Jacklyn Zeman, longtime ‘General Hospital’ actor, dies at 70 – National | 24CA News
Jacklyn Zeman, who performed Bobbie Spencer for 45 years on ABC’s General Hospital, has died. She was 70.
Zeman died after a brief battle with most cancers, her household confirmed Wednesday. News of her demise was first introduced by the present’s government producer, Frank Valentini.
“I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman,” he wrote on Twitter. “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.”
ABC Entertainment and General Hospital additionally launched a press release stating, “Jacklyn Zeman has been a beloved member of the General Hospital and ABC family since she originated the iconic role of Bobbie Spencer over 45 years ago. She leaves behind a lasting legacy for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the bad girl turned heroine and will always be remembered for her kind heart and radiant spirit. We are devastated by the news of her passing, and send our deepest condolences to Jackie’s family, friends and loved ones.”
Zeman joined General Hospital in 1977 as Barbara Jean, who glided by Bobbie, and was the feisty youthful sister of Anthony Geary’s Luke Spencer. Zeman grew to treat Geary as household off digicam. “I’m probably closer to him than I would be a real-life brother,” she advised co-star Maurice Benard final 12 months on his YouTube sequence State of Mind.
Bobbie had labored as a teen prostitute and given up a child for adoption however had managed to show her life round and change into a nurse at General Hospital. Zeman’s portrayal of Spencer was a spirited, upbeat lady who was as candy as pie however who additionally had a way of self. She didn’t endure fools and had no drawback revoking the niceties if warranted.
Jacklyn Zeman, as Bobbie Spencer on ABC’s ‘General Hospital,’ attends to a affected person in an ambulance throughout a taping of ‘GH’s’ first prime-time particular in Los Angeles, on Nov. 20, 1996.
AP Photo/Susan Sterner
“Bobbie has been a fascinating person for me to play,” she mentioned in an interview in 1982. “I get to do … all the things that most women think about but wouldn’t dare.”
One of Zeman’s most memorable scenes was in 1994, when Bobbie’s daughter B.J. was in a faculty bus accident that left her mind lifeless. Bobbie and then-husband Tony (performed by Brad Maule) made the choice to donate their daughter’s coronary heart to her cousin, Maxie, who had Kawasaki illness.
Actor Laura Wright, who performs Bobbie’s daughter Carly Spencer, posted a sequence of damaged coronary heart emojis. Jon Lindstrom, who performs Kevin Collins wrote, “This is going to take me a minute to process. I can’t believe such a life force as hers has left.”
Born March 6, 1953, in Englewood, N.J., Zeman found a love for dance as a baby, and as a teen started appearing at school productions. She labored in Venezuela as a dancer after highschool and was pre-med at New York University however dropped out when she was supplied a contract on the ABC cleaning soap One Life to Live after initially being employed for simply three days of labor.
On One Life, she performed Lana McClain for a little bit multiple 12 months after which left for General Hospital. “I didn’t even audition,” she advised a blogger in 2010. Zeman was nominated for 4 Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the present.
Outside cleaning soap operas, Zeman labored as a Playboy Bunny to assist pay for school and likewise acted in commercials. She had a job in 1982’s National Lampoon’s Class Reunion and appeared in a string of TV films, together with the ABC Afterschool Special Montana Crossroads in 1993. She additionally had a sequence common function as Sofia Madison within the crime drama sequence The Bay, incomes her a fifth Emmy Award nomination.
Zeman final’s look on General Hospital was in April for the marriage of her character’s grandson. The similar month, she additionally celebrated the present’s sixtieth anniversary by posting a video on Instagram to followers.
“A great, big heartfelt thank you to the very special people who have been watching us and supporting us and keeping us on the air all these years. We love you,” she mentioned.
She was married and divorced thrice, first to Glenn Gordon and later to Steve Gribbin and disc jockey Murray “Murray the K” Kaufman. Zeman’s survivors embrace two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey, from her marriage to Gordon.
© 2023 The Canadian Press
