Over two episodes airing on Wednesday, January 10 and Thursday, January 11, “General Hospital” will celebrate the life of the late Jacklyn Zeman and her iconic character, Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer. In May, Zeman passed away after a short battle with cancer. She was 70 years old.
According to PEOPLE, which first reported the news, the show’s viewers and the citizens of Port Charles will learn of Bobbie’s passing next week, unintentionally bringing sadness to their world as a new year begins.
“When we shot the memorial, the entire cast was there. And it wasn’t just for Bobbie; it was for Jackie as well,” said Laura Wright, who plays Carly Spencer, Bobbie’s daughter on the show, in previewing the story to PEOPLE. “I mean, walking on set and seeing her photo, seeing all the pamphlets of like when you come to a memorial or a celebration of life, the pamphlet speaking about the individual and who is going to speak, it was bittersweet. It was about Jackie and everyone was so present. … It was like we as a cast got to really say goodbye.”
The two episodes will be “filled with twists and feature lots of surprises that make the most of the show’s history,” the show teases for what fans can expect.
In addition to seeing several current characters remembering their beloved friend and family member, the show has also tapped Ryan Carnes to reprise his role as Lucas Jones, Bobbie’s adopted son with Tony Jones (played by Brad Maule). Outside of Carnes, PEOPLE noted that “a stranger’s surprise arrival unearths a shocking secret — and kicks off a mini adventure for [Carly and Felicia; Kristina Wagner] in Amsterdam, where they attempt to take care of Bobbie’s unfinished business.”
Zeman made her debut as Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer in 1977. She received four Daytime Emmy Award nominations for her portrayal (1981, 1995, 1997 and 1998) along with a fifth overall nomination in 2021 for her portrayal of Sofia Madison on “The Bay.” Before making a name for herself on “General Hospital,” Zeman had roles in “The Edge of Night” and “One Life to Live.”
“Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and true professional that brought so much positive energy with her to work,” said the show’s executive producer Frank Valentini in announcing Zeman’s passing last May. He added, “Jackie will be greatly missed, but her positive spirit will always live on with our cast and crew. We send our heartfelt sympathy to her loved ones, friends, and family, especially her daughters Cassidy and Lacey.”
For fans wondering why the show took so long to celebrate Zeman and her character, that can be attributed to the since-concluded Writers Strike, which lasted from early May to the end of September. With the show’s head writers, Dan O’Connor and Chris Van Etten, unavailable to write episodes for the series throughout the duration of the strike, the show solicited Fi-Core writers during their absence. As a result, producers preferred to wait out the strike until their return to properly pay tribute to the actress.
Returning to the writer’s room almost immediately after the strike ended, both writers’ names reappeared in the show’s credits, starting with the Monday, December 18 episode, with one of the first writing priorities to honor Zeman and her character.