General Hospital Preview: A Touching On-Air Tribute To John Reilly

As previously, reported, the real-life passing of John Reilly, who played WSB agent Sean Donely, is going to be written into General Hospital. Now, the show is releasing details on how and when Sean’s death will play into the current story.

General Hospital Pays Tribute To John Reilly

“While mourning the death of WSB (World Security Bureau) agent Sean Donely, fan-favorites Felicia Scorpio (Kristina Wagner), Malcolm ‘Mac’ Scorpio (John J. York), Anna Devane (Finola Hughes), Laura Collins (Genie Francis), and Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) are pulled into a mystery involving Sean’s daughter, Annie (Caitlin Reilly),” read a statement from the show’s executive producer Frank Valentini.

“John Reilly was an incredible actor and a large part of the 58-plus-year legacy that is GH,” Valentini continued. “This episode is meant to honor him and his contribution to the show’s rich history. With so many fan favorites returning, new and longtime viewers will enjoy it. We had a lot of fun filming and I am grateful that we were also able to include his daughter. Viewers will hopefully also enjoy one more surprise return – it is just too amazing to spoil. Thank you again.”

Reilly joined GH as Sean as part of a storyline that introduced Felicia to the canvas. A former Aztec princess, Felicia, Frisco (Jack Wagner), and other characters, including Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura, were drawn into adventure and intrigue that climaxed when the fan favorites traveled to Mexico.

Sean hovered between protagonist and antagonist for a bit before coming over to the side of the good guys. He became Port Charles’ police commissioner and shared a romance with Tiffany Hill (Sharon Wyatt). In one of GH’s most memorable scenes (when Sean and Tiffany were tying the knot in the Quartermaine mansion), Sean learned from the officiator that Tiffany’s handle was a stage name (which made sense given her time as a B-movie actress). Her birth name is “Elsie Mae Crumholz.”

This revelation caused the groom to break into hysterics, which was ironic since he and his bride had been squabbling up until and even during the ceremony. In 1995, Sean and Tiffany left Port Charles so Sean could recuperate from an injury. They later had a daughter named Anna (after their pal Anna Devane), who now goes by Annie. Reilly reprised Sean for a few episodes in 2013. He and Wyatt reprised their characters for a few episodes of General Hospital: Night Shift in 2008.

The John Reilly/Sean Donely special tribute episode will air on Friday, May 21. General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.