Eden McCoy has grown up before “General Hospital” viewers’ eyes as Josslyn Jacks. Since joining the long-running soap as a young actress, McCoy has taken Josslyn from Carly Spencer and Jasper Jacks’ teenage daughter to a leading character with storylines of her own, from becoming a WSB agent to taking over her father’s company.
However, there’s plenty that fans may not know about the actress when she isn’t stirring up drama in Port Charles. With that in mind, here are five fast facts about Eden McCoy.
1. Eden McCoy Made Her Daytime Debut in 2015
Although several actresses portrayed Josslyn Jacks as a child, Eden McCoy officially took over the role in 2015. She was just 12 years old when she joined “General Hospital,” making her daytime television debut as the daughter of longtime characters Carly Spencer and Jasper “Jax” Jacks.
Since then, viewers have watched McCoy grow up alongside her character. Josslyn has experienced everything from teenage romances and complicated friendships to devastating losses and increasingly dangerous situations as she’s moved into adulthood.
McCoy’s work on “General Hospital” has also allowed her to share the screen with some of the soap’s most recognizable stars, including Laura Wright, who portrays Josslyn’s mother, Carly.
After more than a decade in Port Charles, McCoy has become one of the most familiar faces of the soap’s younger generation.
2. Eden McCoy Appeared on Nickelodeon Before ‘General Hospital’
“General Hospital” may be the role McCoy is best known for, but daytime television isn’t the only place viewers may recognize her from.
McCoy built up an acting resume at a young age that included appearances in multiple commercials and several children’s television shows. Her credits include Nickelodeon’s “The Thundermans” and “Game Shakers,” as well as Disney XD’s “Walk the Prank.”
While these roles gave McCoy experience outside the world of daytime television, it was her arrival in Port Charles that ultimately introduced her to a much larger audience.
3. Eden McCoy Is a Daytime Emmy Award Winner
McCoy’s portrayal of Josslyn hasn’t just earned her a loyal fanbase; it has also earned her recognition from the television industry.
In December 2023, McCoy took home the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Performer in a Daytime Drama Series for her work as Josslyn Jacks. She beat out fellow nominees Cary Christopher from “Days of Our Lives” and Henry Joseph Samiri from “The Bold and the Beautiful” to claim the honor.
The win marked a major career milestone for the then-20-year-old actress, who had joined “General Hospital” eight years earlier.
4. Eden McCoy Played Competitive Beach Volleyball
Acting isn’t McCoy’s only talent. Away from the “General Hospital” set, McCoy was also a competitive athlete with an impressive background in beach volleyball.
Her athletic career became serious enough that McCoy was recruited by USC. At 5’7”, McCoy joined the University of Southern California Women’s Beach Volleyball Team with the freshman class in 2022. She briefly studied philosophy before returning to television full-time.
5. Eden McCoy Lost Her Mom to Cancer in 2023
McCoy experienced a devastating personal loss in November 2023 when her mother, Natasha McCoy, died following a battle with cancer.
The loss came shortly before one of the biggest professional moments of McCoy’s young career. When she won her first Daytime Emmy the following month, her mother was at the forefront of her mind.
“This is for and because of my mother,” McCoy said while accepting the award.
The emotional moment connected one of McCoy’s greatest professional accomplishments with an incredibly difficult period in her personal life.
From joining “General Hospital” at just 12 years old to becoming a Daytime Emmy winner, McCoy has accomplished plenty during her years in the spotlight. Between her acting career and athletic background, there’s much more to the actress behind Josslyn Jacks than fans see each week in Port Charles.
