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General Hospital Shocker: Diane Remembers That the Hook Killer Is [Spoiler]
Sunday, October 2nd, 2022
“It’s a surprise to everyone… ”
Talk about a Friday cliffhanger! As the end of the September 30 episode of General Hospital, Finn approached Alexis to give her an update on Diane. Well, if it will help you breath a little bit easier, we can tell you that Diane survived surgery and will next week wake up. Better still, she will slowly but surely be able to provide the local authorities information which will allow them to paint a better picture of her attacker. Especially once her dazed and confused memory allows her to recall a detail which will turn the entire investigation upside down and have many viewers doing substantial editing of their suspect lists!
More: Maurice Benard speaks out about respect
Upon awakening after surgery, Diane finds herself having to wrap her head around what just happened. “She was hooked, for heaven’s sake,” jokes portrayer Carolyn Hennesy to Soap Opera Digest. “Diane Miller can imagine a lot of things happening to her, but being a victim of a serial killer is certainly not one of them!”
There are many questions surrounding Diane’s attack. Was she the intended victim, or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time? If she was the intended victim, was it because of her connection to Sonny or might there have been another motive? And, of course, the biggest question of all: Who was wielding the deadly hook?
While we’ve been suspiciously eyeing Dex and Rory of late, what happens next is going to completely change the course of this storyline.
As a groggy Diane slowly but surely begins to regain her memories of what went down in Brando’s garage, Robert and Sonny are hanging on her every word. “She can remember that the serial killer had bracelets,” previews Hennesy. “They were jangling. And then she came face-to-face [with the person] and it was a woman, not a gentleman!”
Hennesy understates that, “It’s a surprise to everyone when [Diane] is adamant that it was a woman!”
Meanwhile, it’s time for all of us to go back and rethink who might be responsible. And while we don’t know about you, the fact that a particularly wicked vixen is set to return has us moving her to the top of the suspect list!
Find out who the latest actors checking in to General Hospital are with our extensive, photo-packed gallery!
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<p>Word to the wise: Never get attached to a soap youngster. Once ya do, they’re inevitably recast — as was the case with Enzo De Angelis, who was replaced as Aiden in May of 2024 by newcomer Riggs.</p>
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<p>Keep this kid’s number on speed-dial. Filling in for Lily Fisher as Georgie in early May, she made the most of her brief appearance.</p>
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<p>In early May, it was announced that the daytime legend would be appearing on <em>General Hospital</em> as Fergus, ill-fated Neil’s lawyer brother who was so instrumental in getting Alexis disbarred. The gig reunites Davies with Nancy Lee Grahn, with whom he worked on <em>Santa Barbara</em> as supercouple Mason and Julia and <em>General Hospital</em> as Cameron and Alexis.</p>
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<p>The recurring player made his first appearance since Detective Bennet investigated Esme’s vanishing act on the occasion of Dex’s recruitment as a potential police cadet.</p>
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<p>Service with a smile! The daytime newcomer was chosen to play Hunter, the new manager at Bobbie’s.</p>
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<p>Only Murphy Brown’s secretaries could have had a harder gig than the one into which this Port Charles newbie walked: She’d been cast as Nina’s <em>Crimson</em> assistant, Madison. And look! Day No. 1, and already, Drew is walking right by her desk as if she wasn’t there!</p>
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<p>Once <em>All My Children</em>’s Maria, the soap vet who also played Celeste on <em>Young & Restless</em> was reported by our sister site <a href="https://tvline.com/casting-news/general-hospital-eva-larue-cast-blaze-mother-1235168061/" target="_blank">TVLine</a> to be joining <em>General Hospital</em> in late February 2024 as Blaze’s mother, Natalia.</p>
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<p>In February 2024, <em>General Hospital</em> didn’t just bring Jagger back a little bit older than when he left, a recast of the role turned the dark-haired, dark-eyed hunk into a blue-eyed blond. <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/668398/general-hospital-recast-who-plays-new-ethan-james-ryan/" target="_blank">Oddest remix since this one.</a></p>
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<p>As word of Spencer’s “death” spread, Cameron headed home to be with his beleaguered family.</p>
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<p>Brennan’s arrest turned out <em>not</em> to be the end of the disgraced WSB chief. But would he ever again darken the door at <span style="text-decoration: line-through">Kelly’s</span> Bobbie’s?</p>
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<p>After taking some time off in the wake of her mother’s passing, the Emmy winner was set to reclaim her role of Josslyn from Courtney Fulk in February 2024.</p>
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<p>Surprise! The actress who was Tony and Bobbie’s ill-fated daughter B.J. in the early 1990s was brought back by the show to play Angela, the reporter who was eager to tell the beloved nurse’s life story.</p>
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<p>Obviously, <em>General Hospital</em> couldn’t pay its respects to Bobbie without having the fan favorite make a guest appearance as her longtime friend and colleague, Felix.</p>
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<p>“Again?” Yes, again, Jason was set to rise from the grave, it was revealed during the primetime special celebrating the soap’s 60th anniversary.</p>
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<p>Thankfully, Maxie’s usual portrayer was back in action in time for her character to pay her respects to Bobbie, whose daughter B.J.’s heart beat in her chest.</p>
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<p>With so much business unfinished in Port Charles, it was only a matter of time before Nikolas returned. And when he did so in the January 3 episode, he was played once again by Marcus Coloma’s successor in the role.</p>
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<p>As <em>General Hospital</em> began the new year, the veteran of Passions, All My Children and Days of Our Lives once again spelled Kelly Monaco as Sam.</p>
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<p>The soap rookie stepped in for Eden McCoy as Josslyn when a real-life tragedy necessitated a break from the goings-on in Port Charles.</p>
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<p>New year, new Maxie? As 2023 headed for the exit, the alum of the primetime sitcom <em>Hope & Faith</em> stepped in for Kirsten Storms as a temporary recast.</p>
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<p>For the saddest of occasions — mom Bobbie’s memorial service — Lucas was returned to the screen played by the actor who’d held the role the longest.</p>
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<p>Starting in mid-December, the daytime newcomer stepped in temporarily for Eden McCoy as Josslyn.</p>
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<p>Fresh from her Emmy win for her work as Heather, the <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> alum reprised her role of Esme’s mad, mad monster. Um, mother. We mean mother. Or <em>do</em> we?</p>
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<p>“Spixie” 2.0? To bail Maxie out of her financial woes, former non-husband Spinelli faked a flooded apartment so that she’d take him in as a roommate. Nice wet look, bro!</p>
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<p>Would a Christmas miracle be in store when the fan favorite reprised her role of Scotty’s estranged sweetheart, Liesl? We (and he!) could but hope.</p>
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<p>After an absence of <em>[does math]</em> way too damn long, the beloved vet reprised her role of Monica in mid-December.</p>
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<p>The primetime mainstay made his <em>General Hospital</em> debut on December 1 as Mr. Brennan. Although we have a <em>biiig</em> hunch that that isn’t his real name. (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/701894/who-plays-pikeman-mr-brennan/" target="_blank">Read why here.</a>)</p>
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<p>Who better to cheer up Anna when she was down than granddaughter Emma? Silzer, who’s been playing Robin and Patrick’s daughter since she was 5, swung through Port Charles for a little family reunion just in time for Thanksgiving.</p>
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<p>What could possibly be more fun than Lois’ return to Port Charles? The return of her mom, played once again by John Travolta’s scene-stealing sis.</p>
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<p>No trick here: Just in time for Halloween, the role of Jason and Sam’s son Danny was recast. (That’s Antonyzyn in the hat, as if you didn’t know.)</p> <p> </p>
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<p>As Charlotte’s storyline took a dark turn, her former portrayer reclaimed the role of Valentin and Lulu’s daughter after being replaced by Amelie McClain.</p>
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<p>On September 27, <em>General Hospital</em> caught viewers off guard when it revealed on air that Molly had been recast yet again, this time with a daytime newcomer. In May, Holiday Mia Kriegel stepped in for Haley Pullos. Kriegel was followed by Brooke Anne Smith in July</p>
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<p>It was music to fans’ ears when they heard that Blaze was returning to set Kristina’s heart afire.</p>
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<p>You snooze, you lose, <em>Bold & Beautiful. </em>A year after the Emmy winner last aired as Quinn, the news broke that she was returning to Port Charles as Lois. If <em>that</em> doesn’t jog ex-husband Ned’s memory, nothing will!</p>
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<p>Should Dex be worried? Maurice Benard’s son was set to return as Josslyn’s classmate Adam in the fall of 2023.</p>
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<p>When Nikolas emerged from his coma at summer’s end — and looking righter than rain, we might add — his last portrayer was the one who reprised the oft-recast role.</p>
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<p>Can we keep her, please, please, please? When <em>General Hospital</em> announced in August that the <em>American Housewife</em> alum would be repping Lucy & Co. in court, all we could think was, “Ya know what, Elise? Port Charles <em>could</em> use another lawyer!”</p>
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<p>The winner of Season 1 of SOAPnet’s <em>I Wanna Be a Soap Star</em> walked onto the set in the summer of 2023 as Roy, the physical therapist tasked with getting Curtis back on his feet.</p>
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<p>As TJ and Molly sought a surrogate to add a child to their relationship, the daughter of Gregory Harrison (Gregory) was brought in to play Andrea, a candidate for the life-changing job.</p>
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<p>Gonna go out on a limb and guess that Josh Swickard (Chase) had a new favorite castmate when the role of Ferncliff nurse Janet was filled by his real-life wife, with whom he also starred in two <em>California Christmas</em> movies for Netflix.</p>
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<p>The <em>General Hospital</em> vet, who once spelled Johnny Wactor as Brando, returned in July 2023 as Book, a Pentonville inmate with an axe to grind — preferably into Cyrus’ back.</p>
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<p>Why so glum? The 14-year-old who took over as Maxie and Spinelli’s daughter Georgie in July 2023 earned rave reviews from the get-go.</p>
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<p>She looks like a Veronica to us, but the relative newcomer was actually cast as a Betty — Betty Rutherford, the <span style="text-decoration: line-through">spy</span> nanny that Ava was forced to hire to look after <span style="text-decoration: line-through">her affairs</span> Avery.</p>
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<p>Well, that was fast. Just over two months after Holiday Mia Kriegel replaced Haley Pullos as Molly, this veteran of Tyler Perry’s <em>Too Close to Home</em> has been tapped to replace <em>her</em>.</p>
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<p>Any way you, ahem, sliced it, a summer return by Heather was destined to be trouble.</p>
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<p>As Curtis fought for his life after being shot, his mom Irene — whose portrayer was once a CPS agent on the show — did a hard sell on heaven as the kinda place where you could picnic without ants.</p>
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<p>The <em>All My Children</em> vet isn’t just joining the show, he’s bringing beloved Pine Valley legal eagle Jackson Montgomery to Port Charles in July!</p>
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<p>The <em>One Life to Live</em> vet who once subbed for Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis scrubbed in again as Nurse Clara.</p>
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<p>When a car accident left Haley Pullos sidelined in the spring of 2023, a temporary recast was brought in to keep Molly’s storyline going.</p>
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<p>When the soap recast Kristina in the spring of 2023, it didn’t just bring in any old actress to succeed Lexi Ainsworth as Sonny and Alexis’ daughter, it brought in Kate Mansi, an Emmy winner for her work as Abigail on <em>Days of Our Lives.</em></p>
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<p>Presto! James’ Nurses Ball magic act with half sis Georgie marked the debut of a new moppet in the role of Maxie’s son with late husband Nathan.</p>
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<p>Viewers were in for a shock when Holly and Felicia finally tracked down Ethan as he was about to be sold to the highest bidder — and he was portrayed by <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/668398/general-hospital-recast-who-plays-new-ethan-james-ryan/" target="_blank">newcomer James Ryan</a>! Hey, that blond hair really does sell him as Luke’s son! </p>
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<p>Yeah, yeah, we know. Helena’s dead. Again. But that wasn’t going to stop her portrayer from reprising the role during May sweeps.</p>
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<p>Once again, rumors of Holly’s “death” were greatly exaggerated as Robert’s lost love was poised to return in April 2023, <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-big-gh-casting-news/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> whispered.</p>
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<p>Where do we send a thank-you note to the daytime legend for retiring in such a way that she can still now and then bring Tracy back to Port Charles, as <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-big-gh-casting-news/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> reported that she was set to in the spring of 2023? Because that, ladies and gents, is a gift.</p>
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<p>Wish we could report that the <em>Community</em> grad was visiting Port Charles for a happier reason. But the actress’ guest appearance was tied to the show’s tribute to her late friend, Sonya Eddy (Epiphany).</p>
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<p>Also for the saddest of occasions — Epiphany’s memorial service — Anna’s granddaughter paid a visit home.</p>
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<p>Making the trek from Grey Sloan to <em>General Hospital</em>, the real-life superfan, seen here at the 2019 Nurses Ball, was set to return for 2023’s gala, only in the new role of red-carpet correspondent Sydney Val Jean.</p>
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<p>As Curtis and Portia’s wedding day neared, the groom surprised his bride — and us — by sneaking onto the guest list her brother Zeke and father Sterling.</p>
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<p>For the last leg of Nikolas’ journey — at least for now — Adam Huss was once again called in to sub for Marcus Coloma.</p>
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<p>No, they didn’t get as close as all this when Anna turned to former beau Andre for help clearing her name in the matter of Lucy’s shooting. But it was still nice to see her old flame again ahead of New Year.</p>
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<p>’Sup, punkin? Just in time for Halloween, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/650410/general-hospital-recasts-sonny-carly-daughter-donna-corinthos-scarlett-brielle/" target="_blank">Scarlett Spears took over</a> the role of Sonny and Carly’s daughter, Donna.</p>
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<p>In the fall of 2022, word leaked that the <em>Star Trek: The Next Generation</em> vet had been picked to play Elizabeth’s never-before-seen mother, Carolyn. And as dad Jeff?</p>
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<p>The brother of Rick Moses — aka hot hitman Hutch on the soap back in 1980 — was set to move from <em>Falcon Crest</em> to Port Charles to replace Richard Dean Anderson as Liz’s long-MIA dad.</p>
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<p>Beefy bodyguard Yuri got more than a plate of cole slaw at the Quartermaines’ picnic, he got a new romance with Terry. Eat your heart out, Chet!</p>
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<p>October didn’t just bring back pumpkin spice, it also brought back Wiley’s portrayer, who’d last appeared in Willow’s Nelle-centric nightmare.</p>
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<p><em>Bold & Beautiful</em> usually uses the veteran actress’ Pam as comic relief. But there was nothing funny about the character she took on on <em>General Hospital</em> just in time for November sweeps: She replaced Robin Mattson as psycho Heather.</p>
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<p>In a blink-and-you-missed-it cameo, the original cast member — aka Nurse Judy Clampett in the old days — popped up as a Metro Court patron in September 2022.</p>
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<p>You didn’t <em>really</em> think that Esme’s tumble off of Wyndemere’s parapet would be the end of her, did you? No, no, no. The she-devil was set to make her Port Charles comeback just in time for Halloween.</p>
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<p><em>General Hospital</em> didn’t have to think too hard about whom to bring in when Amanda Setton needed a sub for a day as Brook Lynn in October 2022. The show just called Lane, who’d also spelled Setton during her maternity leave two years prior.</p>
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<p>Dead schmead. Nelle was set to raise hell anew in September 2022 thanks to a short-term return by her Emmy-winning portrayer.</p>
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<p>To the delight of Yuri fans, Brook Lynn and <span style="text-decoration: line-through">Bailey’s</span> Lu’s beefy bodyguard made a surprise appearance at the Quartermaines’ charity picnic in August 2022.</p>
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<p>The fall of 2022 promised to bring with it not only the change of seasons but the long-awaited return of Holly. “No one,” said her portrayer, “is more interested in what’s happened to her since we saw her two years ago, being held captive by a mysterious villain, than me!”</p>
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<p>In June of 2022, the son of Maurice Benard (Sonny) made another guest appearance as Adam — basically so that Josslyn’s skeevy classmate could apologize for their <em>last</em> interaction.</p>
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<p>When COVID concerns sidelined Chad Duell, <em>Young & Restless</em>’ former Noah suited up to temporarily take his place. Note: Despite what these pictures suggest, the suit was not a tuxedo.</p>
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<p>A photo taken in May 2022 at the soap’s 15,000th episode celebration on the set revealed that Cyrus would soon be back in action. And by “in action,” we mean of course “making trouble.”</p>
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<p>Tongues wagged in May 2022 when the <em>One Life to Live</em> vet — Cutter in his Llanview days — was tapped to play a mystery man who sounded a <em>lot</em> like the “late” Jason (but turned out to be Dante’s old pal, Cody).</p>
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<p>Ever since Jason’s latest “death,” Port Charles had been short a bit of T-shirt-clad muscle. Enter this head turner as Dex, who seemed less likely to pick up the nickname Stone Cold than Red Hot.</p>
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<p>Developments don’t get much more, ahem, <em>arresting</em> than this: The soap rookie was recruited in March 2022 to play Rory, the newest cop on the PCPD. One of the cutest, too.</p>
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<p>Reporting for duty at the Port Charles Police Department in March 2022 was the third actress to play Jordan (following Briana Nicole Henry and Vinessa Antoine).</p>
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<p>In the spring of 2022, the daytime newcomer took over the role of Trina from Sydney Mikayla, who bid adieu to Port Charles to focus on college. Need we mention that Ali also rocked it? ’Cause she did.</p>
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<p>When has a little thing like “death” ever slowed down Helena? The Cassadine clan’s malevolent matriarch resurfaced via a prerecorded message to crash longtime foe Luke’s memorial service.</p>
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<p>We were as excited to have the <em>General Hospital</em> legend back on screen in early January 2022 as we were crushed by the news that Tracy brought with her: Luke was really, most sincerely dead.</p>
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<p>In November 2021, the veteran actress revealed that she was not only returning as Felicia, she was doing so on contract. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of that family once again,” she said.</p>
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<p>When at last Brad was sprung from prison, Britt’s bestie was free once again to roam the streets of Port Charles. Wait, is that a good idea? Shouldn’t he be chaperoned by a responsible adult?</p>
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<p>In October 2021, we learned that the mystery man who’d been keeping a watchful eye on Curtis and Portia was none other than the club owner’s better-“late”-than-never father, Marshall.</p>
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<p>When “ill-fated” Drew was resurrected in August 2021, it wasn’t with the face of previous portrayer Billy Miller but that of the <em>All My Children</em> vet who had played Ryan.</p>
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