General Hospital is the longest running American television serial drama, airing on ABC. Created by Frank and Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital (hence the title), in an unnamed fictional city. In the 1970s, the city was named Port Charles, New York. The series premiered on April 1, 1963. This is a list of notable characters who significantly impacted storylines and began their run, or significantly returned, from the years 1970 to 1979.
Ruby Anderson
Ruby Anderson (maiden name Spencer) is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. She was played by actress Norma Connolly, from the character's origin in 1979 until Connolly's death in 1998, when the character was subsequently killed off. Connolly was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1985.
Storylines In August 1979, Ruby Anderson arrives in Port Charles. Ruby has become too old to prostitute anymore so she comes to see her niece and nephew, Luke and Bobbie Spencer. Ruby befriends Nurse Jessie Brewer who helps her get a job at General Hospital. Ruby began dating Dan Rooney, a General Hospital administrator who had earlier been turned down by Jessie when he asked her to marry him. Hiding her feelings for months, Jessie finally was able to tell Ruby that she had been jealous of her and Dan, even though she thought she had moved on from him. Ruby had no qualms about Dan and Jessie attending social events together when she was unavailable. During the time that Luke and Laura were on the run from mobster Frank Smith, Ruby was beaten up by his goons, but recovered.
Early in 1982, Ruby underwent surgery for stomach pains, with Dr. Arthur Bradshaw freezing during the surgery and Dr. Noah Drake taking over. This caused concerned nurse Annie Logan to investigate Bradshaw's practices, and although Ruby was grateful to Dr. Bradshaw, Anne proved that he was becoming negligent in surgery because of exhaustion. Ruby recovered, and was present on Luke's yacht, the Haunted Star, when federal agents began a shootout with cult members involved with David Gray over an attempt to steal artifacts in order to take over the fictional country of Malkuth. Armed with bottles and other restaurant devices, Ruby and the other guests helped the fed's knock these characters out, sending them to prison. Shortly after this, Ruby joined forces with Robert Scorpio to stop waterfront criminal George Durnley who was trying to force Ruby and other tenants out of their building to build a mall down by the Port Charles docks.
Ruby eventually becomes the owner of Kelly's Diner after her friend Rose Kelly moved away. In 1983, after finding out that Scott Baldwin was threatening to expose Bobbie's past as a former prostitute in order to keep Luke from being elected Mayor of Port Charles, Ruby pays a visit to Scotty's father, Lee Baldwin. Ruby tells Lee of Scott's threats, resulting in Lee firing Scott from his legal practice. In 1987, Dan proposes to Ruby, and she promises to think about it. He is briefly distracted by the flirtatious Charlene Simpson, Lucy Coe's aunt, but admits he only has eyes for Ruby. She gently turns him down, explaining that their pasts are too different, but she will always be honored by his desire to marry her.
In early 1991, Bobbie comes across a patient she is sure is Luke, but Ruby immediately recognizes the man as Bill Eckert, Luke's cousin from the other side of the family whom they have been estranged with for years. During his years in town, Bill and Ruby are very antagonistic to each other. Ruby meets young Jagger Cates in 1992 when Jagger and his friends break into Kelly's Diner. During the robbery, Ruby is assaulted and Jagger is shot by the police while trying to escape. Ruby forgives Jagger for his role in the incident, and gives him a room above Kelly's and a job. The following year, Lucky Spencer pays a visit on Ruby after Luke and Laura's truck is bombed at their Canadian restaurant. Luke and Laura soon follow, reunited with both Ruby and Bobbie. Bill Eckert is killed soon afterwards, being mistaken by Frank Smith's men for being Luke. In 1997, Ruby meets Elizabeth Webber. Liz asks for a beer without identification. Suspecting the teen was underage, Ruby serves her a root beer instead. Eventually Ruby warms to Elizabeth and gives her a job at Kelly's. In 1999, Ruby dies in her sleep, leaving Kelly's to her niece and nephew, Luke and Bobbie.
Gail Baldwin
Dr. Gail Baldwin (previously Adamson) is a fictional character on the popular ABC daytime drama, General Hospital. Susan Brown originated the role in 1977.
Casting In 1979 Brown was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Brown left the series on December 12, 1985, and made brief guest appearances on February 21 to March 2, 1989, June 29 to August 9, 1989, October 24 to November 9, 1989, and from July 10, 1990, to late 1990, before returning on September 30, 1992, on a recurring status. Gail is last seen in 2004 at the funeral of Lila Quartermaine.
Storylines General Hospital Dr. Gail Adamson comes to Port Charles in February 1977 as a psychiatrist, and it is revealed she had previously been a foster mother to Monica Quartermaine. Gail meets Lee Baldwin when they are both mourning the deaths of their spouses. Lee Baldwin had been married to Caroline Chandler Baldwin when Caroline was lost at sea with her son. Gail contacts Lee's adoptive son, Scott Baldwin, who then comes to Port Charles, gets a job as a clerk at General Hospital, and falls in love with Laura Webber. Gail and Monica's close relationship was threatened briefly when a jealous patient who knew them in the past revealed that Monica had been seduced by Gail's late husband, Greg. Upset at first by this, she eventually forgave Monica. Gail gives Monica advice about her love life when she is torn between Alan Quartermaine and Rick Webber. Along with Lesley Webber, Gail also helps Monica deliver her son during a snowstorm and is shocked when Monica announces that A.J. was fathered by Lesley's husband, Rick. Alan is later revealed to be A.J.'s biological father.
Gail and Lee marry in 1979 and are very involved with Scott and Laura's life. When Laura wants to divorce Scott after falling in love with Luke Spencer, Lee burns the divorce papers but later admits what he did. The only issues in Lee and Gail's marriage was her devotion to Monica, whom Lee felt had deliberately tried to break up Rick and Lesley's marriage. Lee and Gail were present at Luke and Laura's wedding when Scotty appeared and announced he was contesting the divorce. Gail remains a strong force in Lee's struggle with remaining sober and a confidante to many hospital staff members. When Lee briefly went off the wagon, Gail and Bryan Phillips immediately stepped in to help Lee sober up for good. Lee and Gail's friendship with Rick and Lesley was briefly strained because of the divorce, and each of their devotion to their children, but by the time of Luke and Laura's wedding, Lee had come to forgive Laura and put the past behind him.
After Dr. Cy Katz resigned as the psychiatrist from Heather Webber's case, Gail took over, and after Scotty tried to influence her decision by indicating that Heather was unwell, Gail gave Heather a good report to the judge on her case, thus freeing her for crimes she had committed in order to escape prosecution for being indirectly involved in the death of nurse Diana Taylor. In 1983, she supports Lee in his race for Port Charles mayor, and when Luke Spencer resigns after beating Lee (thanks to Scotty's unscrupulous actions), Lee is made mayor, making Gail the town's first lady. When Lee decides not to seek re-election, they decide to spend time traveling. In early 1989, Gail meets Monica while she is away on a medical convention and gives her information as to the whereabouts of the daughter (Dawn Winthrop) Monica gave up for adoption. Unbeknownst to them, Dawn is already in Port Charles. With Lee busy having returned to work, Gail makes an extended visit to stay with the Quartermaines, helping Monica deal with the recent return of her scheming sister-in-law, Tracy. She leaves to re-join Lee, but they return for a visit the following year only to discover that Tracy and Scotty have become involved.
Lee and Gail return to Port Charles for good in 1992 and are delighted by Scotty's new relationship with the ailing Dominique Stanton. They support his decision to have Dominique's embryo transplanted into Lucy Coe when Dominique dies and later are present when Scotty prepares to marry the scheming Katherine Bell which does not go through thanks to Lucy's interference. Gail, having returned to work at General Hospital, counsels the Quartermains sons A.J. and Jason, while Lee becomes Edward's counsel once again. Lee defends Edward when he is accused of having murdered Mary Mae Ward's son Bradley whom Edward was the illegitimate father of. . They are surprised to learn they are grandparents when it is revealed in 1993 that Scott fathered high school graduate Karen Wexler with his secretary Rhonda Wexler when he was a law student. When Monica is diagnosed with breast cancer, Gail and Bobbie are among her staunchest supporters, tolerating her emotional outbursts and providing her with a shoulder to cry on when her vulnerabilities surface. Gail is dealt another shock when old friend Lesley Webber is revealed to be alive, and after Lesley recovers from years of being in an almost catatonic state, Gail visits her at the Spencer home with longtime friend Audrey Hardy.
In 2004, after Lila Quartermaine dies in her sleep, Gail and Lee come back to attend the funeral. In May 2013, Scott opted not to invite Lee, Gail, & Serena to his & Laura's wedding, but rather keep it small and intimate. Gail is mentioned by Monica as having visited her with Lesley and Audrey. Lee dies in 2017 in Florida where he and Gail have retired. Gail passes away peacefully two years later and leaves General Hospital a bequest.
Port Charles Lee and Gail are thrilled in 1997 when Scotty and Serena come back to town along with granddaughter Karen Wexler. Lee defends Julie Devlin when she is accused of being the General Homicide serial killer, and puts the blame on Eve Lambert. Julie is acquitted, but a tape surfaces that proves Julie was the real killer. When Julie is caught, Lee becomes her legal guardian, and Gail tries every attempt to get her committed to Ferncliff. Lee suffers a pulmonary embolism in 1999, but survives and makes a recovery. When Laura and Scotty reconcile in 2001, Lee and Gail support their decision, but after dealing with near death at the hands of a returned from the dead Stavros Cassadine, Laura ends their relationship, returning once again to Luke. In 2003, Karen is struck and killed by a speeding car. With some coercion on Gail's part, Scott allows Karen's blood to be donated to save Lucy. They fade into the background, presumably leaving town once again.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy is a fictional character on the ABC Daytime soap opera, General Hospital. He is the son of Audrey March Hardy (Rachel Ames) and Tom Baldwin Sr., adopted by Audrey's husband Steve Hardy. The series first cast Ames' real-life daughter, Christine Cahill, to play Tom as a baby.
Audrey March fell in love and married Steve Hardy, and later divorced him when she was grieving after suffering a miscarriage. After the divorce, she soon married Tom Baldwin in an effort to push Steve away and show him she was over him. Audrey, however, couldn't bring herself to consummate the marriage. Tom raped Audrey, and when she found out she was pregnant, she filed for divorce and left town to protect her baby from his violent father.