'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAIxAAAQMDAgcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAFEQYxBxIhIkFRgf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEE/8QAGBEAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAyH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AI/SvEvR1islqisWR9XLHLU0qisr7yOpGTleVezsflYpdJMV+5y3YkUNRnHlqabJOUIKiQN/AxSlVvawRp//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Soap operas have long been the breeding ground for Hollywood’s biggest stars, and General Hospital is no exception. For decades, this beloved daytime drama has introduced audiences to fresh talent, many of whom have gone on to reign on Primetime TV, especially over the last decade.
From heartthrobs and scandalous storylines to cult-classic performances on hit shows, these actors traded their stethoscopes for Hollywood notoriety. Whether solving crimes, ruling empires, or navigating supernatural realms, these GH alums have proven that daytime is just the beginning. Here are 15 General Hospital stars who skyrocketed to success in primetime.
Demi Moore
Before her status as Hollywood royalty, Demi Moore was lining her legacy in the world of soap operas. The 80s bore witness as a fresh-faced Moore landed a role on General Hospital, playing the troubled yet magnetic Jackie Templeton. However, Demi had bigger screens to conquer.
As the decade rolled on, she made a seamless transition to primetime and film, riding the wave of "Brat Pack" fame with hits like St. Elmo’s Fire before skyrocketing into superstardom with Ghost (1990). That single pottery-wheel scene? Iconic. Moore’s time under the spotlight had only just begun, as she went on to headlining major box-office hits like A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, and G.I. Jane, to name a few.
Richard Dean Anderson
From soap star to secret agent, such is the enduring cool of actor Richard Dean Anderson. Before he was disarming bombs with paper clips and escaping danger with duct tape ingenuity, Richard Dean Anderson was melting hearts at General Hospital. The Minnesota-born actor made his first splash as Dr. Jeff Webber, a role that had soap opera fans swooning in the late ‘70s.
In 1985, Anderson stepped into the shoes of the Swiss army knife-wielding secret agent MacGyver, the ultimate problem-solver, landing him the title of a pop culture icon, with “MacGyvering” becoming a cleverly referred verb. The 90s saw Anderson as Colonel Jack O’Neill in Stargate SG-1, the hit sci-fi series that gave him another decade-long reign on primetime.
John Stamos
John Stamos didn’t just step into Hollywood. He walked in with perfect hair and an impactful charisma, making him an instant heartthrob. General Hospital in the early 80s encountered Stamos in his breakout role as Blackie Parrish, which turned him into a soap opera sensation practically overnight.
By 1987, Stamos had found his true calling in primetime as Uncle Jesse on Full House. His leather-jacket-clad, Elvis-loving, guitar-strumming alter ego became a cultural touchstone, turning the iconic “Have mercy!” into a household catchphrase.
Post-Full House, Stamos proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. From ER to Glee, Scream Queens to Big Shot, he’s spent decades effortlessly pivoting between drama and comedy and occasionally being seen on tour with The Beach Boys, drumming up nostalgia like only he can, proving that some stars don’t just shine, they glow.
Kim Delaney
Long before Kim Delaney became a household name in gritty police dramas, she was winning hearts in the daytime soap General Hospital. The year was 1981. Delaney, ambitious and full of promise, stepped into the soap opera arena with the kind of poise that made it clear that she was going places. By the late 80s, she was already testing the waters of primetime television when NYPD Blue hit the screens.
Delaney, proving her ingenuity was too immense to fit in just one-time slot, demonstrated her acting prowess in her rendition of Detective Diane Russell. Her raw, layered, and magnetic performances earned her an Emmy and immortalized her as one of television’s most compelling leading actors.
Ricky Martin
Before Ricky Martin had the world shaking its bon-bon, he was stealing hearts on General Hospital. In the early 90s, long before he set stadiums ablaze with his electrifying Latin pop, a young Martin played Miguel Morez, a brooding singer with a tragic love story. Acting as the perfect start-up act for a career that would explode beyond the small screen.
However, Martin’s unstoppable rise to fame came when he forged his destiny as a singer-songwriter. The late 90s witnessed hits like "Livin’ la Vida Loca" and "She Bangs," which turned him into a worldwide phenomenon.
By 2010, he returned to acting with an impactful role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. Playing Antonio D’Amico, Versace’s longtime partner, Martin delivered an emotionally charged performance that stunned audiences and critics alike.
Amber Tamblyn
Growing up in Hollywood, as the daughter of screen legend Russ Tamblyn, Amber got her big break at the young age of 11, playing Emily Quartermaine on General Hospital. Over six years, she won over soap audiences with a performance far beyond her years. Paving her way into Primetime, by 2003, Tamblyn landed a part in Joan of Arcadia, a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and solidified her name in the industry.
From there, Tamblyn made a dazzling legacy, catapulting between genres with horror hits like The Ring and The Grudge 2, teen classics like The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and even starring on the gritty TV show House and a sitcom, Two and a Half Men.
Jonathan Jackson
Bursting onto the soap opera scene at just 11 years old, Jackson’s portrayal of Lucky Spencer, on General Hospital, son of the legendary Luke and Laura, skyrocketed him into the fame of a daytime TV darling. His raw, emotional performances won him five Daytime Emmy Awards, cementing him as one of the genre’s brightest young stars.
He had a brief hiatus from General Hospital when he dabbled in music and films like Tuck Everlasting and Riding the Bullet before making his dramatic return on the show. Still, the pull of primetime was persistent for Jackson, and for his next act, he landed the role of Avery Barkley, a struggling singer-songwriter on ABC’s hit drama Nashville. This time, his real-life passion for music took center stage, earning him both critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.
Mark Hamill
Hamill played the role of Kent Murray on the Daytime soap General Hospital. Soon after, he landed guest roles on hit TV shows like The Partridge Family, The Bill Cosby Show, and Room 222. He also partook in voice acting in the 1970s and has had iconic roles tied to his name, such as the Joker in various DC animated series and the Hobgoblin in Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
Hamill shot into superstardom with his groundbreaking performance as Luke Skywalker, son of one of the best villains of all time, Darth Vader, in 1977 in the legendary franchise series Star Wars, officially trading in his surgical gloves as a soap star for a lightsaber. A role that not only benefitted his career but also redefined pop culture.
Kendrick Cross
Cross made a name for himself as Detective Calvin Bennet on the fast-paced world of daytime soap opera General Hospital, delivering gripping performances that quickly set him apart. But while General Hospital was his Launchpad, it was only the beginning.
Cross went on to star in hit series like Stranger Things as Agent Wallace, where his steadfast, determined acting added to the show's action-packed, nostalgic quality. Continuing to embellish his already impressive roster with appearances in acclaimed series such as Ambitions and Saints & Sinners, Cross showcased his range, from intense drama to heartfelt monologues, and continues to leave behind an indelible legacy on PrimeTime TV.
Wally Kurth
Best known for his unforgettable run as the suave, smooth-talking Ned Quartermaine on General Hospital, Kurth became a daytime dreamboat, balancing boardroom drama with the kind of romantic rendezvous only soaps could deliver.
He also played Justin Kiriakis on Days of Our Lives. However, while many stars struggle to break free from their daytime roots, Kurth’s transition to primetime was anything but a fleeting cameo; he left his impression in shows like NCIS and Law & Order: LA, proving his mastery in grittier, fast-paced narratives.
Meghan Markle
Long before the tiaras, tabloid wars, and royal rifts, Meghan Markle made her TV debut playing Nurse Jill on General Hospital in 2002. Markle hustled through Hollywood’s casting gauntlet, landing guest spots on CSI: NY, 90210, and Fringe, finally stepping into the impeccably tailored pencil skirts of Rachel Zane on USA Network’s Suits in 2011.
As the whip-smart, ambitious paralegal, Markle became a fan favorite, proving she had both charm and screen presence to hold her own in a male-dominated legal drama.
Maurice Benard
Benard has won numerous awards, including three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2003, 2019, and 2021. He is best known for his role as the multi-layered Mob boss Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital.
Launching himself into Primetime as a daytime legend, Benard made a chilling impression as Desi Arnaz Sr. in the 1991 biopic Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter and delivered action-packed performances in crime dramas like Castle, NCIS: Los Angeles, and CSI: NY.
Vanessa Marcil
Vanessa Marcil was already a queen of daytime television with her unforgettable entrance into General Hospital in the 90s as Brenda Barrett, an endlessly complicated character with her smoldering screen presence and irresistible chemistry with her co-stars.
Her quickly rising fame and acclaim made Hollywood take notice, with Marcil making a splash in Beverly Hills as Gina Kincaid, a role that let her sink her teeth into the world of scheming, heartbreak, and fashion.
With the airing of Las Vegas, playing the sharp, stunning casino host Sam Marquez, opposite James Caan and Josh Duhamel, proving Marcil was made for the big leagues of network television.
Sarah Brown
Revolutionizing the role of Caroline "Carly" Benson, Brown first stepped onto the set of General Hospital in 1996. Carly was a convoluted antagonist, a woman whose every move was a mixture of survival instinct and agonizing desperation. Subsequently, it was the sensitivity with which she articulated the character that set Brown apart from her forerunners.
Her phenomenal efforts earned her three Daytime Emmy Awards, including the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Brown set her sights on primetime, trading the hospital hallways for high-stakes dramas, by playing complex roles in shows like Without a Trace to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of Our Lives, and Cold Case.
Emma Samms
Trending
Samms wasn’t just another face in the soap opera universe but a blinding phenomenon that took her from Daytime Darling to Primetime Powerhouse. Making her first appearance on General Hospital in 1982 as the enigmatic Holly Sutton, Samms brought with her an alluring blend of British charm and irresistible intrigue that had fans glued to the screens.
In the mid-80s, Samms took her star presence to primetime, stepping into Dynasty's glamorous, cutthroat world as Fallon Carrington Colby. Samms carved a niche TV bubble outside the soap circuit, popping up in beloved series from Murder She Wrote to Models Inc., Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The Colbys, a Dynasty spinoff.
Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation
