CBS
Antonio Sabato Jr. is returning to primetime television to portray John “Jagger” Cates on the SOAPnet original series, “General Hospital: Night Shift,” a role he originated on ABC’s “General Hospital” in the early 1990s.
Jagger is said to be returning to Port Charles with his 5-year-old son, named after his late brother Michael “Stone” Cates, J.R. Whalen.
Stone died of AIDS in 1995 and was the love interest of “Night Shift” star Kimberly McCullough’s Robin Scorpio, who contracted the HIV virus from Stone after the two had sex.
Before joining “GH” in 1992, the now 36-year-old actor first gained international attention as a Calvin Klein underwear model and again in the sexually charged “Love Will Never Do (Without You)” music video with Janet Jackson. The video also included Djimon Hounsou, another CK model and actor whose television credits include stints in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “ER.”
Sabato Jr. left “GH” in 1994 to join the cast of the failed NBC primetime series “Earth 2” before returning to “GH” in the fall of 1995 when Jagger rode off into the sunset with his new wife Karen Wexler (then portrayed by Cari Shayne). The two headed to San Francisco, CA, where Karen went off to become a medical student, and Jagger joined the SFPD (San Francisco Police Department).
When “Night Shift” returns for its second season in late July, look for Sabato Jr. to appear in all 13 action-packed and adrenalin-filled batches of drama.
Also checking back into Port Charles, but on “Night Shift,” is Tristan Rogers, who originated the role of Robert Scorpio, father of Robin, in 1980. He portrayed this role for twelve years (until 1992) before returning for a brief stint in 2006. Robert’s return coincides with the impending birth of Robin’s baby with Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson) and the hopes of reconciling their strained relationship.
“General Hospital: Night Shift” airs this summer on SOAPnet. Check local listings.