List of General Hospital characters introduced in the 2010s
General Hospital is the longest-running American television serial drama, airing on ABC since April 1, 1963. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, it was originally set in a general hospital in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the city was named Port Charles, New York. This is a list of notable characters who significantly impacted storylines and began their run between 2010 and 2019.
Shiloh Archer
Shiloh Archer, portrayed by Coby Ryan McLaughlin, was originally introduced as Hank, a man from Drew Cain's past, on December 27, 2018. In September of the following year, McLaughlin announced his exit from the role; he made his last appearance on September 26, 2019.Shiloh arrives in Port Charles looking for Drew Cain, claiming Drew saved his life in Afghanistan, and wants to repay his debt to him.
Curtis Ashford
Curtis Ashford, portrayed by Donnell Turner, was introduced as a private investigator hired by Hayden Barnes. Turner's casting was announced on November 19.Storylines
Curtis is introduced as a friend of Shawn Butler whom Hayden Barnes hires to uncover the truth behind her shooting. Curtis discovers that Hayden's boyfriend, Nikolas Cassadine, was actually responsible for the shooting that left Hayden comatose. Curtis is soon revealed to be the brother-in-law of Police Commissioner Jordan Ashford and uncle of her son, TJ. Jordan is not happy to see Curtis, and demands that he leave town. Curtis becomes attracted to Valerie Spencer, an officer in training. Jordan tries to warn Valerie away from Curtis. Curtis reveals that he had a cocaine addiction, and Jordan later states that it led to him losing his job as a DEA agent. Curtis starts dating Valerie, and starts getting to know TJ. Curtis reveals that he told his brother, Tommy, that TJ was actually Shawn's son. Curtis admits to Jordan that he regrets what he did, but overhears, and is furious with his mother for lying to him. He also talks to Curtis, who convinces TJ to give Jordan another chance. Curtis tries to convince Jordan to give him a job as an officer, saying that he is changed, but Jordan has a hard time trusting him. Curtis is hired by Julian Jerome to find who planted a bomb in his car, which ended up killing Morgan Corinthos. Curtis suspects Sonny Corinthos, Morgan's father and Julian's rival. When Curtis goes behind Valerie's back to get evidence, Valerie breaks up with him. However, Curtis later realizes someone else is involved. When he starts tracking down his lead, Julian abruptly fires him. Curtis is left suspicious, and continues to investigate. He later teams up with Jason and Sam Morgan to find Morgan's killer. They found out that it was Julian's sister Olivia Jerome that did it and framed Sonny in covering her tracks as well as kidnapping Sonny's longtime best friend Robin Scorpio-Drake ; the information confirmed Curtis, Jason and Sam's story.Jordan Ashford
Jordan Ashford, portrayed by Vinessa Antoine, was introduced on March 17, 2014, as the estranged mother of TJ Ashford. On August 10, 2018, it was announced that Briana Nicole Henry had been cast in the role of Jordan, following Antoine's casting in the Canadian pilot series, Diggstown. Antoine last aired on September 7, 2018. Henry made her debut on September 13, 2018. In January 2021, Tiffany Daniels was temporarily cast in the role, following Henry's COVID-19 diagnosis; at press time, Henry had already resumed filming in the role. Brytni Sarpy—who would later be cast as Valerie Spencer—screen tested for the role of Jordan. On September 14, 2021, Henry announced that she had vacated the role with the character of Jordan being written out.In February 2022, Deadline Hollywood announced Tanisha Harper had been cast in the role; she made her first appearance on March 2.
Storylines
Jordan comes to Port Charles upon learning that TJ had found himself caught in a mob war between Sonny Corinthos and Julian Jerome. While TJ and his guardian, Shawn Butler, assured Jordan that TJ was safe from Julian, Jordan still pressured her son to leave Port Charles with her. When TJ refused, Jordan decided to remain in Port Charles with her son and took a job working for the Jerome Organization at an art gallery they owned. Shawn warned Jordan to stay away from the Jeromes and when she refused, he threatened to tell TJ that the reason he had been sent to Port Charles in the first place was that she was serving a two-year prison sentence for dealing drugs. While Jordan attempted to convince Shawn that she had changed, she secretly offered to distribute drugs for Julian that he was running through town. Jordan is eventually arrested as part of a sting operation organized by the Port Charles Police Department, at which time she reveals she is working undercover with the DEA to bring down the Jerome Organization. Jordan confides in Anna Devane of her DEA status and Anna agrees to work with her to reveal the identity of Julian Jerome's boss.In 2014, it is revealed that Shawn and Jordan had an affair before TJ was born and that when Tommy found a letter about the DNA test proving that Shawn, not Tommy, was TJ's father, confirming Shawn and Jordan's affair, he became so enraged that he attacked Shawn. Tommy pulled a gun but before he could kill Shawn, Shawn killed him first.
In May 2015, Jordan confirmed that Shawn, not Tommy, is in fact TJ's father. In the middle of 2015, Jordan replaces Kyle Sloane as police commissioner. In early 2016, Jordan begins dating Andre Maddox. Her ex-brother-in-law, Curtis Ashford, comes to town. Curtis later goes on a date with officer Valerie Spencer which Jordan interrupts to warn Valerie away from him. After Jordan exposes it, Curtis confides in Valerie that he had previously struggled with a cocaine addiction during his time working for the DEA.
Hayden Barnes
Hayden Barnes, portrayed by Daytime Emmy nominated actress and All My Children alumna Budig, was introduced on March 20, 2015.Casting
Budig's casting was announced on Twitter by executive producer Frank Valentini and head writer Ron Carlivati on February 10, 2015. Carlivati described the character as "a real spitfire" and Valentini said it was "Killer role." In an interview with Michael Logan for TV Insider, the character's name was officially revealed to be Hayden Barnes. Budig described the character as "ballsy and very direct" similar to her former All My Children character, Greenlee Smythe. However, Budig continued, "this one is much more out there then Greenlee." Budig admitted that she was even surprised by some of Hayden's actions. The actress expected fans backlash considering she had caused trouble for popular heroine Elizabeth Webber. Logan described Hayden as a "maneater." Budig later left the series on May 19, 2015, after her character went into a coma. Budig reprised the role on August 3, 2015. In June 2017, it was announced that Budig was let go from the series, with writers claiming her exit was storyline dictated. She last appeared on September 5, 2017. Entertainment Weekly reported the news of Budig's return to General Hospital on May 9, 2019. On June 27, 2019, it was announced that Budig would return in July; she made her first re-appearance during the final moments of the July 8, 2019, episode. However, on November 20, 2019, Budig's exit was confirmed once more; she made her last appearance on November 27, 2019.Storylines
Hayden comes to town, paid by Ric Lansing to pose as the wife of the amnesiac Jake Doe, so that Ric could date Elizabeth Webber, who was falling for Jake. Hayden's scheme is later exposed, but she finds out that "Jake" is really Jason Morgan, and blackmails Nikolas Cassadine with this information. However, Nikolas has Hayden shot, leaving her in a coma; she wakes up with amnesia. Hayden moves in with Nikolas, who is keeping an eye on her. Hayden later figures out the truth, but keeps quiet, and starts a relationship with Nikolas. Jason's identity is exposed, and Hayden rubs it in Elizabeth's face when Jason leaves her for her deception. Elizabeth, in turn, promises to make Hayden pay.Tracy Quartermaine blackmails Hayden with her real identity to take over ELQ from Nikolas. Nikolas and Hayden get married, but he discovers she is Rachel Berlin, the daughter of Raymond Berlin, an imprisoned investment banker. Nikolas demands a divorce, but Hayden blackmails him, threatening to turn Nikolas in for having her shot unless they stay married. Nikolas finds diamonds in Hayden's possession that she stole from her father, and uses them as leverage against Hayden. Hayden is furious, and decides to tell the cops the truth. Nikolas stages his death to disappear and avoid being arrested, but is later presumed dead after being killed. Elizabeth blames Hayden for Nikolas' death, saying she pushed him to go on the run.
Hayden's mother, Naomi Dreyfus, comes to town to get the diamonds, but they are taken by Elizabeth and handed over to the police. Hayden is revealed to be the daughter of Jeff Webber, Elizabeth's father, making her and Elizabeth half-sisters. Hayden ends up becoming friends with Dr. Hamilton Finn, who is battling a rare disease. Hayden is accidentally infected from one of his experiments, and also falls ill. She and Elizabeth start making amends when Elizabeth shows concern for her. Finn is eventually able to find a cure, saving him and Hayden.
Finn and Hayden start a relationship, until Hayden figures out that he is an addict. Finn eventually goes to rehab, but when he tests positive for drugs, Finn insists he is being set up, and Hayden believes him. She hires investigator Curtis Ashford, and is able to prove that Finn's tests were tampered with by Dr. Liesl Obrecht. Obrecht is fired, and Finn is reinstated. While proving Finn's innocence, Hayden discovered that she was pregnant. After Finn returns to work, he proposes to Hayden, who accepts. Obrecht, furious about getting fired, aims to get revenge on Hayden and Finn. She contacts Hayden's ex-husband, Jared Preston Jr., who reveals that Hayden was responsible for a hit-and-run while driving drunk, but he took the blame and went to prison, hoping to get paid. But Hayden's father was arrested, and she could not pay him. He demands payment, or he will tell Finn. Hayden admits the truth to Finn, who decides to forgive her. Afraid of what Jared might do, Hayden skips town on the day of her and Finn's wedding, leaving behind her ring. Finn and Curtis look for her, and discover a note Hayden left for Finn, telling him not to try and find her and that their baby died. Hayden is shown to be lying, though, and leaves, still pregnant, under a new alias.