Lucas Lorenzo "Lucky" Spencer Jr. and Elizabeth Imogene Webber are fictional characters and a supercouple from the ABC Daytime soap opera, General Hospital. Lucky Spencer is the son of supercouple Luke and Laura, played by Anthony Geary and Genie Francis. Elizabeth Webber is the granddaughter of original General Hospital character, Steve Hardy (John Beradino), and long-time character Audrey March Hardy (Rachel Ames). Lucky was originated by Jonathan Jackson in 1993, who continued to play the role when Rebecca Herbst originated Elizabeth in 1997. Jackson left the series in 1999, and Lucky was played by Jacob Young and later Greg Vaughan, who was let go in 2009 to allow Jackson to reprise the role. Jackson left the series in December 2011 and the role was not recast. Jackson returned to the role in 2015 and full time in 2024. Herbst portrayed the couple with each actor, and has been the only contract actress to play Elizabeth.
The couple first rose to popularity in early 1998 when Lucky helps Elizabeth recover after she has been kidnapped and raped. The teenagers take part in a slow and innocent romance, interrupted in 1999 when Lucky is presumed dead in a fire. He returns brainwashed in 2000, eventually resulting in their break-up in 2002. The couple reunites and marries in 2005, facing financial struggles, and Lucky becomes a father figure to Elizabeth's son Cameron. Lucky's involvement in drug addiction in 2006 leads to infidelity, and they divorce twice in 2007 after Lucky learns he is not the biological father of Elizabeth's son Jake. They get engaged again in 2009, but split up when Lucky learns of Elizabeth's affair with his brother Nikolas Cassadine (Tyler Christopher). They remain connected through the death of their son Jake, and learning that Lucky is the father of Elizabeth's son Aiden. Elizabeth helps Lucky through his drug relapse in 2011, but he refuses to reconcile and leaves for Ireland. Lucky briefly returned in 2015 with Jake's return and full time in 2024.
Lucky and Elizabeth were first called a supercouple as teenagers, commonly referred to by the portmanteau "L&L" or "L&L2" on internet message boards due to their similarities to Lucky's parents Luke and Laura. Viewers praised the recovery of Elizabeth's rape as helping other victims to heal, and the couple's innocent relationship aimed to show the option of sexual abstinence to younger viewers. The chemistry between Jackson and Herbst is often cited as part of their success. Both won Soap Opera Digest Awards during their popular 1999 storyline. In 2008, Lucky and Elizabeth were named No. 9 of ABC Daytime's Top 100 Greatest Couples by Soaps In Depth.
Casting The role of Lucky Spencer was originated on October 29, 1993 by Jonathan Jackson, and Rebecca Herbst originated the role of Elizabeth Webber on August 1, 1997. During 1998 and 1999, rumors circulated various times concerning Jackson's departure, either to attend college or pursue more film roles. Jackson briefly extended his contract in early 1999, stating to Soap Opera Digest: "Seeing how much the fans are enjoying [the Lucky and Liz relationship], I wanted to do a little more with it before I left." Jackson exited the series shortly thereafter and last appeared on May 24, 1999, at the height of the duo's popularity as a young supercouple. Surrounding Jackson's exit, rumors circulated about Herbst's departure. In early 2000, Jackson stated he would like to reprise the role but his schedule would not permit it. He suggested a short-term return that would coincide with Herbst's departure should she not renew her contract, allowing for periodic returns from the couple later on. Although Herbst also expressed interest, the show wanted to keep the characters on canvas. Herbst resigned in July for three years. Fans were weary of a new actor playing Lucky; while rumors circulated in October 1999, Soap Opera Update wrote: "Lucky and Liz were a true daytime supecouple thanks to the undeniable chemistry between Herbst and Jackson. That magic is hard to duplicate in a recast."
The role of Lucky was recast with Jacob Young on February 25, 2000, almost a year after Jackson's last appearance, speculated to be an attempt to ease the transition between characters due to Jackson's popularity. In November 2000, Young and Herbst guest starred on the FOX network sketch comedy series MADtv, making small cameos as Lucky and Elizabeth. Young did not renew his contract, and left the series on February 10, 2003. Greg Vaughan stepped into the role on February 20, 2003. In September 2009, ABC announced that Vaughan had decided to leave to explore other opportunities, and that Jackson would be reprising the role. However, Vaughan announced via Twitter that it was the network that decided to let him go. Vaughan last aired on October 20, 2009, while Jackson first aired on October 27, 2009.
On January 18, 2011, it was announced that Herbst had been let go from General Hospital and ABC stated her exit would be storyline dictated. Jackson was one of many costars to speak out, stating: "I'm heartbroken over the news about Becky. She is absolutely irreplaceable; an incredible actress and a phenomenal person. I'm confident the future has brilliant things in store for her! Right now, I'm just speechless and deeply disappointed." After much fan protest, a month later ABC released another statement saying that Herbst would retain her role on the show. In November 2011, it was announced that Jackson would vacate the role of Lucky due to the large amount of work he was receiving. TV Guide reported that on top of lighter scheduling requests, Jackson had also attempted to negotiate with the network to be repaired with on-screen love interest Herbst, but was denied. Jackson confirmed the character would not die or be recast, and last appeared the week of December 19, 2011.
History
Early years, 1997–99 Lucky and Elizabeth meet for the first time in August 1997. Liz has a huge crush on Lucky, but Lucky is interested in Elizabeth's beautiful sister, Sarah Webber (then Jennifer Sky). In February 1998, Elizabeth believes they have a date for the Valentine's Day dance, but decides not to go when she finds out that Lucky is going with Sarah. While crossing through the park home, Elizabeth is abducted at gunpoint, beaten, raped, and left for dead. Lucky finds her battered & bruised and brings her to his house, where he calls his Aunt Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman), a nurse. Lucky feels responsible for not meeting her at the dance, and becomes very protective of Elizabeth. He treats her gently and patiently, becoming the main person she is able to trust after the kidnapping and rape. Meanwhile, Lucky's hostile half brother Nikolas Cassadine (then Tyler Christopher) reveals to him that Lucky's father, Luke (Anthony Geary), raped his mother, Laura (Genie Francis). Lucky is so furious with his parents for hiding the truth that he moves out of their home and begins to crash in various places around Port Charles. While Lucky helps Liz to recover, Liz in turn helps Lucky deal with the betrayal he feels from his parents. In a 1998 interview with Soap Opera Digest, Jackson explained: "Liz is the only person who [Lucky] trusts right now and feels comfortable around. There's going to be a lot of tension, especially for Lucky, because there's that natural instinct to get close to her. But you can't really do that because of what she's been through. He can't really make that move." In the same interview, Herbst added: "I think for Liz, Lucky is her whole world right now. He's her protector and her provider. It started as this crush, but it has gone deeper than that." Elizabeth also helps Lucky foster a relationship with Nikolas, with the help of their friend Emily Quartermaine (then Amber Tamblyn). The couples begin to refer to themselves as the "Four Musketeers." Lucky and Elizabeth continue to become inseparable, and Liz leaves home and joins Lucky for a short time. They sleep in the catacombs of Wyndamere and spend a night in a department store, similar to Luke and Laura’s adventures years before.
The two fall deeply in love. However, their physical relationship is slow moving, with Elizabeth coping with her rape, and Lucky dealing with his fear of having similar sexually violent tendencies as his father. Their much anticipated first kiss in October 1998 is preceded by Lucky serenading Elizabeth with a song he wrote for her. Herbst explained in a 1998 interview that Jackson helped plan the scene, wanting there to be "acknowledgement that they were each crossing a line and it felt comfortable and right. Both of them have their concerns, but both of them, have their wants." On Valentine's Day 1999, Lucky takes Elizabeth to a church and they exchange vows. In April they take a trip to New York City and plan their futures together, but refrain from having sex. Head writer at the time Robert Guza, Jr. elaborated to Soap Opera Digest: "A lot of times for a couple this age, not making love could cause a rift. But this does just the opposite. It brings them closer than ever, if you can imagine." Both Lucky and Liz feel it is the happiest time in their life. However, soon after, Lucky is presumably killed in a fire, leaving Elizabeth devastated. During Lucky's funeral, it is revealed that Lucky is alive and being held captive by Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) and Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers).
Lucky's return, 2000–03 In February 2000, Faison reveals to Luke that Lucky is alive, and Luke and Laura leave to track Lucky down. Helena lets Lucky (now Jacob Young) go and it is soon apparent Lucky has been brainwashed. He pushes away his parents and Elizabeth. Dr. Kevin Collins (Jon Lindstrom) is able to break through the lower levels of programming, but Helena uses the Ice Princess diamond to hypnotize Lucky on a deeper level, making Lucky act violently and erratically. In an effort to fight Helena's control, Lucky proposes to Elizabeth. Although shocked, she accepts. Helena gives Lucky a diamond to give Elizabeth that triggers his brainwashing. Lucky is arrested for attacking Stefan Cassadine (Stephen Nichols), and escapes jail on Helena's orders. Elizabeth finds him and convinces him to get help.