It felt like the kind of news that stops you mid-scroll. When word broke in June 2025 that Erika Slezak was coming to Port Charles, soap fans didn't just get excited—they basically lost their minds. After all, Slezak isn’t just some actor; she is the Erika Slezak. Six Daytime Emmys. Forty-plus years as Victoria Lord on One Life to Live. She’s daytime royalty.
But then the questions started pouring in. Was she bringing Viki Lord back from the dead? Was this some weird multiverse crossover with the residents of Llanview?
Honestly, the reality was a lot more grounded, yet somehow more surprising. Erika Slezak on General Hospital didn't involve a single alternate personality or a trip to the "underworld." Instead, it was a masterclass in how to honor a legacy while doing something completely fresh.
Why Everyone Thought Viki Lord Was Back
If you grew up watching ABC in the 80s or 90s, Erika Slezak was the network. Her face was synonymous with One Life to Live. Naturally, when Frank Valentini—who used to run OLTL before taking the helm at GH—called her up, the rumor mill went into overdrive.
People were convinced she’d be Viki. There was even talk about her being a recast for Helena Cassadine. Can you imagine? Viki Lord as the ice queen of Port Charles? It would have been wild.
But Erika had other ideas. She told TV Guide Magazine that when Frank filled her in on the story arc, she was hooked specifically because it was "completely different" from Viki. Viki was always the pillar of strength, the editor of The Banner, the woman who held it all together. The character she signed on for was a totally different animal.
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Who Is Ronnie Bard?
In September 2025, we finally got our answer. Slezak wasn't playing a Lord or a Buchanan. She stepped onto the screen as Veronica "Ronnie" Bard.
The twist? She was the long-lost sister of the legendary Monica Quartermaine.
This was a huge deal for show history. For decades, Monica was known as an orphan raised by Gail Baldwin. Suddenly, we find out there’s a sister named Ronnie. It was a clever way to pay tribute to the late, great Leslie Charleson while bringing in a powerhouse like Slezak to help "wrap up" Monica's story.
Ronnie wasn't some high-society titan. In one of her best scenes, she just went to a local restaurant to grab a BLT and a Coke. She sat there and chatted with young Gio (played by Giovanni Mazza), drawing him out with a warmth that felt real. It wasn't "soap opera acting"—it was just... acting.
The Short but Sweet Stay
If you blinked, you might have missed it. Erika Slezak’s stint on General Hospital was always intended to be a "short-term deal."
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- Taping began: Early September 2025.
- On-screen debut: Friday, September 26, 2025.
- Final appearance: Thursday, November 6, 2025.
She spent about three weeks filming at Prospect Studios. In a message shared by her fan club president, Walter Miller, she sounded genuinely happy about the experience but also ready to get back to her puppies and her cat on the East Coast. Soap schedules are a grind, even for a pro. She mentioned jumping between 12 different scripts at a time. That's enough to make anyone's head spin.
Meeting the Legends
The highlight for most fans wasn't just Ronnie's backstory; it was seeing Slezak share the screen with other titans.
Specifically, Jane Elliot.
The scenes between Ronnie Bard and Tracy Quartermaine were basically a "soap history lesson" for anyone watching. You had nearly 100 years of combined acting experience in those frames. Slezak called Elliot "positively brilliant" and "challenging to work with" in the best way possible. It was like watching two heavyweights in the ring, except instead of punches, they were throwing perfectly timed dialogue.
She also had a "head-to-head" with Genie Francis (Laura Collins). Seeing the face of One Life to Live and the face of General Hospital together felt like a fever dream for longtime viewers. It worked because the writers, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte, didn't try to make it a gimmick. They just wrote good scenes for great actresses.
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Reconnecting With the Past
Even though she wasn't playing Viki, the set felt like a reunion.
She got to see Chris McKenna, who played her son Joey Buchanan on OLTL and now plays Jack Brennan on GH. She also bumped into Jessica Tuck (ex-Megan Gordon) and Tuc Watkins (David Vickers). For those of us who spent years in Llanview, seeing those names together in Port Charles felt right.
What This Means for Your Watchlist
If you missed Erika Slezak on General Hospital during its original run in late 2025, you’ve gotta find those episodes. It’s not just about the "stunt casting." It’s about seeing an actress who has nothing left to prove still show up and give a performance that’s modest, nuanced, and totally engaging.
She proved that you don't need a decades-long contract to make an impact. Sometimes, a six-week arc as a woman looking for a BLT is enough to remind everyone why you have six Emmys on your mantelpiece.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to dive deeper into this specific era of the show:
- Look for the "Monica Tribute" episodes from late September 2025. That’s where the Ronnie Bard introduction carries the most emotional weight.
- Check out the official Erika Slezak Fan Club website. They updated it with a ton of behind-the-scenes photos from her time at Prospect Studios.
- Don't expect a Viki Lord return. Slezak has been pretty clear that while she loved her time on GH, she’s quite happy being home with her family.
The appearance was a "gift," as some critics called it. A brief, shining moment where the history of daytime television felt connected and alive. Ronnie Bard might not have stayed long, but Erika Slezak definitely left her mark on Port Charles.