General Hospital Comings and Goings: Rick Hearst Back as Ric Lansing

Daytime Emmy winner Rick Hearst is on his way back to General Hospital. The actor is reprising his role as Ric Lansing, Molly’s dad.

Good Golly, It’s Molly’s Dad

TV Insider reported the news that Hearst is coming back to GH to play Ric. He last appeared on the show as Sonny’s half-brother in 2016. He’s set to return to the airwaves the week of August 19.

On the subject of going back to Port Charles, the actor says, “It’s been very much on my periphery and not in my consciousness for eight years.” GH casting director Mark Teschner reached out to Hearst to gauge his interest in a return.

“My first question was, ‘Really?’” Hearst says. “And he said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘What’s the story, what’s happening?’ So, then he told me and I kind of look at it as, ‘Daddy’s home and here to take care of his daughter and anything that entails.’”

Once he knew he’d be coming back, the actor started checking out episodes. “I’ve been trying to catch up and see what’s happening and I see that there’s a situation where Kristina is being a surrogate for Molly,” Hearst says. “

“And while I don’t know what that turns into, I have a feeling there’s going to be some friction by virtue of the fact that one daughter is parented by Alexis [Nancy Lee Grahn] and Sonny [Maurice Benard], and the other daughter is parented by Alexis and Ric,” continues Hearst. “That alone is enough to create a mad amount of drama of who’s going to side with who. And it’s going to be entertaining.

“I’ve heard wonderful things about [Kristen Vaganos, who plays Molly] and I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Rick Hearst says, “and just being an open book for her so that it helps drive whatever story that we’re going to be in.”

As Ric is a lawyer, and there’s been conflict between Molly and Kristina (Kate Mansi) it’s quite possible that Molly’s pop will be lending some legal advice on what to do in case Kristina wants to keep the baby she’s carrying for Molly and TJ (Tajh Bellow).