‘Port Charles’: What Happened to Our Favorite Soap Stars?
This ‘General Hospital’ spin-off was a hit out of the gate, we look at the cast now and then.
Port Charles, a spin-off of the long-running soap opera General Hospital, aired on ABC from 1997 to 2003. Created by Lynn Marie Latham and Bernard Lechowick, and produced by Wendy Riche, the show initialed followed the lives of residents in the medical community, but later embraced supernatural storylines, as well as combining drama, romance and suspense to keep viewers hooked week after week.
Here, we look back at the cast of Port Charles.
Julie Pinson as Dr. Eve Lambert
Dr. Eve Lambert was a dedicated and compassionate doctor who worked at the hospital. She was known for her strong moral compass and her unwavering commitment to her patients.
Julie Pinson, who played the lead of Dr. Eve Lambert, is a veteran soap opera star. When asked how she prepares for her many dramatic story narratives on Port Charles, Pinson said, “I think the most challenging part is taking the stories that the writers come up with and making them work because sometimes the stories are really out there and we have to make the audience believe that it’s really happening.”
Prior to landing her career defining role as Dr. Eve Lambert, Pinson had bit parts in movies like Unstrung Heroes and Starship Troopers. Then she landed the lead in Port Charles and was seen in over 920 episodes from 1997-2001. From there, she jumped to another popular soap The Young and the Restless where she played the role of Shiloh. Then she landed her next big role, that of Billie Red of Days of our Lives, where she appeared in 379 episodes from 2004-2008. Not resting on her laurels, she then landed the role of Janet Ciccone on As the World Turns.
She’s been married to Billy Warlock since 2006.
Jon Lindstrom as Dr. Kevin Collins: Port Charles
Dr. Kevin Collins was a psychiatrist who played a pivotal role in the show’s storylines. He was known for his intelligence, empathy, and his ability to navigate complex emotional situations.
When asked about his role, Lindstrom said, “I love doing Port Charles. It was like our secret corner of daytime TV where we could do whatever we wanted.” The soap tried many different story lines and narratives during its time on the air.
Prior to playing Dr. Kevin Collins on Port Charles Jon Lindstrom played Mark McCormick on another famous soap, Santa Barbara (he starred alongside Robin Wright). He also had successful runs in two other soap operas: General Hospital and As the World Turns. In addition to soap operas, he has appeared in several TV series including Bosch and True Detective, as well as showing up in films like Must Love Dogs and 2023’s Confidential Informant.
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Did you know? In addition to being an actor, Lindstrom also wrote the 2024 thriller Hollywood Hustle.
Lynn Herring as Lucy Coe
Lucy Coe was a vivacious and ambitious woman, known for her bold personality and her ability to stir up drama wherever she went.
Lynn Herring worked with many different lead writers during her stint on Port Charles. When asked which writer understood the character the best, she responded, “You can’t really pick one because through Port Charles she just kept evolving. I’m not sure it’s fair, it’s almost like asking which kid is your favorite, because they each had a unique take on it. I remember the dialogue was so crisp and fun and romantic.”
In addition to Port Charles, Herring has had long standing roles in three other soaps: General Hospital, As The World Turns, and Days of Our Lives. She has been married to Wayne Northrop since 1981 and together they have two kids.
Did you know? Herring is a strong animal lover, she said, “I truly believe that if I wasn’t in the acting profession, I’d most likely be working to protect our wildlife and their habitats, perhaps as a lobbyist in Sacramento or Washington, D.C.”
Jay Pickett as Frank Scanlon: Port Charles
Frank Scanlon was a dedicated paramedic and teacher and the brother of Joe Scanlon. He was known for his compassion and his commitment to his patients and students.
In addition to playing the role of Frank Scanlon on Port Charles, Jay Pickett was also a regular on Days of Our Lives and General Hospital.
Prior to this soap opera career, Picket had guest appearances in shows like Rags to Riches, China Beach and Mr. Belvedere. After he achieved fame on soap operas, he went on to make appearances in several shows and TV movies, including NCIS: Los Angeles, Queen Sugar and the movie Soldier’s Revenge.
Tragically, Picket died in 2021 while filming the movie Treasure Valley in Idaho. He was 60. Jim Heffel, a co-star on Treasure Valley, said in a Facebook post that Mr. Pickett “died sitting on a horse ready to rope a steer in the movie.”
Kin Shriner who worked with Pickett on General Hospital posted on Twitter, “The sudden passing of my pal Jay Pickett is very sad. He loved acting and Westerns, and when we got together we laughed a lot.”
Nolan North as Chris Ramsey
Chris Ramsey was a charming and charismatic doctor who worked at the Port Charles Hospital. He was known for his wit and his ability to navigate complex personal relationships.
Before Port Charles, Nolan North had parts in commercials, but Port Charles was his first big role.
After Port Charles, North made it big in voice work. His voice appeared in dozens of animated shows and video games including the Uncharted video game series, Transformers, DreamWorks Dragon and the Teenage Ninja Turtles.
Ironically, even though he’s done tons of animated work, he’s still recognized by fans for his work on Port Charles. He said, “Wherever I go, people are like, ‘oh I remember you on Port Charles!’ Sometimes they bring up a picture from when I was 26 years old and I’m like ‘Oof! What’s happened to me?’”
When asked why we went from soap operas to voice work, North laughing acknowledge that it’s more consistent saying, “I have children, and I need to pay for them.”
Debbi Morgan as Dr. Ellen Burgess: Port Charles
Dr. Ellen Burgess was the no-nonsense chief resident at the Port Charles hospital. She was known for her tough exterior and her unwavering commitment to her profession.
Debbi Morgan has a long and storied career in the soap opera world beginning with her role as Dr. Angie Hubbard on several soaps including Loving, In the City, and All My Children. She’s also had regular roles on the Young and the Restless.
Talking about her long and extensive career in day-time drama, Morgan said, “I have probably logged more hours than any other African American television performer. And being a woman of color, great parts like this don’t come along, and for that, this role has meant so much to me. To have a job, and to be someplace where I was happy to be, and to get to play so many different things has been unbelievable. It’s like when you do a primetime series it’s usually seeing a character at their career, but in this job in daytime you get to see her characters home life, her career, and the trials and tribulations with her children.”
In addition to her television career, Morgan has also had roles in several movies including Eve’s Bayou, The Hurricane and the 2023 TV movie Keyshia Cole This Is My Story.
Morgan is married to Jeffrey Winston.
Did you know? Morgan wrote her memoir, The Monkey on My Back, in 2015.
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