Jonathan Frakes (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”) is set to present Genie Francis (“General Hospital”) with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Honor during “The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards,” taking place on Friday, October 30, at the historic Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, CA.
Frakes, who has been married to Francis since May 1988, and with whom he shares two children, is best known for his portrayal of William Riker in several “Star Trek” shows and movies, including the Paramount+ original “Star Trek: Picard,” a follow-up series to “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which starred Patrick Stewart in his return as Captain (now Admiral) Jean-Luc Picard.
Earlier this year, Frakes launched a new podcast series alongside his former castmate Brent Spiner, titled “Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny.” In a recent episode, the two discussed with guest Michelle Hurd (“Star Trek: Picard”) how her first day on set at “Another World,” where she portrayed the role of Dana Kramer, was “absolutely terrifying,” while calling soaps a “training ground,” to which Frakes agreed, noting, “It’s the best. It’s the hardest job in the business. What you’re expected to do… and they get one take, and you’re done.”
Winning the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2007 for her portrayal of Laura Spencer, Francis, who joined the soap in 1977 as a teenage Laura Vining, will mark 50 years since making her daytime television debut in February 2027. The on-screen wedding between her character and Luke Spencer, portrayed by the late Anthony Geary, drew an average of 30 million viewers on November 16, 1981, and remains the most-watched and highest-rated single episode of a regularly scheduled daytime program. The episode featured a cameo by the late Elizabeth Taylor (“Cleopatra”), who originated the role of Helena Cassadine.
In addition to “General Hospital,” Francis has starred on other daytime soap operas over the years, including her portrayal of Ceara Connor on “All My Children,” Diana Colville on “Days of Our Lives,” and Genevieve Atkinson on “The Young and the Restless.”
“I want to offer my deepest gratitude to the leadership of NATAS for honoring me with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Francis last month upon learning she was receiving the recognition. “This February marks 50 years since I first portrayed Laura on ‘General Hospital.’ Stepping onto that set at just 14, I could never have imagined the extraordinary journey that lay ahead. I am deeply grateful to have been welcomed onto your television screens and into your homes for five decades; for the love, support, and loyalty I’ve been given; and for the privilege of being a small part of your lives.”
“Thank you to NATAS, my colleagues, the daytime community and, most of all, the viewers,” continued Francis. “My career in daytime television has truly been the adventure of a lifetime, and I am deeply honored by this recognition.”
Outside of daytime, Francis made her television acting debut in 1976, appearing in two episodes of the primetime series “Family” when she was just 13 years old. Throughout the 1980s, she starred in several miniseries, including the “North & South” and “Bare Essence” series of TV movies, while appearing as a guest star in numerous television shows, including “Hotel,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Glitter,” and “The New Mike Hammer.” In the 1990s, she appeared in several popular primetime comedies such as “Roseanne,” “Cybill,” and “3rd Rock from the Sun,” among others. Her other credits include “Roswell,” “Oh, Baby,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and the Hallmark movies “The Note” and “Notes from the Heart Healer,” among others.
Stage work includes productions of “Crimes of the Heart,” the world premiere of “Defying Gravity” at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the off-Broadway production of “The Baby Dance” at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, which marked her New York City stage debut.
“The 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards” is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on October 30 and will encompass all categories, including creative arts, with “The Young and the Restless” leading all shows with 18 nominations, followed by “Beyond the Gates” with 15, “General Hospital” with 13, “Days of our Lives” with eight, and “The Bold and the Beautiful” with seven.
As previously reported, this year’s ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.