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Réal Andrews on the ABC soap opera General Hospital played the role of Marcus Taggert since the character was introduced on the show on December 17, 1996, until his last episode aired in July 2023. The role was briefly taken up by Mathew St. Patrick in 1997.
Marcus has been on and off the screen quite often from his first appearance in 1996 to 1997, followed by his first return in 1998 until 2003, and after a long gap in January 2020 till present. Now that Andrews has officially announced his exit from General Hospital, the fate of his character has been left hanging.
Through an Instagram post that the actor shared on his official account on October 15, 2024, he confirmed that he is stepping away from his role in GH, however, that doesn’t mean the doors are closed forever. He stated that the reason for his exit was the upcoming “biggest role” of his life, which he is currently shooting.
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“My chapter with General Hospital is over,” said Réal Andrews
General Hospital star Réal Andrews shared a video on his Instagram that answered fans' long-standing questions about his disappearance from the show for over a year. He stated that his journey as Marcus has come to an end and “The writing has been on the wall for a long time.”
He expressed his gratitude to both the show's team and its loyal fanbase. After portraying Marcus Taggert on and off since 1996, Andrews explained that he felt blessed to have been part of the GH family.
“I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” he said.
The actor teased an exciting new chapter ahead, hinting at an important project that he’s now part of. While under NDA, he couldn't reveal details but expressed that it is the "biggest role" of his career.
“It’s the biggest project of my life, ever. The most important one. And everything comes together, and happens for a reason, right? Everything I’ve done in my whole life was for this role.” said Andrews
Andrews also thanked the other key figures of the show including casting director Mark Teschner, former head writer Bob Guza, former executive producer Wendy Riche, and current executive producer Frank Valentini.
He acknowledged their significant roles in shaping his General Hospital journey, making sure to give them the appreciation they deserve. Fans were quick to flood the comments with supportive messages, with many celebrating his new path while expressing sadness over his departure.
He wrapped up by leaving the door open for a potential General Hospital return, stating, "Never say never."
Who is Réal Andrews?
Réal Andrews is a Canadian actor who was born as Réal Johnson on January 31, 1963. He grew up with just his mom in Vancouver and had little connection with his biological father, who left when he was very young.
When he was 21, he was adopted by his stepfather, Cyril Nathan Andrews. Despite his early focus on athletics, Andrews found his way into acting when his aunt introduced him to the industry.
Andrews started his acting career as one of the first Black stuntmen in Canada before moving into acting. In 1996, he got his breakout role when he joined General Hospital. He also appeared in Soldier of Fortune, Inc., As the World Turns, and Days of Our Lives.
New episodes of General Hospital will be streaming on ABC and Hulu.
