General Hospital Star Kin Shriner Celebrates a Career Milestone

The start of a new decade has given Kin Shriner reason to pause and look back at his successful career at General Hospital. As Scotty Baldwin was introduced in 1965, played by Johnnie Whitaker (Family Affair), he’s soaps’ longest-running character.

Congratulations, Kin Shriner

“I worked on @GeneralHospital yesterday so I am in the 6 decade club with Jackie [Zeman, Bobbie] and Genie [Francis, Laura]! 70s to 2020 from soup to nuts!!” the actor tweeted.

As veteran fans of the show recall, Shriner, Francis, and Zeman were front burner on the show in the late 1970s. The love story of good girl Laura Webber and law student Scotty Baldwin captured the interest of numerous soap viewers.

Bobbie, a hooker-turned-student-nurse, had genuine feelings for Scotty and tried every trick in the book to get him to feel the same way. The triangle was instrumental in catapulting GH from near-cancellation to the top of the ratings!

Fans were quick to point out to Shriner that there are other cast members who fall into the six-decade club — namely, Leslie Charleson (Monica) and Jane Elliot (Tracy). Should Denise Alexander (Lesley) make an appearance this year, she’ll also be in this prestigious club.

Shriner took a few breaks from GH. He left in 1980 in order to take on the role of Jeb on the short-lived soap Texas. He returned just in time to catch Laura’s bouquet at her November 1981 wedding to Luke (Anthony Geary) in daytime TV’s highest-rated episode ever.

Shriner exited the show again a few years later and checked back into GH in the late 1980s. Francis left Port Charles in 1983, returning in 1984 for a brief stay. Next, she came back in 1993 but then exited again in the early 2000s.

She’s been back more full time in recent years much to the joy of GH fans. Zeman also had a brief time away from GH back in the early 1980s during which time Bobbie moved to New York.

Over the years, Scotty has resumed romances with both Laura and Bobbie. He was briefly wed to Laura a while back. Last year, Scotty proposed marriage to Bobbie. He remains on friendly terms with both women.

Soap Hub congratulates Shriner and all the cast members who have put in parts of six (!) decades in Port Charles. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings for air times.