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Genie Francis

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Genie Francis
Francis in 2013
Born (1962-05-26) May 26, 1962 (age 62)[1]
Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1976–present
Known for
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
Children2
FatherIvor Francis
Websitegeniefrancis.com

Genie Francis is an American actress. She is best known for playing the role of Laura Spencer on the television soap opera General Hospital from 1977 to present, for which she won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2007.

Francis also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives from 1987 to 1989, All My Children from 1990 to 1992 and The Young and the Restless from 2011 to 2012.

Early life

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Francis was born in Englewood, New Jersey.[2] Her father was Canadian actor Ivor Francis.[2] Her mother, Rosemary Daley, was a former actress/model.[3] Genie has an older brother, Ivor Jr.; a younger brother, Kenneth; and an older half-sister, Shelley, from her father's first marriage.[citation needed]

Career

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Francis began acting in the two part episode titled "Jury Duty" on the television series Family. Her biggest role came in 1977 with Laura Spencer on General Hospital as she was a recast. It would bring her instant stardom in the late 1970s. The television couple of Luke and Laura wed on November 17, 1981, with 30 million viewers tuning in to make the episode the highest-rated hour in soap opera history.[4] At the peak of her success, Francis left the series in 1982 to try her hand at prime-time television. Soon afterward, she landed a starring role in her own series, Bare Essence, which was unsuccessful. She returned to General Hospital in 1983 for a limited run, to coincide with the departure of Luke when Anthony Geary decided to leave the series.

In 1984, 1986 and 1990, Francis guest starred on Murder, She Wrote as Jessica Fletcher's niece Victoria. In 1985, she starred in the miniseries North and South as Brett Main Hazard.[5] Francis would reprise her role of Brett Main Hazard in 1986 and 1994 in the miniseries North and South: Book II and Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III respectively.[6][7] In 1993, she starred in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss as Kris Buckner which was based on the CBS television series of the same name.[8] In 1996, Francis provided the voice of Betty Ross on the Incredible Hulk animated series that ran on UPN.

Through the years, Francis has appeared on numerous other daytime soaps. She starred on Days of Our Lives as Diana Colville (a reporter who became involved with John Black, at the time believing himself to be Roman Brady) from 1987 to 1989 and on All My Children as con artist and incest victim Ceara Connor Hunter from 1990 to 1992. She reprised her role as Ceara on Loving in a crossover storyline in November 1991. Ceara was "killed off" when her character prepared to move to that soap's town of Corinth (although it was an unseen extra stepping off the bus into the line of fire), and years later, Laura also appeared in Corinth on General Hospital when ex-husband Luke found her tied up in the Alden family basement. She then returned to General Hospital in 1993. In 1994, when Francis became pregnant with her first child, the pregnancy was written into the show and she took six weeks off for maternity leave. However, in early 1997, when she was pregnant again, she took a much longer absence from the show, staying away for nearly a year and a half.

In 2004, Francis appeared in Teacher's Pet[9] and Thunderbirds.[10] In June 2006, she began negotiating with the casting directors on the show to return to the role of Laura Spencer for a limited run through November. Francis returned with spectacular fanfare to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding. Though she reprised the role for only one month, Francis' stint garnered her a Daytime Emmy Nomination[11] for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which she won in June 2007.[12] Francis returned to General Hospital in August 2008 to reprise her role, appearing until November 12. In December 2008, she had a starring role in the Hallmark Channel movie, The Note, which earned her critical acclaim. On January 31, 2009, Francis reprised her role of Peyton MacGruder in the Hallmark Channel movie, Taking a Chance on Love. In 2012, she again reprised her role as Peyton MacGruder in the Hallmark Channel movie Notes from the Heart Healer.[13]

In March 2011, it was announced that Francis would join The Young and the Restless as Genevieve Atkinson, the long-absent birth mother of Cane Ashby. With her appearance, she was reunited with former General Hospital co-star Tristan Rogers, who portrayed Colin Atkinson, Cane's estranged biological father. She received her second Daytime Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Genevieve in May 2012.[14]

On September 13, 2012, it was announced that Francis had been let go from her role on The Young and the Restless due to budget cuts.[15] On January 8, 2013, executive producer Frank Valentini and Entertainment Weekly confirmed that Francis would return to General Hospital, first airing on February 11. However, she remained with the series for only five months, as Laura departed for medical treatment in France, returning on June 5, 2015, as part of a storyline to help facilitate Anthony Geary's departure from the show and would later sign a contract to remain with the show.[16] In January 2018, Francis was dropped to recurring status[17] and in late July 2018 signed a contract to return to General Hospital full-time.[18][19][20]

Other projects

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Francis owned a store called The Cherished Home.[21] It was located at 31 Searsport Avenue, Belfast, Maine 04915, and they also sold items online. The store sold cottage furnishings and home accessories. Francis sold the store in August 2012, due to her workload on The Young and the Restless. The store closed in the fall of 2012.[citation needed]

In May 2007, Francis began appearing in magazine advertisements as a spokesperson for the Medifast Diet, claiming she lost 30 pounds as of December 2007, using the diet.

In November 2009, Francis along with her brothers, Ivor Jr. and Kenneth released It's Christmas Time Again.[22] They decided to donate a part of all record sales to the Sisters of Saint Francis Children's Mission in Cuernavaca, a mission founded by her cousin Sister Margaret.[23] Francis decided to donate all of her proceeds/sales to this mission. This endeavor was a project involving various members of her family.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Francis first met actor/director Jonathan Frakes in 1982 while filming the television miniseries Bare Essence. After meeting again in 1984 during the filming of the miniseries North and South, Francis and Frakes began dating in 1985. They became engaged the following year, and were married on May 28, 1988. The couple have two children, Jameson Ivor Frakes and Elizabeth Frances Frakes. After residing in Belfast, Maine, they moved to Beverly Hills, California, in 2008 and later relocated to Calabasas, California.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Camp Nowhere Mrs. Speigel uncredited
2004 Teacher's Pet Marsha/Marcia
Thunderbirds Lisa Lowe Science fiction-comedy-action-adventure film[25] based on the 1960s television series of the same name and directed by Jonathan Frakes.[10]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Family Alice Dennison Episodes:
1977–84, 1993–2002, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2015– General Hospital Laura Spencer
  • Contract role: 1977–1982, 1993–2002, 2013, 2015–
  • Recurring role: 1983, 1984, 2006, 2008
1981 Fridays Herself/Co-Host
  • Episode: "Episode #3.3" (S 3:Ep 3)
  • Special guest appearance with Anthony Geary
1982 Fantasy Island Christa Ackland Episode: "Daddy's Little Girl / The Whistle" (S 5:Ep 14)
1982–83 Bare Essence Patricia 'Tyger' Hayes Contract role
1984 Murder, She Wrote Victoria Episode: "Birds of a Feather" (S 1:Ep 4)
Hotel Jenny Bernard Episode: "Outsiders"(S 2:Ep 5)
1985 North and South Brett Main Hazard
Glitter Guest Episode: "The Matriarch" (S 1:Ep 10)
1986 North and South: Book II Brett Main Hazard
Murder, She Wrote Victoria Episode: "Corned Beef and Carnage" (S 3:Ep 5)
1987 The New Mike Hammer Susan Timmons Episode: "Body Shot" (S 3:Ep 13)
Hotel Melinda Jenkins Episode: "Barriers" (S 4:Ep 18)
1987–89 Days of Our Lives Diana Colville Contract role: April 13, 1987, to June 21, 1989
1990 Murder, She Wrote Victoria Episode: "The Fixer-Upper" (S 6:Ep 15)
1990–92 All My Children Ceara Connor Hunter Contract role: June 27, 1990, to July 16, 1992
1991 Loving Recurring role: October 31, 1991, to December 5, 1991
1993 Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss Kris Buckner
1994 Roseanne Laura Spencer Episode: "Suck Up or Shut Up" (S6 : Ep 13)
Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III Brett Main Hazard
1995 Terror in the Shadows Sarah Made-for-TV movie directed by William A. Graham.[29]
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Amber Lake Episode: "Don't Tug on Superman's Cape" (S 3:Ep 6)
1996 The Incredible Hulk Betty Ross Recurring
Sister Rose Erak Episode: "Innocent Blood" (S 1:Ep 50
2000 3rd Rock from the Sun Gwen McMichael Episode: "Gwen, Larry, Dick & Mary" (S 5:Ep 10)
2000 Oh, Baby Rachel Episode: "Image" (S 2:Ep 21)
Roswell Mother Episode: "Destiny" (S 1:Ep 22)
2007 The Note Peyton MacGruder Made-for-TV movie directed by Douglas Barr.
2009 Taking a Chance on Love Made-for-TV movie written and directed by Douglas Barr.
2011 Bar Karma Waitress Episode: "Three Times a Lady" (S 1:Ep 9)
2011–12 Pretty the Series Dr. Kate Recurring
The Young and the Restless Genevieve Atkinson Contract role
2012 Notes from the Heart Healer[13] Peyton MacGruder Made-for-TV movie written and directed by Douglas Barr.

Videos

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Year Title Role Notes
1994 Luke and Laura, Vol. 1: Lovers on the Run[30] Host/Laura Spencer Directed by David Seeger.
1995 Luke and Laura Vol. 2: Greatest Love of All[31]

Awards and nominations

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List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1979 Young Artist Award Best Juvenile Actress in a Daytime Series General Hospital Nominated [32]
1980 Soapy Awards Outstanding Actress Nominated [citation needed]
Young Artist Award Best Juvenile Actress in a Daytime Series Won [33]
1981 Soapy Awards Outstanding Actress Won [citation needed]
1982 Young Artist Award Best Juvenile Actress in a Daytime Series Nominated [34]
1997 Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Nominated [citation needed]
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [35]
2002 America's Favorite Couple - (shared with Anthony Geary) Nominated [citation needed]
2007 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Won [11][12]
2012 The Young and the Restless Nominated [14]
2021 Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [36]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Originally published by Signet in 1982.[37]
  2. ^ Originally published Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1987 with the ISBN 978-0151310753.[38]

Citations

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  1. ^ "Famous birthdays for May 26: Bobcat Goldthwait, Lenny Kravitz - UPI.com". UPI.
  2. ^ a b Alexander, Rodi (November 28, 2007). "Genie Francis Returns To The Tube in 'The Note'". The Independent. East Hampton. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
  3. ^ Rein, Birnbaum & Lardine 1980, Vol. 14, issue 17.
  4. ^ Lang, Derrik J. (July 11, 2008). "Laura to return to 'General Hospital'". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2008-07-16.
  5. ^ a b "North and South". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "North and South: Book II". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Heaven and Hell: North and South Book III". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Teacher's Pet". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Thunderbirds". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  11. ^ a b Bonawitz, Amy (February 11, 2009). "34th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners". CBS News. New York City: CBS. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  12. ^ a b "The 2007 Daytime Emmy Award Winners". PopSugar. San Francisco: PopSugar Entertainment. June 2, 2013. Archived from the original on December 22, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Notes from the Heart Healer". The Futon Critic. United States: Futon Media. February 21, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  14. ^ a b "The 39th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". Daytime Emmy Award. New York City: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. May 9, 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  15. ^ Lynette Rice (September 14, 2012). "Genie Francis out of 'Young and the Restless'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  16. ^ "Genie Francis returns to 'General Hospital' -- EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. Lynette Rice. January 8, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  17. ^ Giddens, Jamey (January 19, 2018). "Genie Francis Bumped to Recurring at General Hospital". Daytime Confidential. United States: Confidential Media, Inc. (SAY Media). Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  18. ^ Rice, Lynette (July 31, 2018). "General Hospital brings back Genie Francis". Entertainment Weekly. United States: Time Inc. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  19. ^ Evans, Greg (July 31, 2018). "Genie Francis Set For Return To ABC's 'General Hospital'". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  20. ^ Maloney, Michael (July 31, 2018). "Laura Returns! Genie Francis Is Checking Back Into General Hospital". TV Insider. United States: TVGM Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on July 31, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  21. ^ Shanahan, Mark (September 28, 2006). "A home-furnishings store is Maine event for Genie Francis". The Boston Globe. Boston: Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  22. ^ Kroll, Dan J. (January 5, 2010). "GH interested in having Genie Francis return". SoapCentral. United States: Dan J Kroll. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  23. ^ "Genie Francis CD". Sisters of St. Francis. 19 November 2009. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  24. ^ McFly, Marty (August 15, 2013). "Celeb R.E.: Jonathan Frakes from Star Trek and Genie Francis From General Hospital Move to Woodland Hills". San Fernando Valley Blogspot. Blogger. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  25. ^ Puig, Claudia (29 July 2004). "Fantasy propels Thunderbirds". USA Today. Gannett Company. Archived from the original on November 7, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  26. ^ Jakes, John (2000). North and South. New York City: Signet. ISBN 978-0451200815.
  27. ^ Jakes, John (1984). Love and War. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ASIN B000CBVLXC.
  28. ^ Jakes, John (2000). Heaven and Hell. New York City: Signet. ISBN 978-0451200839.
  29. ^ "Terror in the Shadows". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  30. ^ General Hospital: Luke & Laura (Lovers on the Run) Vol. 1. Burbank, California: ABC Studios. February 2, 1994. ASIN 6303007759.
  31. ^ Luke & Laura Vol.2: The Greatest Love of All, Burbank, California: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc., 1995, ASIN 6303267769
  32. ^ "1st Annual Youth In Film Awards". Young Artist Award. United States: Young Artist Association. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  33. ^ "2nd Youth In Film Awards". Young Artist Award. United States: Young Artist Association. Archived from the original on September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  34. ^ "3rd Youth In Film Awards". Young Artist Award. United States: Young Artist Association. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  35. ^ "1997 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City. American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  36. ^ "2021 Daytime Emmy Awards: Talk Show Host and Lead Actress Nominees Revealed (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. CBS Interactive. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  37. ^ Jakes, John (1982). North and South. New York City: Signet. ASIN B00CID411Q.
  38. ^ Jakes, John (1987). Heaven and Hell. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. ISBN 978-0151310753.

Sources

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