so we didn’t actually work together a ton. It’s been really refreshing and so much fun to really spend time together and get to know each other and work together. I think we have really great on-camera chemistry and banter with each other. I really enjoy working with him.”
With the stakes at an all-time, Thiebaud explained how she views her on-screen alter-ego’s involvement with her more hot-to-temper sibling and why Britt revealed the truth about Josslyn to him. “People finding out about Cassius would expose what she’s involved in and what she agreed to do,” explains Kelly “And now Josslyn is digging around, and she’s connected to Carly (Laura Wright) to Jason (Steve Burton) and that whole dynamic! It’s messy!”
BRITT’S MURKY FUTURE
Britt has currently also reached her breaking point with Jason being carted away by the WSB, Rocco (Finn Carr), the child she gave birth to, shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) to protect her and Jason, Marco (Adrian Anchondo) being killed after trying to help her, and Cullum holding over her head getting her Huntington’s disease medication to control her symptoms, while blackmailing her into finishing the research on her father, Cesar Faison’s, final project. Thiebaud summed it up best for Britt right now, sharing, “It’s been a really tough time for her.”
So, who do you think will be the person to blow Cassius’ cover? Will it be Britt herself? Josslyn? Liesl? Brennan? Nina? Lulu? Rocco, Maxie, Cullum or someone else? Let us know your pick in the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Michael Reveals His Plan to Set Up Chase and Willow to Have an Affair
After the Wednesday, April 29 episode of General Hospital, it’s clear outside interference and other circumstances are set to blow Chase (Josh Swickard) and Brook Lynn’s (Amanda Setton) marriage sky high, as Michael (Rory Gibson) reveals his plans to entrap Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and use her relationship with Chase to do it!
In story, Michael dropped by unexpectedly to Carly’s (Laura Wright). A plotting Michael reveals his plan to nudge Willow and Chase into having an affair. Michael hopes it would create both a political and personal scandal, where Willow would lose her seat in congress. In the scenario, she would be having an affair with her ex-husband, while taking care of her supposed disabled husband, Drew (Cameron Mathison), who cannot speak and is confined to a wheelchair, which in turn will look horrible for Willow’s character.
Carly asked does he really want to destroy his cousin, Brook Lynn’s life in the process? Michael goes in on Chase’s holier than thou attitude, and says he is going to set-up the circumstances that would lead Chase and Willow to betray their spouses, and hit the sheets together. Michael swears to Carly what the two of them do is up to them, but he’s going to go on the offense with this.
MICHAEL HAS BACK-UP
Later, Jacinda (Paige Herschell) is talking with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) at Crimson and how much she dislikes Willow because of what she has done to Michael. Just then, Michael shows up and tells Jacinda privately, he’s figured out a way to fight Willow. Looks like Jacinda might work with Michael to bring down Willow and use Chase as the person to do it!
At the hospital, Lucas (Van Hansis) tells Josslyn (Eden McCoy) that Carly is cheating on Jack, but he doesn’t know with who. Josslyn suddenly flashes back to the moment she found her mother harboring a fugitive, Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), in her attic, and as figured out that her mother is sleeping with him. She heads out.

Courtesy/ABC
BRENNAN IS ABOUT TO LEARN ABOUT CARLY
Next thing you know, Josslyn has showed up inside Jack’s (Chris McKenna) hotel room at the Metro Court and when he enters his room, he is shocked to find her there. He lays into her for not keeping his distance and that Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) will have no problem killing her if he knows she’s WSB. Josslyn fires back that he is only concerned about that because his relationship with her mother depends on her being safe. But then, she lays the boom, and tells Jack, Well, you’re too late. You already lost her.”
LULU GETS A GLIMPSE OF CASSIUS’ TEMPER
In addition, Lulu (Alexa Havins) sees a different side of “Nathan.” Since she is unaware that the man before her is his twin, Cassius Fasion (Ryan Paevey), he tells her that Rocco (Finn Carr) blabbed that he shot Cullum to Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and now he thinks they should send him away to stop him from talking to everyone else. This concerns Lulu, who rails at Nathan for telling her what to do with her son and that she isn’t going to abandon him. With “Nathan’s” outburst at her on the matter, will she finally get a clue this is not the man she thinks it is?
So, what do you think of Michael’s plan to push Willow and Chase into an affair? Will it work or backfire? Do you think Joss will reveal that Valentin is the man sleeping with Carly to Brennan, which will send him in a rage? Will Lulu continue to be clueless about “Nathan?” Weigh-in via the comment section below. But first, take a look at the GH video tease for today’s April 30 episode.
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