General Hospital has been on ABC since 1963, and while Jacklyn Zeman hasn’t played nurse Bobbie Spencer since the beginning, she did join the show in 1977 and has been playing Bobbie ever since. So she knew John Reilly, who joined the show in 1984 as Sean Donely and who passed away this past weekend at the age of 84.
Jacklyn Zeman Pays Tribute
The beloved actress took to Instagram to pay tribute to the man who was a gentleman on and off the set, as well as a professional who was admired by the entire cast.
“God Bless John Reilly in heaven,” began Zeman. “John was a talented actor and a kind, generous, dear friend with a big open heart and an endearing sense of humor. He was a joy to know, to work, and to play with and he was a wonderful loving husband and father to Liz and their Girls.
“My love and heartfelt condolences to all John’s family and to his many friends and fans,” she continued. “We will all miss him so much but the good times and the memories that we have shared will remain in our hearts and minds forever. #johnreilly @generalhospitalabc @officialghfc @hicaitlinreilly”
While Sean and Bobbie’s stories in Port Charles didn’t intersect much, there was the time his wife Tiffany (Sharon Wyatt) wanted to gain custody of her nephew Lucas from Bobbie and her then-husband, Tony Jones (Brad Maule). Sean didn’t support Tiffany’s quest and it did cause friction in their marriage for a while.
But the way the show taped back then, actors would be around all day and it was easier to get to know everyone in the cast and be familiar with their work and personal lives, as you spent a great deal of time together. These days, actors shoot their scenes quickly, and certainly with COVID restrictions, it has become even quicker.
Soap Hub sends condolences to Jacklyn Zeman on the death of her former co-star and friend, as well as to fans who are missing John Reilly. The show will be doing a tribute to the late star on air. General Hospital (GH) airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.
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