GENERAL Hospital has announced a major cast shakeup with the addition of a soap opera legend for the new season.
The long-time series premiered its 63rd season earlier this month.
A soap opera legend has joined the General Hospital cast, according to new reports[/caption]
Actress Erika Slezak has appeared in a teaser for this week’s episodes[/caption]
Erika is a six-time Daytime Emmy winner[/caption]
While devoted watchers weren’t sure what to expect from the ABC drama in upcoming episodes, they’d suspected that iconic soap opera star Erika Slezak might be a part of it.
General Hospital fueled rumors when it hinted that a character with a shocking connection to the Quartermaine family was set to arrive in Port Charles.
Chatter suggested that Erika could portray the late Monica Quartermaine’s sister, played by Leslie Charleson.
Their suspicions about Erika joining the cast were confirmed earlier this week when Soap Opera Digest revealed that the 6-time Emmy Award-winning star will appear in the new season.
They announced that Erika’s character turns up at the Quartermaines’ home and is found by a stunned Tracy, played by Jane Elliot.
General Hospital also shared a teaser for this week’s episodes on its official YouTube channel, offering a glimpse of the shocking moment.
Fans were ecstatic about Erika’s return to daytime TV and expressed their excitement in the comments.
“Bringing Erika Slezak to Port Charles is beyond amazing,” one person wrote.
“OMG!! Erika Slezak is coming as Monica’s long-lost sister on ABC’s General Hospital this week!!” someone else predicted.
“So looking forward to having Erika Slezak join the cast of General Hospital,” added another.
Erika was a staple in the soap-opera circuit, having starred on One Life to Live from 1971 until the show’s finale in 2012.
She reprised her role the following year online for the series’ revival but hasn’t been on daytime television since.
Instead, the actress has been focusing on other TV and film roles, such as a recurring role in Blue Bloods in 2022, a guest appearance in the movie Guest Artist (2019), and a starring role in Next Stop, Christmas (2021).
General Hospital also has several other cast changes for this season, including Finn Carr, played by Rocco Falconeri, who was previously thought to be dead.
General Hospital cast
General Hospital has been on air since the early 1960s.
The cast of the iconic soap opera includes:
- Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos)
- Chad Duell (Michael Corinthos)
- Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Corinthos)
- Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford)
- Josh Swickard (Harrison Chase)
- Gregory Harrison (Gregory Chase)
- Michael Easton (Hamilton Finn)
- Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones)
- Dominic Zamprogna (Dante Falconeri)
- Kelly Monaco (Samantha McCall)
- Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth Webber-Baldwin)
- Cynthia Watros (Nina Reeves)
- Maura West (Ava Jerome)
Celebrity appearances:
- Demi Moore (1982-1984)
- Meghan Markle (2002)
- Mark Hamil (1972)
- Kristin Davis (1991)
- Eva Longoria (2000)
- George Takei (1985)
- Elizabeth Taylor (1981)
Gary James Fuller, portrayed by James West, will also have an in-depth storyline with the continuation of the mystery surrounding the injured man in the hospital.
Robert Gossett, played by Marshall Ashford, is also back in town, as the traveling musician reunites with his family members.
Michael E. Knight (Martin Grey) also entices fans with his mysterious phone call, and Rena Sofer (Lois Cerullo) makes a surprise appearance at the Quartermaine’s residence.
Additionally, Vernee Watson (Stella Henry) will be in some scenes at the nurses’ hub, rounding up this season’s cast shakeups.
Erika starred on One Life to Live for decades before moving onto other projects[/caption]
She recently had a recurring role on Blue Bloods[/caption]
