General Hospital's Ric Lansing reporting for business
The long-awaited return of General Hospital star Rick Hearst finally arrives this week as Ric Lansing begins his latest stint in Port Charles the week of August 19, according to Soap Opera Digest.
Hearst's return to GH was announced back in July after the character had not been seen on-screen since 2016. Hearst is also known to soap fans as Days of our Lives' Scotty Banning, Guiding Light's Alan-Michael Spaulding, and The Bold and the Beautiful's Whip Jones. On General Hospital, he began playing Sonny's half-brother, Ric, in 2002.
The last time Ric had a major story was in 2015, when he married Nina Reeves for her money; had an affair with her mother, Madeline Reeves; and became a suspect in the murder of Nina's first husband, Silas Clay.
What Ric will be doing during his return stint remains to be seen, but his daughter, Molly Lansing-Davis, really needs a dad right now. With GH teasers saying Molly gets some much-needed support on Thursday, it seems logical that Ric is that support.
At the moment, Molly is beginning to suspect that Kristina had more to do with the fall that killed the baby Kristina was carrying than even Kristina believes. Molly already noted to Alexis that Kristina is frequently coddled by those around her, so maybe Molly needs a parent around who will take her side and not just Kristina's.
Rick Hearst bonds with his "daughter"
When Hearst last played Ric, Molly was still a teenager and was played by Haley Pullos. Now, she is a grown woman and prosecuting attorney played by Kristen Vaganos. Hearst recently took in a performance of Vaganos' new play, Human Error, in Los Angeles and praised his on-screen daughter on Instagram.
"It’s funny one day you wake up and you realize you’re the elder statesman in the middle of all the bright young talent," Hearst wrote alongside a photo of the play's flyer, as well as a snap of Hearst, Vaganos, and fellow cast members Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford), Kate Mansi (Kristina Corinthos-Davis), Tajh Bellow (T.J. Ashford), and Giovanni Mazza (Gio Palmeri).
"It’s a beautiful place to be," Hearst continued. "Thanks for a fun night out guys! Hats off to my TV daughter Kristen Vaganos for her hilarious performance in the Rogue Theater Machine Company production of HUMAN ERROR now playing at the Matrix Theater in Los Angeles. Run, don’t walk to catch this limited engagement."
It sounds like Hearst and Vaganos have developed a rapport as an on-screen father-daughter team. Expect to see them in action later this week, as Molly's life feels like it's coming apart at the seams.
Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.
