Long before hitting it big in Hollywood, some famous faces got their start on “General Hospital.”
Currently the longest-running American soap opera, the show has featured several familiar faces in Port Charles before they achieved widespread fame.
John Stamos
GettyJohn Stamos played the heartthrob rocker Blackie Parish from 1982 to 1984. His performance earned him a Daytime Emmy Award.
“Being on ‘General Hospital’ didn’t just change my life, it gave me a life,” Stamos said on the 2024 ABC special “General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars & Storytelling” (via PEOPLE). “I am so grateful for the show and everything it has done for me. That was the beginning.”
Eva Longoria
GettyBefore her iconic role as Gabrielle Solis on “Desperate Housewives,” Eva Longoria made a brief appearance in an episode of “General Hospital” in 2000, portraying a lookalike of Brenda Barrett.
She later became a series regular on “The Young and the Restless,” portraying Isabella Braña from 2001 to 2003.
Demi Moore
GettyDemi Moore began her acting career on “General Hospital” as investigative reporter Jackie Templeton. She played the role from 1982 to 1984. She later shot to fame with movies like “St. Elmo’s Fire” and “Ghost.”
James Franco
GettyIn 2009, “General Hospital” introduced a new character named Franco after the actor expressed interest in doing soap operas to his manager.
“I said, ‘I want to play an artist, and I want him to be crazy.’ And they wrote this character that was better than I could have ever asked for,” the actor told Vulture in 2010. “It was their idea to call the character Franco. I said, ‘That’s crazy. Thank you.'”
Ryan Paevey
GettyBefore becoming a household name on the Hallmark Channel, Ryan Paevey played Nathan West on “General Hospital.” His run on the show lasted from 2013 to 2018, and he rejoined the show in the same role in 2025.
Ricky Martin
Gege Akutami/Shueisha, JUJUTSU KAISEN ProjectAmid his fame in the 1980s as a member of the band Menudo, Ricky Martin played the role of Miguel Morez on “General Hospital” from 1994 to 1996. His solo music career took off around the same time.
Meghan Markle
GettyBefore marrying Prince Harry and becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle appeared in a couple of episodes of “General Hospital.” The actress portrayed nurse Jill in 2001. In 2011, she was cast as Rachel Zane in “Suits.”
Chandra Wilson
GettyBefore her iconic role as Dr. Miranda Bailey on “Grey’s Anatomy,” Chandra Wilson made several guest appearances on “General Hospital.” She portrayed mental patient Tina Estrada in 2014, Dr. Francine Massey in 2018, and fashion magazine editor Sydney Val Jean in 2019 and 2023.
Kristin Davis
GettyKristin Davis played the role of nurse Betsy Chilson on “General Hospital” in 1991. Later, she starred on “Melrose Place” before making it big with “Sex and the City.”
Mark Hamill
GettyBefore playing Luke Skywalker in “Star Wars,” Mark Hamill played Kent Murray on “General Hospital” in 1972. In 2023, Hamill talked about his experience on the show.
“I wasn’t a real fan of soap operas, but everybody there was so nice and it was a great education to learn how to find your light, how to hit your marks,” he revealed during WIRED’s “Autocomplete Interview” in 2023. “And I was on for nine months, which was perfect. And I still have great memories of working there.”
Leonard Nimoy
GettyLeonard Nimoy shot to fame as Spock in “Star Trek” series in 1966, but he also made a brief appearance as Bernie Smith on “General Hospital” just a few years earlier.
George Takei
GettyAlso well-known for his role as Sulu in “Star Trek,” George Takei appeared on two episodes of “General Hospital” as Mr. Diem, the mayor of Asian Quarter.
