Special Episode of The Bay Honors Jacklyn Zeman

After the beloved soap star Jacklyn Zeman passed away in May 2023, General Hospital honored her memory with a special memorial episode for her character, Bobbie Spencer, in January 2024. This tribute, delayed due to the writers’ strike, was deeply appreciated by her fans. Now, Zeman is set to receive another heartfelt tribute this fall on The Bay, featuring a lineup of special guests.

In the streaming soap, Zeman portrayed the character of medium Sofia Grace Madison. Showrunner and head writer Gregori J. Martin is curating a dedicated episode to celebrate both the character and Zeman’s life. “The special episode titled ‘Sofia’ will be a celebration of both the Sofia character and Jackie Zeman’s life,” announced Martin, revealing that several guest stars, significant to Zeman’s legacy, will take part.

Dee Wallace, who once played Bobbie’s older sister Patricia Spencer on General Hospital, will join The Bay cast as Sofia’s sister, Charlotte Grace. In a touching storyline, Charlotte launches a perfume in honor of her late sibling. Additionally, Tamara Braun, known for her role as Bobbie’s daughter Carly on General Hospital, will make a guest appearance as Rita “Elise” Kennedy. Elise is a blind woman who receives Sofia’s donated corneas and gains the medium’s gift of sight, which helps solve a mystery.

Martin shared that he created the role of Elise with Braun specifically in mind, acknowledging how special Tamara was to Jackie. After consulting with soap writer Michele Val Jean, a close friend of Zeman’s, Martin decided to name Braun’s character Elise after Zeman’s mother and her two granddaughters, ensuring a personal touch that would have meant much to Jackie.

Leigh McCloskey, another familiar face from General Hospital where he played Bobbie’s ex-husband Damian Smith, will appear as Sofia’s first husband, Hank Henderson. Emmie Romanovich will reprise her role as Tandi Jo, the youngest daughter of Sofia and Hank.

This special episode will also feature Hank and Tandi Jo delivering lines penned by Zeman’s real-life daughters, Cassidy and Lacey Rose. As a further tribute, the show will present a collage of never-before-seen family photos and video clips shared by Zeman’s family, adding a deeply personal touch to the episode.

The episode is set to premiere this fall. Stay tuned for the official air date to ensure you don’t miss this heartfelt tribute.

Source: Soaps In Depth