Jacklyn Zeman Celebrates 45 Years at GENERAL HOSPITAL!

This year, December 1 is extra special for Jacklyn Zeman because it was on that day back in 1977 that she made her debut as Bobbie Spencer on GENERAL HOSPITAL, so this year marks her 45th anniversary with the long-running soap!

Zeman actually made her daytime debut in 1976 with an appearance as a character named Bobbi on THE EDGE OF NIGHT followed by a short stint as Lana McClain on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. But in 1977 she originated the role of Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer on GH and became a soap opera legend! And while she’s mainly known as a supportive mother to Carly right now, back in the day, Bobbie was nothing but trouble!

“When Bobbie first came on, she was written as a taker,” Zeman told Soaps In Depth as she reflected on her character’s decades of history in Port Charles. “She had an agenda. Remember her pretending to be pregnant to get Laura to drive off the cliff so she could have Scotty to herself?!”

But over the past 45 years, Bobbie has grown and evolved into a better person, a transformation the actress is grateful to have been able to portray on screen. “This character’s come a long way,” Zeman mused. “People have told me over the years that when they think of Bobbie, they think of the heart. She’s a very loving person who’s extremely connected. She’s become a giver — a person that wants to contribute more than she wants to receive.”

With four Daytime Emmy Award nominations in the Supporting Actress category and one in Lead, Zeman has had quite the epic career thanks to GH. So please join us in congratulating her on 45 years in Port Charles and here’s to many, many more!

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