It’s been nine years since Lucky Spencer last stepped foot in Port Charles, and now original portrayer Jonathan Jackson is set to reprise the role beginning Friday, August 23 on “General Hospital.”
Jackson, who began playing Lucky in 1993, and has won five Daytime Emmy awards for his portrayal, spoke with TV Guide as featured in the magazine’s August 26-September 15, 2024 triple issue (Fall Preview), on newsstands now, about his return to the series, what factored into his decision, and what fans can expect from his character this time around.
First things first: Jackson is back on a long-term contract.
“When I came back in 2015, that was just for a few episodes,” Jackson noted of his most recent stint on the show. “This is not that. This is back in a substantial, real way, which I’m excited about.”
Crediting on-screen mother Genie Francis (Laura Collins) for being on canvas as one of the key factors that led to him deciding to return to the series, Jackson shares that he missed working alongside the actress and that both Francis and former on-screen father Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer) had a tremendous impact on his career.
“Working with Genie was a big personal incentive to come back,” Jackson explained to the outlet. “When I was there in 2010, 2011, Genie wasn’t on the show and I always felt like I missed out a little bit with working with her as an adult, so I’m very excited about that.”
“Starting at 11, being under the care and mentorship of Tony and Genie was really one of the greatest gifts of my life,” said Jackson, recalling his early beginnings on the series. “I couldn’t imagine a better situation to be able to learn. I’ve said this to Tony, but it’s true: He’s with me in every scene that I do, in any project that I do, and it’s the same for Genie.”
As for Lucky and what brings him back to Port Charles, Jackson teases that the character hasn’t just been sitting in an apartment and writing a novel, “He’s been up to stuff. In some ways, I would say he’s the most like Luke that he’s ever been.”
Jackson returned to the Prospect Studios in Hollywood where the series tapes on Monday, August 5. In a social media post, the series said, “We are so very lucky (see what we did there) to have @JonathanJackson back in the building… and you won’t have to wait long to see what he has in store for Port Charles.”
To find out what Lucky has been up to and where he’s going next, make sure to tune into “General Hospital,” weekdays on ABC. You can also read more from Jackson’s TV Guide interview by picking up the magazine on newsstands now.