‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: ‘Nashville’ Cancellation Could Give Jonathan Jackson A Path To Return As Lucky Spencer


The General Hospital spoilers are pointing to the return of a fan-favorite with the rumors that Jonathan Jackson could return to reprise his role as the original Lucky Spencer.

The 32-year-old actor left in 2012 to take on the role of Avery Barkley in the show Nashville, but the cancellation of the ABC drama could leave the door open for him to return once again to General Hospital.

Jackson earned his first big acting break when he was just 9 years old, taking on the role of Lucky Spencer in 1993. His performance earned a number of awards, winning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Young Actor in a Drama Series in 1995, 1998, and 1999, which gave him the record for wins in the category.

He earned other honors from the Soap Opera Digest Awards and YoungStar Awards, but Jackson’s real impact was on the fans of General Hospital. Though still young, Jackson earned a popularity that rivaled longtime stars like Anthony Geary, who played his father, Luke Spencer.

If the General Hospital spoilers are true, it won’t be the first time that Jonathan Jackson has returned to the show. After leaving the role in 1999, he returned in October of 2009 to reprise the role. His two-year run was marked by two more Daytime Emmy awards, but Jackson left again at the end of 2011.

Jackson’s exit was a shock to General Hospital fans, but the showrunners left the door open for a possible return, and Jackson himself said there was no animosity as he left.

“It’s just one of those circumstantial things, I guess,” Jackson told TV Guide at the time of his departure. “There certainly wasn’t anything negative or contentious about the way it happened. I have a really good relationship with everyone at the show.”

Jackson went on to say that he had a desire for a lighter workload, but the network executives couldn’t accommodate him.

“But ultimately it was decided that, if I was to remain on the show, Lucky is too important of a character to be put on the back burner,” he said. “The writers have so much to accomplish on a weekly basis that it just wasn’t going to be possible to make a significant change like this.”

Part of his departure had to do with the emotionally draining storylines for Lucky Spencer at the time, Jonathan Jackson noted. His character saw a number of tragedies, including the death of his son, Jake, and his wife, Siobhan, and the downfall of his father, Luke. It sent Lucky Spencer into a downward spiral of drinking that was driving him to madness, TV Guide noted.

Fans are now hoping that Jackson’s newly open work schedule and the chance to give Lucky Spencer a fresh start could set the stage for Jackson to return, and rumors are pointing in that direction. Celeb Dirty Laundry noted that the circumstances, along with Jackson’s 2015 cameo at Anthony Geary’s retirement, may be a prelude for Lucky Spencer to return.

“With that show no longer being available as a platform for his music, GH spoilers suggest that it is very possible that he will return to his roots and his extensive fan base as Lucky, even if just for a short time or on a recurring basis. In fact, Jackson most recently visited Port Charles in July 2015 to say good-bye to his on screen dad making it clear the doors to General Hospital are very open.”

Jackson even hinted at a return himself.

“That’s the one upside to all this. Lucky’s not dying and they are not recasting,” he said in the 2011 interview. “There is an absolute possibility that he’ll return. We’ll see what happens.”

If the spoilers are true, and Jonathan Jackson does return to General Hospital, there could be a number of possibilities for his character. Celeb Dirty Laundry suggested it could create a new storyline for Lucky and Liz (Rebecca Herbst) that would serve as a brighter alternative to the sadness of her split with Jason. Lucky’s return could also create a connection to Laura Spencer that brings a “hint of tradition back to General Hospital.”

[Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images]

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