Photo above is of the cast and crew of General Hospital accepting the
"Outstanding Drama Series" Daytime Emmy Award in 2008.

Series Description

The General Hospital Soap Opera was a daytime drama series on ABC that was originally about the lives and loves of those people who work at General Hospital but eventually evolved into a show that barely spent any time at the hospital and instead concentrated on the wealthy Quartermaine family, the mob and international conspiracies involving prior agent of the World Security Bureau.

General Hospital Cast

Maurice Benard .... Sonny Corinthos (1993-2010)
Steve Burton .... Jason Morgan (1991-2010)
Rebecca Herbst .... Elizabeth Webber (936 episodes, 1997-2010)
Ingo Rademacher .... Jasper Jacks (861 episodes, 1996-2010)
Laura Wright .... Carly Jacks (761 episodes, 2005-2010)
Nancy Lee Grahn .... Alexis Davis (767 episodes, 1996-2010)
Kelly Monaco .... Sam McCall (731 episodes, 2003-2010)
Tyler Christopher .... Nikolas Cassadine (736 episodes, 1996-2010)
Julie Berman .... Lesley Lu 'Lulu' Spencer (730 episodes, 2005-2010)
Bradford Anderson .... Damien Spinelli (618 episodes, 2006-2010)
Greg Vaughan .... Lucky Spencer (584 episodes, 2003-2009)
Kirsten Storms .... Maxie Jones (558 episodes, 2003-2010)
Anthony Geary .... Luke Spencer (559 episodes, 1978-2010)
Jason Thompson .... Dr. Patrick Drake (549 episodes, 2005-2010)
Kimberly McCullough .... Dr. Robin Scorpio (548 episodes, 1985-2010)
Rick Hearst .... Ric Lansing (534 episodes, 2002-2009)
Alicia Leigh Willis .... Courtney Matthews (525 episodes, 2001-2006)
Brandon Barash .... Johnny Zacchara (517 episodes, 2007-2010)
Tamara Braun .... Carly Corinthos (511 episodes, 2001-2005)
Ted King .... Lorenzo Alcazar (506 episodes, 2002-2007)
Natalia Livingston .... Emily Bowen Quartermaine (496 episodes, 2003-2009)
Robin Christopher .... Skye Quartermaine (456 episodes, 2001-2010)
Sarah Brown .... Claudia Zacchara (413 episodes, 1996-2009)
Kin Shriner .... Scott Baldwin (395 episodes, 1977-2008)
John Ingle .... Edward Quartermaine (383 episodes, 1993-2010)
Leslie Charleson .... Monica Quartermaine (366 episodes, 1977-2010)
Jane Elliot .... Tracy Quartermaine (358 episodes, 1978-2010)
Megan Ward .... Kate Howard (359 episodes, 2007-2010)
John J. York .... Mac Scorpio (356 episodes, 1991-2010)
Lindze Letherman .... Georgie Jones (331 episodes, 2002-2010)
Derk Cheetwood .... Max Giambetti (323 episodes, 2002-2010)
Sonya Eddy .... Epiphany Johnson (312 episodes, 2006-2010)
Lisa LoCicero .... Olivia Falconeri (292 episodes, 2008-2010)
Sebastian Roche .... Jerry Jacks (294 episodes, 2007-2009)
Carolyn Hennesy .... Diane Miller (283 episodes, 2007-2010)
Wally Kurth .... Ned Ashton (269 episodes, 1991-2007)
Chad Brannon .... Zander Smith (256 episodes, 2000-2009)
Dominic Zamprogna .... Dante Falconeri (255 episodes, 2009-2010)
Dylan Cash .... Michael Corinthos (252 episodes, 2002-2008)
Stuart Damon .... Alan Quartermaine (250 episodes, 1977-2008)
Jacklyn Zeman .... Bobbie Spencer (239 episodes, 1977-2010)
Billy Warlock .... A.J. Quartermaine (234 episodes, 2002-2003)
Minae Noji .... Dr. Kelly Lee (217 episodes, 2006-2010)
Ron Hale .... Mike Corbin (207 episodes, 1996-2010)
Nathan Parsons .... Ethan Lovett (197 episodes, 2009-2010)
Josh Duhon .... Logan Hayes (202 episodes, 2007-2008)
Lexi Ainsworth .... Kristina Corinthos-Davis (191 episodes, 2009-2010)
Blake Gibbons .... Mitchell Coleman (180 episodes, 2002-2010)
Scott Clifton .... Dillon Quartermaine (172 episodes, 2003-2007)
Claire Coffee .... Nadine Crowell (170 episodes, 2007-2009)
Drew Garrett .... Michael Corinthos (170 episodes, 2009-2010)
Genie Francis .... Laura Spencer (168 episodes, 1977-2008)
Vanessa Marcil .... Brenda Barrett (166 episodes, 1992-2003)
Stephen Macht .... Trevor Lansing (164 episodes, 2007-2009)
Bruce Weitz .... Anthony Zacchara (156 episodes, 2007-2010)
Stephen Martines .... Nikolas Cassadine (155 episodes, 1999-2003)
Cynthia Preston .... Faith Roscoe (155 episodes, 2002-2004)
Jason Cook .... Dr. Matt Hunter (150 episodes, 2008-2010)
Drew Cheetwood .... Milo Giambetti (145 episodes, 2003-2010)
Jonathan Jackson .... Lucky Spencer (143 episodes, 1993-2010)
Real Andrews .... Marcus Taggert (147 episodes, 2002-2003)
Jacob Young .... Lucky Spencer (146 episodes, 2002-2003)
Bergen Williams .... Big Alice Gunderson (125 episodes, 2002-2010)
Jack Wagner .... Andrew Jones (122 episodes, 1983-1995)
Lane Davies .... Cameron Lewis (120 episodes, 2002-2003)
Nazanin Boniadi .... Leyla Mir (119 episodes, 2007-2009)
Timothy Slaske .... Cop (115 episodes, 2004-2010)
Jason Gerhardt .... Cooper 'Coop' Barrett (113 episodes, 2007-2008)
Adrianna Leon .... Brook Lynn Ashton (111 episodes, 2004-2010)
Kristina Wagner .... Felicia Jones (110 episodes, 1983-2008)
Marisa Ramirez .... Gia Campbell (107 episodes, 2000-2002)
Richard Kelley .... Officer Jim Harper (107 episodes, 1983-2007)
Ryan Carnes .... Lucas Stansbury Jones #9 (100 episodes, 2004-2005)
George Juarez .... Morgan Corinthos (99 episodes, 2005-2009)
Kevin Bernhardt .... Series Reg O'Connor (98 episodes, 1984-1995)
Aaron Refvem .... Morgan Corinthos (93 episodes, 2009-2010)
A Martinez .... Roy DiLucca (92 episodes, 1999-2002)
Constance Towers .... Helena Cassadine (84 episodes, 2000-2010)
Brianna Brown .... Lisa Niles (83 episodes, 2010)
Adrian Alvarado .... Detective Cruz Rodriguez (83 episodes, 2005-2008)
Haley Pullos .... Molly Lansing-Davis (82 episodes, 2009-2010)
Annie Wersching .... Amelia Joffe (80 episodes, 2007)
John Bolger .... Mayor Garrett Floyd (78 episodes, 2006-2010)
Dahlia Salem .... Claire Walsh (78 episodes, 2010)
Brittney Powell .... Summer Holloway (78 episodes, 2002-2003)
Gildart Jackson .... Simon Prentiss (77 episodes, 1999-2001)
Scott Reeves .... Steve Webber (74 episodes, 2009-2010)
Ronnie Marmo .... Ronnie Dimestico (72 episodes, 2005-2010)
Lisa Vultaggio .... Hannah Scott (71 episodes, 1999-2001)
Braden Walkes .... Cameron Webber (71 episodes, 2003-2010)
Andrew T. Lee .... Marty (70 episodes, 2006-2009)
Jaime Ray Newman .... Kristina Cassadine (68 episodes, 2001-2003)
Stephen Nichols .... Stefan Cassadine (68 episodes, 2002-2003)
Kent King .... Dr. Lainey Winters (68 episodes, 2005-2010)
Finola Hughes .... Anna Devane (67 episodes, 1983-2008)
Robyn Richards .... Maxie Jones (65 episodes, 1993-2005)
Chad Duell .... Michael Corinthos (63 episodes, 2010)
Christian Alexander .... Kiefer Bauer (63 episodes, 2009-2010)
Gerald Hopkins .... A.J. Quartermaine (63 episodes, 1991-1992)
Jay Pickett .... David Harper (61 episodes, 1997-2008)
Andrea C. Pearson .... Gia Campbell (59 episodes, 2002-2003)
Rick Springfield .... Dr. Noah Drake (58 episodes, 1983-2008)
Kali Rodriguez .... Kristina Adela Corinthos Davis #4 (58 episodes, 2005-2008)
Jack Donner .... Alfred - Butler of Wyndemere (55 episodes, 2006-2010)
Serah D'Laine .... Sarah Webber (54 episodes, 2002)
James Nigbor .... Jake Spencer (53 episodes, 2007-2010)
Edward Nigbor .... Jake Spencer (52 episodes, 2007-2010)
Bill H. Myers .... Bill Harrison (49 episodes, 1980-1992)
Georgette Manio .... Head Nurse (49 episodes, 2006-2007)
Amanda Tepe .... Colleen McHenry (47 episodes, 2004-2007)
J. Robin Miller .... Lydia Karenin (46 episodes, 2003)
Seamus Dever .... Dr. Ian Devlin (45 episodes, 2008)
Nikki Cox .... Gina Williams #1 (45 episodes, 1993-1995)
Alan Baltes .... Police Cadet McDonald (43 episodes, 1980-1996)
Lilly Melgar .... Lily Rivera Corinthos (43 episodes, 1994-2003)
Richard Fancy .... Bernie Abrahams (43 episodes, 1997-2010)
Senta Moses .... Winnifred Leeds (42 episodes, 2009)
Jessica Tome .... Leticia Juarez (42 episodes, 2006-2007)
Ashley Glenn .... Waitress (42 episodes, 2007-2010)
Mark Pinter .... Agent Thomas Rayner (41 episodes, 2008-2010)
Denise Alexander .... Lesley Webber (40 episodes, 2002-2009)
Brad Maule .... Tony Jones (39 episodes, 1984-2006)
Amy Grabow .... Rachel Adair (38 episodes, 2004-2005)
Barbara Tarbuck .... Jane Jacks (38 episodes, 1996-2010)
Jay Bontatibus .... Andy Capelli (38 episodes, 2002-2003)
James Franco .... Franco (38 episodes, 2009-2010)
Richard Gant .... Dr. Russell Ford (36 episodes, 2007-2008)
Ben Hogestyn .... Lucas Stansbury Jones (36 episodes, 2005-2006)
Dominic Rains .... Dr. Leo Julian (36 episodes, 2007-2008)
Ilia Volok .... Andrei Karpov (35 episodes, 2008)
Anna Lee .... Lila Quartermaine (34 episodes, 1978-2004)
C.J. Thomason .... Lucas Jones (34 episodes, 2002-2003)
Reign Morton .... Cassius (34 episodes, 2007-2008)
Blake Hopkins .... Michael Corinthos (33 episodes, 1997-2001)
Sandra Hess .... Sasha Donev (33 episodes, 2008)
Emma Samms .... Holly Sutton Scorpio (32 episodes, 1983-2009)
Chrissie Fit .... Mercedes (32 episodes, 2007-2010)
Amelia Meyers .... Waitress (31 episodes, 2007-2010)
Annie Ilonzeh .... Maya Ward (31 episodes, 2010)
James C. Burns .... Vaughn (31 episodes, 2007-2008)
Stephen T. Kay .... Reginald (30 episodes, 2002-2003)
Marvin Turpin .... Orderly (29 episodes, 1998-2002)
Robert LaSardo .... Father Mateo Ruiz (28 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ryan Honey .... Officer Riley (27 episodes, 2002-2010)
Dakin Matthews .... Judge Peter Carroll (27 episodes, 2010)
Angel M. Wainwright .... Regina Thompson (27 episodes, 2007-2008)
Rachel Ames .... Audrey March (26 episodes, 1963-2009)
Mike Muscat .... Butcher (26 episodes, 1988-2008)
Ruby Romero .... Emma Drake (26 episodes, 2007-2009)
Rose Romero .... Emma Drake (26 episodes, 2008-2009)
Graham Shiels .... Cody Paul (25 episodes, 2007-2008)
Lynne Lerner .... Policewoman (25 episodes, 1983-1999)
Kym Lane .... Clarice (25 episodes, 2007-2008)
DeLane Matthews .... Janine Matthews (24 episodes, 2001-2003)
Tessa Allen .... Lesley Lu 'Lulu' Spencer (24 episodes, 2004-2006)
Martha Byrne .... Andrea Floyd (24 episodes, 2009)
Adam Mastrelli .... Enzo (23 episodes, 2005-2006)
Eddie Matos .... Peter Marquez (23 episodes, 2001-2007)
Chris Robinson .... Rick Webber (23 episodes, 1983-2002)

General Hospital Trivia:

The title of this series was originally planned to be "Emergency Hospital".

General Hospital took place in the upper New York State community of Port Charles on the Atlantic coast. The ficticious zip code for Port Charles has been given as 16543. It is not a valid U.S. zip code.

In 1968, Dr. Steve Hardy went to the community of Llanview, Pennsylvania where he consulted on a blood disease that was afflicting patient, "Lord Wolek", on an episode of the new series, "One Life to Live". That brought many General Hospital fans to the new series.

General Hospital aired its first episode on April Fools Day in 1963. It ran for 30 minutes per episode until 1976 when it was expanded to 45 minutes and then to 60 minutes in 1978. The final episode aired on September 17, 2010.

At the time it left the air, General Hospital was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the 2nd longest running American soap opera and the 3rd longest running drama series on television with "The Guiding Light" and "As the World Turns" in the #1 and #2 positions, respectively.

The only soap opera on ABC before General Hospital was "Road to Reality" which only ran for a few months during the 1960-1961 season.

Luke and Laura's wedding in 1981 remains (as of 2010) as the most watched daytime TV episode in television history. Thirty million viewers tuned in for the event, a remarkable number for a weekday, daytime episode!

Elizabeth Taylor was not on the set of Luke and Laura's wedding. The scenes that Elizabeth appeared in were editing into the episode.

Emma Samms had to decide between two jobs she loved. She was playing dual roles on both General Hospital and "Dynasty" at the same time! Not only was the work load a bit much but she also had to dye her hair red for one show, brown for the other, then back to red and back to brown, etc! She decided that she had little choice but to give up her roles on General Hospital. Undoubtedly, the salary and exposure on Dynasty was the more attractive option.

A 19-year-old Demi Moore landed her first major role as Jackie Templeton on General Hospital during the 1982-1983 season.

In 1978, ABC decided that it would hire a new producer (Gloria Monty) and give her six months to improve General Hospitals horrible ratings or they would cancel the series. On her first day Gloria watched the episodes that had been taped but not aired to that point and ordered them redone at a cost of $100,000! Her methods obviously worked as the ratings eventually soared until the series was #1 on daytime television!