Stars From General Hospital You Didn't Know Died

The following article includes references to mental health struggles and suicide.

Before "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy," there was "General Hospital." The show, which has been on television since 1963, made history after being recognized by The Guiness Book of World Records as the longest running daytime soap of all time. When the show first aired in grainy black and white in the '60s, no one could have predicted that it would run into the new millennium — and then some. From the outset, "General Hospital" garnered loyal fans through its intriguing characters, notably the wealthy Quartermaine and Spencer families.

From the sometimes controversial storylines of power couple Luke and Laura Spencer to the shady dealings of the Corinthos mob family, fans can't get enough of the soap's winning formula. As the series celebrated a whopping 15,000 episodes in 2022, actor Laura Wright, who plays Carly Corinthos, described the show's enduring popularity as the result of viewers' unwavering devotion and investment in the veritable cast of characters. "It's the fans and their love for the show," Wright told Cleveland.com. "We're really here because of them and their love for the characters, the stories and, gosh, the history."

Seeing as the series has been on air for over half a century, we have lost far too many of its stars throughout the years. But the show's most notable IRL deaths are not confined to those who graced the grounds of Port Charles decades ago; many of the more recent cast members have sadly passed on. These are the stars from "General Hospital" you didn't know died.

Playing duplicitous Edward Quartermaine, a role previously inhabited by David Lewis, John Ingle encapsulated the avarice of the formidable "General Hospital" antagonist. The seasoned star played the Quartermaine patriarch for nearly 20 years. Having found fame later in life, he joked to the Los Angeles Times that, as an older actor, his roles usually entailed the following: "I've either married someone, buried them, fired them, judged them or lectured to them."

In February 2012, his wife of 58 years, Grace-Lynn Martin, died, per People. Seven months later, Ingle died of cancer, aged 84. Speaking with Soaps.com not long before his death, Ingle said that he was excited for his future on the series due to a new head writer taking over. "Jill [Farren Phelps, executive producer] said the other day in a meeting, 'You'll be happy because you'll all have a story.' Which is new. A lot of us haven't had a story for some time," he enthused.

Per Us Weekly, ABC paid tribute to the "General Hospital" veteran, noting that he filmed his last episode mere weeks before he died. His final episode aired just days before his passing. In a bittersweet goodbye to the star, the network wrote, "And with a simple 'I love you, too,' a thumbs up and a smile, we say goodbye to John Ingle's indelible depiction of Edward Quartermaine. His bigger than life portrayal will live on in the hearts of countless fans."

A popular "General Hospital" star, Shell Kepler portrayed nurse Amy Vining for 23 years. Known for her wild flaxen locks and OTT makeup, Kepler perfectly embodied the gossipy nurse, not to mention '80s hairspray chic. And she was thrilled to have landed the role. "I love playing Amy!" she said in a 1982 interview (via CBC). "She's a kid and I love being a kid. She's one of the most fun characters on the show. ... And I still haven't seen anybody on daytime TV, or prime-time TV for that matter, who is similar to Amy in character."

Away from her acting work, she also launched a successful clothing line for the Home Shopping Club, which raked in a handsome $20 million in 1994 alone, per the Los Angeles Times. In 2008, TMZ reported that the actor died of kidney failure at age 49.

In the wake of her untimely death, her co-star, Jacklyn Zeman, made a moving statement, per Soap Opera Network. "In addition to her acting and designing talents Shell loved to decorate her home. It was beautiful and warm. ... No one ever left Shell's house hungry," Zeman said. "She also liked to custom make gifts for her family and friends. She had a big generous loving heart and she was a special friend to me." Kepler may have been taken too soon, but she will always be remembered by those whose hearts she touched.

Housekeeper Alice Gunderson was accustomed to dealing with the various dramas of the Quartermaine clan. As noted by Soaps in Depth, Alice's unrequited feelings for Luke Spencer was at the center of many of her storylines and Bergen Williams imbued the character with pathos. Additionally, she appeared in other medical-themed TV shows, such as "Scrubs" and "Nip/Tuck."

Williams had been living with Wilson's Disease, a rare condition (it affects 30 in 1 million) caused by a genetic mutation and leading to both physical and mental decline; the disease is usually fatal, according to a 2007 study. Following her diagnosis, she parted ways with "General Hospital" in 2014. As a result, she lost her health insurance. "Her disease made it impossible for her to speak her lines the same way as before so they made her quit," her sister, Lynda, tweeted. "I'm sad they didn't just give Big Alice Wilson's Disease on the show so she could keep acting and keep her healthcare!"

Williams died in 2021, aged 62, per Newsweek. Her death devastated her "General Hospital" co-stars. Kimberly McCullough, who played Robin Scorpio on the soap, tweeted, "Bergen was an incredible force to be reckoned with and I'm so sorry to hear of her passing." Meanwhile, Brandon Barash, aka Johnny Zacchara, hailed Williams as "a special one who imbued truly radiant energy into every room she entered."

Playing Dr. Alan Quartermaine, Stuart Damon expertly embodied the troubled, sometimes homicidal doctor. In a 1981 interview with the Boston Globe (via We Love Soaps), Damon explained that while he enjoyed portraying the snooty doctor, he couldn't be any further from him in real life. "I'm nothing like Quartermaine," he said. "I've been known to show up on the set wearing running shorts, a baseball cap worn sideways, speaking with a pronounced lisp. The morning rehearsal is the time to be silly." 

In 1999, he won an Emmy for the role. During his acceptance speech, he revealed that taking home the Emmy had fulfilled his lifelong ambition of depicting a character that would remain beloved and remembered by audiences. Prior to entering the world of soap operas, Damon appeared in a number of musicals on Broadway and London's the West End in the 1950s and '60s.

In 2021, Damon died of kidney failure at the age of 84, per Variety. "He'd been struggling with renal failure for the last several years," reporter George Pennacchio wrote on Facebook. Pennacchio noted that the late actor's son, Christopher, told him that he was elated to be part of the "General Hospital" cast: "It was his favorite place to be. He loved playing Alan and was so appreciative of that role and that job. It was his passion." Following his death, "General Hospital" aired a tribute to Damon's life and career, per Soap Opera Network.

Barbara Tarbuck played the benevolent Jane Jacks on "General Hospital" from 1996 until 2010. Tarbuck was a prolific actor, having appeared in dozens of TV shows; notably, she collabed with Ryan Murphy on multiple occasions, appearing in "Nip/Tuck," "Glee," and as Mother Superior Claudia in "American Horror Story: Asylum" (the latter being one of her final major roles).

Tarbuck was devoted to her craft and also loved to teach acting. "Teaching and acting and directing all feed one another in me," she wrote on her website (via Legacy). "I am as stimulated and questioned by the young people in my life as I am by new material. ... On stage, before the camera, and in the classroom are the questions, demands, disappointments, delights that feed my soul."

Tragically, Tarbuck contracted the rare disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob disorder, per the Los Angeles Times. Also known as human "mad cow disease," Creutzfeldt-Jakob leads to neurological degeneration and loss of muscle control; there is no cure or treatment available for the deadly brain disease and it's invariably fatal, according to a 2020 study. Tarbuck died in 2016, aged 74. According to Soap Hub, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Denis Connolly, who passed away in 2005. Subsequently, "General Hospital" honored her memory on Instagram. Her co-star, Ingo Rademacher, who played Jasper Jacks, wrote that he was shocked by Tarbuck's death, sharing, "She was the kindest warmest person."

Lila Quartermaine was one of the most iconic characters on "General Hospital," played by Anna Lee. A year into her role, Lee was paralyzed in a car accident and continued to act in her wheelchair, per The Spokesman-Review. Regarding her portrayal of Lila, she once told the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation's Archive of American Television. "She's the only nice person in the family. Edward is an old curmudgeon who bullies everybody ... Lila's the only one who has a calm, peaceful quality."

Born in England, Lee was dubbed "The British Bombshell" and starred in classic films such as "How Green Was My Valley" and "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" alongside legends Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. As noted by The Guardian, Lee moved to Hollywood during the outbreak of WWII as her husband, director Robert Stevenson, was a pacifist.

In 2003, Soap Central reported that her "General Hospital" contract had been terminated, which angered the veteran actor since she claimed that execs had promised her a lifetime contract with the soap. ABC stated that no such contract existed. Aged 90 at the time, Lee deemed the dismissal to be flagrant ageism. "They told me age had nothing to do with it," she said, per The Telegraph. "I mean come on, this is youth-obsessed Hollywood, of course age is against me." The following year, Lee died of pneumonia, aged 91, per the Los Angeles Times. Indeed, the seasoned actor predicted her longevity, telling the outlet, "I want to die with my boots on."

Norma Connolly was famed for playing Ruby Anderson, a sex worker turned diner owner on "General Hospital." Connolly was a mainstay on the soap, having played Ruby for 20 years, per the Los Angeles Times. Away from the cameras, she was an ardent activist in raising awareness of AIDS and was on the board of Hollywood Helps; she ushered in her soap opera co-stars to lend support to the important cause via the 1992 "Soap Star Spectacular." She also spoke out against the apparent sexism of Hollywood and campaigned for women to have roles of greater gravitas in the industry.

As noted by The Washington Post, Connolly was a classically trained actor who starred in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Night of the Iguana," as well as "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller. She was also in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Wrong Man."

She was beloved by both her co-stars and family. Grandmother to two children, she once said, "The delight of my old age is spoiling them rotten," per Soap Central. In 1998, she died after suffering a stroke, aged 71, per Playbill. She was preceded in death by her husband, writer Howard Rodman. As highlighted by Soap Central, Ruby was peacefully killed off away from the cameras a year after Connolly's death.

"General Hospital" lost a fan favorite and a legacy cast member in May 2023. Jacklyn Zeman portrayed the lovable nurse Bobbie Spencer on the series for a whopping 45 years, beginning in 1977. Zeman remained with the show through 2010, before taking a short break and returning as a recurring star from 2013 until the year of her death. 

Back in 1982, she said of her best-known character (via the Los Angeles Times), "Bobbie has been a fascinating person for me to play. I get to do ... all the things that most women think about but wouldn't dare." During her time on the soap opera, Zeman nabbed four Daytime Emmy Award nominations — three for outstanding supporting actress in a drama series, and one for outstanding lead actress, though she unfortunately never took home a statue.

It was "GH" executive producer Frank Valentini broke the sad news of her death, taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to write, "On behalf of our @GeneralHospital family, I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman. Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and a true professional that brought so much positive energy with her work." Soon after, Zeman's family confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that she'd passed away following a cancer diagnosis at the age of 70. She leaves behind two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey.

In 2014, Billy Miller joined the cast of "General Hospital" as beloved character Jason Morgan, filling the shoes of the actor who originated the role, Steve Burton. His work on the show would not only earn him a Daytime Emmy nomination for outstanding lead actor in 2018, but the star would also eventually split off into playing the character's twin, Drew Cain, once Burton returned to the show in 2017. 

Miller — who previously made a name for himself on another soap, "The Young and the Restless," with the part of Billy Abbott earning him three Daytime Emmy wins — eventually left "General Hospital" in 2019. Upon his "GH" exit, Miller stated in part to viewers via his manager's X account, "Instead of sadness, I am filled with gratitude for all your support, encouragement, and every emotion shared. I cherish the journey we have taken together. Thank you for allowing me into your home and lives."

Miller's manager would later break the tragic news of the actor's death in September 2023, revealing to Variety that he'd been dealing with manic depression prior to his passing. Patricia Miller, the late actor's mother, shed further light on his mental health struggles and cause of death. "He fought a long hard valiant battle with bipolar depression for years. He did everything he could to control the disease," her personal statement, which was shared via the manager's X account, read in part. "He loved his family, his friends and his fans but in the end the disease won the fight and he surrendered his life." Billy Miller was just 43 years old. 

If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health or is in crisis, contact the relevant resources below:

• The Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
• Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.