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Remembering Bobbie, General Hospitals Tear-Jerking Tribute to Jacklyn Zeman

Two special episodes of General Hospital slated for January will honor Jacklyn Zeman’s character Bobbie Spencer as a memorial to the late actress.

In addition to learning about Bobbie’s passing, viewers will witness the community of Port Charles come together in remembrance of their beloved nurse.

The episodes airing on January 10 and 11 are anticipated to feature significant figures from Bobbie’s background, such as Maxie (Kirsten Storms), Elizabeth (Rebecca Herbst), Scott (Kin Shriner), Carly (Laura Wright), Ann (Finola Hughes), Lucy (Lynn Herring), and Lucas (Ryan Carnes). There will be plenty of surprises.

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What happened to Jacklyn Zeman?

Zeman, 70, passed away from cancer in May. She joined the ABC soap opera for the first time in 1977 and made appearances in over 800 episodes

“When we shot the memorial, the entire cast was there. And it wasn’t just for Bobbie; it was for Jackie as well,” Wright told People. “I mean, walking on set and seeing her photo, seeing all the pamphlets, like when you come to a memorial or a celebration of life, the pamphlet speaking about the individual and who is going to speak, it was bittersweet. It was about Jackie and everyone was so present. … It was like we, as a cast, got to say goodbye.”

How is the cast of General Hospital celebrating its 60th anniversary?

“General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Storytelling,” a primetime special, will commemorate General Hospital’s 60th anniversary on January 4.

Members of the cast from across the years will pull back the curtain in this special event celebrating 60 years in Port Charles, featuring bloopers, behind-the-scenes photos, and a unique fan homage.

Who is Jacklyn Zeman?

Zeman was born into a Jewish household in Englewood, New Jersey, to Rita Zeman-Rohlman, a magazine supervisor, and Richard S. Zeman, a systems engineer.

She was raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and graduated from Bergenfield High School at the age of fifteen. She then attended New York University to study dance on a scholarship. In 1972, she attended the Playboy Club as a Playboy Bunny.

Zeman played many small parts before securing a regular spot as Lana McClain on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live from 1976 to 1977. She was chosen to play Bobbie Spencer later that year on the sibling soap opera General Hospital, a position she held consistently until 2010.

For her performance, Zeman was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and one Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Zeman has made frequent appearances on General Hospital since 2013. 

Zeman’s career outside of soap operas included cameos in the parody comedy Young Doctors in Love and an appearance in the 1982 comedy picture National Lampoon’s Class Reunion.

She starred opposite Heather Locklear in Jury Duty: The Comedy (1990) and opposite Kellie Martin in Montana Crossroads (1993) in made-for-television films. She appeared in Come Blow Your Horn, Barefoot in the Park, and The Boy Friend, among other off-Broadway shows.

Zeman got a second nomination for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2021 for her regular role in the streaming series The Bay as Sofia Madison.

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Larita Shotwell

Update: 2024-06-10