For years, Ric has been one of General Hospital’s most slippery villains; weaving lies, manipulating the people closest to him, and constantly testing the limits of redemption. Lately, however, Ric’s schemes have caught up with him in the most ironic of ways: being held captive in Alexis’ basement. Once cunning, the shady attorney is now facing humiliation with payback that’s been a long time coming since he once held a pregnant Carly prisoner. Rick Hearst recently reflected on Ric’s journey and explained how this new go-round with Ric has allowed him to add more depth to his character.
Revisiting Ric’s Dark Side
“First of all, playing the character is such an incredible challenge,” Hearst told Digital Journal, noting how much mystery surrounded Ric when he first appeared. The revelation that Ric was Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) half-brother changed everything, allowing writers to explore endless directions for the character. Hearst emphasized that Ric has never been one-note: “Ric is not just the villain. Ric is the guy you love to hate at times. Somewhere deep in that fractured psyche of his, there is actually a heart.”
Hearst also admitted that reprising the role in recent years has been especially rewarding because the character now has layers beyond the “detestable, at times irredeemable edge that he had in the previous inception.” The writers have given him a cynical, even comedic, quality that balances Ric’s darker impulses. That balance, he said, has been highlighted in his interactions with Ava (Maura West), Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn), and most importantly, Ric’s daughter, Molly (Kristen Vaganos). (When will people realize Ric is missing?)
Embracing Ric’s Complexity
For Hearst, that paternal connection is the most satisfying part of his return. “That’s really the heart of who he is, and it has been fulfilling to play with this quality, coming back now,” he shared. The actor felt that the reason viewers respond positively to his character is that Ric has continued to explore his complicated relationships while maintaining his scheming tendencies.
The actor has two Daytime Emmys that prove he’s been steering Ric on the right course, and fans are happy every time he returns to the show. (How did Ric wind up in his predicament in the first place?)
