Jonathan Jackson Reveals What Brought Him Back to General Hospital

Jonathan Jackson, beloved for his portrayal of Lucky Spencer on ABC’s long-running soap opera General Hospital, received an unexpected parting gift following his most recent exit from the show last June. On Friday night, the respected actor earned his sixth Daytime Emmy Award—his third win in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series—solidifying his legacy as one of daytime television’s most celebrated performers.

Although Lucky’s storylines started and stalled throughout Jackson’s brief return, the actor says his primary motivation for coming back was fulfilled. Speaking to TV Insider after his Emmy win, Jackson revealed the one factor that mattered most: working with Genie Francis once again.

“One of the biggest motivations I had in terms of coming back was to work with Genie again,” Jackson shared, referring to Daytime Emmy winner Genie Francis, who plays Laura, Lucky’s mother.
“The last time I was here over a decade ago, Genie wasn’t on the show. I always felt like something was missing. I really wanted to get a chance to work with her at this stage in my life.”

Crafting His Emmy-Winning Reel

Though his latest stint didn’t lead to major long-term story arcs, Jackson still had powerful material to submit for Emmy consideration. He selected emotionally intense scenes, including:

• The prison sequence in which Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst) appears as an apparition while Lucky is dying

• The church confrontation with Laura after learning he was not a donor match for Lulu (Alexa Havins)

• A heartfelt reconciliation with his son Aiden (Colin Cassidy)

• A dramatic breakdown at Bobby’s Diner, during which he received a blistering reprimand from Cyrus (Daytime Emmy winner Jeff Kober) for years of absence in his children’s lives

The show later addressed Lucky’s strained bond with his sons by writing an exit story in which Aiden and Lucky leave town together to reconnect. Jackson expressed gratitude for that narrative choice.

“I was very grateful that they had a sense of conscience and reconciliation as a motivation in Lucky’s heart,” he said. “That meant a lot.”

Life Beyond Port Charles

Jackson’s schedule is packed following his GH departure. He is currently preparing for:

• A new album set for release on January 6

• Live performances in Nashville

• The Encore Tour across the United Kingdom, Germany, and Switzerland in the coming year

• Additional international touring dates

• Filming a new feature film in March

Despite his busy slate, Jackson isn’t ruling out future returns to General Hospital.

Would He Return Again? Jackson Says Yes—For One Special Story

While there are no immediate plans to reprise Lucky Spencer, the actor says he would happily return for a meaningful short-term storyline—specifically, a memorial honoring fan-favorite actress Denise Alexander, who played Dr. Lesley Webber, Laura’s mother and Lucky’s grandmother. Alexander passed away earlier this year.

If General Hospital chooses to write this loss into the show and invites him back to appear, Jackson says the answer is easy:

“Oh, yeah. I’d be honored.”