General Hospital Shocker: 20-Year Actor Replaced!

On the television series known as “General Hospital,” there’s a notable shift. This show, well-known for its long-running cast, frequently swaps actors for certain characters – a common practice in soap operas. However, it’s less common for actors to remain closely linked with their roles, even with occasional changes. This time around, the show is bringing back a seasoned performer.

It’s still true for Kirsten Storms on “General Hospital,” as TV Insider states that the actress is temporarily stepping down from her role as Maxie Jones due to a scheduling issue. Storms, a long-time cast member who joined ABC’s soap opera in 2005, will be temporarily replaced by Nicole Paggi during this period.

Paggi is set to fill in for Storms again, having taken over in some episodes back in 2023 and 2024. With previous roles on shows like 9-1-1 and CSI, Paggi will be seen on July 30 and August 13. However, it’s important to note that General Hospital is currently on a break, with Storms set to return in the week of August 18.

What This Means For General Hospital

Another Quick Shift

Initially, Maxie’s character on the soap opera wasn’t played by Storms. Instead, various child actors portrayed her due to her being the daughter of the popular duo Frisco Jones and Felicia Cummings. However, after Robyn Richards took over the role with a short interruption in 2002, she held it for nearly a decade. Since then, Storms has stepped into the role and has significantly molded it to her own style, becoming a mainstay in fans’ hearts.

The actress had already gained much affection from her long-standing role as Belle Black on “Days of Our Lives,” which generated considerable excitement when she first appeared on a competing soap opera. Now, two decades later, she remains an important figure and a constant member of the main cast in “General Hospital,” holding the record for the longest portrayal of Maxie.

One reason for the temporary change is that soap operas often shoot several episodes at once, leading to actresses like Paggi having shorter but repeated appearances on the iconic daytime show in order to advance Maxie’s narrative.

Our Take On Maxie’s General Hospital Switch

It Won’t Be A Big Adjustment

The soap isn’t planning on permanently assigning Paggi as Maxie’s replacement in the role of Maxie. ABC has stated that this change is just temporary, allowing Maxie to continue being part of ongoing storylines until Storms returns to General Hospital in August. Considering Port Charles’ history, it seems like there will be a lot of turmoil when she gets back.

As a fellow film enthusiast, if you appreciate ScreenRant’s prime-time coverage, why not sign up for my weekly Network TV newsletter? By doing so, don’t forget to select “Network TV” in your preferences, and you’ll be privy to exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from actors and showrunners of the shows you love!

Read More

2025-07-04 21:27