Exclusive: Jonathan Jackson Talks about His Shocking Exit From General Hospital

Jonathan Jackson First, what's promising. They are not changing him. Now, unhealthy. Four-time Emmy champion Jonathan Jackson, stating emotional and physical exhaustion, will exit ABC's General Hospital a few days of December 19 when his character, Lucky Spencer, leaves Port Charles for another visit to Ireland. In recent several weeks, Lucky continues to be hit by one breaking tragedy to another - the hit-and-run dying of his son Mike, the disgusting downfall of his drunken father Luke, and also the dying of his wife Siobhan, which brought towards the character's own descent into drugs and hallucinogenic madness. It is highly likely all of this sturm und drang brings the brilliant Jackson a fifth Emmy award the coming year, but at this time it's going for a large toll around the guy. TV Guide Magazine had a unique talk to Jackson to discover why he stated, "Enough already!" TV Guide Magazine: Your fans are upset. Your costars are upset. What went down here? Could not this happen to be prevented?Jackson: It's one of individuals circumstantial things, I suppose. There certainly wasn't anything negative or contentious about the actual way it happened. I've got a great relationship with everybody in the show. TV Guide Magazine: So, word is, you visited the executives and requested to possess your workload lightened plus they stated they could not get it done. There is no wiggle room? No compromise? Jackson: I do not think my dilemma completely fell on hard of hearing ears. I believe there have been logistics that managed to get difficult to allow them to keep me around basically wasn't inside a large story. TV Guide Magazine: What particularly had you been requesting? Less workdays each week? No large tales for some time? Forget about tragedy? Jackson: All that was talked about. I believe - though I'm not sure without a doubt - that they are truly thinking about determining a method to get this to situation workable. But ultimately it had been made the decision that, basically ended up being to remain on the program, Lucky is simply too important of the character to become placed on the rear burners. The authors have a lot to complete every week it just wasn't likely to be possible to create a significant change such as this. TV Guide Magazine: But is not there a contented medium between tearing your guts out every single day on air and standing on the rear burners? And when Lucky's essential, just how can the authors so easily do without him? Sounds strange. Jackson: I understand. TV Guide Magazine: What introduced you to definitely your decision to not renew your contract? How was your exhaustion manifesting itself?Jackson: This is an interesting paradox. The story lines don't stick with me meaning which i feel personally suffering from what my character is certainly going through, however it does be bad for you on me physically and psychologically. It is a real energy zapper and you will find days after i seem like I've nothing left to provide. As well as in this medium where you are handling a pretty insane quantity of dialogue, day in, day trip, the collision of the heavy workload and growing exhaustion will make you just a little crazy. I enjoy strive but I have been at maximum capacity when it comes to emotional and mental output for several weeks on finish and contains become too hard. I'm very grateful they desired to produce all individuals story lines with the much depth, there is however just no balance. Usually, you can find one or possibly two great and intense story arcs each year. There's often a cycle for this stuff on soaps. But it has been nonstop. There is just no reprieve. I've got a wife and three kids along with other things in existence I must consider. I simply understood I could not sustain the schedule at GH which type of emotion for considerably longer. It had been too intense. TV Guide Magazine: I hear additionally you requested a Lucky and Elizabeth [Rebecca Herbst] reunion and also got a no on that. Have you observe that in an effort to restore some balance and produce Lucky some happiness?Jackson: Absolutely. And i believe the fans want that, too. I had been from GH for ten years and returned [last year] particularly to utilize others. Tony Geary [Luke] would be a huge reason that i can return and thus was Becky. I love dealing with her and like it when our figures are together romantically. Despite the fact that everything has become crazy between Liz and Lucky through the years, there's still an in-depth possibility of something effective and redemptive there. Therefore it appeared just like a real no-brainer in my experience. From my perspective, I simply assumed they'd reconcile. Whether it's a timing problem. There has been large alterations in the writing team at GH which might have moved the timeline for Lucky and Elizabeth to reunite. Or possibly it simply wasn't ever going to take place whatsoever. I'm not sure. TV Guide Magazine: Made it happen surprise you that things switched out by doing this? Or are you aware, starting your conferences using the brass, this may not finish well?Jackson: I can not say I am surprised. I am among individuals individuals who attempt to live daily, moment to moment, and so i didn't have a genuine vision of how this could exercise. I had been greatly available to remaining as we might have determined steps to make it possible for me personally. TV Guide Magazine: I am hearing you will find no large goodbye moments written for Lucky. He just kind of heads to Ireland. Is an indication you might be to finish things off sooner or later, particularly if GH is cancelled? Jackson: This is the one upside to any or all this. Lucky's not dying and they're not recasting. There's a complete possibility that he'll return. We'll see what goes on. TV Guide Magazine: Hey, not have your real-existence kids on GH? Are two Jacksons going for a hike here? Jackson: Yeah, I've my smallest one, Titus, playing Lucky's boy Aiden. Which will continue. He's just a little baby so we are taking it per week at any given time at this time. To date so great. [Laughs] Unlike his father, he's handling it perfectly! Sign up for TV Guide Magazine now!