Dean’s return to the soap marks his first appearance after a six-year absence.

Nathan Dean reprising General Hospital role as Luke Spencer’s son following actor Anthony Geary’s death

Dean's return to the soap marks his first appearance after a six-year absence.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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on March 5, 2026 2:47 p.m. ET

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Nathan Dean (formerly Parsons) and Anthony Geary on 'General Hospital'. Credit:

Greg Zabilski/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Nathan Dean (formerly Parsons) is making his return to *General Hospital*'s Port Charles just in time for plenty of spring shenanigans.

The actor is reprising his role as Ethan Lovett, the son of Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary) and Holly Sutton (Emma Samms), six years after his last appearance, ** has learned.

"We are so excited that Nathan Dean is returning to General Hospital as Ethan this April," executive producer Frank Valentini told *TV Insider*, who broke the news of the actor's return. "We have a great story planned — with, of course, a few twists along the way."

Dean originally appeared on the daytime soap in January 2009, where he was quickly revealed to be the result of an extramarital affair between Luke and Holly. Ethan, an Australian-born drifter who wandered into Port Charles up to no good, found himself drawn to his estranged father when they crossed paths as Ethan attempted to steal cash from Luke's Haunted Star casino. Instead of turning him in, Luke offered him a job, seeing a bit of himself in the younger man.

Emma Samms and Nathan Dean (formerly Parsons) on 'General Hospital'.

Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Although Ethan grew up with adoptive parents with no clue who his biological parents were, it was Luke's wife Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) who pieced together the truth behind his origins. When Holly initially revealed that she was Ethan's mother, she also tried to claim that he was the son of Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) before ultimately admitting it was Luke. Unsurprisingly, it took a while for Ethan and Luke to figure out their dynamic, and the former struggled to find his place among the former hitman's other children, Lulu (played by Julie Marie Berman at the time) and Lucky Spencer (Jonathan Jackson).

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Dean first left the show in 2012, when Ethan's life was threatened by the scheming Cassadine family and he left Port Charles for his own safety. He returned for brief appearances in 2013, 2015, and 2020, including taking part in the exit storyline for Luke upon Geary's retirement. When the character was seen back in Port Charles in April 2023 for several episodes, it was with actor James Ryan portraying him before Ethan was sent back to live off-screen in Australia.

The return of Ethan is particularly poignant for *General Hospital* fans after Geary died Dec. 14, 2025 following an operation in the Netherlands. Although the actor had long retired from acting — and the character of Luke had existed almost exclusively off-screen after he left in 2015 until his official death in 2022 —it's bittersweet news to hear another one of Luke's sons will make his return.

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Jackson, who portrayed Ethan's older brother Lucky Spencer, briefly made his return to Port Charles last year, marking his first time back since 2015. The actor originated the role of Lucky, the troubled yet noble son of soap super-couple Luke Spender (Anthony Geary) and Laura Collins (Genie Francis), in 1993.

Nathan Dean (formerly Parsons), Anthony Geary, and Jonathan Jackson on 'General Hospital'.

Rick Rowell/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

As a Port Charles police detective, Lucky endured a series of tragic storylines over the years, including his struggles with addiction and the death of his wife. Jackson first departed the show in 1999, with the role going to Jacob Young and then Greg Vaughan. Jackson then returned to the series in 2009 before exiting two years later for a role on the ABC-turned-CMT musical drama *Nashville*. During his run on the soap, Jackson was nominated for nine Daytime Emmy Awards, winning in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2011, and 2012.

But only nine months after he reappeared on the soap on Aug. 23, 2024, EW confirmed that Jackson would quickly depart once again. Perhaps Ethan's return, as well as their sister Lulu's awakening from a years-long coma in 2024 (now portrayed by Alexa Havins Bruening), will inspire Jackson to make another visit for a Spencer family reunion!

Fans can see what Ethan's return to Port Charles will kick off when he makes his first onscreen appearance in April.

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Source: “EW Soap”