General Hospital has promised that past favorites would return to the show -- and so far the show has delivered. Now, there is talk that Ian Buchanan might reprise the role of Duke Lavery. Buchanan was last seen on GH in 1989.
Is Ian Buchanan (ex-Duke Lavery) headed back to General Hospital as rumors suggest? If he is, the actor isn't letting on.
"My tweets are sealed," Buchanan wrote in response to fans' inquiries on Twitter.
News of Buchanan's possible return heated up when Soap Opera Network reported hearing rumblings that a deal might be in the making.
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"Rumor has it that Ian Buchanan [...] is heading back to ABC's General Hospital after a 23-year absence," the soap site stated.
There's just one wrinkle: Duke, then played by Greg Beecroft, died in Anna's arms in 1990.
Indeed, though Buchanan is widely known for his work on General Hospital, the actor appeared for only a three-year period in the 1980s. The actor first appeared in 1986, exiting in 1989. Buchanan's work isn't just confined to Port Charles.
In 1993, Buchanan began a six-year run as The Bold and the Beautiful's James Warwick. After leaving the show full-time in 1999, Buchanan returned occasionally for guest appearances on the CBS soap. He received a Daytime Emmy in 1997 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. From 2002 to 2003, Buchanan appeared as vampire Joshua Temple on GH's spinoff, Port Charles. Buchanan then moved on the play Gregory Madden on All My Children for a one-year period beginning in May 2005.
Buchanan just wrapped a short-term stint on Days of our Lives, where he has played Ian McAllister since February 2012. Buchanan taped his final appearance months ago, but the actor aired for the last time just this week due to DAYS' frenetic work schedule.
A General Hospital spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.
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