Connect with us

News

178

Y&R Recasting Phyllis! Who Would You Suggest To Play The Part?

By Michael Fairman

Published

on

Courtesy/CBS

With the news that Michelle Stafford has joined the cast of General Hospital as Nina Clay, The Young and the Restless has decided its time to move full force into recasting the pivotal role of Phyllis!

An official casting call had gone out to find Stafford’s replacement with the description of the character as:  “Phyllis is beautiful, smart and conniving. She is confident in her own sexuality and is unafraid to use it to get what she wants. She knows she has power over men and many times has used it, both to her benefit and to her detriment. She definitely has an edge.”    The casting notice also asked for an actress 35-4o years old.

On Y&R, Phyllis has been in a coma since tumbling down the stairwell thanks to a key incident that involved Sharon’s  (Sharon Case) paternity secret of Summer (Hunter King)!  Now that Jack Abbott (Peter Bergman) is falling in love again and this time with Kelly Andrews (Cady McClain), ain’t it about time for Phyllis to wake up and shake things up for Jack and Kelly and Nick  (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon?

So, it’s time to put your casting director hats on! Who do you think would make a good Phyllis  …  and that you would like to see on Y&R?  Someone who has played previous roles on daytime or primetime television?  Michelle Stafford definitely make her mark on this role, so it may be a very difficult act to follow! Share your  thoughts below!

178 Comments

178 Comments
oldest
newest

Anne Heche should return to daytime and play phyllis as a clone of Miss Victoria Hudson of Bay City!!!!!!

Oh please nooo, I can’t stand her.

Anne Heche no way, she had her 15 minutes of fame.

That 15 minutes you talk about gave her an emmy. Love Ann Heche!

Anne Heche is so HOT : have you seen her it “Spead” I know, right: sounds defining
w/Ashton Kutcher… she was never at her most finest… LOOKS dept.

absolutely, loved her… and she bowled me over… in Men in Trees… WELL DONE.

she can run the gamut… shows hair makes a big difference… but she’s aloof, inviting, come on

Funny that Mark mentioned her, I thought the same thing last night, Anne Heche was awesome on AW and she be perfect ! But I was thinking of others and well I thought of

Gina Tognoni she be awesome, she needs to return back to daytime!

Definitely Gina Tognoni she is great.. would do Phyllis proud.

My first pick would be Robin Christopher who was on GH before and I’ve seen her work. She can pull off playing Phyllis really well.

I agree Robin would be an excellent choice to play Phyllis!

Robin Christopher

Good choice Dinah, I love Robin

Now that’s an idea I can get behind, and it would make me watch more than just one or two days a week.

Oh yes! Good one! Except I don’t watch Y&R anymore until JFP is there.

I mean GONE!!!

Robin would be amazing. I’ve always liked her.

Hands down– Sarah Joy Brown. She would look hot with Nick, could shake things up with Dylan/Avery & would look convincing as Avery’s sister. And she could certainly be a good scene partner for Jack. She’s so talented and gorgeous! Though I have no idea if she and JPF or Burton get along. Everyone is expecting Kelly Sullivan who would do fine, as well as Tamara (the other ex Carly)…. but my heart is set on Sarah!!

Plus I would buy her as Summer’s mom

Good one too!

I think Sarah or Tamara could pull it off. Kelly not so much but I do like her. Michelle Stafford is a powerhouse and it will be hard to fill her shoes.

I would agree. It’s just that B&B did a horrible job with her when she was on that show. I’d hate for the same thing to happen on Y&R.

Good choice! She can handle the part.

Lindsay Hartley (Ex- Theresa, Passions), Kelly Sullivan (ex- Connie, GH), Erin Hershey, Alison Sweeney, Gina Tognoni, Emily VanCamp

They are all too young I am sorry but would producers and writers start considering the history of a character. Women do not die on the vine after 40 the character has history with Jack and PB is 60 years old. If you were recasting Victoria or Chelsea or even Avery these people would work but not Phyllis. Phyllis is not an igenue!! Lol!

Over half those you listed are WAY too young….Lindsay Hartley playing mother to Hunter King??? Ummmmmm no…hahahaha same thing with Alison Sweeney and Gina Tognoni….way too young…..

On top of that, Alison Sweeney has categorically stated that she would never do another soap outside of Days. She’s trying to trim her schedule down considerably so that she can spend more time with her family and only commit to one show, ‘The Biggest Loser’, for which she is the host of the show. So, we can write her off as an possible Phyllis recast. Yes, Alison is getting close to 40 and she would work but I’ve seen her on Days and she just isn’t the powerhouse actress that Michelle Stafford is.

not a blonde!

Have you seen Sarah Brown with the red-ish brown hair? Looks sexy.

Nicolette Sheridan would be perfect if she’d do it…even blonde!!!

Jamie Lunar

I love your idea.she is the first person that came to mind and she fits the character description, I would definitely go with Jamie.

I agree Jamie Lunar would be great!

This is a very good call. She can play smokin’ hot!

I’d rather they had “retired the jersey”, even if it meant killing Phyllis. Ms. Stafford was so iconic.

Since they appear resolved to recasting, I am much influenced by the suggestions of @sheilalives on Twitter. (A) Wait until MTV series is over, and cast red-headed Watros as Phyllis; (B) Jamie Luner and Robin Christopher and Sarah Brown and even Tamara Braun are all regularly mentioned, and I could support any of these.

Watros is a lil more over the top and can play the psycho really well, she doesn’t strike me as that “phyllis” sexiness that’s needed….Jamie Luner and Robin Christopher would be ideal!!!!

Well I see JFP is going to make the same mistake MAB did when she recast Dianne with Maura West the actress needs to be between 40 & 50 to be plausible with what all this character has done over the years. If she was going to recast Phyllis then why bother recasting Kelly. Once again messing with ages drives me nuts. But to the actual question I would look long and serious at Robin Christopher she has the look and she can play bad girl. I have heard the name Kelly Sullivan bantered about NO she is too young for Peter Bergman.

Good choice – I totally agree with all of it! Jamie Lunar would also be good in the role.

I watched an old scene with Robin Christopher from GH when Jax had left her for Brenda she was so bitchy and gorgeous at the same time it blew me away. I will tell you this if JFP cast anyone under the age of 45 I will be writing letters again. It will be an epic fail if she casts someone 10 years younger then Stafford.

I agree all this age tampering really messes with the time line– the character Phyllis, not MS, was twenty in 1994 when she was first introduced, so technically Phyllis should be forty– therefore an actress in her late thirties up to mid forties should be able to play her without stretching credibility too much. But because they SORAS both of her children Daniel and Summer– that real age seems to be pushing it, and an actresses in late forties early fifties would look more the age Phyllis should be to have children the age they are now at. So you’re right anyone younger than 45 would be a disservice to the character and the history they gave her.

I am surprised they are recasting at all. I thought JFP would be happy if the character stayed in a coma forever. And the way the stories are now I don’t see how Phyllis can fit into the canvas as a major player again. Unless my secret hope that the real Phyllis was killed by Lauren when Sheila took Phyllis’s face and this Phyllis has been Sheila all along

I always imagined Shelia had a mental break during that shooting and really thought she was Phyllis and that is why she never acted like Sheila. So I am hoping when Phyllis wakes up, she is cured of her delusion and remembers she is really Sheila. If that happens I think I could accept any recast knowing, she won’t be really be Phyllis and that character died a long time ago.

I think they need to move on and just swallow their pride of trying to put MS in her place that is what this is really all about. I can’t figure JFP out she was more then willing to let Laura stay in a coma on GH. Today it has been one year since we lost our Jeanne Cooper. I wonder what she would think of this mess called Y&R. RIP my dear lady we miss you!!!!

Nobody. Ever. EVER.

AGREED!

Soaps are all about the re-cast, Eric.

In this case they shouldn’t be, though. Some roles should never be recast and this is one of them, in my opinion.

If they MUST recast, I would vote for Jamie Luner.

I could see Robin Christopher or Bobbie Eakes playing Phyllis.Also with Phyllis having been in a coma that is a good way to explain any personality changes in the character.

I like Lesli Kay, Kelly Menighan Hensley, even Kelly Sullivan. A strong smart and sexy woman in her 40s, or who convincingly can play that.

I agree and would prefer a former ATWT actress – especially Kelley Menighan Hensley – she’s the best!

I would love to see Lesli and Kelly back.

That is a really good idea. Both of these ladies would have great chemistry with the new Kelly (Cady McClain)

Add me to the Kelly M Hensley list…and I hated her when she took Melanie Smith’s role on ATWT. She eventually won me over big time.

Christina Crawford as Phyllis would make me tune in to Y&R.

I submit Vanessa Marsil. She’s sexy, & could carry off the sneakysneaky ways of Phyllis. She could play evil too. She’s age appropriate for the role.

Pretty actress but too dark skin for Summer and the legendary nickname “Red”

Eluzabeth keifer ex Blake guiding Light, or Robin Christopher ex Skye gh. BOTH of these ladies are wonderful actresses.

Liz Keifer is my number one choice. I can stop scrolling and support your suggestion, Ricardo!

Im with you guys, Liz Keifer would be great.

Liz Keifer, honest to goodness… all that sexy… was right up there with my faves on GL… right on with Beth Chamberlain – mention Crystal Chappell and these ladies turned it ON

Liz Keifer is 52… and is fab

she’d be tantalizing with Peter Bergman

Gina Tognoni could pull off the vital role. SOOOOOO Tired of JFP messing with the casting of my show. Bring BM,and MM back as Billy and Adam. She “JFP” is such a waste to daytime.

I agree. Gina Tognoni would be my number 1 pick.

McKenzie Westmore (Sheridan Passions i know she is not red headed but that is a easy fix 🙂

Jamie luner is a red head, and the woman can act. Please hire her now.

My suggestions are Jamie Luner or Tamara Braun.

Marcia Cross ex Bree desperate housewives, she would kick ass as the new Phyllis.

Too old in JFP’s eyes that is why probably she won’t look at Robin Christopher who would be great because she is 48. I wish she would have left Phyllis in the coma if we are going to make her younger then her sister Avery or Sharon. Marcia Cross is a great actress but she is 52 that is a no no in JFP’s world.

Oh I love that idea if shr will return to daytime

SANDRA NELSON OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! who? the actress that portrayed her the best from from 1997 to 1998.

Interesting. I didn’t realize that the uber popular Michelle Stafford was a re-cast!

That would fail. Sandra was a horrible Phyllis.

Oh please no!!! I think she was awful as Phyllis…

Robin Christopher doesn’t have that playfulness way of the character. Tamara is too child like. What about Lauren Holly?

JAMIE LUNER!! She’s one of the sexiest redheads on daytime, primetime or anytime!!!!! She knows how to play a vamp/seductress to the hilt!!!! She was awesome on Melrose Place, Savannah and AMC!!!!!

I have no idea.

Gina Tognoni or Tamara Braun.

Yes Gina Tognoni!!!!

I couldn’t begin to guess, yet venture

I love that Robin Christopher’ name is bandied about

I absolutely, LOVE her

she sparked, drove, ignited, fired, HOT, intensifies, swarms, saunters, she’s SEXY!

she did this ALL :

All My Children
General Hospital
One life to LIVE

knocked me out on Another World

look at her resume… and SHE’s still got IT

Wendy Moniz

Wendy would be a good one..

Robin Christopher now that Kassie DePaiva is employed elsewhere.

Jamie Luner, of course ! She was perfect when she played Lexie Sterling (Melrose Place). She looks like Phyllis.
Hire me to decide and be sure I will hire Jamie Luner if she wants !

Gina Tognoni, Sarah Brown, or Robin Christopher could all pull it off. Oh and what about Susan Haskel! Her hubby is on B&B so it makes sense that she could come to Cali to work on Y&R.

Sarah is my first choice and Susan Haskell is my 2nd!! Good call. I could see Susan being very age appropriate to have been with Jack and Nick and have Daniel/Summer

How about Lisa Lo Cicero?

I like this idea! Her talents are being wasted on GH’s Olivia. Lisa has shown she can be feisty. She is the right age group to play off Peter Bergman. I think they would have chemistry too. I’d approve of this casting.

ugh…LIsa would be a terrible Phyllis…. although I dont even care for her as Olivia….that character needs to go…

How about a brand new actress instead of one with previous ties to other soaps. Seriously!!!!!

The hardest part about that is the new pace of soaps. Shooting up to 3 episodes a day, often with no rehearsal, and actors playing major characters shooting more than 100 pages a day regularly. An actor who is new to soaps and also a front burner character runs the risk of holding up production with flubbed and forgotten lines, an inability to keep up, or the chance, like Joan Van Ark, of quitting after a cycle because its too much. None of which is good for a show. Not a dure thing and always exceptions, but it shows why shows lean toward proven soap talent when casting a front burner role.

Susan Haskell is great. I agree about KDP. She would also made a great fit for B&B with Thorsten given they were lovers on One Life. I think Robin Christopher would make a great Phyllis.

lol
Replacing Billy, was bad bad bad … turned Billy into FF
Replacing Kelly, was bad bad bad .. turned into FF

Replacing fiery Phyllis, will be a fail …. MS made the character her own.
(Do not replace her

A catastrophic recast will Adam … )wait for it …

I agree the recast for Billy has been terrible. But the recast of Kelly is great. Cady McClain makes that role so much more likeable.

David Tom is really failing in the role, Billy Miller was phenomenal and Tom really isn’t living up to that standard at all.

As for Kelly, I like her much more now with Cady McClain in the role than I did when Cynthia Watros was playing her. I do really like Watros but she didn’t shine as Kelly and she made the character very unlikable – well, the writing is to blame I guess.

As for Phyllis, I think if the recast her with a well known, well liked actress, it might work. Then again, Y&R recast Diane with Maura West who is phenomenal, but that was an epic fail. So I guess time will tell.

David Tom is the original Billy and is doing a great job. It’s wonderful to se the real Billy back and acting like Billy again.

Robin Christopher, Sarah Brown or Kelly Sullivan!! Christoper has the edge with the red hair in place:)

I know this is way out there–, the actress who played the Wicked Witch on Once Upon a Time this season. I swear she could pass as MS twin sister. Drawbacks, perhaps too young for Phyllis now, and speaks with Australian accent, but otherwise she would have been perfect, as the Wicked Witch she had edge, but vulnerable– as I watch I kept wishing the casting people from Y&R were watching so they might just might approach her about the role. Of course that was wishful thinking and would never happen.

And that is trouble with casting in Daytime, they seem stuck in casting only people who worked on soaps and don’t look beyond “the family” for new talent. Sigh.

I love the actress playing the witch on Once Upon A Time…she also has daytime experience…she was the original Margaret on OLTL!!!

Did not know that since I never watched OLTL– but Googled it and you’re right — her name is Rebecca Mader. I didn’t think she had any connection to daytime, learn something everyday. Anyway she has my vote to be the new Phyllis but I don’t think it will happen.

Her name is Rebecca Mader, and that’s an interesting choice.

I wish that too since you mention her but like you know it most likely wont happen…i only watch Y&R on occasion but id watch everyday if she was Phylis!!!

She would be great but I think they will probably keep her for a while on OUAT.

Don’t care personally I’m enjoying her coma.

What about Kathy griffin. lol

I could easily see Robin Christopher in the role, same with Sarah Brown. I really like Tamara Braun but I just can’t see her being a love interest for Jack or Summer’s mother. I’m not familiar with Jamie Luner’s work but from what I read she and how she looks, she could probably pull it off too. I just hope they don’t goof on this recast like they did with Billy.

Already said give some red hair dye 2 Kelly Sullivan YR had 2 one up GH again

Marcia Cross, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

Someone told me she has basically retired from acting! I could see her in the role but I have a feeling they are going to step in it and hire a younger actress.

NO to SB, why people keep pushing Sarah is beyond me and I watched her on 2 of soaps, ATWT, BB and wasn’t impressed either time….NO!

Her writing on ATWT and B&B were not up to par to her acting talents. SJB is a phenomenal actress who could play the part!

She was fantastic as Claudia on GH. I didn’t watch when she played Carly but I hear she was great in that role too.

B&B completely wasted her talent. I watched since she first aired until her final airdate as Agnes and I gotta say, it was a major disappointment, especially since she’s such a great actress and got handed a bad role with worse writing.

I think she’d be a great Phyllis recast. She and Robin Christopher are my top two candidates.

Laura Leighton! She was fabulous on melrose!! She kinda looks like hunter king too

Kim zimmer lol!!!! We could say phyllis rapidly aged 15 years lol

@MARK while you’re yukking it up I think Kim Zimmer would be a great replacement as Sharon’s mom with a story of having the chance to walk…or maybe not

There really is no replacement for MS.

Charlotte Ross. She couldn’t come back to DAYS as Eve, but playing Phyllis would be a happy compensation.

YES!

outside of the aforementioned… this : Charlotte Ross could be the clincher : she has “ALL” the elements required to be : Phyllis : can we say…even sexier, just as dark, edgier, and then some

Altho… I will keep on propping Robin Christopher

Isn’t she on Nashville now..I don’t see anyone leaving a primetime gig to come back to daytime.

NO ONE! No one in the soap universe can play the iconic role of Phyllis to the degree that Stafford has. She needs to stay gone, because it will be impossible for people to make a connection with a new actress in that particular role. Sandra Nelson, anyone? Nuff said!

Sandra Nelson was a successful Phyllis recast.

Out of curiosity, does anyone remember the character of Phyllis Summers, Abbott, Newman? Just wondering, because of some of the suggestions made. Before you blast me, the actress and the character was one of my all time favorites and I truly believe it will take an actress of Stafford’s caliber to make the recast work. I agree she should be within the appropriate age range, with a similar look. I love Kelley Hensley, Liz Keifer, Tamara Braun, Sarah Brown and Vanessa Marcel (that would be a stretch – no pun intended), but I can’t see them as our girl. But, who knows, they may go against type.

It’s odd that Michelle Stafford went to GH and Y&R is recasting. Why? Did JFP and MS not get along? Y&R messed up!!!

Sometimes people just need a change? Playing same character year after year can get tiring for an actor. Becomes limiting for what you can do in the future should the show get cancelled. But obviously she had issues somewhere.

Bobbie Eakes. Ej from DOOL could be the next Adam Newman!

Michelle Stafford OWNED the role so I can’t see any recast lasting very long (anybody remember when the show tried recasting the role with Sandra Nelson? They ended up writing the character off…).

Marcy Walker would be a dream recast (her Liza Colby was the same kind of force of nature as Phyllis) but unfortunately, I don’t think she is still acting.

Jamie Luner? No way. I still remember her stint as Liza Colby on AMC.

If the show is seriously moving ahead with this, the best choice might end up being a soap newcomer who brings no preconceived notions or prior characters to the table so the viewers see her as Phyllis and no one else.

There was no one : I repeat : NO one : like Liza and her tour de force role on Santa Barbara

Marcy Walker : did it for me : had that “IT” factor : fully embodied : captured me

last I heard… Ms. Walker, was a church counselor

Robin Christopher

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Dominic Zamprogna Shares He Was ‘Happy to Hear’ of The Triangle Storyline Developing Between Dante/Elizabeth/Ric

Published

on

By

Dominic Zamprogna

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?”

Dom and Liz

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.

Continue Reading

Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Mike Manning Lands Role in Indie Horror Feature ‘Deify’

Published

on

By

Mike Manning

While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon)  and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.

According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.

Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene,  Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.

WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?

Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”

The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”

MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE

In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.

Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.

So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Continue Reading

General Hospital

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Video Du Jour

Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

Recent Comments

Power Performance

Heather Tom

The Bold and the Beautiful

Airdate: 7-24-2026

Popular

178
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x