Jennifer Smith (General Hospital)

The role of Jennifer Smith was originated by actress and model Lisa Marie, in 1980.{{cite web|title=Jennifer Smith on General Hospital: The Three Faces of Jennifer|url=http://generalhospital.about.com/od/CastingCapers/a/Jennifer-Smith-On-General-Hospital.htm|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 23, 2012|archive-date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118222226/http://generalhospital.about.com/od/CastingCapers/a/Jennifer-Smith-On-General-Hospital.htm|url-status=dead}} Shortly after, the character was written out of the show.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160409132117/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uk5PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qgIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5312,1811731&dq=jennifer+smith+general+hospital+lisa+marie&hl=en Toledo Blade – Google News Archive Search] In 1994, Jennifer returned to the canvass, portrayed by comedian and Roseanne star Roseanne Arnold. Arnold, who is a fan of the series, appeared with her then-husband Tom Arnold, for three episodes in late March 1994. In return, Anthony Geary and Genie Francis, who portray Luke Spencer and Laura Webber, appeared in an episode of Arnold's sitcom, Roseanne.{{cite news|last=Reichardt|first=Nancy M.|title=Roseanne And Tom Lather It Up|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-10-tv-44171-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 22, 2012|date=1994-04-10|archive-date=2013-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221212745/http://articles.latimes.com/1994-04-10/news/tv-44171_1_general-hospital|url-status=live}}{{cite news| url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/55232247.html?dids=55232247:55232247&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+21%2C+1994&author=Donna+Gable&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Arnolds+pull+a+%60General+Hospital%27+residency&pqatl=google | work=USA TODAY | first=Donna | last=Gable | title=Arnolds pull a 'General Hospital' residency | date=March 21, 1994}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The role was played by All in the Family actress Sally Struthers for 10 episodes in 2002.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LDNB&p_theme=ldnb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F8B582DA4795B23&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | work=Daily News, The | title=Struthers goes from musical to soap opera | date=February 4, 2002}} Struthers said of Jennifer's return, "Needless to say, Jennifer has a few issues with Luke and Laura. She has some unfinished business."{{cite web|url=http://www.gilmoregirls.org/news/204.html |title=Recent News |publisher=GilmoreGirls.org |access-date=2015-06-25}} Jennifer returned to the screen on June 22, 2015, portrayed by Holly Gagnier.{{cite web |url=http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/holly-gagnier-takes-over-the-role-of-jennifer-smith-on-general-hospital/2015/06/22/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623012008/http://michaelfairmansoaps.com/news/holly-gagnier-takes-over-the-role-of-jennifer-smith-on-general-hospital/2015/06/22/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 23, 2015 |title=Holly Gagnier Takes Over The Role of Jennifer Smith On General Hospital! |work=Michael Fairman On-Air On-Soaps |access-date=2015-06-25 }} Jennifer is holding Lucky Spencer hostage and demanding that if Luke and Laura want to see Lucky again, Luke Spencer must spend the night with her.{{cite web |url=http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/update/id/22769/GH_Recap_Jennifer_Smith_wants_a_night_with_Luke/ |title=GH Recap: Jennifer Smith wants a night with Luke - General Hospital Daily Updates - Soaps.com |publisher=Soaps.sheknows.com |access-date=2015-06-25 |archive-date=2015-06-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150625074301/http://soaps.sheknows.com/generalhospital/update/id/22769/GH_Recap_Jennifer_Smith_wants_a_night_with_Luke |url-status=dead }} Gagnier returned as Jennifer in January 2022 for Luke's funeral.{{cite web |last1=Harding |first1=Curtis |title=Days of Our Lives Vet Crashes General Hospital's Memorial for Luke as the Character Who Could Be Sonny's Undoing |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/621112/general-hospital-jennifer-smith-luke-memorial-mob/ |website=Soaps She Knows |publisher=SHE Media |access-date=April 9, 2024 |date=January 21, 2022}} She then returned again that April.{{cite web |last1=Harding |first1=Curtis |title=Well, Luke-ee Here! The Return of General Hospital's Jennifer Smith Just Dropped a Huge Hint That [Spoiler]'s Alive and Well |url=https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/comings-and-goings/627817/general-hospital-luke-spencer-alive-married-to-jennifer-smith/ |website=Soaps She Knows |publisher=SHE Media |access-date=April 9, 2024 |date=April 6, 2022}}

In 1980, Jennifer Smith was in love with Luke Spencer. Luke was only involved with Jennifer to gain control of her father, Frank Smith's non-mob related businesses. Laura Webber was jealous of their relationship. Luke and Jennifer decided to get married. Their wedding was going to be held on a yacht. Scott Baldwin discovered that Luke had raped Laura. He found his way on to the yacht and attacked Luke. Luke fell overboard and was presumed dead. He was not. He swam to a dock where Laura was waiting for him. They ran off together. After Frank was put in jail, Jennifer disappeared. She was later said to be in Europe.

In 1994, Luke and Laura ran into Jennifer and her husband, Billy "Baggs" Boggs in Atlantic City. It was clear that Jennifer had never gotten over Luke because she kept flirting with him. Billy was also attracted to Laura. Luke and Laura got away when they threatened to expose theft charges against Jennifer and Billy. If they were exposed, Jennifer would go to prison.

In 2002, Jennifer kidnapped Luke and Laura. She wanted Luke to marry her. She said if he didn't, she would kill Laura. She wanted Laura's death to be a wedding present to her. Roy DiLucca posed as the priest for the ceremony and Felicia Jones posed as his wife. Roy and Felicia helped Luke and Laura escape without harm.

The Milwaukee Journal said of the Luke and Jennifer's wedding scenes being interrupted by the 1980 Republican convention, "A soap fan's worst nightmare."[https://web.archive.org/web/20160419115435/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IyEqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rysEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4676,2141177&dq=jennifer+smith+general+hospital&hl=en The Milwaukee Journal – Google News Archive Search] The high-profile appearances by Arnold and Struthers have gained significant critical attention. For their appearances as Jennifer, both actresses were named as some of the best General Hospital cameos of all time.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/top-general-hospital-cameos/story?id=18890233#.UXRChZgk_zI |title=Top 5 'General Hospital' Cameos – ABC News |publisher=Abcnews.go.com |date=2013-04-06 |access-date=2015-06-25}} Arnold is regarded not only as one of General Hospital's best guest stars, but one of the best celebrity appearances, in soap opera history.{{cite web |url=http://www.glam.com/slideshow/star-struck-general-hospital%E2%80%99s-greatest-guest-stars/ |title=Star Struck: General Hospital's Greatest Guest Stars |publisher=Glam.com |date=2013-03-18 |access-date=2015-06-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626141327/http://www.glam.com/slideshow/star-struck-general-hospital%E2%80%99s-greatest-guest-stars/ |archive-date=2015-06-26 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2009/12/soap-opera-guest-stars |title=Seven prominent soap opera guest stars. – IFC |publisher=Ifc.com |date=2009-12-02 |access-date=2015-06-25}}{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Ann B. |url=http://sn.soapnet.go.com/galleries/top-10-celebrity-guests-soaps?page=0,4 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629092500/http://sn.soapnet.go.com/galleries/top-10-celebrity-guests-soaps?page=0,4 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-29 |title=SOAPnet Fans: More Ways to Watch General Hospital | General Hospital - ABC.com |publisher=Sn.soapnet.go.com |access-date=2015-06-25 }} Following her 2022 return, Curtis Harding from Soaps She Knows questioned whether would be "hell to pay" and whether the residents of Port Charles would "survive her stay". Chris Eades from Soaps In Depth wrote that it is "always a bit of a surprise when Jennifer Smith shows up".{{cite web |last1=Eades |first1=Chris |title=Jennifer Smith on GENERAL HOSPITAL — Everything You Need To Know |url=https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital/jennifer-smith-on-general-hospital |website=Soaps In Depth |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=April 9, 2024 |date=April 7, 2022}}

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• [http://www.soapcentral.com/gh/whoswho/jennifer.php Jennifer Smith profile] Soapcentral.com

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Category:General Hospital characters

Category:Television characters introduced in 1980

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Category:American female characters in soap operas