General Hospital
Knots Landing Stars Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark On Oprah: Where Are They Now?

Courtesy/OWN
OWN’s series Oprah: Where Are They Now? tracks down the “Oprah” show guests who made you laugh. .. and made you cry with a glimpse inside the lives of the biggest newsmakers and most memorable celebrities of all time.
In an all-new episode airing this Sunday June 15th at 9:00PM ET/PT, it’s a Knots Landing reunion when the former cul-de-sac battling blondes of Donna Mills and Joan Van Ark appear together for a candid chat, plus segments with former soap heartthrob and Antonio Sabato, Jr., and another with Candy Spelling, the family matriarch famous for her 38-year marriage to legendary producer Aaron Spelling, and who recently made headlines for her public feuds with daughter Tori are a part of the broadcast.
On Oprah: Where Are They Now?, Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills (who plays Madeleine on General Hospital), reunite to reveal the truth about their enduring off-camera friendship with an inside look at how they live their lives today and in this clip after the jump they discuss their views on plastic surgery!
Will you be checking out Donna and Joan this weekend? Do you miss them as Abby and Val on KL? Let us know!
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Detective Fitzpatrick is on the Scene, Nina Has to Silence Jack, Josslyn Needs an Escape Route
This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital investigations, protection modes and conflict are the order of the day. In the just released ABC promo for the soap opera entitled “Held Captive,” first Lulu (Alexa Havins) is preparing to flea the country with Rocco (Finn Carr) if necessary including having passports ready and their bags packed.
However, with Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) having full-knowledge of Rocco shooting Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) and his own desire and plan to keep his son safe right in Port Charles, he firmly tells Lulu,“You will make my son a fugitive over my dead body!”
Meanwhile, Josslyn (Eden McCoy) is trying to find a way out of captivity and as she moves her bed she finds a shocking message,“Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) was held captive here. I was taken on 10-31-25.” Suddenly, Josslyn is so panicked and determined. She tells herself she is going to get out of there. Next, we see her smashing a chair into someone’s face! Can she find a way out? Will Cassius (Ryan Paevey) be waiting for her to throw her back in?

Courtesy/ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL SPOILERS
Nina (Cynthia Watros) is getting all jittery again, as it appears she has gone back into Jack Brennan’s (Chris McKenna) hospital room and is ready to inject him with another secret dose of the medication to keep him in a paralytic state, after she accidentally jabbed him during his brawl with Valentin (James Patrick Stuart). As viewers know, that dose of the drug meant to keep Drew in a locked-in state. However, now Jack starts to move!
In addition, General Hospital welcomes Jonathan Bennett to the cast as PCPD Detective Joe Fitzpatrick, and in key moment he is seen at the police station. As to just what Joe will be up to? Well, in an additional newly released clip featuring Bennett in his debut episode on Monday, it’s clear that Detective Fitzpatrick is looking into Curtis (Donnell Turner) and Isaiah’s (Sawandi Wilson) altercation at the Metro Court Pool when he says, “What are the chances Ashford talks his way out of an arrest? Curtis Ashford seems to be a very powerful guy around here. The kind of guy that’s used to getting a way with stuff.”
Take a look below at the official GH spoilers for the week of May 18-22.
MONDAY, MAY 18
Police detective Joe Fitzpatrick is called to arrest one of Port Charles’s own. Laura delivers an update about Anna. Joss makes a grim discovery. Jordan presses Justine about Sonny. Emma opens up to Felicia.
TUESDAY, MAY 19
Valentin pitches a new plan. Gio supports Emma. Rocco is frustrated. Dante sets Joe straight. Curtis briefs Jordan.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20
Alexis seeks assistance from Ava. Ethan makes a promise to Lulu. Britt makes a big decision. Valentin and Carly clash. Nina gets a shock.
THURSDAY, MAY 21
Alexis wants answers. Ethan pays a visit to Tracy. Dante summons “Nathan.” Britt has new reason to worry. Lulu prepares to make her move.
FRIDAY, MAY 22
Sonny and Ric compare notes. Willow delivers good news. Britt shares intel. Laura’s reaction surprises Lulu. “Nathan” makes a plea.
Check out the latest General Hospital promo and a preview clip of Jonathan Bennett’s first episode as Joe Fitzpatrick below.
Now weigh-in: Since Josslyn will knows Anna was also held captive by Sidwell and company, how will she make her escape plan? Do you think Lulu and Rocco will go on the run? Will Jack come to and the jig will be up for Nina, or will the two reach some deal to keep him quiet from tattling on her? And, are you enthusiastic about the debut of Jonathan Bennett? Let us know in the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Finn Carr and Dominic Zamprogna Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’
The on-screen father/son combo of General Hospital’s Dante and Rocco Falconeri as portrayed by Dominic Zamprogna and Finn Carr were part of high emotional stakes scenes on episodes airing May 11-15.
First, Finn Carr’s Rocco is so guilt-ridden and burdened with the secret that he shot WSB director, Ross Cullum that it’s eating him alive. So much so, that he gets into a heated argument with Charlotte (Bluesy Burke) and Danny (Asher Antonyzyn). Rocco feels so badly that Danny’s father was taken from him for parts unknown by the WSB, all because Jason refused to implicate Rocco as the shooter.
In a heartbreaking scene, Rocco shows up at Britt’s door and lets her know he can’t take it anymore and that the secret he is keeping is tearing him apart. The fear is palpable in Rocco’s eyes. Britt calls Rocco a hero for saving her life and Jason’s and he has to remember that. Britt hugs him and promises that he can come talk to her anytime. In that moment, Rocco felt seen and felt safe.

Courtesy/ABC
ROCCO ON THE EDGE
All of the beats mentioned above were played with depth and acting maturity by Finn Carr; that it is so very clear why the writers and the producers are so comfortable giving him the ball in this umbrella story. He steps up to the plate every time and hits it out of the park.
Rocco also overheard his parents fighting over him after Dante figured out that Rocco was responsible for the shooting, and confronted Lulu (Alexa Havins) for withholding the truth from him. As their argument escalated and their relationship was further threatened by the lies, Rocco listened to the whole thing from the outside porch.
Eventually Dante, who had learned the truth by having Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) help him piece together what happened the night Cullum was shot, has a heart to heart with his son. He asks Rocco to tell him in his own words the events that transpired, and promises Rocco, that even though he is the police commissioner, he is going to help him. Rocco goes step by step over how Cullum was about to strike Jason with a weighted-baton and how the gun was loose on the ground and he shot him. Dante says his actions saved Jason and Britt’s life, and that he is going to help his son from here on out. He just wished everyone had come to him sooner, because as the father it’s his job to protect his son, not the other way around.
DANTE COMES TO TERMS
Still later in the week, Dante is visited by Elizabeth, and they discuss how they are going to cover-up any evidence that Rocco was at the hospital the night of the shooting with a hand injury, and that Dante is going to make sure the evidence against Rocco disappears. Something that is a huge disconnect for anyone that knows what a fine and upstanding cop Dante has been through the years, but he is determined to help his son stay safe and to keep him close.
However, Cullum is on the hunt for said evidence, and thinks Danny may have shot him in the back (or does he … and he knows Rocco shot him?). He visits Dante’s office and wants the evidence in the shooting. Meanwhile, bets are we are a few story beats away from Danny learning Rocco shot Cullum.
Throughout all the material given to Finn Carr and Dominic Zamprogna they rose to the occasion. Finn, getting the opportunity to play the often uptight Rocco on the edge, and Dominic, showing us how he can make us feel what Dante is feeling just by watching the emotion and hurt in his eyes. Therefore, Michael Fairman TV names Finn Carr and Dominic Zamprogna our picks for the Power Performances of the Week.
Now below, let us know if you agree with our picks of Finn and Dominic as the standout performances of the week, and if so, what moment really tugged on your heartstrings featuring Rocco and/or Dante via the comment section.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reflects on His Time with TV Parents Stuart Damon and Leslie Charleson
Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) took some moments to share stories and remembrances of two of the all-time greats of General Hospital, who also happen to have played his television parents, the late Stuart Damon (ex-Alan Quartermaine) and Leslie Charleson (ex-Monica Quartermaine).
The moment came during the release of Sunday’s all-new episode of the That’s Awesome podcast with Steve and Bradford Anderson. The episode featured questions from fans of the actors; one of which was for Steve that asked, “What it was like working with Stuart and Leslie as your parents?”
The two-time Daytime Emmy winner, who is currently in the last part of his extended hiatus from the ABC soap, always talks fondly of Stuart and Leslie and often gets choked up doing so. Stuart Damon passed away back in June of 2021, while Leslie Charleson passed away more recently in January of 2025. Burton debut as a young teenaged Jason Quartermaine back in 1991, and as he tells it, without the influence and help of Stuart Damon, his GH career may not be where it is today.

Photo: JPI
STUART DAMON’S WORK ETHIC
“Stuart was super consistent in how he worked. Super structured. I learned a lot from Stuart about his work ethic, his discipline, showing up, treating people kindly, being grateful,” recalled Burton. “If that’s what you can learn from somebody … that’s amazing. It was just something special about being in the Quartermaines. We had something. It was a special family put together.”
As viewers know, just by watching the death of Monica Quartermaine episodes earlier this year, just how close in real-life Steve was to the late Leslie Charleson. “Leslie was a firecracker. You didn’t know what was going to happen or when it was going to happen,” shared Burton. “I always tell the story about how I would come in chewing gum. I was this little cocky teenager and she’d be like, ‘spit it out now!’ Leslie was such a nurturing person. She loved to help, and had amazing sense of humor. I couldn’t have had two better onscreen parents ever.”
GH did a complete about face with the character of Jason Quartermaine after his motorcycle crash on New Year’s Eve in 1995, and he became Jason Morgan, who is now one of the all-time most beloved characters in the history of the show. But as Burton explains it, it may not have happened if it wasn’t for Stuart Damon.
YOU GOT TO GIVE THIS KID A SHOT
“Stuart was the biggest cheerleader of mine. Not often does this happen where somebody would go up to the fifth floor to whoever’s the executive producer and he says, ‘You gotta give this kid a shot. Give him more, see what he can do.’ That was really nice of him,” acknowledged Steve. “So, if it wasn’t for Stewart … I always speak very highly of him because he was amazing, In real-life, Stuart was just a beautiful soul would give anything to anybody. I always give him credit and Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), because without the two of them there, I wouldn’t be where I am for sure.”
You can check out the entire episode of the latest edition of Steve and Bradford’s podcast below.
Now, let us know, do you think that Stuart Damon and Leslie Charleson as Alan and Monica were two of the greatest TV parents in the history of soap operas? What did you think of Steve’s remembrances? Drop your thoughts in the comment section.
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Knots Landing, Dallas, and Peyton Place were my top 3 primetime serials…i hate to sound harsh but some aging stars need to stay away from botox because in most cases the results are not very flattering…
It’s the lips.. they get too much in lips..
When their top lip does not move it is plumped..
ALL senior soaps stars have work, even some of the men..
I once worked for a plastic surgeon and I can spot work done from 10 paces lol ..
I still work in the field. IMO Joan’s case it’s not just lips.)she has had several extremely bad rhinoplasties, eye work, (the “starry eyed” look eyes and lifts are the most obvious) botox, juvederm, besides face lift. Donna has had some work done, but not as much ; she probably does botox, juvederm, had some eye work, perhaps brow lift and neck work but certainly not going overboard.
Women and men in general, young or old not necessarily celebrities either who are addicted to facial work don’t see themselves as we do – People’s individual features go away and their faces turn into a one size fits all rubbery looking mask.- Eventually eyes and lips all look the same. It’s so rampant that you might say it is a production line prototype for people to see what they will ultimately look like after having too much plastic surgery. You made a statement that all senior soap stars have work done. You should preface that as it’s just your opinion, because you don’t know that for a fact.
Why on earth do these beautiful women keep carving themselves up like this? And no, for all the haters, I am not being mean. I find it incredibly sad. And if I’d made such a mess of my face as Joan I sure would not be putting it in front of a camera again, no matter how much $$ someone waved in my face. Pathetic and sad to see this.
This is so true, jimh….I really don’t care what people do to themselves, it is their personal business, except when their face is plastered on an HD, bigscreen TV it does give the viewer a right to comment. Some celebs have had very successful tweaks that provide a more youthful appearance and that is fine….Donna Mills, for example…you can tell she has done some subtle work, but when the camera is close-up, she still looks like herself, albeit a bit older than her KL days….which is fine…she is lovely and vibrant, and I have immensely enjoyed her stint at GH. However, when someone completely overdoes the plastic surgery and injections to the extent that they look like they belong in a freak show, then it is almost impossible to enjoy their work….it affects the quality of the program and the acting…..like one current cast member of GH who shall remain nameless. I really wish they would just get her off my screen.
Joan Van Ark looks horrible in this clip. What in the world has happened to her face?
Her face did well, it is the lips..
the lips make one change appearance more than other work..
It takes a very good rare surgeon to do lips to look near natural..
I do so miss Donna Mills and Jone Van Ark. They are such good actresses. I hope that there can somehow be a reunion of Knots Landing.
Someone needs to produce a brand new Knots Landing with our favorites and some great new talent just like Dallas did. That’s a formula that works well.
Donna, I agree.
at the very least…
release the rest of Knots Landing…. i’d buy it
I understand they stopped after season 3
geez! in this day and age… to find quality material…. to watch
it’d be a Knots feast
Knots Landing was my only nighttime soap. Loved it. I will watch. I agree with jmh(leave it to beaver).I have never seen any of the beautiful actors who went this way, that are still beautiful. They actually look weird. What is so bad about getting old? there is only one alternative. Death. Sure we would all love to stay looking 25, but what they end up looking like is a lot different.
To Barbara in Atlanta and others who feel the need to publicly post comments criticizing appearance … does it occur that these are real live people with real feelings and who likely read what is written about them online? It is so unnecessary and unkind. Sure, they are public personalities and we may not feel that they look the way we think they should today, but is that any reason to only post some negative comment about someone’s appearance? Imagine how YOU would feel if you posted YOUR photo and all of us commented on what WE think of the way you look. You might think twice before posting “mean girl” comments next time. Just sayin …
I know…i feel bad for commenting about stars appearances myself…but i have…imo…a good reason for it…ive often been critcized for my appearances since early childhood…everyting from my clothes, looks ect.,…schoolmates were so horrible that a few said i wouldve been better off if i wasnt born…even a teacher had made harsh remarks…in recent years i tried to cover up a medical problem and my own relatives make jokes about it…this all started decades ago and it continues to this day even publically…so YES, i have the experience to know what it feels like…thats why i said i wish aging stars should stay away from botox because most results arent flattering and i know the harsh things people will say because iv experienced the same harshness for over 50 years!!!
I’m sorry you have experienced this. Hopefully your bad experience helps you, more than anyone, understand why commenting on other people’s appearance is neither kind nor helpful. All it does is hurt their feelings.
I absolutely loved Knots Landing the baby storyline on Valene’s twins should have won Joan Van Ark an emmy. The comment that JVA said about it being the norm is right Welcome to Hollywood and what is so funny is some of your best actors and actresses are just regular looking Joes. Can you say Jack Nicholson & Kathy Bates.
@jimh….In general, kids are brats, especially when grouped up in school. It’s universal, and they delight in bullying anyone who doesn’t fit the norm, whether good or bad in nature. I happened to be blessed with a stylish, glam mother who loved to dress me in the latest and most beautiful fashions from the time I was born, and this didn’t go down well with my classmates. They did everything in their power to torture me, and depending upon the year in question, some of the teachers were not much better…many thought their job description included being a social arbiter-they wanted nothing more than “cookie cutter kids” to make their work easier. Fortunately, those early life experiences made me stronger and more determined….I never let it bother me, probably because of wonderful parenting, but I’m just trying to say that being different and an individual is not always easy, but it makes life much more interesting and satisfying. As a matter of fact, the very things that made me a target in my early years made me extremely popular later on in college, yet because of those formative lessons, I was able to handle that end of the stick just as ably. What matters most is what you think of yourself because in the end you are the one who has to live with that person!!!!!!
Paul, you make a very good and appropriate point in your post.
Well put Paul…
Norman Bates mother had work done on her and she didn’t look good either. I was expecting Vera Miles to walk in and scream!
Donna Mills was fabulous as psycho socialite Madeline Reeves aka Magda Westbourne on ‘General Hospital’ earlier this year. Hope they can get her to come back again!
Donna should REALLY give Joan her plastic surgeon’s number!!
Loved KNOTS LANDING. Not sure I love measures taken here to look young. No shame in aging as we were intended. There is vitality and vibrancy from within. How about we embrace that as a culture?
I remember Donna’s performance in Play Misty for Me with Clint Eastwood. How time flies! Loved watching these two ladies on Knots. Maybe they can visit TNT’s version of Dallas.
Im hoping DM returns to GH for more guest appearances, especially in scenes with Dr.O…strange how so many villians get away with their crimes but not Madelyn…i still want flashbacks showing Silas and Nina before Ninas coma!!!
Seriously, they need to create a new Knots Landing. Call it, Knots Landing the Next Generation (or something like that). Have some of our KL favorites and bring on some great new talent just like they did on Dallas. I know I would be tuning in.