General Hospital star Genie Francis recalls late co-star, Jacklyn Zeman, to Maurice Benard on State of Mind

General Hospital stars Genie Francis and Maurice Benard sat down for a two-part interview on Benard's YouTube talk show, State of Mind, which addresses mental health issues. In a set of candid conversations, the two discussed a myriad of topics, including the many GH stars who have passed away. Francis gave special mention to the late Jacklyn Zeman, who played her sister-in-law, Bobbie Spencer.

General Hospital, remembering Jacklyn Zeman

"I loved her so much," Francis, who plays Laura Webber Collins, recalls of Zeman. When the two actresses started working together after Zeman joined GH in late 1977 as Barbara Jean "Bobbie Spencer," a student nurse at General Hospital, Bobbie and Laura did not get along, to say the least, in their early years.

Bobbie wanted Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner), who was a law student and was Laura's boyfriend, for herself. Scotty stood by Laura after she was placed on probation for the accidental killing of David Hamilton (Jerry Ayres), Laura's lover. Bobbie enlisted her brother Luke (Anthony Geary) in her quest to have Laura shipped off to reform school.

Art imitated life

Laura was sometimes intimidated by Bobbie and that spilled over into real life. "I was so afraid when she asked me to go out for lunch or to do something," Francis recalls. "I had this weird abnormal fear of [her]."

Francis recalls she viewed Zeman as someone being on a pedastal. "She was like a cool big sister," Francis recalls. "I wanted to be like her. And that social anxiety, it was so, I yearned to be close to Jackie but, it was also, my thing [social anxiety] came up and I was scared. And, at some point she stopped asking. And that's my thing. Missed opportunity."

Bobbie had Scotty drugged at the Campus Disco and then got him back to his apartment. When Laura came to the door, Bobbie taunted Laura, letting her believe that she and Scotty were resuming their intimate relationship. Laura rushed off and got in a car accident that almost killed her.

This prompted Bobbie to turn over a new leaf. She gave up her crusade to punish Laura. The following year, when Luke and Laura got married, Bobbie was one of Laura's bridesmaids. They became friends and remained close even after Luke died about four years ago. Zeman passed away in 2023. The following year, GH wrote Bobbie's death into the show.

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Learn more about Francis's sitdown talk with Maurice Benard on State of Mind by clicking here.

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