10 times General Hospital fans were shocked by a back from the dead moment

For over 50 years, General Hospital has been thrilling audiences with its complex storylines, mind-boggling plot twists, and memorable characters. It is best known for making someone disappear for a couple of years by declaring them dead and then shocking the fans by miraculously bringing them back on the show again. This is a classic theme in soap operas.

Be it cunning villains or some of the most beloved personas, General Hospital has brought back several characters from the dead, often with a dramatic buildup and an air of suspense. The nail-biting tension has always kept us on the edge of our seats. Here are 10 famous General Hospital characters who made a reappearance on the show after fans had made their peace with their death.

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Jason Morgan

The character of Jason Morgan, portrayed most famously by Steve Burton, was on General Hospital for the longest time. However, in 2012, fans thought they had lost one of their most beloved characters forever when Jason was shot and pushed into the water by the wicked Cesar Faison.

After going missing for two whole years, we learn that he was actually detained by Victor Cassadine, who had kept him in a cryogenic state. Once Jason was brought back to life, he had to go through some pretty wild surgeries, including a complete facial reconstruction. He also suffered from amnesia for some time. After a lot of twists and turns, Jason finally reunited with his longtime lover, Sam McCall.

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Luke Spencer

Luke Spencer is one of the oldest names on the famous soap opera General Hospital. Played by Anthony Geary, Luke's character is best known for his pairing on the show with Laura Webber whom he married in 1981. However, after the sudden disappearance of Laura, fate (well, showwriters), had other plans for Luke. He met Holly in the early 2000s and instantly fell in love with her.

It is during this time Luke was reported to have died in an avalanche, and a grief-stricken Holly found comfort in his best friend, Robert Scorpio. They had no idea that Luke was only severely injured in the catastrophe and not dead. His return to Port Charles was marked by complex twists and heated confrontations in the married life of Holly and Robert, but despite all the emotional upheaval, Holly chooses to stay with Robert. After a more dramatic turn of events, Laura reappears on the show and in Luke’s life, claiming she was held captive by the Cassadine family. Later, the long-lost lovers rekindle their bond.

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Rick Webber

Doctor Rick Webber’s journey in General Hospital was no less than a rollercoaster, with the classic twist of coming back to life from the dead. The character was most popularly portrayed by Chris Robinson. Rick was involved in a love affair with Dr. Monica Bard when he first disappeared during his sabbatical in Africa. It was assumed that he had died in a plane crash.

To make things more intense, his lover, Monica, had tied the knot with his younger brother, Jeff Webber. So, when Rick was revealed to be alive, it not only resulted in Monica and Jeff’s relationship falling apart but also caused a series of emotional dramas in the lives of the three. Rick then found himself falling in love with the recently widowed Dr. Lesley Faulkner, whom he went on to marry later that year.

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Duke Lavery

Duke Lavery’s character, primarily played by Ian Buchanan, is known for his romances and mysterious disappearances on the popular soap opera General Hospital. He ran a local nightclub in Port Charles, and his romantic involvement with the Police Chief, Anna Devan, quickly became a sensational plot twist to the audiences. When Duke was falsely accused of trying to kill Burt Ramsey, Anna's co-chef officer, he took Robert Scorpio’s help to fake his own death and bring down Ramsey.

Duke also had a criminal history, as he was involved with the mob. However, after falling for Anna, he tried to demolish it by testifying against the members. To keep his family and loved ones safe from the repercussions, he once again faked his death in an explosion. During his disappearance this time, a character named Jonathan Paget came to Port Charles and in Anna’s life, disguising himself as Duke (through plastic surgery, of course) only to be killed in seven weeks by the criminal Julian. After a few years, when the danger had died down, Duke shocked everyone with his return.

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Anna Devane

Anna Devane remains one of the most iconic characters in General Hospital. Portrayed by Finola Hughes, her journey as a WSB agent has been full of ups and downs, keeping fans glued to the screen. In the early 1990s, it was presumed that Anna, along with her ex-husband, Robert Scorpio, and their enemy, Cesar Faison, had perished in a devastating boat accident. As a result of this tragic turn of events, Anna and Robert’s daughter, Robin, grew up as an orphan. However, when Anna reappeared again after almost a decade, it was not only a shock to the people of Port Charles but also to the audience.

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Brenda Barrett

Brenda Barrett was a famous character in General Hospital, mostly because of her intense story arcs. Played by Vanessa Marcil, she is also well known for her romantic relationships, first with the mobster Sonny Corinthios and then with the business tycoon Jasper Jacks (also called Jax). However, as Brenda and Jax count down the days to their wedding, Brenda’s mother, Veronica Wilding, visits the town to warn Brenda of a genetic, mental disease that she fears might have been passed on to her daughter.

Before Brenda could see the results of the test to know for sure if she truly possessed her mother's illness, she is assumed dead in a disastrous road accident, where Veronica drove her car off the cliff and into the ocean, with Brenda inside. Everyone believed that the two were lost forever. But destiny had a different course designed for Brenda, as she was rescued by Luis Alcazar and eventually brought back to Port Charles. This return evoked chaos and tension amidst her lovers, Jax and Sonny.

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Mac Scorpio

Mac Scorpio, portrayed by John J. York, is one of those characters in General Hospital you can't seem to forget. Mac’s relationship with his brother, Robert Scorpio, was strained from the very start, and there were several instances of heated confrontations between them. One time, they got into a fight on a ship, where Robert accidentally pushed Mac into the waters.

When his body was to be found nowhere, it was presumed that he was dead. Later, a remorseful Robert was shocked to learn that Mac was actually alive when the two crossed paths at Finger Lakes in New York. However, John J. York revealed in late 2022 that he was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple smoldering myeloma in real life, but nonetheless, he went on to deliver some amazing performances in the soap opera.

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Frisco Jones

Jack Wagner, in the role of Frisco Jones, delivers a phenomenal performance on General Hospital. Frisco was initially a lead singer of the band Blackie and the Riff Raff, but later he became a detective in Port Charles, serving in the WSB. Tragically, in the year 1988, it was believed that Frisco had been killed by a group of terrorists in an explosion in Quebec.

Frisco’s lover, Felicia Scorpio, remains heartbroken for some time, but then she decides to move on with Colton Shore, not aware of the fact that Colton was involved in Frisco's death. Upon Frisco’s sudden return to Port Charles, the long-separated couple find themselves entangled in a bittersweet reunion.

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Julian Jerome

Julian Jerome, one of the youngest members of the notorious Jerome crime family, was an extraordinary character in General Hospital. Played by William deVry, Jerome’s journey was full of complex twists, criminal activities, and family drama. He was first assumed dead when he took the bullet that was aimed at Duke during a mob fight. But it was only a deception. In 2013, Julian returned to the scene under the guise of Derek Wells. Thanks to extensive plastic surgery. Along with his sister, Ava, Juilan is determined to take back his family empire when, after an unexpected series of events, he also learns that Sam McCall is his daughter.

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Cesar Faison

Cesar Faison dodged death not once but twice in the American soap opera General Hospital. Faison’s character was primarily portrayed by Anders Hove. The first time he disappeared was in a boat accident with Robert Scorpio and Anna Devane. He reappeared again after several years. His obsession with Anna Devane made him commit unspeakable crimes.

The second time he was presumed dead was when his boat caught fire while he was trying to escape from the cops. After almost 12 years, he returned to Port Charles only to wreak more havoc on the town. This time, he disguised himself as Duke Lavery while holding the real Duke hostage. However, with his relentless villainy and multiple resurrections, Cesar Faison remains one of the most unforgettable characters throughout the show.