As the series prepares to launch its ninth season later this year, “The Bay” will honor the life of the late actress Jacklyn Zeman with a special standalone tribute episode.
Zeman, who portrayed psychic medium Sofia Grace Madison on the series from 2012 until her untimely passing in May 2023 following a short battle with cancer, is most famously known for portraying Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer on “General Hospital.”
While there is no set airdate, the episode aptly titled “Sofia” will celebrate the character and Zeman and features several guest stars that “meant something to Jackie’s legacy,” shares series creator, executive producer and head writer Gregori J. Martin.
As previously reported, Dee Wallace (“E.T.,” “General Hospital”), who played opposite Zeman on “General Hospital” during a brief story arc in 2015 where she appeared as Pat Spencer, older sister of Luke (Anthony Geary) and Bobbie, will play Charlotte Grace, Sofia’s sister who moves to Bay City from New Orleans to help launch a Romantica fragrance line in Sofia’s honor called Mystic during a special gala.
Another “General Hospital” connection set to appear on “The Bay” includes Tamara Braun (currently starring on “Days of our Lives”), who played Zeman’s on-screen daughter Carly Corinthos on the ABC soap. Braun is set to play Rita “Elise” Kennedy, a blind woman given the gift of sight after receiving Sofia’s donated corneas. As a result, Elise begins having visions like Sofia. She helps Pete Garrett (Kristos Andrews) solve a mystery through her miraculous visions.
“Knowing how special Tamara was to Jackie, I created the role of Elise specifically for her,” Martin said of Braun’s casting while adding it was veteran daytime scribe Michele Val Jean (“General Hospital,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”) who helped in naming the character after Zeman’s mother, Rita, and her two granddaughters. “I knew whatever name we gave this character had to be something extra special to Jackie,” said Gregori of the decision.
Leigh McCloskey (“Dallas”), who played opposite Zeman as Damian Smith in the early to mid-1990s on “General Hospital,” is set to appear on “The Bay” as Hank Henderson, Sofia’s much-discussed but never-before-seen first husband, who is also the father of her two daughters, Riley and Tandi Jo Henderson.
“I needed a distinguished actor and the right one to play Sofia’s first husband,” said Martin of casting McCloskey. “I heard wonderful things about Leigh and how his spirit and energy were, in many ways, similar to Jackie’s. It was an absolute pleasure working with Leigh and seeing him bring the character of Hank to life. It simply made this episode all the more special.”
Speaking of Tandi Jo, actress Emmie Romanovich, who originated the role in 2012, will return as Sofia and Hank’s youngest daughter. “Emmie was only twelve when she appeared in the early episodes of ‘The Bay,'” says Martin, adding, “I remember how fond Jackie was of working with Emmie. While Emmie, now an adult, has not been in front of the camera since then, I knew having her reprise the role of Tandi Jo was exactly what Jackie would have wanted. She was phenomenal as she slipped right back into it!”
Fans of “The Bay” can look forward to seeing McCloskey and Romanovich’s characters interact with words written by Cassidy and Lacey Rose, Zeman’s real-life daughters. The episode will also include a collage of never-before-seen images and home video clips courtesy of Zeman’s family.