General Hospital Sets Bobbie Spencer Tribute Episodes in Wake of Jacklyn Zeman’s Death

Seven months after the death of longtime General Hospital star Jacklyn Zeman, the ABC soap is preparing to say goodbye to her beloved alter ego, Bobbie Spencer.

As first reported by People, the citizens of Port Charles will learn of Bobbie’s death during the first week of January, with a two-part tribute episode planned for Jan. 10 and Jan. 11.

While no former GH stars have been confirmed to appear in the episodes, which will revolve around Bobbie’s memorial service, much of the current cast will be present. What’s more, People teases that a “stranger’s surprise arrival unearths a shocking secret — and kicks off a mini adventure” involving Bobbie’s daughter Carly, played by Laura Wright, and BFF Felicia, played by Kristina Wagner “in Amsterdam, where they attempt to take care of Bobbie’s unfinished business.” [UPDATE: TVLine can confirm that ex-GH star Ryan Carnes — who played Bobbie’s son, Lucas — will return for the two-part episode.)

“When we shot the memorial, the entire cast was there,” Wright tells People, adding, “And it wasn’t just for Bobbie; it was for Jackie as well.”

Zeman, who played Bobbie for more than four decades, died in May after a brief battle with cancer. Her final episode as Bobbie aired a month earlier.

The tribute episodes had been delayed by this summer’s WGA strike.

“For 40 years, I was fortunate enough to play Jackie Zeman’s big brother on General Hospital,” Anthony Geary, who played Zeman’s GH brother Luke for nearly 40 years (until his 2015 retirement), told TVLine last May. “In all those years, I never heard her utter one disparaging word about any actor, crew member, or co-worker. In fact, I never heard Jackie express an unkind word about anyone, ever. In a highly competitive profession where ego, feelings, and emotions are bread and butter, I’ve found this quality to be extremely rare. I expect it will be even more rare now that dear Jackie is gone.

“She was quite simply one of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever known,” Geary continued. “I will miss her laugh, and the deep, soulful look in her eyes whenever she expressed the love and pride she had in her two lovely daughters. Tonight, l already miss her, and feel a powerful ache where Jackie’s smile used to be.”