James Patrick Stuart Recalls Shooting Pretty Woman 30 Years Later

On General Hospital, James Patrick Stuart plays Valentin Cassadine, a man known to most and feared by many. But once upon a time, Stuart was a jobbing actor who accepted a cameo part in a film starring a woman who’d go on to be labeled America’s Sweetheart.

James Patrick Stuart Remembers A Pretty Woman

We’re talking, of course, about a little slice of cinema called Pretty Woman, featuring future Academy Award winner Julia Roberts in the title role.

Stuart took to social media on Sunday to share a still from one of the scenes in which he appeared – and which wound up on the cutting room floor – and a humorous anecdote. “30 years ago, I booked a tiny role in a comedy starring an actress I never heard of.”

After his brief foray into motion pictures, Stuart was hired to portray Will Cooney on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children. Stuart’s character, who served as the devilish counterpoint to his angelic sister Dixie (Cady McClain, Jennifer on Days of our Lives and also the real-life wife of GH co-star Jon Lindstrom), eventually met his end courtesy of a crowbar wielding Janet (Robin Mattson). It will be interesting if GH makes an inside joke if Valentin ever encounters Franco’s mom, Heather (also played by Mattson).

The irony of ironies, prior to becoming one of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses, Roberts auditioned for a juicy part on AMC. Though Melissa Leo was ultimately selected to play Cliff Warner’s troublemaking sister, Roberts did have the pleasure of working opposite future Broadway performer Bill Timoney – who filled in as the auditioners’ screen partner when Michael E. Knight proved unavailable.

And despite losing out on the job, Roberts continued to tune into the soap, as well as several others. The Erin Brockovich headliner is especially vocal about her love of NBC’s Days of our Lives in general and of Peter Reckell’s Bo Brady in particular.

Pretty Woman, touted upon release as, “a modern update on Cinderella,” followed the exploits, and bourgeoning romance, of businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and sex worker Vivian Ward (Roberts). The film also starred Ralph Bellamy, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo, and Hank Azaria. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check your local listings for airtimes.