General Hospital
Rebecca Budig Exits General Hospital! But Since Hayden Holds A Big Secret Will She Return?

Photo Credit: Matt Petit/ABC
This week on General Hospital, viewers saw that conniving Hayden (Rebecca Budig) took a bullet to the head, thanks to Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher)!
With the knowledge of Jake’s (Billy Miller) true identity to be Jason Morgan and what that could mean for him and his wife Sam (Kelly Monaco), that bullet put Hayden into a coma after Patrick (Jason Thompson) tried his best to save her during delicate brain surgery! And that, put’s an end to the short term run of Rebecca Budig on General Hospital!
But since Hayden holds a vital secret and if she were to wake-up she could completely wreck Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) and Nikolas’ plans, (since they are in collusion now keeping Sam and Jake from knowing who he truly is) we wouldn’t be surprised if she wakes up just when the time is right!
In this week’s Soap Opera Digest on newsstands now, Budig reveals if she would also be very interested in a return to Port Charles. Rebecca answered, “Yeah, totally! I feel like there is more to learn about Hayden and I would love to figure out who she is, where’s she’s coming from, what her whole back-story is.”
So, what do you think about the departure of Rebecca Budig for now? Would you like Hayden to wake up and become a more permanent fixture on the GH canvas? What do you think about Nikolas ordering the hit on Hayden to keep his lover and blackmailer silenced? Comment below!
Sad…love Rebecca!!
never like her
I always liked her acting. Would love to see her stay and become a good person.
bring haden back!she brings real drama to gh…she is a great actress!
I agree! She has quickly become one of my favorite characters on GH. Would rather keep her and lose Elizabeth and Nicholas.
nik has went to his dark side.haden brings the wild out of nick.she tells him.thats what ratings are made of…
Bring Rebecca Budig back to GH! She is a great addition to the cast. We want her to stay in Port Charles.
l love Rebecca find a way to keep her. Not liking Nicks dark side though. Always glad he was the one good Cassadine.
Hayden needs to return permanently. I just love Rebecca Budig and I loved her on AMC as Greenlee.
I agree. Rebecca is fabulous. Frank should give her a long term contact,
Ah, AMC….my heart hurts, I miss that soap so much!!!!
Greenlee/Rebecca first appeared as the real quintessential bad girl, just like Hayden. Greenlee was finally reformed due to the love of her life Leo, who later died.
I truly hope Hayden comes back to GH for redemption. Let’s give her Patrick…well, he did save her life. They fall in love while Sam and Jake find each other.
Hayden is in a coma….Rebecca will leave temporarily. When Hayden wakes up, Rebecca will return, for sure. She is too much of an asset to lose….love her.
Totally agree!!! Yes!!!! Bring her back!! Give her a real story on her own! Tell her backstory and let her become a part of PC!! Please!! Please!!
I would love to see her back again & bc more involved with people like Carly. Also hope Jason finds out who he is before May ends. Needs to be with Sam & Danny & Liz & Nick need to be exposed!
Agree!!!!
YES YES BRING HER BACK
LOVE Rebecca and her being in GH brings so much to the canvas
Hayden’s a little spitfire. I’m hoping her coma will bring some of her relatives from Beecher’s Corners out of the woodwork, and turn Elizabeth & Nik’s lives upside down. It would be hilarious, after all of her subterfuge, for Liz to ruin yet another chance w/Jason because of all her lies & plotting w/Nik. She’ll be skulking around with a worried look on her face for as long as Hayden’s in that coma instead of enjoying her time w/Jason. Also, it’s never a bad thing to watch Carly be proven wrong. If Hayden reveals that Jake is Jason, Carly will probably become her BFF because she’ll get her best friend back. Frankly, I think a Hayden-Carly duo would be hilarious, especially opposite Ric & Nina Lansing.
That really was a short term stay, hopefully she will be back and they can delve more into her as a person and her backstory. I just wish they would hurry up with the reveal that Jake is Jason. This has carried on far too long getting close to a year since Billy Miller joined the show, it is long past time for it to come out that he is Jason
Not quite… He debuted on October 1st… but he was in bandages for what, a month? So it’s more like November.
That is still over 6 months closer to 7 since when he had the bandages the viewers already knew he was Jason. It still has dragged on for far too long and its time for the reveal to come out.
I thought she fit in pretty seamlessly.
I suspect the coma clears up during fall sweeps.
Please consider bringing her back….R.B. is an amazing actress,I think she proved that coming to GH….I loved her when she was on AMC also….please find a way to bring her back and keep her!
I would like to see Hayden stay long term. She seemed to fit in well with the cast and storyline. And she’s a great actress. Would bring some of AMC fans to GH.
Well he lost a piece of bootie but,the takeover of ELQ is more important to Nik! That’s the only reason why he’s keeping the secret!
Wait! Hold up! Did I miss something???? Nikolas ordered the hit? I know I missed a couple of days due to illness, but I watched & THOUGHT I caught up! Guess not. Thought Shawn actually shot Hayden. Guess he missed, huh? Then, they’ll be able to confirm Shawn’s innocent. I know Sean is leaving the show, but isn’t his character, Shawn, being written off & going to prison for Hayden’s attempted murder??
It was revealed at the very end of the second live show, just before the Spencer Cassadine Dance Party. I too am sad to see Rebecca go. I don’t suppose there’s any way we can keep her and lose nuKiki, is there? 😉
Shawn DID shoot Haayden. Nicholas’ hit man told Nic that someone got there before him.
Jordan is the one who caused Shawn to miss his target and hit Hayden rather than Jakson.
Not sure why the author didn’t mention these vital facts!
Not quite. The hitman specifically said that he did the job. But Shawn Butler was the perfect patsy to take the fall, didn’t he? Or am i missing something.
Hmmmm, I don’t know. Nik’s hitman specifically said that Shawn thought he missed Jake and accidentally hit Hayden because of Jordan. It went so in favor of Nik’s minion. Stroke of luck? Shawn probably did fire, but the bullet went wild/astray and is most likely embedded somewhere. Sounds confusing, but it seems pretty clear. Then again, the writers will fix it any way they want it fixed. Things could change at their whim….
I did mention earlier that there should be an investigation…too easy? Yeah, the so-apt police department will figure out the trajectory of the bullet in maybe…… uhmm, two years?
No, SZima. Nik’s evil-doer had no idea Shawn would be there. That’s what he was referring to. The hitman said he shot Hayden. Shawn THINKS he shot her.
As I said, an investigation will prove all this…if there is one……if I were there? Every piece of the puzzle would be in its place. I think I’m in the wrong profession……LOL and triple LOL.
I want her to tell all and bust Elizabeth out ……
I know, Samantha. What really disturbs me is that Jake is missing so much precious time with his son. A shame, really. These are a boy’s formative years, and Danny deserves to know his father. Sooo, C’mon, writers.
By the way, Samantha? I’m sure you are aware that Fournier literally means ‘oven keeper’, or ‘tender’. Later, it was Baker or Boulanger. Don’t mind me…..name-derivation fascinates me, especially Italian, French, English and Castilian Spanish.
@ Timmm.
Hi,
Hmmmm….pick whom? Impossible for me. I love them both. So, if they should come back, I hope it would not come to that, Timmm. No cat fights over Nik…not worth it. The Prince has put a few dents in his crown. Please do not let there be a Britt versus Hayden scene of any kind…LOL.
good bye!
Well truth be told, I am finding that like Britt Westbourne, I hated her at first and am now warming to her….but there are many other characters who need some focus and airtime.
Yeah, I kinda wish Britt would have visited with Nicholas. It was fun to see her back and I never thought I’d say that!
Brit-vs-Hayden!
I hope they bring Rebecca Budig back as I would love to see more of her character Hayden.
Think it would be great. Always loved her.Great actress.
please ler her wake up SOO N,
I love little (Peanut) her nick name that Cameron (“Ryan”) gave her on All My Children, but yeah, I think Rebecca is a great actress and could be an asset to General Hospital. She plays a bad girl well, but she also plays a good girl well too.
I would absolutely love love love for Rebecca budig to stay!! I really hope she returns love Hayden’s character !!
I’d like to see her wake up and totally blow Liz and Nikolas out of the water! In just a short amount of time GH made Hayden a more compelling character than they have yet with Nina.
Amen Jenny!
Yes I would! Was this just choice to leave. She never got a back story
I get so really tired of Elizabeths always lying. Why cant she be straight up for once and then she might have a chance in a relationship. But, oh no, knowing hes Jason, married to Sam and a father to a baby he doesnt know, she takes him to bed. Of course, she will lose again!
Wake up, Hayden!!!! Wake UP!!! Then go kick Nikolas’ butt all over that island.
i like that gh is cleaning house. Can we unload kiki next? Her character is such a wast of time. Also, i love roger howarth and michelle stafford as actors but what is their purpose on gh? The cast needs to shrink.
Ces, you’re reading my mind. I love Roger and Michelle too but they are not getting the storyline their talents deserve. And maybe it’s because I’m such a huge Kristen Alderson fan, but I can’t stand nuKiki.
Wow, do I ever agree about Kiki! Right now the most annoying and unnecessary character on the show!
I also agree about RH and MS…love them but they’re totally NOT needed.
Sad that it was only a short term gig.
I thought they put her on contract.
I’m hoping she has a short term project she was previously committed to ( like a Lifetime movie) and will return to GH after to wreak more havoc!
Excellent actress. Terrible storyline. I feel bad for her, but I’m glad she is gone.
I hope Rebecca Budig comes back! She was one of the biggest shining talents during the #GHLive shows and adds intrigue and humor, coupled with drama and great timing to Hayden.
She can come back but ONLY if she lets loose with that secret before she leaves. I’m way tired of waiting for this thing to come out! Good News/Bad News: Good – Jason Morgan Recast. Bad – He doesn’t find out for 2 years who he really is. RESULT – Nobody tuned in to see it happen.
Lol, Billy Miller has been on th show about six months. Soaps used to keep secrets like paternities and infidelities for years.
I would definitely welcome Rebecca Budig back to GH. Any character that doesn’t like Elizabeth and puts her in her place,is a character I want in Port Charles. Plus Hayden was actually an interesting new character, unlike say Kiki.
I would like to see her back but not to upset the apple cart.
YES BRING REBECCA BUDIG BACK!!!!! Let her tell the truth and keep her on GH! She is a brilliant actress and would bring so much to the show. Please please keep her on GH!!!!! I will be so disappointed if this is it for her. GH writers need to get a grip on their stories and stop bouncing all over the place with loose ends everywhere. Can we please tell Jake the truth once and for all and can Elizabeth just get her own man for a change. Frustrated!!
YES, I want her to stay on GH. I loved her as Greenlee and I feel she could be an awesome character as Hayden. Give her a chance. She wasn’t on long enough to show what she can do. Really disappointed that she is leaving so soon.
I have enjoyed seeing Rebecca Budig back on screen. I don’t totally like her character, but I will miss seeing her on GH.
well,,
Hayden (Rebecca Budig) is recurring..
And-
FV and RC know the great acting talents of Rebecca, they will not let her go..
I will be looking forward to her return, she is a spit fire, very spicey, an awesome type of a soap character..
Maybe putting her in a coma was a way for Frank to measure her popularity and decide if they should put her on contract?
Hi Timmm..
that could be..
I believe Rebeca will have a great future on GH..
She fits in very will..
GH and Rebeca= great match ..
I love Hayden, i hope Rebecca decides to come back, and i’m glad the character wasn’t killed off, i knew she only came in short term but i hope GH’s RC/FV ask her to come on board and stay longer, she was so good, so keeping my fingers cross. As for Nikolas, oh boy, i’m not sure how to feel about this, I think if prince nik is taking a shot at the dark side then he for sure needs his mom Laura, so i’m so glad Genie Francis is coming back, hope her return is for more then just Luke goodbye..
I hope the writers keep Rebecca on the show. I would love to see her and Carly go after Elizabeth and Nicholas for keeping Jason from her (Carly)….. GH need another spicy woman with a backbone like Carly,
Let her stay around and cause trouble for Nicholas and Elizabeth. Find a man for her, better yet put her with Rick Lansing to make Elizabeth sooooo unhappy!!!!!!
Not surprised, they wrote her character into a corner and the character had no real ties to Port Charles. It’s unfortunate that GH hires all these big names from daytime and prime soaps, only to use them for short stints at a time. For me one of the joys of daytime is having the chance to get to know a character, to see them evolve over time, but when they come in and out of the canvas so fast, I can’t really empathized or care about them. Hayden taking a bullet meant nothing to me, because she meant nothing to me. Her existence was another example where instead of the plot revealing something about the character, the character was only there to further the plot.
Yes, Mary SF, I hear you, and agree. As much as DAYS is not well balanced storyline wise, the fact that their contract players are all on mostly on a regular basis, I care so much more for the characters on DAYS compared to GH. GH has so many recurring characters, like that of Rosalie (who I love), but like you say, it’s hard to empathize and care about the recurring characters on GH, the cast is so large, and now that Monica is no where to be seen, or Kevin, or Brad/Felix/Lucas, I don’t care as much about them, and it’s a crying shame. I like Hayden, and hope she returns, and hopefully as the cast is now trimming down, hopefully the EP will look into reducing the short stints.
Yes that would be very interested. And ut needs to be real soon.
I would really like her to stay. Loved her in all my children awesome actress
Are TPTB out of their minds???? Rebecca Budig has brought sexiness, sassiness, and humor to this role like only she could. I freaking adore Hayden, and i’m crushed that she’s not on contract. Who do I contact to bring her back to the show? Make her a long-loss Quartermaine. Now that Tony is leaving, Jane Elliot needs a storyline. Make Hayden her daughter, or Carly’s adoptive father’s daughter. Make her pregnant with Nicholas’s child. For heavens sake, BRING HER BACK!
I would LOVE for Rebecca Buddig to wake up at the right time to spill the beans AND to find out she is preggers with Prince Nik’ s baby! She has the strength to manage Nik and his crazy grandmother. What great potential stories could be had with Rebecca as a matriarch in the making! Oh my, if only…
AMEN! LOVE THAT IDEA! A QUARTERMAINE SHE MUST BE! AND PREGNANT WITH NIC’S CHILD! I LIKE BOTH IDEAS!
REBECCA HAS TO STAY
Hayden as a Q, excellent Jayson.
I would love to see Hayden return. She was a good character and she brought a good energy to the show.
I hope she wakes up and explores the character . Rebecca Is an amazing actress. Look what she did with Greenlee on AMC. I think that was a character short term until she created an amazing love to hate. I think Hayden is what PC needs.
I was hoping she would have short-term amnesia… at least with the JakeDoe reveal
I haven’t been this gobsmacked with such a natural… in a very long time…
I was hoping Britt was returning to help stir up the pot… w/Nikolas
and MS’ Nina sure could use a friend… COUSIN to carry story with
Britta intertwined with Nikolas and Hayden
Britta mixing with cousin Nina, Franco, Ric, Dr. O., Nathan, Brad, Liz, Spence… she’s endless in her presence with all of GH
ie: Nikolas… where does he go from here? with Britta and Hayden gone
and… for him to see Liz wanting “desperately” to move on with “Jake” certainly is a slap in the face / realization…. that Liz is NOT interested in Nikolas
hopefully, the writers will continue to gung ho… NIkolas , no holds barred…. surge for power… and all the excitement he is generating
Rebecca Buddig, : surprise, surprise
There is a lot of potential for this character. She brings energy and excitement to the canvas. Bring her back.
I’ll be glad to see Hayden gone….I couldn’t warm up to this character, whatsoever. I only wish that that more unnecessary roles were dispensed with as quickly….like Nina, Sappy, Felix, Jordan, Kiki and Val-Chops. There’s something to be said for such expediency when there is no valid long-term reason for a character, and having one hang around simply for the sake of being there is not only foolish, but a waste of time and space better utilized by old favorites. And speaking of, will someone please get Britt back on a more regular basis? I know KT left to seek other work, but her brief return was a true breath of fresh air, and she is badly needed is on the GH canvas. No other female has captured the spark, humor and villainy of that sexy minx, Dr. Westbourne!!!!
I’m very disappointed. I really want Rebecca to stay. She is a terrific actress. Bring her back! With so many leaving, this is just what we need now!
Yes I want Hayden to stay,,she is a great actress an she plays mean good ,but then in the long run kid want to see the good side of her
I love Rebecca Budig. She was my fav on AMC. Would ore than love for her to stay. Exellent actress. Nik is unreal. He better have a reason behind is evil doings. Let saving or protecting somebody.
If that stupid lawsuit between ABC and Prospect Park ever gets resolved, maybe ABC can get back the AMC and OLTL rights and bring her back, and say she’s been Greenlee all along, posing as Hayden.
Yes keep her on to blow Elizabeth up
Bring Hayden back
GH is crazy. They need to bring Rebecca Budig back any get rid of Valerie, Kiki, Julian, Ava, Nina…the list goes on.
You said a mouth full
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.
-

General Hospital1 week ago‘General Hospital’s’ Maurice Benard Talks: New ‘Sonny’ Storyline, His Contract, and Three Characters He Would Want to See Back in Port Charles
-

Days Of Our Lives1 week agoHow John Oliver’s ‘Days of Our Lives’ Guest Star Turn as ‘Devlin St. John’ Came to an End
-

Breaking News6 days agoJohn Oliver Recaps His ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘General Hospital’ Soap Opera Experience on ‘Last Week Tonight’
-

Days Of Our Lives5 days ago‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
-

General Hospital5 days ago‘General Hospital’ Alum Bryan Craig Cast in ‘The Weapon’
-

Breaking News1 week agoHayden Panettiere, ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘Nashville’ Alum, Dead at 36
-

Recaps1 week agoTHE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS: Sharon, Nick and Marie Struggle in Aftermath of a Relapse; Jade Harlow Shares She’s ‘Really Proud’ and ‘Grateful’ to ‘Show How Addiction Can Touch Anyone’ (Exclusive)
-

News1 week agoB&B’s Don Diamont Recalls His Soap Start on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and Confrontation with Exec Prod Al Rabin (Exclusive ‘Soapy’ Preview)















