7 Things to Know about General Hospital’s Van Hansis

Lucas Jones, the late Bobbie and Tony’s adopted son, is returning to General Hospital, and daytime alum Van Hansis has been hired to portray the character. The actor, who portrayed Lucas Snyder on As the World Turns from 2005 to 2010, replaces Ryan Carnes in the role.

Here’s What You Need To Know

Born in North Adams, MA, Hansis and his family moved to Greenfield when he was in the third grade. He began performing in theater camp as a child. He later attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts in Natick before attending Carnegie Mellon University, where he graduated with a BA in acting from the School of Drama.

Hansis has appeared in guest roles on several television series, including The Mentalist and FBI, and starred in the 2011 thriller, Occupant, which premiered at the Gotham Screen International Film Festival in New York City in 2011. 

Want to learn more about Hansis? Here are 7 things to know about him.

1. His birth name is Evan Vanfossen Hansis. Upon embarking on his acting career, he opted to use Van Hansis professionally. 

2. In an odd twist of fate, Hansis auditioned for the second season of the reality show I Wanna Be a Soap Star but didn’t make the cut. A few months later, he landed his first daytime gig on ATWT.

3. Lucas Jones isn’t the first gay character Hansis has portrayed. His ATWT alter ego, Luke, was also gay, as was Thom, the character he portrayed in the dark comedy web series EastSiders.

4. Hansis himself came out as gay in an interview with his EastSiders costar and creator, Kit Williamson, in The Fight Magazine in May 2014.

5. He has been in a relationship with actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer Tyler Hanes, best known for his work in the Broadway musicals Cats and Rum Tum Tugger, since 2007. 

6. Hansis has been nominated for numerous Daytime Emmy awards: three for his role as ATWT’ Luke, Outstanding Younger Actor in 2007 and 2008, and Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2009; and two for his portrayal of Thom on EastSiders in 2016 and 2018.

7. The actor has many hobbies, including cycling and teaching himself to cook.