‘General Hospital’ Star Jack Wagner Reveals the Surprising Thing That Got Him Cast as Frisco Jones (Exclusive)
Jack Wagner had a brief role on the short-lived soap, A New Day in Eden, playing Clint Masterson in 1982. The following year, he became an instant sensation when he joined General Hospital as Andrew “Frisco” Jones, Jr.
“That was the gift of a lifetime being cast,” Wagner recalls to ReMIND. “This man hunt for Frisco Jones and my last screen test, they called and said, ‘Do you by chance, play the guitar or sing?’ And I went, ‘Yeah.’ So, I did a Kenny Loggins tune. I got the part. Had to sing some songs for Johnny Stamos’ [Blackie Parrish, GH] band, Blackie and the Riff Raff, and sung with Quincy Jones two days later. So, GH is what started my career.”
The role led to a successful music career for Wagner, who recorded the album, “All I Need” with the legendary Jones. It was released in 1984 and the title track climbed to number two on the charts. Wagner performed songs from the album on GH, using them to enhance the storytelling. “Lady of My Heart,” was released in 1985 and became the signature song for Frisco and Felicia, played by the actor’s ex-wife, Kristina Wagner.
Though Wagner went on to appear on Santa Barbara as Warren Lockridge, The Bold and the Beautiful as Nick Marone and Melrose Place as Peter Burns, that he is still recognized today for his signature soap role is remarkable to him. “It’s wild,” he says. “I’m going to Lake Tahoe for a golf tournament, and it’s just a frenzy up there; so many people. But I do selfies as I walk along with the crowd, and Frisco is the still the number one name that shouted out. Unbelievable.”
Wagner admits he initially had no idea that Frisco would become his signature soap role but quickly got a clue that the character was catching on, “once I saw, like, my second week, bags of fan mail — back then, it was fan mail,” he notes. “John Stamos’ room was packed with it. So, it was just an amazing run for General Hospital and that fan base.”
Now, he’s playing Bill Avery on Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart, and appreciates that his alter ego has some soapy drama coming his way. “They brought [Little House on the Prairie alum] Melissa Gilbert on the show last year [as Georgie McGill], and I kissed her at her at the end of our one episode and that kind of created a little romance for Bill,” he explains. “And Melissa’s coming back this year, so they’re going to keep this going, which I think is terrific. She’s great. I haven’t been playing that at all on When Calls the Heart, so for me, it’s like plugging into Jack Wagner from the ’80s or ’90s. I realized that’s why I’m having so much fun. It’s like, ‘Wow, I’m dusting off my old charming romance guy. Let’s dust this guy off.’”
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