Jacklyn Zeman, who became one of the most recognizable actors on daytime television during 45 years of playing nurse Bobbie Spencer on A小蓝视频鈥檚 鈥淕eneral Hospital,鈥� has died. She was 70.
Zeman died of cancer, her family confirmed Wednesday. News of her death was first by the show鈥檚 executive producer, Frank Valentini.
鈥淚 am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Jackie Zeman,鈥� he wrote on Twitter. 鈥淛ust like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and a true professional that brought so much positive energy with her work.鈥�
A小蓝视频 Entertainment and 鈥淕eneral Hospital鈥� also released a statement saying Zeman "leaves behind a lasting legacy for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the bad girl turned heroine and will always be remembered for her kind heart and radiant spirit. We are devastated by the news of her passing, and send our deepest condolences to Jackie鈥檚 family, friends and loved ones.鈥�
Zeman joined 鈥淕eneral Hospital鈥� in 1977 as Barbara Jean, who went by Bobbie, and was the feisty younger sister of Anthony Geary鈥檚 Luke Spencer. Zeman grew to regard Geary as family off camera. 鈥淚鈥檓 probably closer to him than I would be a real-life brother,鈥� she told co-star Maurice Benard last year on his YouTube series 鈥淪tate of Mind.鈥�
Bobbie had worked as a teen prostitute and given up a baby for adoption but had managed to turn her life around and become a nurse at General Hospital. Zeman鈥檚 portrayal of Spencer was a spirited, upbeat woman who was as sweet as pie but who also had a sense of self. She didn鈥檛 and had no problem revoking the niceties if warranted.
鈥淏obbie has been a fascinating person for me to play,鈥� she said in an interview in 1982. 鈥淚 get to do ... all the things that most women think about but wouldn鈥檛 dare.鈥�
One of Zeman鈥檚 most memorable scenes was in 1994, when Bobbie鈥檚 daughter B.J. was in a school bus accident that left her brain dead. Bobbie and then-husband Tony (played by Brad Maule) made the decision to donate their daughter鈥檚 heart to her cousin, Maxie, who had Kawasaki disease.
Laura Wright, who plays Bobbie鈥檚 daughter Carly Spencer, posted to Instagram Thursday, 鈥淚'm so grateful to have shared so many years with this beautiful woman. Jackie told the best stories - she had an INCREDIBLE spirit and she lived such an amazing life... saying she will be missed is an understatement.鈥�
Benard, who plays mobster Sonny Corinthos, posted, 鈥淭his hit me really hard. A gut punch. I think because Jackie was such a sweet, delicate soul.鈥� Jon Lindstrom, who plays Kevin Collins described Zeman as a 鈥渓ife force鈥� in a tweet.
Zeman's death is the third death to hit the 鈥淕eneral Hospital鈥� cast and crew in six months. Cast member Sonya Eddy died in December from complications of an emergency surgery and beloved producer Nneka Garland died suddenly in April.
Born March 6, 1953, in Englewood, New Jersey, Zeman discovered a love for dance as a child, and as a teen began acting in school productions. She worked in Venezuela as a dancer after high school and was pre-med at New York University but dropped out when she was offered a contract at the A小蓝视频 soap 鈥淥ne Life to Live鈥� after originally being hired for just three days of work.
On "One Life,鈥� she played Lana McClain for a little more than one year and then left for 鈥淕eneral Hospital.鈥� 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 even audition,鈥� she told a blogger in 2010. Zeman was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the show.
Outside soap operas, Zeman worked as a Playboy Bunny to help pay for college and also acted in commercials. She had a role in 1982鈥檚 鈥淣ational Lampoon's Class Reunion鈥� and appeared in a string of TV movies, including the A小蓝视频 Afterschool Special 鈥淢ontana Crossroads鈥� in 1993. She also had a series regular role as Sofia Madison in the crime drama series 鈥淭he Bay,鈥� earning her a fifth Emmy Award nomination.
Zeman last鈥檚 appearance on 鈥淕eneral Hospital鈥� was in April for the of her character鈥檚 grandson. The same month, she also celebrated the show鈥檚 60th anniversary by posting a video on Instagram to fans.
鈥淎 great, big heartfelt thank you to the very special people who have been watching us and supporting us and keeping us on the air all these years. We love you.鈥�
She was married and divorced three times, first to disc jockey Murray 鈥淢urray the K鈥� Kaufman, then to Steve Gribbin and Glenn Gordon. Zeman鈥檚 survivors include two daughters, Cassidy and Lacey, from her marriage to Gordon and two grandchildren.
Alicia Rancilio, The Associated Press
