Many months after soap opera General Hospital paid tribute to the late Jackie Zeman in a tribute episode, another show is honoring her.
Zeman passed away in Thousand Oaks, California at age 70 back in May 2023 after a short battle with cancer.
General Hospital – where she played the iconic Bobbie Spencer for more than four decades – paid tribute to her in two January episodes.
The Peacock soap opera The Bay – where she played Sofia Madison off and on from 2010 to 2023 – has also announced a tribute episode, via Variety.
The special episode of The Bay will stream on Peacock in September, with many of her former General Hospital co-stars set to guest star.
Many months after soap opera General Hospital paid tribute to the late Jackie Zeman in a tribute episode, another show is honoring her.
The Peacock soap opera The Bay – where she played Sofia Madison off and on from 2010 to 2023 – has also announced a tribute episode, via Variety
The special episode of The Bay will stream on Peacock in September, with many of her former General Hospital co-stars set to guest star
‘The special episode titled Sofia will be a celebration of both the Sofia character and Jackie Zeman’s life, with several special guest stars that meant something to Jackie’s legacy,’ showrunner and head writer Gregori J. Martin said in a statement.
Dee Wallace (E.T.) will guest star as Sofia’s sister, who moves to Bay City to launch a fragrance line in honor of her sibling.
Leigh McCloskey, who played one of Bonnie Spencer’s ex-husbands on GH, will play Hank Henderson, Sofia’s first husband and father of her two daughters.
The special episode will feature a gala launch of the fragrance line, which will features a speech by McCloskey’s Henderson… with a unique twist.
The words he’ll be saying are words written by Zeman’s actual daughters, Cassidy and Lacey Rose.
Another one of Zeman’s GH co-stars – Tamara Braun – who played Bonnie Spencer’s daughter Carly Corinthos – will also guest star.
She will play Rita ‘Elise’ Kennedy, described as, ‘a blind woman who is given the gift of sight after receiving Sofia’s donated corneas.’
‘Knowing how special Tamara was to Jackie, I created the role of Elise specifically for her,” says Martin.
‘The special episode titled Sofia will be a celebration of both the Sofia character and Jackie Zeman’s life, with several special guest stars that meant something to Jackie’s legacy,’ showrunner and head writer Gregori J. Martin said in a statement
The words he’ll be saying are words written by Zeman’s actual daughters, Cassidy and Lacey Rose
Martin and Wendy Riche will serve as executive producers, with episodes expected to debut daily this fall on Popstar! before VOD releases
Martin also reached out to Michele Val Jean, the showrunner of the upcoming CBS soap The Gates, for advice on what to name the character.
She suggested that Braun’s character was named after Zeman’s mother, Rita, and her two granddaughters.
‘I also knew whatever name we gave this character had to be something extra special to Jackie,’ Martin added.
Real Andrews, James Preston and Kym Whitley will be back as series regulars alongside Darnell Williams (All My Children) in a recurring role as psychiatrist Dr. Josef Givens.
Martin and Wendy Riche will serve as executive producers, with episodes expected to debut daily this fall on Popstar! before VOD releases.
