Donnell Turner Opens up About Curtis’ Paralysis on GH

Curtis was stunned to learn that he may never walk again on GENERAL HOSPITAL, but many fans saw the paralysis coming as soon as he was shot and the bullet lodged near his spine. And portrayer Donnell Turner wasn’t surprised, either, because he got a heads-up about this new storyline a while back!

“I knew months in advance and it’s been difficult to keep it a secret because I was so excited about it,” Turner revealed to Soap Opera Digest. “[GH’s executive producer] Frank Valentini called and told me about it and asked me what I thought about it and I about jumped through the phone! I expressed my excitement and he was laughing on the other end. He said, ‘I knew you’d like it. You’ve been saying you wanted something you could sink your teeth into.’”

Just as it looked as though he and Portia would be able to work on their marriage to see if it could be repaired, Curtis found himself now a burden on his wife and family. And his pride made him try to push them all away so that they wouldn’t be saddled with a cripple. But those initial feelings are already starting to change as Curtis continues to adjust to his new normal.

“Well, he is a changed man,” Turner explained. “And I think the overall message that I want to portray to the audience is strength and courage and never giving up. It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to feel what you feel, but that doesn’t mean you just give up. That is what I want to give to Curtis to give to anyone watching. Curtis doesn’t want the fans and the viewers to feel sorry for him. He wants them to root for him like you would for your favorite athlete.”

So keep watching GH to see how Curtis deals with life’s new challenges and if he ever regains the use of his legs! (We’re betting yes, but it’s probably going to be quite a struggle to get to that point!)

Love GH? Be sure to join our We Love General Hospital Facebook group to chat about all the latest storylines and juicy gossip!