General Hospital Legend Anthony Geary Mourns TV Sister Jacklyn Zeman: ‘Tonight, I Feel a Powerful Ache’
General Hospital icon Anthony Geary is pausing his retirement to remember his late TV sister Jacklyn Zeman, who died Wednesday at age 70 following a brief cancer battle.
In an exclusive statement to TVLine, the eight-time Daytime Emmy winner says, “For 40 years, I was fortunate enough to play Jackie Zeman’s big brother on General Hospital. In all those years, I never heard her utter one disparaging word about any actor, crew member, or co-worker. In fact, I never heard Jackie express an unkind word about anyone, ever. In a highly competitive profession where ego, feelings, and emotions are bread and butter, I’ve found this quality to be extremely rare. I expect it will be even more rare now that dear Jackie is gone.
“She was quite simply one of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever known,” Geary continues. “I will miss her laugh, and the deep, soulful look in her eyes whenever she expressed the love and pride she had in her two lovely daughters. Tonight, l already miss her, and feel a powerful ache where Jackie’s smile used to be.”
Geary and Zeman shared the screen together as GH siblings Luke and Bobbie Spencer on and off for nearly four decades, up until Geary’s 2015 retirement.
Zeman’s death was announced late Wednesday by GH executive producer Frank Valentini, who tweeted, “On behalf of our General Hospital family, I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman. Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and true professional that brought so much positive energy with her to work. Jackie will be greatly missed, but her positive spirit will always live on with our cast and crew. We send our heartfelt sympathy to her loved ones, friends and family, especially her daughters Cassidy and Lacey.”
GH vets past and present inundated social media on Thursday with tributes to Zeman.
“I’m struggling to wrap my head around this,” the actress’ GH daughter Laura Wright lamented Thursday morning on Instagram. “I’m so grateful to have shared so many years with this beautiful woman. Jackie told the best stories, had an incredible spirit and lived such an amazing life. She loved working on GH. She adored her daughters and lit up when talking about her grandchildren. Saying she will be missed is an understatement. Thank you Jackie for sharing your heart and soul with all of us. Much love to [her daughters] Cassidy and Lacey.”
I hope he comes back for whatever memorial episode happens.
So do I. With the writers strike I doubt if it will happen though.
If anything it’ll give more time to plan to hopefully arrange to get him back.
You’re right Steven. I didn’t think of that. I just hope whatever they do will do the character and the actress justice.
Maybe only if they didn’t really kill luke off. Even then, doubtful tony would come back from retirement.
I don’t believe Luke is actually dead but with this turn of events GH could decide to make Luke’s death stick and show him coming to escort her to heaven if TG comes back. They could just show a stand in from the back since they obviously can’t get JZ to film those scenes. It would be a fitting ending if Luke came back to guide his Barbara Jean into the afterlife and I do think TG would probably agree to it.
Maybe if they were aware of the cancer, they filmed some kind of death scene beforehand.
She can just as easily pass away off screen (Asa on OLTL when Phil Carey passed. the memorial occurred either on the 40th anniversary or the 10,000th episode) or go off on a permanent vacation (Sally on B&B)
Yeah, sure, in these days of uber-sensitivity they asked a dying woman to film her TV character’s death scene. Wow.
Well if she informed them of her illness, it could of been done. You never know.
Come on, you know Rule No. 1 in soaps is…no one is really, truly dead.
After his retirement the character of Luke Spencer was killed off. Characters always get resurrected, but I think this would be a stretch. Better that GH do a retrospective of Bobbie Spencer. I remember her from the beginning.
Remember we never saw a body.
That’s VERY true. I’m not TOTALLY convinced he really died either!
I have watched GH since i was a kid ( my grandma and mom were fans and my best memories of them include GH. Bobby Spencer (Jackie Zemen) felt like a family member, i cried with her and celebrated with her and adored her ability to make this fan feel like a friend . I truly have cried on and off today . I lost my mother at age 70, 20 years ago, i send my deepest condolences to her family . She was one of a kind
Come back, Tony. We love you. We miss you. We need you. You are the most legendary actor or actress in daytime soap history. When we the fans think of GH, it is Luke that comes to mind first. Luke and Barbara Jean are in our hearts. Whatever the plan is to pay tribute to Jacklyn, we need you to return for it.
I want to send prayers to the family of Jacklyn zeman
She’ll be missed by millions of GH viewers.
I sincerely loved Jacklyn Zeman’s portrayal of Bobbie Spencer. Both the actress and the character she portrayed will be deeply missed and forever appreciated. Rest in peace and fly with the angels and my condolences to her family.🙏🏻
i have loved jackie since i first seen her on general hospital.i miss her already. i send my condolences to her family.
I hope the memorial episode does her justice.
I hope the memorial episode does her justice.
I told Dee Wallace who played her sister Patricia Spencer and the mother of Valerie Spencer.
Love her ❤
I sincerely hope Geary DOES NOT return for any future GH memorial tribute for my beloved Jackie. Geary would make it all about Luke… and HIM. He needs to remain retired in Amsterdam.
Ahh…I grew up watching soaps. That was a time when kids had to watch what their parents watched and there were limited options on tv. I was a dedicated GH fan through most of my 20’s. LOL! Good times. RIP Jacklyn/Bobbie. Fly high. <3
I have been watching general hospital for quite a while now. I have enjoyed every episode with Bobbie Spencer in it. I didn’t know her personally, but I will miss her on the show just the same. My own mother passed away in April of 2022 of Lung Cancer. I miss her very much. One day, I’ll see her again.
As a teen, I sent her a fan letter and she responded with the loveliest reply. RIP, dear Jackie.
I have enjoyed all the decades that Jackie
shared her talents with us. She will be missed! Condolences to her daughters Cassidy and Lacey, her family, her GH family and many fans!
What I hope happens is they have a funeral for Bobbie for whatever reason they want for the character and then Carly is standing alone wishing her mom peace (Laura Wright)…and then they break the 4th wall and Sarah Joy Brown and Tamara Braun join Laura and they hold hands. I mean, you can add in Jennifer Bransford too…but not necessary. No offense Ms. Bransford.
I was stunned hearing this news. She just was handling the GH Nurse’s Ball. RIP
She will be miss.R.I.P Zeman.
Barbara Jean (Bobbie) you left suddenly with a smile, heart and charm……it doesn’t seem that you really are gone but God knows best so he called you home with all of your smiles, your charm and your heart to be with him. Rest well Barbara Jean Spencer now you can dance, blessings😘💕💕💕
Jackie Zeman is going to be greatly missed. I’ve watched GH for 60 years since I was 13. I can hardly wait till they do a Memorial for her on an Episode of GH. Condolences to her family and TV family. May she R.I.P.
Can he come back? Didn’t he kill his character and isn’t the actor retired (this time permanently)? He should make a brief appearance alive if only to give his character a proper send off along with a very heartfelt tribute to the actress Jacklyn Zeman and her character Bobbie Spencer. Can the younger generation carry soaps and can they honor the ones before them that help shape or start these shows? I sure hope her TV daughter Carly can honor her memory by being just as great as a character and help anchored this show for fans for years to come.