Through The Years
Jonathan Jackson reflects upon Lucky's life!
Soap Opera InDepth May 18, 1999
To some, recalling the exploits of the fresh-faced, precocious little boy who waltzed into Kelly's and presented himself to Aunt Ruby so many years ago is a taxing challenge. But to the now 17 year old actor who played the independent tyke, it all seems like yesterday. Here, he recalls the life and adventures of Lucky Spencer:
Lucky flees the Triple L Diner in Canada and arrives alone in Port Charles:
"What I remember the most about that is that I worked one day with Tone and genie in Rochester thought it was suppose to be Canada, then I didn't work with them again for a couple of months - I was on my own! Another cool thing I remember is that I had a scene on a bus with an elderly lady played by Ron Howard's mom. She was just the sweetest ladt and really fun to work with."
Lucky hooks up with cousin Sly Eckert shortly before Uncle Bill is killed:
"Boy, do I remember the smell of the catacombs! I remember working with Glen Walker Harris(ex Sly) and around that period, I was still getting use to the directors and working with everything. That was a rough period for me with school - I wasn't enjoying it much. I also remember trying to figure out what kind of effect they were going to use to show Tony as Bill carrying himself as Luke out. That was interesting!"
While tailing Luke to a meeting with Frank Smith's henchmen, Lucky takes in a stray bullet, then a dog:
"That was was my first time being shot as an actor - it was like a fantasy! I had fake effects on my stomach and I had to fall to the ground. It was a lot of fun. I also remember working with Foster and trying to develop that relationship. I liked him - he's a cool dog - but I had to work with him off-camera and give him treats."
Lucky runs away with Emily to Arizona:
"I think it was that trip that Amber Tamblyn and I dot stuck in the desert. It was a terrible morning. We had the rain effects going, and I had to get soaking wet and then try to dig around these big rocks to get to her while the sand kept getting in my eyes. Then we had to break for lunch and come bacl and continue it. I didn't even get to clean off. That was not much fun for me."
Trying to emulate dear old dad, Lucky get sucked into gambling by mobster Damian Smith:
"I remember a couple of great scenes in the pool hall. There were a few times duing a scene where in character I would be so excited about the adrenaline rush and not knowing if I was going to win or not, that my hand would go numb. I don't know if that was from extra breathing or what, but it was really exciting and I was really into it. The best part was beating Edward Quarteramin in poker."
Lucky searches for the key to Tinoria , Stefan's cryptic computer game:
"I don't have a lot of great things to say about htat storyline. I was pretty much not into that. I don't like computers myself, so maybe that had something to do with it. It was one of my least favorite storylines. That and the time when Lucky had a worm farm were on the lower end of the scale for me."
Lucky discovers he has a half brother:
"Lucky was very mad back then. That's about the firt time stuff became pretty bad between his parents, and he had a lot of fights with Mom. I remember the first time I worked with Tyler. I think I submitted that scene as one of my Emmy shows a few years ago, Those were the shows when I went home and Laura explained everything.
Lucky goes to high school and falls for Sarah Webber:
"I remember screen testing the different actresses for the roles of Sarah and Elizabeth. And I remember first working with Jennifer (Sly, ex Sarah) and then it was like a month and a half before Becky (Herbst, Liz) came on. There wasn't a lot of drama going on during all that high school stuff, so that period wasn't as interesting for me. But it was okay. It wasn't as bad as the worm farm."
Lucky finds Elizabeth after she was raped:
"I was thrown into that storyline on my second day back from shooting The Deep End of the Ocean. My mind was more on the movie, so I didn't have a lot of time to think about anything - I just went for it. But the storyline ended up really affecting me. I think just putting myself in someone else's shoes, just seeing a glimpse of what it would be like to have a terrible experience happen to someone you're close to - it made me feel a lot of empathy for the characters."
Lucky searches for the rapist and suspects English teacher Mr. Murty is the culprit:
"Patrick Fabian, who played Mr. Murty, was a great guy to work with, but I didn't have as much fun with that storyline. I wasn't as passionate about finding the rapist for some reason - it seemed like it sidetracked the Lucky and Lizzie relationship for a while there. However, there were parts to it that were really cool, like the show after we caught Tom, and Liz and Lucky went back to his place and talked about it."
Lucky is shattered when he learns that Luke raped Laura:
"I remember doing the show with Tony and having an incredibly intense morning with him. We were physically pushing each other, really gearing up for it. Then he had a five-page monologue that he did, which was 15 minutes of straight Tony, and he was just brilliant. He blew me away! And then I did the scenes with Laura when she came back and that was a lot of fun. I hadn't worked with Genie in a long time so it was great to work with her again."
Lucky falls in love with Liz and makes peace with his parents:
"One of the shows that I think will stand out in my head years down the road was the Valentines's Day one in the church where Liz and Lucky swore their love to each other forever. I think it was through that relationship and that love that Lucky obtained a sense of peace that made him want to mend things with his parents more. I don't think he would have done it otherwise."
Final Thoughts! Jonathan's castmates wish him a fond farewell!!
Rebecca Herbst (Liz)
"I feel so fortunate to have been put in a storyline with such a tremendous actor. Jonathan has helped me reach personal goals. I would not have been able to achieve on my own. I will miss his, but I'm glad he decided to spread his wings.....the whole world deserves to see his talent."
Tyler Christopher (Nik)
"I'm sat to see Jonathan go, but I agree that's it's his time to pursue othre venues. He's a great actor, and I believe even greater success awaits him."
Billy Warlock (AJ)
"Jonathan learned from the best - Anthony Geary. His success makes GH look so good. If he hadn't left, I wouldn've dragged him out of the studio myself."
Steven Burton (Jason)
"I love Jonathan. He's a wonderful actor and an inspiration to everyone around him - not just young people. I've already told him that I'm going to lose about 50 pounds and become his stunt double in all of the movies he'll make."
Real Andrews (Tagger)
"Jonathan is definitly one of God's special angels. I feel very honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to know him and to have worked with him."
John Ingle (Edward)
"Having spent 30 years teaching theater to young people, I would have considered myself privileged to have had Jonathan in every last class. He and his family reflect love and support for each other that is seldom found in the entertainment world."
Lynn Herring (Lucy)
"I really enjoyed the few times I worked with Jonathan - it made me want more! I look forward to seeing him in a lot of other things."
Mary Beth Evans (Katherine)
"Jonathan is one of the most normal young actors that I've ever met - he's a very sweet, humble, very normal guy , and I know that he's going somewhere big in this business - he's awesome."
Anthony Geary (Luke)
"Jonathan is quite simply terrific. He;s one of the actors I respect the most - he's a peer. On a personal level, I'm sad that he's leaving and that I can't work with him anymore, but he's grown bigger than ‘the box'".
Kin Shriner (Scotty)
"I've had two scenes with Jonathan - and they are two of my favorite scenes that I ever had on GH. He's a good kid and a great actor. He's going to have a huge career, and I hope I haven't worked with him for the last time."
Ron Hale (Mike)
"Jonathan is truly one of the finest young actors I've ever seen in any medium. Mature beyond his years, and above and beyond everything else, he's a terrific young man, I wish him well."
Maurice Benard (Sonny)
"To me, not only is Jonathan a great actor, but I love him like the little brother I never had."
Brad Maule (Tony)
"Still waters run deep. I think that describes Jonathan perfectly. Under that calm exterior is a very complex and emotional young man."
Amber Tamblyn (Emily)
"Working with Jonathan has been the most inspirational experience in my career. Out of all the people who have left during the time I've been on the show, never did I cry more than when Jonathan left - I made an idiot of myself. The truth is, I love him like a brother, and my dream would be to work with him again someday."
