For all the chaos Professor Dalton is stirring up on General Hospital — framing Rocco for vandalizing a lab that didn’t even look vandalized until Dalton needed it to be — it’s the man behind the character who stopped fans in their tracks this week. Daniel Goddard, who’s been chewing through every scene as the slippery professor, stepped away from the storyline long enough to share something heartbreakingly real on social media, and the tone of the day shifted with it.
Key Takeaways
- Daniel Goddard paused the Dalton storyline to share the news that he’s flying home to Australia for his father’s funeral.
- His Instagram post thanked fans for their compassion and support during his loss.
- In his video, Goddard spoke about grief, gratitude, and the pride he feels over receiving his first American passport.
- He added a touch of GH humor by reacting to Laura slapping Dalton and praising Genie Francis.
Gratitude in the Middle of Grief
Goddard’s Instagram post carried the kind of quiet weight that makes people blink twice. “I fly back to Australia tonight for my dad’s funeral… Thank you for your condolences and compassion since the news of his passing. I’m so grateful for your love and support. You have no idea how much it means to me,” he wrote.
In the video attached, he spoke through that same mixture of grief and grace: “I just wanna say thank you so much for all of the condolences and the well wishes… I fly to Australia tonight for the funeral, one of my most proud moments ever was becoming an American citizen, and this one here ranks up very high with it, my very first American passport…Thank you, America.” He even slipped in a little GH humor, asking what was up with Laura slapping Dalton and laughing about working opposite Genie Francis: “I love you, Genie Francis…to work with you is an honor.”
His former co-star on The Young and the Restless, Kate Linder, chimed in with her own message of love, writing, “Sending you my love! Fly safe!”
Fans Rally Around Him
The comments came in waves — gentle, emotional, unfiltered. One fan wrote, “I was highly upset when Professor Dalton got slapped. I would never slap you… safe travels.” Another follower said, “Cuidate Daniel, buen viaje!” which translates as, “Take care, Daniel, have a good trip.” Someone else offered, “So sorry for the loss of your Dad…May our Heavenly Father wrap each one of you in his loving arms.”
Another viewer shared, “Deepest condolences… sending love from one Australian to another.” One person threw a plot twist in with their sympathies, as they commented, “You’re so screwed. Britt [Kelly Thiebaud] is in charge…again, my deepest condolences.” A follower said, “God bless you and your family… may prayers be felt,” while another fan wrote, “My heart goes out to you… Supporting your mother will be crucial.” And one message landed softly: “I hope you have a safe flight. Remember, he’s with you.”
By the time the thread settled, it felt like the entire GH audience had pulled a chair up beside him — not as fans, but as people.
