Just because an actor exits their daytime role it doesn’t mean they simply cease to exist. In fact, many former soap opera stars are thriving and tackling new and exciting television opportunities. Take for instance former General Hospital favorite Bryan Craig.
Craig was already a fairly successful actor before joining General Hospital — he’d appeared in two films and had a recurring role on the Nickelodeon sitcom Bucket & Skinner’s Epic Adventures — but it was his role on the lone ABC sudser that would really make Craig a favorite among many television viewers.
Craig made his GH debut on May 8, 2013 — in the role of Morgan Stone Corinthos — and the 22-year-old performer was immediately plunged into a major storyline that explored Morgan’s addiction to gambling and the violence inflicted upon him by loan sharks.
A triangle between Morgan, his brother Michael, and Lauren “Kiki” Jerome was prominently featured on the soap. After Morgan emerged the victor — having married the girl under false pretenses — he stunned his new bride by sleeping with her mother!
After already explored one social issue through the character of Morgan (the trouble of excessive gambling) the GH writers also explored another serious mental illness: Bipolar disorder. Morgan was diagnosed with the condition after exhibiting irrational, manic and depressive symptoms much like his father before him.
The role of Morgan earned Craig four consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations and he claimed the trophy for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series twice (in 2016 and 2017).
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On September 15, 2016, Craig used his Instagram account to announce his intention to exit GH. The writers scripted a particularly interesting fate for the character — Morgan was seemingly blown to bits in a car bombing — leaving the door open for a future return.
Rather than rest on his laurels Craig immediately it the audition circuit and he quickly landed another job. This time he played Sgt. Adam Coogan on the CW military drama Valor but the series only lasted one season of 13 episodes.
In 2019, Craig scored a starring role in the ABC primetime soap opera Grand Hotel. On his new series — which debuted on June 17th – Craig plays Javi Mendoza the heir to a glamorous Miami Beach adjacent mega-hotel.
Despite being an amputee, Javi remains a ladies man who refuses to let his disability slow down his hard-partying lifestyle. The season finale aired this past Monday and Craig is anxiously awaiting news of a renewal.
Taylor Foster
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