Cyrus Renault

''General Hospital'' is an American television soap opera that was first broadcast on April 1, 1963. The following is a list of characters that first appear in the show during the 2020s, in order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the show's executive producer, Frank Valentini. Brando Corbin (Johnny Wactor) was introduced in January 2020 as the distant relative of Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). Cyrus Renault ( Jeff Kober) made his first appearance in February 2021 as an antagonist to Benard's Sonny. Portia Robinson ( Brook Kerr) debuted in March 2020 as the mother of Trina Robinson and is later employed at General Hospital. In 2021, the characters of Austin Gatlin-Holt ( Roger Howarth), Esme Prince (Avery Kristen Pohl), and Marshall Ashford ( Robert Gossett) were introduced. The characters of Rory Cabrera (Michael Blake Kruse) and Cody Bell ( Josh Kelly) were introduced in March and June 2022, respectively. Other character introductions include Jack Brennan ( Charles Mesure/ Chris McKenna), Gio Palmieri ( Giovanni Mazza), and Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup). Additionally, multiple other characters appear throughout the decade.

Brando Corbin

Brando Corbin, portrayed by Johnny Wactor, made his first appearance on January 30, 2020. The casting was announced on January 25 of the same year. In July 2022, Wactor was let go from the soap, and made his final appearance on September 20.

Cyrus Renault

Cyrus Renault, portrayed by Jeff Kober, made his first appearance on February 5, 2020. He departed the role on February 21, 2025.

In January 2020, Sonny Corinthos receives news a truck containing a shipment of coffee had been stolen, with the truck subsequently found abandoned and burned. While in Brooklyn, New York with his father, Mike and enforcer, Jason Morgan, the three are ambushed in a restaurant by armed gunmen. Simultaneous to this, two additional ambushes occur in Port Charles - one at Sonny's coffee warehouse, endangering Gladys Corbin and Carly Corinthos, and the other at the pier, threatening Michael Corinthos, Josslyn Jacks, Sasha Gilmore and Laura Collins. Laura is shot in the stomach during the Pier ambush, while the others were saved after Dustin Phillips fought off the gunman. Meanwhile, at the warehouse, Brando Corbin arrived and was able to rescue Gladys and Carly. In Brooklyn, Jason was able to fend off their attacker, while Sonny focused on keeping an agitated Mike calm. Following the skirmish at the warehouse, two of Sonny's men were able to capture one of the attackers, who after being interrogated, attempting escape, and being shot by Jason, reveals the name of his employer - Cyrus Renault.

Renault is revealed to be drug runner, who typically operates out of the Pacific Northwest, but has recently been transferred to Pentonville Penitentiary outside of Port Charles. Sonny opts to pay him a visit, during which Cyrus attempts to entice him into running drugs with him, which Sonny refuses. Parallel to this, it is revealed that Police Commissioner Jordan Ashford once worked as part of a DEA task force alongside Marcus Taggert and two other agents to take down Renault. The two other agents have recently been found dead, with it made to seem as if they died of drug overdoses. Jordan had infiltrated Cyrus's organization and taken a place as his right-hand when her team had manufactured evidence to incriminate Cyrus, resulting in his imprisonment. Cyrus denies any responsibility in the deaths of the other agents.

Jason discovers the location of a warehouse owned by Renault, which he arranges to have blown up.

Portia Robinson

Portia Robinson, portrayed by Brook Kerr, made her first appearance on March 5, 2020. Her casting was announced on February 26, 2020, with Portia being introduced as a doctor, who is also the mother of Trina Robinson ( Sydney Mikayla/Tabyana Ali).

Speaking to ''Soap Opera Digest'', Kerr called the role a "blessing," and discussed the audition process, stating it "came out of the blue and when it did, I was like, 'Yes! This is perfect!'" She further discussed her luck of working with several of the soap's cast members, revealing: "A lot of these cast members, I've been a fan of for a long time. The fact that I'm kind of in the middle of it now is so amazing! I'm just really enjoying the ride and I'm so happy to be a part of this team now."

In 2024, Charlie Mason from ''Soaps She Knows'' included Portia in his list of the best mothers in American soap operas, explaining that Portia has "raised in Trina an admirable young woman who knows that honesty is always the best policy. Uless sic there's a question mark hanging over your daughter's paternity. Then, erm, let's call it a gray area."

Austin Gatlin-Holt

Austin Gatlin-Holt, portrayed by Roger Howarth, made his first appearance on May 27, 2021. Prior to his debut, Howarth previously portrayed the roles of Todd Manning (2012–2013) and Franco Baldwin (2013–2021). Following the exit of Franco, Howarth spoke out about his status with the soap and his future, stating: "I'm really excited. I have great faith in the people who think of these things. I've been in good hands so far." Speaking on his debut of Austin, he remarked: "I love what I do and I was glad to get back to it — but there's a certain amount of nervous energy that showed up."

In a subsequent June 2021 interview with ''Soap Opera Digest'', Howarth described himself as "in the approach" of Austin. He further explained: "In terms of figuring it out, what's been really kind of fun is that as soon as I think I have it figured out, I'm reminded that I just don't. So there's been some trial and error. I'm learning to juggle and sometimes I drop the ball. But I have a lot of support; o-Head WritersChris an Ettenand Dan 'Connorhave a lot of great ideas and Frank alentini, executive producerhas chimed in with what he needs, and so for me, at the risk of overusing ‘juggling exercises’, I am trying to juggle a lot of different inputs and trying to stay on track and do what’s expected. And it’s been fun. It requires some concentration from me and different parts of my brain that I wasn’t using."

On November 20, 2023, Howarth announced his dismissal. In an interview with ''Soap Opera Digest'', he revealed: "I got a phone call from somebody I've known for a very long time who I love very dearly telling me that when my contract was up at ABC, I would not be offered a new contract and that the character of Austin would be killed, and that this was something that both wanted and needed to do to move story." Austin departed during the final moments of the November 17 episode.

Esme Prince

Esme Prince, played by Avery Kristen Pohl, first appeared on August 16, 2021. She is the daughter of Ryan Chamberlain ( Jon Lindstrom) and Heather Webber ( Alley Mills), the maternal half sister of Steven Webber (Scott Reeves) and Franco Baldwin (Howarth), the niece of Kevin Collins, the cousin of Livvie Locke (Kelly Monaco), and the granddaughter of Alice Grant and Victor Collins (Nicholas Pryor). In February 2023, Esme welcomed her first child, Ace Cassadine, who was conceived from her one-night stand with Nikolas Cassadine ( Marcus Coloma), who was born at Wyndemere Castle with the help of his grandmother, Laura (Francis) and his great-uncle, Kevin.

Pohl departed the role on January 31, 2024. In storyline, Esme and Spencer Cassadine ( Nicholas Alexander Chavez) go overboard during a confrontation aboard the yacht he rented into the waters, and are presumed dead.

Marshall Ashford

Marshall Ashford, portrayed by Robert Gossett, made his first appearance on October 18, 2021. Initially a recurring cast member, Gossett was upgraded to regular status as of April 2022.

In October 2021, a mysterious man arrives in Port Charles, and begins taking an interest in both Curtis Ashford ( Donnell Turner) and his nephew, TJ Ashford ( Tajh Bellow). Initially suspecting him to be connected to Cyrus, Curtis later confronts him at which point the man introduces himself as Marshall Ashford, Curtis's presumed dead father. Curtis attempts to pursue answers about Marshall's whereabouts over the decades; Marshall is evasive, only indicating he stayed away to keep his family safe.

Rory Cabrera

Rory Cabrera, portrayed by Michael Blake Kruse, made his first appearance on March 29, 2022. His casting was first announced the day prior on March 28. Rory is introduced as the newest recruit hired at the Port Charles Police Department.

Cody Bell

Cody Bell, portrayed by Josh Kelly, made his first appearance on June 1, 2022. ''Deadline Hollywood'' announced Kelly's casting on May 11 of the same year. He is the son of Mac Scorpio ( John J. York) and Dominique Baldwin ( Shell Danielson), the maternal half brother of Serena Baldwin ( Carly Schroeder), the step-brother of Maxie Jones, the nephew of Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) and the cousin of Robin Scorpio ( Kimberly McCullough) and Sasha Gilmore ( Sofia Mattsson).

Cody has been billed as a character that would "greatly affect the lives of Sam (Monaco), Dante ( Dom Zamprogna) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud)." In an interview with ''Soap Opera Digest'', Kelly detailed his joining the role, stating: "I was excited and nervous. I haven't done this much dialogue in this short of an amount of time, but that's the challenge and it's one of the reasons I wanted to do this. It's a good work routine, and I think it's good for your mind and your body. I came in for a Covid test on a Thursday, did a wardrobe fitting on a Friday and then on Monday, I was working – out of the frying pan and into the fire!"

Jack Brennan

Jack Brennan (introduced as John Brennan) is a W.S.B. field agent and head of the Port Charles field office, played by Chris McKenna. Charles Mesure debuted in the role on December 13, 2023, and began appearing as a series regular in August 2024. On February 3, 2025, it was announced Mesure opted to leave the role and was recast with McKenna. Mesure made his final appearance on January 30, 2025, with McKenna debuting on February 4.

Gio Palmieri

Gio Palmieri, played by Giovanni Mazza, made his first appearance on May 15, 2024.

Gio arrives from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, when he visits Port Charles to play the violin for his cousin Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) when she marries Harrison Chase ( Josh Swickard). He reconnects with Brook Lynn's mother, Lois Cerullo (Rena Sofer) as well as longtime family friend, Sonny (Benard), whom Gio calls "Uncle Sonny". Gio bonds with army veteran turned police officer, Dex Heller ( Evan Hofer), as Gio's dad was deployed in 2002. Lois later invites Gio to stay at the Quartermaine family's estate, and he starts his new job as an attendant at the Metro Court Hotel's pool. In May 2025, it is revealed Gio is the son of Brook Lynn and Dante (Zamprogna).

Kai Taylor

Kai Taylor, played by Jens Austin Astrup, made his first appearance in November 12, 2024. Astrup's casting details and character were announced on October 21 of the same year. Kai will be introduced when he meets Trina Robinson (Ali) at Port Charles University.

Marco Rios

Marco, played by Adrian Anchondo, made his first appearance on March 13, 2025, in a regular capacity. Anchondo's casting details and character were announced the day prior. A mysterious character involved in the legal career, he revealed: "The character has been very sweet and charming, and, of course, it wouldn't be a soap opera without dark secrets somewhere. ..He's also very intelligent and very articulate, which is kind of opposite of who I am as a person".

Ezra Boyle

Ezra Boyle, played by Daniel Cosgrove, made his first appearance on March 21, 2025. Cosgrove's casting details and character were announced the day prior. Described as a "consummate politician", Cosgrve revealed: "At first, he seems to be aligning with Drew Quartermaine and there's some shenanigans going on". He revealed his casting came after being considered for the recast of Jack Brennan, which eventually went to McKenna.

Henry Dalton

Henry Dalton, played by Daniel Goddard, made his first appearance on April 15, 2025. Goddard's casting details and character were announced on April 11. Developed as a professor at Port Charles University under the investigation of the W.S.B. and described as "mysterious", Goddard revealed he had auditioned for the role of Jack Brennan (McKenna), and when he was not cast, he was offered the role of "Professor Dalton". Goddard revealed he was asked to audition for the role of Jack Brennan in December 2024; weeks later, he was contacted about the role of Henry, and he believed the "timing was right" in regards to the casting.

Other characters

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:General Hospital characters introduced in the 2020s
2020s
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