GH’s original Jackie Templeton was not a member of the wedding.
Demi Moore is arguably one of General Hospital‘s most famous alumni. Her character, Jackie Templeton, was tasked with doing the impossible — attempting to fill the storyline void left by the show’s star, Genie Francis, who vacated her role as Laura in early 1982. Moore’s never been back to the show since her departure a few years later — not even for her TV son’s wedding.
Less is Moore
GH put out a casting call looking for a Margot Kidder-type to pair with Anthony Geary (Luke) in 1981. The show selected on newcomer Moore, but it soon became clear that Jackie and Luke were better off as pals; Jackie’s subsequent romance with Robert (Tristan Rogers) went bust after he married a pregnant Holly (Emma Samms) after Luke was presumed dead.
Jackie, now played by Kim Delaney (ex-Jenny, All My Children) returned to Port Charles decades later as the mother of Harrison Chase (Josh Swickard). However, Delaney hasn’t been seen on GH in a while, perhaps due to recent developments in her personal life, and Jackie wasn’t at Chase and Brooklyn’s (Amanda Setton). In fact, there was barely a mention of her.
Given GH’s penchant for surprise casting and honoring its past, we would not have been surprised at all if the show had extended an invitation to Moore to reprise Jackie for the wedding episodes.
It’s not unheard of for film stars to pop back into their daytime roots for a show or two. The most famous case of this is Julianne Moore coming back as Frannie on As the World Turns in 2010 for Bob and Kim’s (Don Hastings and the late Kathryn Hays) 25th anniversary.
Moore, however, is a bit busy these days so a return to GH might not have worked out even if the show had extended a (wedding) invitation. Deadline reports that the former TV reporter is in Cannes, earning rave reviews for her new movie, The Substance. The horror film, directed by Coralie Fargeat, received a 13-minute ovation, more than any other movie so far at the festival this year.
The movie also stars Margaret Qualley and Dennis Quaid. The Substance tells the tale of a promise to generate a younger, more beautiful you. But there’s one rule: you must share time as both the old and the new you. What could possibly go wrong?
“You just show up and you face what’s in front of you to the best of your ability,” Moore said. “I think what’s most important is how you hold yourself not how the world is holding you… which is exactly what The Substance is about – this male perspective of the idealized woman, that we as women have bought into… and I think we are changing. We are living the change right now.”
What drew Moore to The Substance? “I look for things that push me out of my comfort zone; the opportunity to make a better person and actor,” she said in a QA following the film, according to Deadline. “This touched on so many themes that we all face, we seek validation and belonging. By doing (the movie) it takes us to extremes and allows us to step into it in a unique way.”