General Hospital
Richard Simmons Recalls His Time On General Hospital and Meeting Tony Geary, Genie Francis, Rick Springfield and More
Fitness Guru, Richard Simmons has been recently sharing many stories about his time in Hollywood and his career on his X account as he reflects on his life and prepares his biopic.
In a string of posts, containing moments from his time on General Hospital, and meeting many of who would be his co-stars in Port Charles, Simmons opened up about how he landed on the soap in its hey day.
Simmons began by explaining that after an appearing on an ABC local morning show with Regis Philbin, he got a call two days later about GH, and things took off from there.

Photo: JPI
Richard expressed, “I met with the most powerful woman in daytime television. Gloria Monty. I also met with the head writer Pat Falken Smith. These ladies were very smart. They told me their idea. I would teach exercise classes in a disco for all the ladies on the show.” He added, “A week before taping the show the studio asked me if I could drive over and do some promotional photos. In my car I brought with me six jogging suits….My make up…some towels and five pound weights. I still could not believe I was going to be on a soap. lol.”
When he got to GH’s studio, Simmons shared, “The first person that I met was Genie Francis (Laura). Her father was Ivor Francis an actor who had been on Broadway and many TV shows. Genie was so young and innocent looking. I clicked immediately with her.

Photo: ABC
“The second person I was introduced to was Anthony Geary (Luke),” recalled Richard. “Some people called him Tony. ..but I did not. He was an actor’s actor. Mr G had curly hair like me. When he was not acting he was sitting in his dressing room learning all of his lines. His door was always closed. One day when it was open. I asked if I could come in and sit and talk. This man won 8 daytime Emmys for playing Luke.”
“Now what can I say about Jane Elliot (Tracy)? She had an aristocratic face,” says Simmons. “One moment her character was very nice then she was the queen of mean. She allowed me to come into her room and chat while she was putting on makeup.”

Photo: JPI
Then, Richard recalled the late, great Stuart Damon (ex-Alan) and Jackie Zeman (ex-Bobbie). “I then met Prince Charming. Stuart Damon. He had been in a lot of TV shows and played Prince Charming on a special about Cinderella. Jackie Zeman was so cute. She had a pixie face.”
Simmons recalled when Rick Springfield joined the cast as Noah Drake, sharing, “While he was on the show his father passed away in Australia. I went to the news stand and bought him a bunch of magazines to read on the plane. How many times have you sung Jessie’s Girl and Don’t Talk to Strangers? When he came back from Australia he resumed his role.”

Courtesy/ABC
Noting his humble beginnings on GH running the aerobic classes at the Campus Disco, Richard recalled, “My first scene was in Luke’s Disco. All the nurses and other actresses were there dancing with me. I had never memorized lines before. So much was going on in my head. At the end of my scene, I heard the sound of heels clicking on the floor and everyone froze. It was Ms Monty and she was talking to me. ‘Richard the television is this big . You are talking like you are on a screen in a movie theater…bring your voice down.’ So I did.”
What do you think about the sentiments shared by Richard Simmons on his reflections on his time on General Hospital? Check out this OG GH scene with Richard leading the exercise class at the Campus Disco with some beloved Port Charles notables. Then, comment below.
My first GH memory from my childhood is Richard teaching at the Disco.
Remember his GH stint well. Much love to a beautiful soul.
I have read nothing about Richard Simmons re-joining the human race.Many articles over the years about him in seclusion and now here he is discussing GH, when and where did his return to society happen?
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan is Rocked at News of Delilah; Is Baby Phoebe His Child?
The return story of Ethan Lovett (Nathan Dean began to unpeel itself on all new episodes of General Hospital, when on Tuesday May 5, he is seen on the pier talking on his phone and clearly calling a woman named “Delilah,” and in what seems like concern for her, tells her on voicemail, “you need to show up.”
As viewers know, Delilah (played by Lily Cardone) was the pregnant woman that Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) found on the side of a road and managed to get her to the hospital. Once at GH, Delilah died, but her baby was born. Brook Lynn and Chase then went to efforts to become the little one’s foster parents, since no other family ties for the baby girl have been found.
Their happiness at finally having a child, may be very short-lived. First, Brook Lynn is a key suspect as the other driver that may have caused the accident that burned and put disfiguring lacerations on Jordan’s (Tanisha Harper) face. At that time, Brook Lynn had a bit of wine with Lucy (Lynn Herring), and had rushed out of the Quartermaine mansion to try to get to Gio’s (Giovanni Mazza) performance with Trina (Tabyana Ali) at the reopening of Charlie’s.

Courtesy/ABC
Fast forward to now. Ethan turns up at the Quartermaines and runs into Brook Lynn and Chase along with baby Phoebe. Brook Lynn introduces Ethan to her husband and then they explain they are foster parents to Phoebe.
Brook Lynn then tells Ethan, that sadly, Phoebe’s mother had died, and all they knew about her was her name: Delilah Wilson. As soon as Brook Lynn mentions Delilah’s name, it’s clear Ethan is stunned, although he tries not to let on anything to Brook Lynn and Chase. Previously, Brook Lynn told Chase that it was recommended to her that they try to search on their own for Phoebe’s family. Well, is this her dad starring her in the face?
All this begging the questions: What is Ethan’s relationship to the deceased Delilah? Were they working on some kind of con together? Were they in love? Is Ethan the biological baby-daddy to Phoebe, which would really throw a wrench into Brook Lynn and Chase’s dreams of starting their own family? And, will all of this dovetail into Michael’s plan to get Chase and Willow to hit the sheets? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Brennan’s Eyes Are Opened About Carly and Valentin, Josslyn Finds Herself Locked Up Like Anna
In a pivotal episode of General Hospital, Monday, May 4 finally blew the lid off of Brennan/Carly/Valentin and showed off Josslyn’s super spy prowess, and Cassius dark side all in one fell swoop!
Here’s what went down: Brennan (Chris McKenna) went ballistic after catching Carly (Laura Wright) after hitting the sheets, only he didn’t know (yet) with whom. The Port Charles WSB Bureau Chief goes in on Carly wanting to know who is it that she is sleeping with. After his angry demand, Carly tells Jack to “turn around.” Thus, revealing Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) as the other man, who is holding a gun pointed straight at Jack.
Initially, Jack thinks Valentin played Carly due to their vendetta, but au contraire! Jack gets an earful about how Carly flew to Steinmauer posing as his attorney. When Jack tried to understand why Carly would betray him in such a way, Carly spelled it out for him.

Coutesy/ABC
Next, Carly let Jack have it for his lies and duplicity about her daughter, Josslyn (Eden McCoy). She knows that Jack recruited Josslyn into the WSB, preying on her grief over Dex’s death to get her to murder Cyrus Renault. Carly adds, you tuned my daughter, “into a lying, murdering spy, like you!” In tears, Carly told Jack that Josslyn will never be the same, because of what he did to her.
SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY AND LIVING TO TELL ABOUT IT
Jack realized, Carly was the one behind getting Valentin’s transfer from Steinmauser. Now on the attack, Jack told Carly she will wind up in prison for aiding and abetting a fugitive. He tells her that Valentin will grab his daughter, Charlotte and disappear, and when that happens he won’t lift a finger to save her, in fact, (he throws in for good measure) that she might get lucky and thrown into a pit with Jason.

Valentin told Jack that if he didn’t help them, he will turn him over to Cullum, who he knows is a double agent and would like nothing better than to make Jack the fall guy for all of his own crimes. Jack apologized to Carly for lying to her, said he still loves her, but that he wonders how long it will be before Valentin betrays her too.
After the scenes aired, Chris McKenna took to X and shared, “And after we finished the last scene I ran over to Laura Wright and hugged her, and then pulled in James Patrick Stuart too. Thrilled to have that material with those legends. Hope you dig it.”

Courtesy/ABC
JOSSLYN LANDS IN A SLEEPER HOLD
In addition, Josslyn and Cassius (Ryan Paevey) had literally, a knock down drag out fight. First, after Cassius grabbed her arm as she was set to leave her apartment, he told her he knew she was WSB! Joss suggested that “Nathan” must be traumatized from years of being presumed dead. She grabs a candlestick and the two go at it complete with kicks, shoves, throws and all; leading to Cassius putting Joss in a version of the sleeper hold and making her pass out.
Later, Cassius calls for Sidwell (Carlo Rota), but speaks to Pascal (Marc Forget), that there is an issue that needs to be dealt with. At the end of the episode, Josslyn wakes up in the same room that Anna was driven crazy in which must be somewhere at Wyndemere, Cassius is seen looking through the one-sided window and we fade to black.
So, what did you think of the Carly and Valentin reveal to Brennan? Did Carly come out the victor in her payback to Brennan? Then, who do you think will figure out Josslyn is kidnapped? Will it be Brennan? Will he help her or use it as leverage against Valentin and Carly? Share your theories in the comment section.
General Hospital
How ‘General Hospital’s’ Ned and Lois Love Story Moved Rosabel Kurth, Daughter of Wally Kurth and Rena Sofer, to Tears and Served as Inspiration
In a case of life imitating art, literally, Rosabel Rosalind Kurth, the daughter of Wally Kurth (Ned, GH and Justin, DAYS) and Rena Sofer (Lois, GH) took to her Instagram over the weekend to share her emotional reaction to watching her now divorced parents real life love story play out on General Hospital; beginning in the early 90s when on-screen Ned and Lois were one of the “It’ couples of the show.
As Rosalind explained, it was the Lois and Ned’s love story that impacted her so much that it fueled one of her latest art projects. Here’s the backstory: Rena Sofer and Wally Kurth were married in 1995 after being in story on GH. They had Rosabel in 1996, before divorcing in 1997. The two had gone their separate ways for many years, and in 2023 resumed working together on-screen as exes Lois Cerullo and Ned Quartermaine on General Hospital.
Here’s what Rosabel shared in her post, “In 1993 Rena, my mom, was cast on General Hospital to play Lois Cerulo, a spunky band manager and romantic opposite to Eddie Maine (aka Ned Ashton) played by Wally, my dad. As Ned and Lois fell in love, so did Wally and Rena, following relationship milestones close behind the work of the script-writers. Until Wally and Rena got pregnant with Rosie, me, and the scriptwriters had to write in a new pregnancy and eventually a new character.”

Photo: WKurthIG
Rosabel continued the real-life back story, “My mom left the show to have me, and shortly after the love story stopped writing itself my parents divorced. For 27 years my mom and my dad had minimal contact at best, tense contact at worst… until 2023 when Rena was recast to return as Lois on General Hospital to help Eddie (Ned) with identity recall after a bout of amnesia.”
Next, Rosabel revealed the key scene between Lois and Eddie (Ned) in which she noticed it also seemed like a breakthrough moments for her parents, “Two years ago, at 27 years old, I turned on General Hospital to watch Lois and Eddie rehash the past, but what I really watched was Rena and Wally having a conversation, making eye contact and even smiling at each other in the same room at the same time. When I turned on this episode of GH I didn’t know that I’d get to see a flashback sequence encapsulating Lois and Ned’s entire love story in under 2 minutes and I certainly didn’t know it would move me to tears the way it did.”
The art project the talented Rosabel is working on she shared is called, “The Honeymoon Period.” It is the first part of what she imagines to be a years-long investigation of love and fantasy through the lens of my parents’ scripted romance. Kurth added, “I’m still gathering the courage and figuring out what this body of work will look like, how it will affect my relationships, and how I will share it with you all in the end and in the meantime.”

Photo: JPI
As a proud mama, Rena Sofer jumped into the comment thread and expressed, “Awwwww my love!!! I love this journey for you both as an artist and a daughter!! You are so lucky to have all of this on tape to watch and experience for yourself!! And equally as lucky to have your mother and father here to guide you through any questions that may come up!! I am immensely proud of you!” As soap fans know, Rena is also an artist having been making ceramics, pottery and the like.
You can watch the montage of Ned and Lois scenes below in Rosabel’s touching post below.
Now let us know, was Lois and Ned’s love story one of your all-time favorites on General Hospital? Are you glad that Rena and Wally got some closure from their 2023 reunion on-screen? What do you think of the artistic talents of Rosabel Rosalind? Let us know via the comment section below.
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