General Hospital (GH) fans will see Wil Traval on the ABC show in October. He’s been cast as a stranger named Jude. Read on to find out more about his real life and about his expected role.
The Expected Role
Deadline first reported the casting news on September 18, announcing that the Australian actor is joining the ABC daytime soap.
For now, the execs of General Hospital are keeping his backstory and exact connections under wraps to build up some suspense. It seems to be working.
Is he tied to JJE or Phoebe?
GH fans already wonder what brings Jude to Port Charles. Michael Fairman TV notes that Jude is “the second new Australian-born actor to join the cast” recently, raising questions about whether his down-under roots connect him to Jasper Jax Enterprises (JJE) or Hudson Parker.
Celeb Dirty Laundry points out that “fall spoilers do reveal that someone is set to come along to claim Phoebe Chase,” leading fans to wonder if Jude could be her biological father.
Others speculate his name starting with “J” links him directly to the Jacks family pattern.
A Sweet Resume
Traval brings over twenty years of TV experience to General Hospital. Yardbarker reported that he “has an extensive list of U.S. primetime credits,” highlighting his “work on major network series.”
According to his Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki profile, superhero fans know him as Will Simpson from the Netflix series Jessica Jones. He also played Christopher Chance on Arrow.
He began his career in Australia with major television dramas. Viewers down under remember him as Dr. Jack Quade on All Saints and Detective Peter Church on White Collar Blue.
Stateside, fans have seen him feature in shows like Dexter, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Chicago P.D., and more. He graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art after studying Media and Literature at La Trobe University.
Personal Details
The Australian has built his entire livelihood within the entertainment industry since launching his career in 2003.
Wil Traval keeps details about his day-to-day life fairly private, though his married relationship with Terasa Livingstone isn’t a secret.
Fans React
Not every General Hospital fan is thrilled with the idea of another newcomer on the ABC soap. When Michael Fairman TV shared the news on Instagram, some fans vented their frustration over the expanding cast.
One of them asked, “How about just using the legacy characters more!!!”
Here are a few more responses from the discussion:
- “I’d trade 4 new characters plus Lulu Spencer for a back from the dead Silas Clay and a released from prison Nikolas Cassadine.”
- “Spare me another newbie. Too young looking to be Jax..”
- “Already too many newbies when they just need to bring Michael Easton back. Chase needs his brother..”
What are your thoughts? Shout out in the comments below and come back here for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.