Jonathan Jackson returned to General Hospital — only to leave again just nine months later.
During the Wednesday, June 4, episode, Lucky (Jackson) proposed to Liz (Rebecca Herbst), but she turned him down because she didn’t think his life was in Port Charles. Lucky admitted the fictional New York city was “not his home anymore” before planning to leave town.
“I know it’s sudden,” he noted. “But being here, knowing that we can’t be together, it just hurts too much.”
Despite Jackson, 43, exiting the show — again — this isn’t the end for Lucky Spencer. Executive producer Frank Valentini released a statement to TV Insider, which read, “We were so glad Jonathan was able to reprise the role of Lucky, even if it was for a limited time.”
The statement continued: “We wish him nothing but the best, and the door is always open for Jonathan to return.”
Jackson made his General Hospital debut in 1993 when he was 10 years old. He appeared on the soap on and off until 1999, when he chose to step back for a decade. While Jackson returned in 2009, he left again two years later to star in Nashville, which ran for six seasons.
The actor was able to reappear on General Hospital for four special episodes in 2015 before reprising the role again in August 2024.
“I’m super excited, and I can’t wait to dig in and see what’s going on in Port Charles,” he said via Instagram. “I’m excited to see Genie Francis, obviously, and so many others. I just wanted to say thank you to all of the fans over the years. Your persistence and love has certainly played a part in all of this, so I just wanted to say thank you.”
Jackson hinted at how long he planned to remain in Port Charles, telling TV Insider that same month, “When I came back in 2015, that was just for a few episodes for Tony [Geary’s] exit, and this is not that. This is back in a substantial, real way, which I’m excited about.”
Jackson also expressed his excitement at his return.
“Working with Genie was a big personal incentive to come back because when I was there in 2010, 2011, Genie wasn’t on the show, and I always kind of felt like I missed out on working with her as an adult,” he continued. “So I’m very excited about that, obviously.”
One month before Jackson’s return, news broke that Rick Hearst would reprise his role as Ric Lansing on the ABC soap opera.
“It definitely came as a pleasant gift and a surprise,” Hearst, 60, said via Instagram in July 2024 “I’m looking forward to being able to take the story that’s going to be coming out. A lot of exciting stuff. Of course Ric tends to be in everybody’s business all at once. He always has his own agenda. It will be a lot of great and wonderful and exciting story points for you to follow. Please tune in.”
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and is available to stream on Hulu.
