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Emmy winner Kristen Alderson (Kiki) is leaving General Hospital according to reports from Soap Opera Digest. The actress will reportedly wrap up her 3-year stint very soon.
A 17-year daytime veteran, Alderson joined General Hospital in 2012 as Starr Manning, the role she played on One Life to Live since 1998. It was part of a much-hyped crossover event that featured Alderson and fellow OLTL stars Roger Howarth and Michael Easton join the cast of GH permanently. “Incorporating characters from ‘One Life to Live’ continue the legacy of the show as we weave them into ‘General Hospital’,” said executive producer Frank Valentini at the time.
Dubbed the ‘OLTL 3,’ the integration of the characters received a mixed reaction from the audience. Things would take an interesting turn in 2013 when, after a legal dispute between ABC and Prospect Park over the rights to the One Life to Live characters, GH was forced to write out Alderson, Howarth and Easton.
Rather than cut ties with the stars under contract, the show opted to create new characters and re-pair them with their former on-screen partners. In May 2013, Alderson would re-debut as Lauren ‘Kiki’ Jerome. Kiki was believed to be the long-lost daughter of Franco (now played by Roger Howarth), the key piece in the brewing family war between AJ (Sean Kanan) and Tracy (Jane Elliot) over control of ELQ. It was later revealed that Kiki wasn’t his daughter, but that of Dr. Silas Clay (played by Michael Easton), the doppelganger older brother of Port Charles character Stephen Clay (also played by Michael Easton), a serial killer who believed he was a vampire named Caleb Morely (also played by Michael Easton).
Alderson’s co-star and boyfriend Chad Duell (Michael, GH) commented on Twitter that it was her decision to leave. It’s unknown if the role will be recast.
“@SoapDigest: GH'S KRISTEN ALDERSON OUT! http://t.co/uU3ZAsMYCK” was her decision btw.
— Chad Duell (@duelly87) January 10, 2015
TVSource Magazine has reached out to GH reps for comment.
Maybe something is in the making to bring back OLTL! That would be so awesome. I am sad also to see her leave. She is a great young actress!
It will be sad to see her leave, I have watched her grow up on OLTL. But I’m excited for her. Hopefully she is going on to bigger and better things. I wish her good luck and all the best.