Jacklyn Zeman, who played Bobbie Spencer for 45 yrs on ABC’s “General Hospital” has died at 70.
Zeman died soon after a quick battle with cancer, her loved ones confirmed Wednesday. Information of her demise was initially declared by the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini.
“I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman,” he wrote on Twitter. “Just like her character, the famous Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright mild and a correct qualified that brought so considerably optimistic strength with her perform.”
ABC Enjoyment and “General Hospital” also unveiled a assertion stating, “Jacklyn Zeman has been a beloved member of the Standard Clinic and ABC spouse and children considering that she originated the iconic function of Bobbie Spencer over 45 years in the past. She leaves guiding a long lasting legacy for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the poor lady turned heroine and will always be remembered for her variety coronary heart and radiant spirit. We are devastated by the news of her passing, and send our deepest condolences to Jackie’s relatives, mates and liked types.”
Zeman very first joined “General Hospital” in 1977 as Barbara Jean, who went by Bobbie, and was the feisty, more youthful sister of Anthony Geary’s Luke Spencer. Zeman grew to regard Geary as spouse and children off-digicam. “I’m probably closer to him than I would be a serious-lifetime brother,” she advised co-star Maurice Benard previous 12 months on his YouTube collection “State of Mind.”
A tough-performing nurse, Bobbie had worked as a teen prostitute and provided up a child for adoption but had managed to change her life close to and turn into a nurse at General Hospital. Zeman’s portrayal of Spencer was a spirited, upbeat lady who was as sweet as pie but who also had a feeling of self. She did not suffer fools and had no trouble revoking the niceties if she believed it have been warranted.
“Bobbie has been a interesting person for me to perform,” she stated in an job interview in 1982. “I get to do… all the matters that most women feel about but wouldn’t dare.”
One particular of Zeman’s most unforgettable scenes was in 1994 and Bobbie’s daughter BJ is in a college bus incident that leaves her mind dead. Bobbie and then-partner Tony (played by Brad Maule) created the determination to donate their daughter’s heart to her cousin, Maxie, who was battling Kawasaki disease.
Laura Wright, who performed Bobbie’ daughter Carly Spencer, posted a collection of broken coronary heart emojis. Jon Lindstrom, who plays Kevin Collins wrote, “This is heading to acquire me a minute to process. I cannot believe this sort of a daily life pressure as hers has still left.”
Born March 6, 1953 in Englewood, New Jersey, Zeman found a appreciate for dance as a child and as a teenager, started acting in college productions. She labored in Venezuela as a dancer right after substantial faculty was pre-med at New York University but dropped out when she was presented a contract at the ABC cleaning soap “One Lifetime to Live” following initially being employed for just a few days of perform.
On ’One Lifestyle,” she performed Lana McClain for a minor a lot more than one particular year and then left for “General Hospital.” “I did not even audition,” she informed a blogger in 2010. Zeman was nominated for 4 Daytime Emmy Awards for her function on the display.
Outdoors of soap operas, Zeman worked as a Playboy Bunny to support spend for college or university and also acted in commercials. She had a function in 1982’s “National Lampoon’s Class Reunion” appeared in a string of Television videos like the ABC Afterschool unique “Montana Crossroads” in 1993. She also had a sequence standard job as Sofia Madison in the criminal offense-drama collection “The Bay,” earning her a fifth Emmy Award nomination.
Zeman last’s visual appearance on “General Hospital” right before her death was in April for the wedding ceremony of her character’s grandson. The identical thirty day period she also celebrated the show’s 60th anniversary by posting a movie on Instagram to the fans.
“A great, huge heartfelt thank you to the extremely exclusive individuals who have been observing us and supporting us and keeping us on the air all these many years. We appreciate you.”
Zeman is survived by two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey from her initial relationship to Glenn Gordon. She was married and divorced two additional periods to Steve Gribbin and disc jockey Murray Kaufman who went by “Murray the K.”
