What Happened to Spencer on GENERAL HOSPITAL
Spencer Cassadine became an instant fan favorite when Nicolas Bechtel debuted in the role on GENERAL HOSPITAL in May of 2013, but the little kid has had quite a history and some viewers may not be up to snuff on all of the details of the Cassadine Prince’s life. So let us do you the favor of filling in some of the blanks!
Who plays Spencer on GH?
Spencer was born on-screen in February 2006 and was played by a series of infant and child actors. Davin Ransom portrayed the precocious tyke from 2009-11, after which Bechtel stepped into the role. He later landed a starring role on the Disney Channel comedy series STUCK IN THE MIDDLE, so starting in 2015, Bechtel only made sporadic appearances as Spencer when his schedule would allow. In July 2021, Spencer returned to Port Charles, but the role had been recast with Nicholas Alexander Chavez. And while he took a break in January 2024 to film a new Netflix series, the actor will be back soon.
Who is Spencer’s mom?
Little Spencer was seen as a miracle baby because his mother, Courtney Matthews, was told she was infertile. Of course, being a soap opera, the birth was even more complicated because Port Charles was hit with a deadly encephalitis plague and Nikolas Cassadine and Courtney were both struck down. She insisted on having a C-section to save the baby, but while the premature infant survived, Courtney sadly passed away.
Spencer’s babydaddy was also in doubt because Jasper “Jax” Jacks tampered with the paternity tests to indicate he was the father, and Courtney had died before she could tell Nikolas the truth. Carly helped Jax fix another test that Nikolas ran, but eventually, Robin Scorpio learned the truth, and Jax was forced to return the infant to his rightful father.
What was Spencer’s original name?
Courtney decided to name their baby John, after Jax’s father, but when Nikolas regained custody, he wanted to try and erase any trace of the time Jax was the boy’s father. So he decided to rename him Spencer after his brother and sister, Lucky and Lulu Spencer. His full name is Spencer Alexi Nikolayovich Cassadine.
Why was Helena obsessed with Spencer?
Desperate to control the family empire, Helena Cassadine was having no luck doing it through Nikolas, so she saw his heir as a means to access the family fortune. She managed to get her hands on the tot when crazy nanny Colleen abducted him and the villainess swooped in to snatch him away for herself! Helena took Spencer to St. Petersburg intending to baptize him under another name, but Nikolas and Emily managed to thwart her evil scheme and bring the baby home.
Why did Spencer leave Port Charles?
Nikolas was upset when he learned that Elizabeth’s son, Aiden, was really Lucky’s and not his. Refusing to believe it, he planned to skip town with both his boys. But after having a change of heart, Nikolas returned Aiden to Liz and Lucky and simply left with Spencer to start a new phase of their lives. They returned in 2013 in time for Laura’s wedding to Scott Baldwin. Spencer clashed with his cousin, Cameron, over who would get to be Emma’s boyfriend. He even teamed up with Josslyn Jacks to split up Emma and Cameron!
How Did Spencer Almost die?
During his birthday party at Wyndemere, there was a terrible fire, and Spencer and Emma found themselves trapped. Emma escaped relatively unscathed, but Spencer was very badly burned. Although he survived, he was hospitalized for quite some time and had difficulty dealing with being disfigured. But a visit from his mother’s spirit taught him that beauty is not skin deep, and when he finally took off his mask, Spencer was happy to find out the scars weren’t as bad as he’d feared.
Why did Spencer hate Valentin?
When Spencer returned from school in the summer of 2016, it was when Nikolas was presumed dead. But Spencer took the news pretty well because he actually was in contact with his father, who was alive and well after faking his death! Unfortunately, during a clash with Valentin Cassadine, Nikolas was shot and fell to a much more permanent demise! (Or so everyone believed at the time…) Spencer took out his animosity on Valentin’s daughter, Charlotte, but saved his true hatred for Valentin himself. Heck, he even went to Sonny to get the guy “taken care of!” Thankfully, Sonny talked some sense into the kid, and Laura was able to keep him under control.
Where has Spencer been?
After being kidnapped and rescued, Spencer returned to boarding school. But then he broke his leg, and Laura left Port Charles to take care of her grandson. Once he was on the mend, Laura returned, and eventually, Spencer followed for a visit. He caught up with family and friends, and even managed to squeeze in some time to tamper with the mayoral election to ensure his grandmother would win!
Spencer has continued to return to Port Charles for brief visits here and there, however, in January 2020, he was seen at his boarding school in Paris when Ava Jerome paid him a visit to reveal that his father, Nikolas, was alive and well! Nik tried to explain to his son that he had been in hiding until he could figure out a way to take the Cassadine fortune away from Valentin, but Spencer was furious with his father and told him to stay away from him.
Why did Spencer return?
Spencer made no secret of his feelings towards his father and Ava, so while she suspected that it was Ryan Chamberlain who was sending her creepy gifts and notes, it turned out it was really Spencer sneaking around her art gallery! When he ran into Trina Robinson, Spencer claimed his name was Victor and chatted her up while avoiding her friends. Eventually, Spencer revealed he was back in town and surprised Cam and Joss at the pool and although Trina was upset at his deception, he easily smoothed things over.
Nikolas caught Spencer in a lie that led him to believe his son was the stalker, so he set him up for a big fall. But Spencer had the last laugh when Ava’s car was set fire to while he was having a party at Wyndemere! Trina was crushed when Spencer introduced her to his girlfriend, Esme Prince, and Laura wasn’t happy that the young couple was living together. Suspicious of Esme, Trina enlisted Cam and Joss to set a trap to catch Ava’s stalker. Spencer finally confessed, and Nikolas threw him out of the house.
Why was Spencer in prison?
Ava had Spencer arrested and offered him a way out, but he turned her down flat. Esme was relieved that Spencer didn’t name her as his accomplice, and Kevin posted bail for him, urging the young man to get a job. Spencer took a job at Kelly’s and disowned his Cassadine family. However, Victor Cassadine arranged for a plea deal that sentenced Spencer to 30 days at Spring Ridge. The judge also ordered Spencer to work at the Jerome Gallery where he found himself reporting to Trina. Before he was locked up, Esme organized a ski weekend away with their friends but in the cabin, drugged Trina’s drink and humiliated her rival. When Josslyn blew up, Spencer reluctantly defended his girlfriend.
Eventually, Spencer said his goodbyes before heading off to Spring Ridge and Esme caught him in a close moment that looked like he and Trina were about to kiss! When Esme visited Spencer in Spring Ridge, he was a little concerned that she also wanted to visit Ryan! Victor helped Spencer sneak out of prison to visit his mother’s grave on the anniversary of her death and when he ran into Trina in the cemetery she kicked him to the curb for taking Esme’s side.
Why did Spencer lie to Trina?
When Spencer was released from Spring Ridge, he agreed to move back into Wyndemere and Esme also manipulated Nikolas into letting her stay in the estate as well. Spencer was stunned to see a pregnancy test fall out of Esme’s bag, and was relieved when she finally took it and it was negative. When Trina was arrested for leaking the video of Cameron and Josslyn having sex, she was crushed that Spencer still believed Esme was innocent. But Spencer privately confessed to Cam that he was just pretending to take Esme’s side while he waited for her to slip up and he could prove her guilt.
Spencer grew jealous of Trina’s growing closeness with officer Rory Cabrera, but continued trying to clear her name. He faked a DNA test to claim he could tell Esme who her birth mother is in exchange for her confessing to framing Trina. But when she turned him down, Spencer was left with no choice but to testify in court that he’d been with Trina at the time the video was posted. And admitting to escaping Spring Ridge left Spencer facing months in Pentonville as punishment! Pouring salt in the wound, Spencer was stunned to overhear that his father and Esme had slept together! He drank himself into oblivion and began to wonder if he might have been responsible for the attempt on Ava’s life and just didn’t remember it!
How did Spencer and Trina get back together?
Spencer went to Pentonville to serve his sentence and found himself being protected by Cyrus Renault when another inmate harassed him. He also had visits from friends and family, including Trina, who now knew the truth. He tried to explain but she was upset that while he was trying to do the right thing he kept her in the dark the whole time and lied to her. Victor arranged for his early release, but Nikolas didn’t want Spencer living at Wyndemere. Learning that Dex Heller had come between Josslyn and Cameron, Spencer clashed with the guy. He also apologized to Ava for letting Esme push him into torturing her. He also felt bad for Trina after Rory was killed by The Hook.
With Esme missing, Spencer and Trina decided to pretend to be a couple to lure her out of hiding, but it was clear their feelings were genuine. When Esme showed up, she not only had amnesia, but was pregnant! Not wanting his father to ruin Esme’s baby’s life as well, Spencer sought custody and Ava gave him evidence to use against Nikolas. And when his father disappeared, he wasn’t terribly concerned. After Ace was born, the baby and Esme moved into Laura’s place with Spencer. He had originally thought to use Victor to take care of Esme but when things got too real, he tried to back out and found himself and Ace held prisoner on The Haunted Star as Victor sailed off on a mission! Spencer was thrilled when Trina showed up, having followed him, and she managed to call for help.
Victor threatened to throw Spencer and Trina overboard, but Obrecht told him she’d need test subjects for the vaccine she was supposed to develop for the Cassadine’s deadly pathogen. Thankfully, they were rescued and upon their return to Port Charles, Spencer was bequeathed a key in Victor’s will. It opened a safety deposit box containing evidence to use against Esme, but as it was fabricated, Spencer opted not to use it. (Though he did decide to hold onto it just in case!) As Spencer began attending parenting classes with Esme, the pair grew closer together, making Trina jealous. Portia tried to persuade Spencer to end things with her daughter before he hurt her any further but they were determined to stay together.
Spencer took Trina on a romantic getaway to New York City where the young couple consummated their relationship. When Trina reminded him he was Ace’s brother, not his father, Spencer backed off, and when Esme wanted to move into her own place with her son, he fought back but eventually relented. Spencer was stunned to realize Esme had her memories back, and even more shocked when Nikolas appeared on his doorstep. After a heart-to-heart, Spencer declined to leave town with his father, but allowed him to take Ace with him. Naturally, Esme was furious with Spencer when she found out what he’d done.
How Did Spencer Die?
Accompanying Trina to Paris where she was going to study at the Sorbonne for a semester, Spencer started off their trip with a romantic evening. He arranged for a romantic cruise, but then Esme crashed the party! She planned to drug Spencer and kidnap him, hoping to find Nikolas and exchange Spencer for Ace, but in the struggle, Spencer pushed Esme overboard and they were both lost and presumed dead!
Stay tuned to GH to see what happens when he resurfaces!
