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THE HEATHER TOM AND JACK WAGNER INTERVIEW- THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

By Michael Fairman

Published

17 years ago

on

heatherJackMain.jpg

-Breaking Up Is Hard To Do-

This week on The Bold and the Beautiful, Katie makes a decision about the future of her strained relationship with Nick, and it looks like it’s the beginning of the end for this duo, which over the past year has endured so much tragedy and little triumph.

Two of soaps most recognizable and respected performers, Heather Tom and Jack Wagner, brought viewers some dynamic moments as Katie and Nick, including Katie’s heart transplant and the aftermath. In fact, it was Brad Bell who chose the special episodes of Storm’s suicide and Katie’s receiving the gift of life as his choice for Outstanding Drama Series for Daytime Emmy competition. His decision paid off with a nomination.

TV SOAP sat down inside Heather Tom’s exquisitely decorated dressing room (Yes, she is an interior design consultant in her spare time) with her and her co-star, Jack Wagner, for this moving and bittersweet interview, as two top notch talents reflect on their work and the realization that they won’t be working so close anymore….or will they?

Here’s Heather and Jack!

TV SOAP:

First off, congratulations to “B&B” for getting a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, and it’s for the Storm suicide/Katie heart transplant episodes that you two were a part of! What did you think of those shows?

transplant.jpgHEATHER:

I thought those were really amazing shows, and we took the time with it. I think Cindy Popp, who directed them did a beautiful job. Everything came together, the writing, the music and the lighting, made it a great show. I think we have a great shot this year. I think they were really emotional shows, too. Even if you don’t watch our show, they were interesting and you could get into them.

TV SOAP:

If we go back to the beginning of what drew Katie and Nick together, Jack, why do you feel Nick was so supportive of her in the first place?

JACK:

All relationships that have chemistry are about two people who don’t like each other and that’s how we started out. Our characters were a little bit at odds with each other, and because of a tragedy…in this case, a heart transplant… it drew them together. That’s where the magic started, and Nick was in a heroic position to be there for a woman who was really empty.

TV SOAP:

Then, didn’t Nick take Katie away to an Island, and isn’t that where you ‘made love’?

HEATHER:

Unbeknownst to any of us… (She laughs)

JACK:

That never happened on-screen!

sexonbeach.jpgHEATHER:

We did some flashback stuff, and honestly we had no idea. I was not playing in those scenes that we had sex, just the complete opposite of that! Then all of a sudden, Brad Bell (executive producer and head writer, “B&B”) called me one day and said, “By the way, remember when you guys went to the islands?” And I go, “Well that kind of changes everything I have been playing for the last few
months!”

JACK:

It kind of goes to show as actors, that this was “off-camera sex”. I remember Heather and I going, “What are we going to do here?” And we kind of tracked in our minds, will it work or not? And it did work. We could have been ultimately covering the fact that they had been intimate. So, that is what worked and was justifiable, but it was backwards how it happened, so we shot it out of sequence.

TV SOAP:

On “B&B” it’s known that story direction can change quickly on a dime. How did you adjust your performances?

katejacksheets.jpgHEATHER:

I am not sure it would have made any difference on how I played it, because I wouldn’t have wanted to tip my hand, no matter what. As an actor, I do give myself secrets even if they don’t have anything to do with anything, but that would have been a fun secret to have. Even though I would not have wanted to play that for the audience, I think that pretty much changed how the audience perceived it. As an actor, I would have been playing more subtext, and on this show you have to be open to all of the twists and turns. It can always go off in some new direction.

TV SOAP:

When we last spoke, Jack, you referred to Nick as “The Seed Man” because he was sleeping with and/or impregnating almost every woman on the show.

JACK:

I just show up at work and say, “Hi, will you marry me?

HEATHER:

And apparently he is very fertile!

TV SOAP:

The relationship is taking a turn now, and we are seeing the dissolution of the Katie and Jack pairing. Heather, in your words, why has Katie been acting so insecure?

breakup.jpgHEATHER:

I think Katie feels residual guilt. She did this thing to her best friend that was awful. While she loves Nick and she wants him, I think she feels its stolen goods and it’s a little tainted. He is back at work and he is working with Bridget, and she knows he still has feelings for her. I think anyone would be insecure in that situation.

JACK:

I agree with Heather. Where people agree they have crossed that boundary, and they go through the initial rush of passion these two went through, all of a sudden you are left with a dose of reality and its kind of an understanding. We did not get to play out a whole lot of drama here, and to answer that other question to make a quick turn like that, (which I think Heather is great at) is a real challenge as an actor. That’s why it’s a play a day. You can’t get ahead of yourself in this medium, and that’s the challenge

TV SOAP:

Now that “Breaking up Is Hard to Do”, do you hope these two will remain connected, or do you think they will fall by the wayside like other soap couples who pretend their past never existed?

HEATHER:

I am hopeful they can maintain some of their history, and not throw it under the bus, and try and forget that it ever happened. There were a lot of good things that came out of it.

JACK:

It’s about the commitment of the writing. Once I started working with Heather we could do anything we want. We can be funny…we can cry together….

HEATHER:

And I felt that, too.

prom.jpgJACK:

We connected as actors. We have never really talked about it, but we did not over- rehearse. We knew our lines. The beauty of working with Heather is that it is so rich and she has a gift, and it’s so unexpected. That is what is so great about working with a talented actor. It just is there, and she has it all…. comedy, drama, and passion.

HEATHER:

Also, it was easy to do with an actor you really trust. I think that was there with Jack from the start. We had mutual respect and trust, for sure. I was really excited to be working with Jack. I felt an immediate camaraderie. You have to trust that the actor you work with is going to throw the ball back at you. I never for a moment doubted that we could play
with each other and throw each other
curveballs.

JACK:

I think they will go back to this sometime in the future. Brad has a tendency to write that, but again, you never know.

TV SOAP:

What worked in the storyline?

HEATHER:

I have to say; when I read it I was hesitant about it. But, I thought the prom worked, and was really pretty. I liked a lot of our earlier material when there was a lot of nice banter and throwing the darts. Up until the “sex on the beach” thing, I thought it was going in a nice direction. We will see what happens for them in the future.

JACK:

Hers was an underlying defiance, and my character is defiant. So, when two defiant characters butt heads, which they did, and for the time he was asking her with tears in his eyes on the beach, “Please take the pills. I can’t stand to see you in pain,” out of that came their lovemaking where they finally surrendered to each other. I think that is what worked, and they challenged each other. It was fun to watch and play. And these are challenges for an actor, when you look at a script and go, “This is going to look so stupid!” Quite often on daytime, I have to say the things I thought wouldn’t work, did work!

emmys.jpgHEATHER:

I would have to agree with that, too. It’s like when I see something and go, “Are you kidding me?” And then it actually works pretty well. Even the flashbacks with the zits on my face, which I was HORRIFIED having to do, was just awful, but I thought it was just funny.

JACK:

I learned from working with her, the more she bitches and moans on set, I know it’s going to be magic! If she is bitching and moaning, it will be awesome!

TV SOAP:

Will you go to the producers with issues if there is something you don’t feel is right for the integrity of your character, or if there is something you feel completely ill at ease doing?

HEATHER:

I did take issue with the flashbacks and the pimples. Ultimately I lost, and I was wrong. They write the show and we do our jobs, and I have to trust what they write.

JACK:

Through experience, as far as acting, you get better as you get older with more life experience. For me, when something doesn’t work, I have to come in with an option. You can’t go in and just say, “This doesn’t work.” You have to go in with a “What if?” and some other idea or two. “For me…would you consider this?” I no longer do the type of thing where you would call Aaron Spelling and say this and that, and then have him say, “You know, we can find someone else to play that part!”

TV SOAP:

Heather…in a few words describe Jack?

HEATHER:

I would say he is really smart. I think that comes across at how he approaches the role and in his work, and working with the other actors. Jack is really trustworthy. The most important thing for an actor is that they are in this 110% with you. I would say he is trustworthy outside of his work, too. I would think that applies to his whole life.

TV SOAP:

Jack, tell me about working with Heather.

hugonbeach.jpgJACK:

This will be on a critical note, but positive. When Heather is unconscious, she is the best actress on a daytime. When she removes herself, she is without a doubt the most talented person on daytime television. We always have a tendency to be conscious when we work so fast, and a lot has to do with speed sometimes, but I feel so honored to have worked with her …

HEATHER:

Same here….

JACK:

She makes things fun and she makes things sad, which I like to feel everyday. I also would like to say; I did not know what episode was nominated for Drama Series for the Emmys. And so, congratulations Heather, because for her not to get nominated (and I think she should have been nominated for that performance) is a bit shocking to me. I remember that period of time. There was a block of a month where Heather had about 40 pages a day, and she had five three-page monologues. So by the end of it, I built a noose and we would walk around rehearsal with it and say, “Who’s going to work with Heather today?” and hang ourselves because all we did was listen and look. The show will probably win an Emmy, because she is awesome.

losingbaby.jpgTV SOAP:

Heather, you are always pregnant in the storyline of each soap you have been on. You have miscarried, had your baby stolen and/or switched, and I could go on. It seems like the soap gods don’t want you to have a baby and play the soap mom.

HEATHER:

I have had a baby stolen and one who died. I am childless in real life, as well. The only thing this time was I was hoping that it would go on a little longer and it would be fun if Katie was flaunting her belly, but she lost it so quickly. Rubbing the belly, “Baby wants a cupcake,” I was looking forward to that, but “No!” (She laughs)

TV SOAP:

Jack are you looking forward to the next chapter in Nick’s life?

JACK:

I always look forward to the next chapter. I embrace it. But, it’s hard not to take things personally because you really do get personal with these actors, and when they go in different directions it feels sad. I am sure Heather feels the same way. In your career you enjoy working with actors who do comedy, actors who can cry, and different storylines are fun. Some storylines are not so much fun. You embrace it and you have to learn to let it go.

TV SOAP:

What do you think about some other leading ladies on “B&B”, namely Ashley Jones (Bridget) and Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke) who are pivotal to Nick’s story?

HEATHER:

I really liked what Ashley and I were doing. At the end we seemed to have a little more bite to us. I don’t think that is going to continue because they have seemed to sanitize that out of our characters. What I love about daytime is there is a built in history. This show has been on for more than two decades, and you have that to draw on where you don’t in primetime shows. There you have to build your own history. Here at “B&B” we have our own history, let’s use it. That is what I find exciting with the other characters on the show, and with Katherine and Ashley. We try to find those places.

bridget2.jpgTV SOAP:

Nick has been a man going back and forth to different women…..

JACK:

It’s been a weird couple of years for me on the show. I thought the chemistry between Heather and Ashley was interesting, and then the way they would embrace and then go about cat fighting. I thought they brought a new youthful energy to the show.

HEATHER:

I thought all three of us were good together.

JACK:

I agree with Heather. It just did not have enough history. You go through Bridget, Brooke and Taylor on this show, and they seem to go back to that and they will go back to this because it worked. It has some fun energy. I just remember that Nick was pretending he wasn’t there when he saw two women fighting. A man always wants to get out of the room. So it was those uncomfortable feelings, as the man in those scenes, that I know worked, because I felt so uncomfortable.

TV SOAP:

Jack, who is the ultimate love of Nick’s life?

JACK:

brooke.jpgI would love to say, I knew. I would say they are heading towards Bridget being his ultimate love, but I just don’t think that is the case. I think they are going to have to get back to Brooke one day. They keep touching on it and going away. I think their super couple here is Ridge and Brooke. But, I think Nick made an impact with Brooke and every time those two touched, the storyline crossed and something happened. So,
to not get back to that some
day, the audience would be
robbed.

TV SOAP:

Recently, Don Diamont has started on “B&B” as Bill Spencer Jr. Heather, you knew him from your days together on “Y&R”. How do you think he will fit in here?

HEATHER:

I am thrilled and happy he is on the show. I think he will make a great addition to the show. I think it will be interesting to see what could happen with Bill and Katie. So, we shall see. It will be interesting now, because you have the Nick character that is the hero character, and you have Bill, who is sort of the anti-hero. So it might be dynamic!

JACK:

I have not worked with Don, but I think having any male character on this show besides me is a mistake (laughs)

heatherJackFinal.jpgTV SOAP:

And now, the most recent male casting buzz has Rick Hearst reprising his role as “Whip” Jones later in June. How do you feel about Rick coming into the fold?

JACK:

All male characters, other than Nick, are a mistake, thank you. (Laughs again)

HEATHER:

I am thrilled. I have kind of had a crush on him since his Guiding Light days.

TV SOAP:

I could see “Whip” and Katie together, easily. I want to suggest it.

HEATHER:

Yeah, I have already written the email, but apparently he won’t be whipping it out for Katie anytime soon. But you never know!

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Interviews

‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Heather Tom Talks Daytime Emmy-Nominated Scenes and What’s Behind Katie’s Deep-Seated Issues with Dylan (Exclusive)

Published

1 day ago

on

September 11, 2026

By

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful’s Heather Tom (Katie Logan) is heading into the 53rd annual Daytime Emmys next month with a chance to win not one, but two gold statuettes to add to her collection of six!

Heather is once again a nominee for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, and for the first time a nominee as part of B&B’s writing team in the Outstanding Writing for a Daytime Drama Series category.

Currently, Heather is tied with One Life to Live icon, Erika Slezak (Ex-Viki) as the actresses with the most wins in Daytime Emmy history. An acting victory by Tom would break the tie, although Slezak’s wins have all been for Lead Actress, while Tom literally grew up before our eyes over 35 years in daytime, and has won in all three actress categories: Younger, Supporting and Lead.

Photo: JPI

Whether Tom wins the gold this year, next year is looking even like stronger lock with Heather delivering some of the best work of her career, over the last several months. Who can forget Katie’s showdown with her sister Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang) over the creation of her own fashion house named Logan, that slap from Brooke, and eventually being disowned from the Logan family by Brooke and their sister, Donna (Jennifer Gareis). 

This fall, Katie is in full momma bear-mode and being overprotective of her son Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) heart and pocketbook. In story, Katie has a massive distrust of Melissa Dylan, who has made her move on her son, while Will is still trying to deal with the break-up with the love of his life Electra Forrester.

During a live chat this week on the Michael Fairman Channel, Heather opened up on a myriad of subjects, including why Dylan gets under Katie’s skin in such a major way, and what scenes earned her a shot at Lead Actress gold at the October 30th Daytime Emmy ceremony.

Photo: JPI

HEATHER TOM’S DAYTIME EMMY SUBMISSION

In daytime, Heather Tom does it all, she acts, directs and writes for The Bold and the Beautiful. When deciding what material to submit for Emmy competition with its eligibility rules of episodes from 2025, it relayed heavily on scenes with her longtime B&B scene partner, Don Diamont (Bill Spencer).

“I submitted material having to do with the Luna (Lisa Yamada) storyline and having to do with Katie and Bill. I love that Katie and Bill have been really trying to find their way back to each other for, honestly, five years. He’s been trying to woo her back. Katie’s been like, ‘No.’ However, they come together, especially over their son, Will (Crew Morrow) and they have a very real relationship-type of discussion. It wasn’t an argument. It was more about, ‘I know you. Don’t do this.’ That’s always kind of been Katie’s relationship with Bill. The scenes with Don Diamont were about Katie and Bill’s history, the pain, and the drama, and especially about their son, seemed very familiar to me.”

Heather added, “There’s also a couple scenes with Will and Luna, when Katie finds out that Luna is pregnant. Katie was like, ‘Nope! Our son is having a baby with somebody, and we’re going to figure this out. We’ve got means and the ability to do this. I don’t care if we have to take this baby away from Luna because she’s crazy, we’ll figure it out.’ They were some really good scenes that I felt very proud of. I thought to myself, “OK, this is Katie really taking a stand for her son, and having these conversations with Bill where I just felt they were real and honest.”

In conclusion to standing by her choices of scenes, Heather explained, “It was nice to see Bill and Katie operating as a parental unit and have her be like, “Yep, we’re not doing this. You know, you can’t force Luna to do anything, so let’s just figure out how we’re dealing with this.” Katie was kind of the adult in the room. Then, the scenes where Bill says to Katie, “You have to come back to me and I need you,” while Katie shed a few tears, she still didn’t take him back, not yet.”

Photo: JPI

DYLAN BROKE THE ‘GIRLFRIEND CODE’

There are specific reasons why Katie has it out for Melissa Dylan. In fact, Dylan went so far as to get her mother Darcy Dylan to town to shut down Katie’s suspicions of her, but it still isn’t swaying Katie away from her stance on the matter. Heather revealed how she is playing the scenes.

“So, here’s the deal. It’s multifaceted,” began Tom. “This girl pushes Katie’s buttons. She reminds her of her sister, Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), and what Katie’s going through with her sister right now is very unpleasant. I think she looks at this girl and says, “This girl is going to crawl over anyone to get what she wants. And right now, she wants my son, and she’s willing to throw her best friend (Electra) under the bus.”

Heather also said, “Honestly, there’s something known as the ‘girlfriend code.’ Would you like to know what the girlfriend code is? ‘The girlfriend code’ is if your girlfriend, who is also your best friend, dates a guy and is especially in love with him, it doesn’t matter if you break up, that guy is off limits. You need to find yourself another guy.”

KATIE’S TROUBLES WITH BROOKE AND DYLAN MAKE HER TAKE A STAND

Katie clearly draws a similarity to her sister Brooke and Melissa Dylan which is also driving her attitude, which Heather confirmed. “So to Katie, it’s like Dylan broke that code. She is someone who follows her heart just like Brooke and leaves carnage in her wake,” said Tom.

She continued, “I think Katie looks at her and goes ‘Okay, one, you were living in your car. You didn’t call your mother who clearly loves you and ask her for help, but you were more than willing to take help from this, lovely rich guy.’ I think Katie feels like the fact that Dylan has been so expressive of how in love she is with Will, I think she finds that a little weird.  She’s telling him that she’s e in love with him, and he doesn’t say it back to you. So, clearly he’s in not in love with you.”

In story, Katie can’t trust a young woman, who knows her son doesn’t feel the same way about her and yet is still hanging around. Heather shared Katie’s viewpoint to Dylan: “He’s clearly in love with your best friend. So, isn’t it a little unsettling that she kind of keeps saying she’s in love with him? So that’s my multifaceted reason why Katie doesn’t like her. It really has nothing to do with the fact that she came from humble beginnings because Katie did too. That being said, the Spencers are billionaires, so she would have to also look out for that. However, I don’t think that’s the main reason why she doesn’t like this girl or doesn’t trust her. I really don’t.”

You can check out the full conversation from our livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Now let us know, are you rooting for Heather Tom to win the Lead Actress Daytime Emmy? What did you think of the scenes she submitted? Will Katie be proven right about Melissa Dylan, or will her distrust blow up in her face and she will wind up respecting Dylan when all is said and done? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Interviews

‘The Bold and the Beautiful’s’ Kelly Sullivan Talks Becoming Darcy Dylan, Who’s Melissa’s Dad, and Future Love Interest (Exclusive)

Published

5 days ago

on

September 7, 2026

By

Kelly Sullivan

Kelly Sullivan made her triumphant return to daytime on recent episodes of The Bold and the Beautiful in her new role as Darcy Dylan, the mother of Melissa Dylan (Sydney Bullock).

In story, Melissa, better known as just “Dylan,” phoned home to her mother to come to Los Angeles, in an effort to calm the waters with Will Spencer’s (Crew Morrow) nosy mother, Katie Logan (Heather Tom), who doesn’t trust Dylan one iota.

Soap fans remember Sullivan from her previous Daytime Emmy-nominated role sas Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri on General Hospital and as Sage Warner on The Young and the Restless. During a livestream conversation exclusively on the Michael Fairman Channel, Kelly spoke about her time on GH and Y&R, and the wonderful co-stars she shared the screen with, and her excitement on her brand new role on B&B.

Photo: JPI

As to her thoughts on if Darcy will ultimately prove to be a gold-digger, opportunist, but still has a heart of gold (as we saw in recent scenes with her daughter, seemingly), Sullivan explained, “Characters like Darcy can be dangerous. I think Darcy is a survivor and she can charm. She’s a flirt. She knows what she wants. Darcy is self-made, according to her, and she made it.”

THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN DARCY AND HER DAUGHTER, MELISSA DYLAN

However, Melissa plays a big role in what’s next for Darcy! Kelly explained, “She’s got this beautiful daughter and that was her entire life who is now making her way. Let me tell you, I don’t know what Darcy’s retirement plan is, but one would assume she doesn’t have much savings. This is a great opportunity for her to connect with her daughter and get the lay of the land.”

Finding out that Melissa has been dating Will Spencer from the rich and powerful Spencer family in Los Angeles, while initially a shock, could prove interesting if the mother/daughter were to work together for a common cause, their survival.

Sullivan explained, “Darcy’s all about the tabloids and all about this life of illusion and the haves and have-nots, essentially. She would never shy away from an opportunity to see what’s around the corner. I think the interesting thing for me, that I’m excited about is to explore the dynamic between Darcy and Melissa and what is that going to become?”

From all accounts, Darcy is here to stay in Los Angeles, and fans will see much more of Sullivan on their-screens. “Darcy’s not going anywhere”, confirmed Kelly. “I always said to Sydney Bullock, Darcy didn’t buy a round trip ticket. If you think about it, Melissa could be her ticket. She might be Darcy’s only hope. There are serious stakes here if Darcy has been waiting for this moment.”

Photo: JPI

SHARING SCENES WITH HEATHER TOM

Last week, Sullivan had her first on-screen confrontation with Heather Tom. In the scenes, Katie was disapproving of Dylan and let Darcy know it. Eventually, Darcy takes Dylan with her to leave Will’s beach house apartment, but Will stops Dylan.

Recalling the taping of the scenes, Kelly said, “Heather Tom is a real special artist. In the story between Katie and Darcy, you’ve got momma bear and you’ve got momma bear. You can’t fault either of these women for how they feel, and how protective they are of their children.”

There are many things viewers and perhaps the writers have not totally fleshed out about the Dylans. Are their Dylan sisters coming, or to be revealed to rival the Logan sisters? Who is Melissa’s biological father? Plus, some more nuggets as Kelly revealed.

“I think there is a juicy, juicy story there of the Dylans,” previewed Sullivan. “It would also be interesting if they decide who Melissa’s dad is. Who is that? I mean, that’s interesting. You know, when I auditioned for this role, it said on the page that the character was charming, from the Midwest, and dance skills a plus. and I was a Broadway dancer. So, I hope this means there might be an opportunity to dance on the show at some point.”

Photo: JPI

DARCY DYLAN AND WYATT SPENCER PAIRING?

As for the men on the canvas, Kelly was asked what she thought of a potential Darcy and Wyatt Spencer (Darin Brooks) pairing? To which she responded, “That would be so much fun. I’m such a fan of Darin’s work. Oh, I would have a ball working with him. One of the things that really excited me about Darcy when I was coming into audition for her was that they said that they wanted her to have a  comedic sensibility, comedic chops as they said it.”

Sullivan concluded, “To work with Darin, I would be so lucky. He’s such a great actor and he’s got great comedic timing and he’s just really present and phenomenally talented. He’s a great actor, so I would love that. I mean, anyone on the show would be really fun.  You throw it at the wall (in daytime) and say, ‘Is there a thing? Is there something here?’ Chemistry is chemistry.”

Now below, and in case you missed it, you can check out our full video livestream chat with Kelly Sullivan below.

So, what have you thought of Kelly’s performances thus far as Darcy? Do you think Darcy will turn out to be an opportunistic woman, but who deeply cares and loves her daughter, or will it turn out to be a ruse? Would you like to see Kelly paired with Darin Brooks on-screen as a love interest, and who do you think truly is Melissa Dylan’s biological father? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GH and OLTL Alum Patrick J. Gibbons Reveals the Story Behind Writing Trina’s Song on ‘General Hospital’ (Exclusive)

Published

3 weeks ago

on

August 21, 2026

By

Patrick J. Gibbons

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.

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