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The Altogether Unexpected Upside of the Recent General Hospital Exits
Saturday, December 18th, 2021
And believe it or not, there is an upside.
Look, none of us jump for joy when an actor whose work we like leaves their show. No matter the reason, the result is the same: We won’t be seeing a character that we enjoyed anymore. (Or if we do, they’ll have a new face.) But with the recent shakeup at General Hospital, we’ve also been shown a silver lining among the dark clouds.
More: General Hospital alum shares good news
We can see your expressions getting more skeptical by the second — yes, even through the computer screen. “What,” you ask, “might that silver lining be?”
A reminder that the soap — any soap, really — is bigger than any one person. Sure, it’s an adjustment to think of “stone cold” as a Port Charles weather forecast and not a black-T-shirt model. But we’re going to make it. We always do.
Remember, General Hospital has weathered the storm when the iconic Genie Francis has been away from her role of Laura. The show went on, and just fine, thank you, even after the retirement of Anthony Geary (ex-Luke). It survived the losses when Finola Hughes (Anna) took off in 1992, when Emma Samms’ exit broke up Robert and Holly, when Jack Wagner’s departure stuck a fork in Frisco and Felicia…
We could go on.
More: General Hospital star’s celebrity crush revealed
The point is, General Hospital is bigger than any actor or actors, any character or characters. It’s hard to imagine, we know, but yes, it could even endure without Maurice Benard as Sonny. Humble as he is, he’d probably say the same thing. If the show’s vital signs could remain stable even after it lost tentpole players like the late, great John Beradino and Emily McLaughlin as Steve and Jessie, fan favorites like Vanessa Marcil as Brenda, and even whole supercouples like Jason Thompson and Kimberly McCullough as Patrick and Robin, it can get through anything.
So take heart, General Hospital fans. Our soap is going to be not only fine but fine and dandy. Need further proof? The below photo gallery covering all the recent exits that both the show and viewers survived should do the trick.
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Image: ABC
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<p>“I just found out Scotty was written out,” tweeted the <em>General Hospital</em> icon on May 16. Not sure who was more shocked about that, either: him or us.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>TJ’s significant other was going to look a bit different over the summer of 2023. A car accident left Molly’s regular portrayer in need of a temporary recast while she was on the mend.</p>
Image: Greg Doherty/WireImage/Getty Images
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<p>The May 10, 2023 passing of the daytime legend meant that, sadly, Bobbie had attended her last Nurses Ball. Read what Zeman’s Port Charles family <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/671421/jacklyn-zeman-tribute-costars-memories/" target="_blank">had to say about her here</a>.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>This family photo was destined to look a bit different in the summer of 2023, after Kristina’s portrayer was replaced by <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ Kate Mansi (ex-Abigail).</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>That was fast. No sooner had <em>General Hospital</em> introduced Nathan Parsons’ replacement as Holly and Luke’s son Ethan than we were waving goodbye to the newcomer. Heck, we scarcely had time to add him to our Look Who’s Joining the Show photo gallery.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Just a couple of weeks before May sweeps, the soap vet, who had so thoroughly made the role of Victor his own, teased that he’d be getting “one of the greatest villain send-offs” ever. What could we say? We were going to hate to see him go but were dying to see how he’d leave!</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Ya mess with a Cassadine, ya get… Well, in Eileen’s case, thrown off a bridge. The shady deputy mayor paid with her life for her betrayal of Victor.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>When Cameron headed West to attend Stanford — what better way to forget Josslyn and how badly she broke his heart? — it appeared that we’d have to say goodbye to the rising star who’d played him for five years. At least for the moment.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Ah, Heather, ya brought a knife to a gunfight. So as February sweeps came to a close, the Hook killer was at last taken into custody. She <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/662857/general-hospital-alley-mills-leaving-heather-webber-arrested/" target="_blank">didn’t seem likely to <em>remain</em> in custody</a>, however. (Just sayin’.)</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Don’t worry — he remains in the thick of things as Kevin. But February sweeps marked the conclusion of his run as murderous Ryan, which he began back in 1992. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CpAkZ2MuG-j/" target="_blank">“The end has come,”</a> he Instagrammed.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>He put the “hit” in “pinch hitter.” In fact, the show’s substitute Nikolas <em>so</em> knocked it out of the park in the character’s last episodes in February that he got himself added to our photo gallery of soaps’ <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/soaps-temporary-recasts-best-worst-list-photos/" target="_blank">all-time best <span style="text-decoration: line-through">and worst</span> temporary recasts</a>.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>It was going to be a blue Christmas for fans of Nikolas’ third portrayer when the news broke in mid-December that his portrayer was on his way out as the Cassadine prince.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>What’s the <em>opposite</em> of a Christmas miracle? ’Cause that’s what poor Trina got when boyfriend Rory, ahem, got The Hook. On the plus side, now there was nothing and no one stopping her from acting on her feelings for Spencer.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>As November sweeps ended, so, apparently, did the veteran actress’ return engagement as Holly, who took her leave of Port Charles with yet another piece of lost love Robert’s heart in her hand.</p>
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<p>It appeared to be the end of an era in late October 2022, when the soap-hopper who’d played BLT-loving nutjob Heather since 1980 was replaced by <em>Bold & Beautiful</em> vet Alley Mills (Pam).</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Don’t panic. Brook Lynn’s portrayer isn’t <em>out</em>-out. She was just being replaced for a day in the fall of 2022 by Briana Lane, who also filled in when Setton was on maternity leave.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Brando could hold his own in the boxing ring, for sure. But in September of 2022, he learned the hard way that you don’t bring your fists to a hook fight.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Only two months after Britt’s portrayer won her first Daytime Emmy, her imminent exit was announced by our sister site <a href="https://deadline.com/2022/08/station-19-kelly-thiebaud-returning-abc-drama-eva-vasquez-season-6-1235094635/" target="_blank">Deadline</a> in an article revealing that she was returning to primetime’s <em>Station 19</em> as Eva.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI, ABC
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<p>There was disorder in the court in June of 2022, when suddenly <em>Young & Restless</em> vet Robert Adamson (ex-Noah) was filling in as Michael as the judge decided whether his son would be spending any time with grandma Nina.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>Only months after his leading lady had to be temporarily recast, the actor who brings Brando to life was spelled by Brad Schmidt.</p>
Image: ABC
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<p>Well, <em>that</em> was a short love story. Chet and Terry had just started dating when his sister arranged for him to get a job in Chicago. In real life, the character’s exit was necessitated by his portrayer’s move out of California.</p>
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<p>Once it was revealed that Harmony had killed Neil — <em>and</em> she offed his brother <em>and</em> was ready to do the same to Carly — the writing was on the wall for Willow’s “mother,” whom Sasha accidentally turned into a speedbump in May 2022.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>Less than a year after the youngster took over the role of Charlotte from Scarlett Fernandez, Valentin and Lulu’s daughter was shipped off to boarding school. Would the character come down with a case of SORAS? Tune in tomorrow…</p>
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<p>When the Emmy winner underwent what she jokingly called <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/626008/general-hospital-nancy-lee-grahn-warns-fans-back-surgery/" target="_blank">“a little back thingy surgery”</a> in the spring of 2022, the soap accommodated her absence by bringing in as a temp Stephanie Erb, who you may recall once played a GH patient named Camille on spinoff <em>Port Charles.</em></p>
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<p>When the soap’s longest-serving cast member was replaced by another actress in mid-March 2022, many a fan suffered the kinda palpitations that would make them a patient of Monica’s. But our heart rates all returned to normal once we took in the fact that the switcheroo was <em>extremely</em> temporary.</p>
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<p>“May the Force be with her” was all we could say as the UCLA freshman revealed in March 2022 that <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/624945/general-hospital-recasts-trina-tabyana-ali-sydney-mikayla-exits/" target="_blank">she was leaving her role of Trina</a> to focus on college. Tapped to pick up where the fan favorite left off in Port Charles was Tabyana Ali.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>After word began to spread in February 2022 that the actor was leaving his role of Shawn, he took to social media to make sure fans knew that he hadn’t been let go. “It was my decision to exit the show because of other obligations,” he tweeted, adding, “Who knows [what’s] to come in the future?”</p>
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<p><em>General Hospital</em> didn’t have to look far to find a sub for Sasha when her usual portrayer needed someone to fill in: The soap just slid her sister Helena into the role.</p>
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<p>During 2022’s February sweeps, it appeared once again that Peter had met his maker. And, as skeptical as we were, we had to consider the possibility that his reign of terror was really over when his portrayer Instagrammed that “it was one helluva ride.” (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/624120/general-hospital-wes-ramsey-goodbye-message-finola-hughes-leave/" target="_blank">Read his full statement here.</a>)</p>
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<p>She’d “urn’d” a break. Though we were psyched to have the <em>General Hospital</em> vet reprise her role of Tracy, even if she came bearing bad news (RIP, Luke), she wasn’t back to stay. Only a month later, Elliot took her leave.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>As when she tested positive for COVID in the summer of 2020, Sam’s portrayer was again briefly spelled by Lindsay Hartley (Theresa, <em>Passions</em>) when she sat out a few episodes in February of 2022.</p>
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<p>Fans flipped when suddenly, Ned and Olivia’s son Leo was being played by Isaiah Dell. But they needn’t have; it turned out to be a one-day thing in the winter 2022. <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/622087/general-hospital-easton-rocket-sweda-recast-returns-leo-falconeri/" target="_blank">Sweda had reclaimed his role</a> in time for Leo to watch Mom and Dad recommit to one another.</p>
Image: Todd Wawrychuk/ABC
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<p>Just before Christmas 2021, the 12-year-old who’d played Valentin’s daughter since 2016 revealed that <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/618103/general-hospital-scarlett-fernandez-out-charlotte-recast/" target="_blank">she was being recast</a>. “Playing Charlotte Cassadine was my favorite,” she said, “and I’m sad it’s come to an end.” Still, the youngster gave a kind shout-out to her successor. “I know,” she predicted, “the fans will support the new actor playing Charlotte.”</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Kids — sometimes, they grow up so fast; other times, they’re transformed into altogether different people. The latter was the case for Rocco in November of 2021 when Brady Bauer took over as Lulu’s son with Dante.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Just before Thanksgiving 2021, the Emmy winner revealed via social media that <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/614203/general-hospital-steve-burton-leaving-jason-morgan-vaccine-mandate/" target="_blank">he had been let go</a> from his role of Jason, “because of the vaccine mandate” put in place to protect the cast and crew from COVID-19. Nonetheless, “I’ll always be grateful for my time on <em>General Hospital</em>,” he said. “I grew up there.” He even hoped to return someday. “That would be an honor.”</p>
Image: Walt Disney Television
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<p>Perhaps not coincidentally, only weeks after <em>General Hospital</em> implemented a COVID-19 vaccine mandate to protect the cast and crew, our sister site <a href="https://deadline.com/2021/11/ingo-rademacher-general-hospital-last-airdate-set-1234870108/" target="_blank">Deadline</a> reported that the actor and anti-vaxxer who’d played Jax off and on for 25 years would last air by November’s end.</p>
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<p>In September of 2021, when Jordan was sent to Albany for treatment for renal failure and kidney damage, we assumed that she’d return — until, that is, her portrayer revealed that she had taken a bow and left the show. “I hope I brought something unique and honest to your beloved character,” she Instagrammed. “<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/609488/general-hospital-briana-nicole-henry-exits-jordan-ashford/" target="_blank">She’s one helluva woman</a>.”</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>When Laura left the canvas in the summer of 2021, the soap legend who plays her was quick to reassure the audience that she’d booked a return trip. “I am very much looking forward to spending the time with my family and relaxing a bit,” she told <a href="https://www.tvinsider.com/1009236/genie-francis-break-general-hospital-laura/" target="_blank"><em>TV Insider</em></a>. “I promise, though, I will be back to Port Charles before you know it.”</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>Aw, the Tan-O would never be the same after pancreatic cancer got the best of Lenny, who passed away in August of 2021.</p>
Image: Disney Channel
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<p>When Spencer revealed his face anew in July 2021, it was not that of the 16-year-old we’d watched play Nikolas’ son since 2013 — the character had been SORAS’d and recast. But his original portrayer had no regrets. As he tweeted, “It’s been a great run.” (<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/603731/general-hospital-nicolas-bechtel-leaving-spencer-cassadine-goodbye-message/" target="_blank">Read his full remarks here.</a>)</p>
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<p>Watch your… oops. In the June 3, 2021, episode of <em>General Hospital</em>, we learned that Finn had, erm, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/595062/general-hospital-wes-ramsey-exits-peter-august-falls-stairs-death/" target="_blank">“helped” down the stairs Peter</a>, the supervillain who’d just tossed away Chase’s one hope for a cure. And that was merely the latest and last of his offenses! (Till he returned alive and well, anyway.)</p>
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<p>“You’re killin’ us!” we cried while watching the March 9, 2021, episode of <em>General Hospital.</em> But, in fact, it was Franco that the soap was killing. Thankfully, his portrayer soon revealed to <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-roger-howarth-on-gh-status/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> that his exit would only be temporary.</p>
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<p>When COVID sidelined Jordan’s portrayer just after Thanksgiving in 2020, actress/dancer Tiffany Daniels (<em>La La Land</em>) was tapped to step in for a spell and keep Port Charles safe from crime. Or at least as safe as it ever is! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Now you see him, now you don’t. It seemed like Taggert’s portrayer had scarcely resurrected his character when <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/gh-temporarily-recasts-taggert/" target="_blank"><em>Soap Opera Digest</em></a> reported that the actor was being temporarily replaced in December 2020 by Asante Jones.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>Ahead of the November 23, 2020, episode of <em>General Hospital</em>, Dustin’s portrayer shared on social media that it was <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/584923/general-hospital-mark-lawson-exits-dustin-phillips-death/" target="_blank">“special to me.”</a> Little did we suspect at the time that the <em>reason</em> it was special was because it was going to mark the death of his character.</p>
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<p>The explosion that rocked the Floating Rib in November 2020 didn’t just blow up the bar, it obliterated the soap’s teen scene by claiming as a casualty Dev, the young pickpocket who was as good at stealing hearts as wallets.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>At first, the fan favorite toyed with viewers, dropping hints that no one could be sure really <em>were</em> hints that his stint as Julian was coming to an end. But when in November 2020 he made reference to <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/583447/general-hospital-william-devry-my-last-day/" target="_blank">“my last day,”</a> we couldn’t pretend anymore that the writing wasn’t on the wall.</p>
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<p><em>General Hospital</em> fans didn’t want to believe it was true when reports surfaced in the fall of 2020 that Lulu’s portrayer had been let go. While the actress hesitated to address the rumors, she did make one thing clear: <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/582695/general-hospital-emme-rylan-addresses-exit-rumors-lulu-sudden-trip/" target="_blank">“I did not choose this.”</a></p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>With no warning, Lucas’ longtime portrayer was simply… boom… replaced with <em>Chicago Fire</em> alum Matt Trudeau. The show didn’t even announce on the recast’s first day in November that “Today the role is being played by… ” It was just “Surprise!” And there he was.</p>
Image: ABC screenshot
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<p>In November of 2020, the daytime newcomer who spelled Amanda Setton as Brook Lynn during her maternity leave took <em>her</em> leave, setting the stage for her predecessor’s return. Ironically, as the character exited Port Charles, she did so toting around a pregnancy test.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>In November of 2020, the actress, who played Willow’s mother Harmony, shared that scheduling conflicts would prevent her from continuing in the role of the former Dawn of Day member. “But,” she added, “you never know <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/583631/general-hospital-inga-cadranel-exits-harmony/" target="_blank">what the future may bring</a>.”</p>
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<p>We all knew that Mike Corbin’s storyline would have an unhappy ending — not even General Hospital’s doctors can cure Alzheimer’s disease. But that in no way diminished the impact of the character’s heartrending last days with Sonny and their family in September 2020.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
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<p>After <em>General Hospital</em> sent Neil Byrne from Alexis’ bed to the grave in September 2020, the ill-fated shrink’s portrayer <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/579707/general-hospital-joe-flanigan-petition-rehire-save-neil/" target="_blank">thanked fans for petitioning the show</a> to resurrect his character. “I don’t know if it makes any difference,” he tweeted, “but I hope it does!”</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>No one believes that <em>General Hospital</em> troublemaker Nelle Benson is really, much less most sincerely, dead. But viewers still had to say goodbye, at least for a while, to her talented portrayer when the vixen plunged from a cliff in August 2020.</p>
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<p>In August of 2020, the <em>One Life to Live</em> alumna (as Kim) was just making herself at home as the latest Brook Lynn to hit Port Charles when she had to press “pause,” allowing Briana Lane to take over her role while she herself went on maternity leave.</p>
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<p>We would’ve liked to have seen Kim bounce back after losing son Oscar. But instead, her portrayer was let go, bringing to an end her second run on <em>General Hospital</em>. (You’ll recall, she’d previously played Carly between Sarah Brown and Jennifer Bransford.)</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
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<p>Disproving the theory that only the <em>good</em> die young, Sam introduced Dawn of Day guru Shiloh to his maker in the fall of 2019, cutting short a run that should’ve made his portrayer a modern-day answer to the late, great Roscoe Born (aka <em>One Life to Live</em> cult leader Mitch Laurence).</p>
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