Jonathan Jackson Returns to General Hospital
Emmy-Winning Actor Reprises His Role as Lucky Spencer
Oct 27, 2009
In 1999, General Hospital viewers were aghast: Lucky Spencer, son of legendary soap couple Luke and Laura, appeared to die in a fire, due to the departure of his fan-favorite portrayer, Jonathan Jackson.
During the last ten years, fans were somewhat mollified by the reveal that Lucky had not died, but was alive, well and recast. However, despite strong substitutions by actors Jacob Young and Greg Vaughn, fan sites and messages boards lit up with excitement on Oct. 13, 2009, when ABC announced Jackson's imminent return.
As the ABC press statement detailed, Jackson's return would be "sure to captivate the audience, and be pivotal to this ongoing love story between some of the show’s most popular characters.”
Where Has Jonathan Jackson Been?
When Jackson departed the soap, he left amid heavy speculation that he would star as Anakin Skywalker in George Lucas' Star Wars prequels. However, the role eventually went to Hayden Christensen, and Jackson had to pursue other opportunities.
His first post-GH movie role, the Al Pacino thriller Insomnia, hit theaters in 2002. Despite its A-list star roster, including Robin Williams and Hilary Swank, the film failed to make much of a splash.
Jackson followed Insomnia with the film adaption of Natalie Babbitt's popular novel, Tuck Everalasting. Unfortunately, the film flopped financially, and received lukewarm reviews.
Just prior to his daytime rebirth, Jackson could be seen on Fox's series, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles. His character, Kyle Reese, appeared in several episodes before Terminator's 2009 cancellation.
He also found time to wed fellow General Hospital alum Lisa Vultaggio in 2002. The couple has since had two children: Caleb, born in 2003 and Adora, born in 2005.
In addition to his family and acting, Jackson kept busy with a music career, frequently working alongside his brother, Richard Lee Jackson. The Jackson brothers have headlined several bands, most recently, Enation, which released its album Where The Fire Starts in 2007.
Catching up with General Hospital: Lucky Spencer's Storyline
When Jackson's first new episode airs, he'll find himself in a rather familiar setting, as Lucky reunites with longtime love Liz Weber, whom he started dating in the early years of Jackson's GH career. He'll also square off against his half-brother, Nikolas, in a battle for Liz's affections, which dredges up the love triangle first initiated with Jacob Young's Lucky.
During Young's tenure, Lucky also underwent a tangled brainwashing storyline, which culminated in the final battle in the long-standing Cassadine vs. Spencer feud. He also married and divorced Liz, and carried on romances with several Port Charles ladies.
From 2003 to 2009, Greg Vaughn turned the onetime teenage rebel into a cop, whose new (albeit inevitably short-lived) career path irked his father immensely. Lucky also found Liz again, though the two divorced quickly after remarrying. After a series of drugging storylines and kidnapping, the two once again united, shortly before Vaughn left the series.
Now re-engaged to Liz, Jackson returned with a cheeky "Remember me?" on Oct. 27. Watch his opening scenes here.
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