What Happened to Ric Lansing on General Hospital?

It’s been quite some time since Ric Lansing appeared on General Hospital, so it’s understandable if newer viewers aren’t familiar with him. Longtime fans might also need a refresher! The character, introduced back in November 2002, has always been played by Rick Hearst (with the exception of a brief period when Nick Kiriazis filled in while Hearst underwent surgery). Hearst’s initial run lasted until 2009. He returned to the role in early 2014 for a few months, came back again at the end of that year, and stayed until 2016. Hearst’s performance earned him Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in both 2004 and 2007. In 2024, it was announced that he would return to the show in August.

Attorney Ric Lansing spent months in Port Charles before revealing to Sonny Corinthos that they were half-brothers. Ric harbored resentment towards Sonny ever since their mother chose to leave with Sonny, abandoning Ric as a child. Attempting to get back at his brother, Ric flirted with Sonny’s wife, Carly Corinthos, but eventually fell in love with Elizabeth Webber. Ric and Elizabeth married, and Liz became pregnant, but tragically miscarried. Ric accused Sonny of causing the miscarriage and kidnapped a pregnant Carly, intending to hold her captive until she gave birth so he could steal her baby. Carly escaped, and Liz divorced Ric. When Liz discovered she was pregnant with Zander Smith’s child, Ric returned to marry her again and raise the child together. However, their relationship couldn’t withstand Ric’s obsession with Sonny, leading to another split.

When Carly was kidnapped by Lorenzo Alcazar, Ric joined forces with Sonny to rescue her. Ric also pursued Sonny’s ex, Alexis Davis, and the couple welcomed their daughter, Molly Lansing Davis, in 2005. Ric played a crucial role in helping Alexis discover that Sam McCall was her long-lost daughter. However, when their relationships with Sam soured, Ric and Sam ended up in bed together. Jason and Alexis caught them, leading Alexis to divorce Ric. Ric attempted to rekindle his romance with Elizabeth, insisting she was the only woman he ever loved, but she wasn’t interested. After being impaled by a sword at the Black and White Ball, Ric required a blood transfusion, which Sonny reluctantly provided.

Ric began working for Anthony Zacchara and successfully got Johnny Zacchara acquitted of murder charges. Grateful, Johnny’s sister, Claudia Zacchara, showed her appreciation by having an affair with Ric, even after her father forced her to marry Sonny. When Claudia got pregnant, Ric taunted Sonny with the possibility that the baby could be his. In June 2009, Ric decided to leave the tumultuous drama behind and moved to Los Angeles. Shortly afterward, Claudia informed Ric that her baby was Sonny’s, but she soon miscarried after a car accident.

In 2014, Ric returned to Port Charles as Sonny was at war with Julian Jerome. Sonny suspected Ric of financially backing Julian, but Ric claimed he was only in town to reconnect with his daughter, Molly. He also managed to find time to ask Liz out on a date. After Ric was arrested for a shooting, it was revealed that Julian had framed him. Anna Devane then arranged for Ric to fake his own death by having Nathan West shoot him during an attempted escape. Ric was later abducted from Witness Protection by Carlos Rivera under Johnny Zacchara’s orders. Shawn Butler and Jordan Ashford rescued him and brought him home to Molly unharmed.

Attempting to reconnect with Elizabeth once more, Ric found her preoccupied with Jake Doe. He then hired Hayden Barnes to pretend to be his wife to get closer to Liz. When this scheme was revealed at the Nurses Ball, Liz dumped him. Ric then shifted his focus to Nina Reeves, charming her into marriage. However, this was part of a plot concocted with her mother, Madeline Reeves, to seize the family fortune. When that fell apart, Ric tried once again to reconcile with Liz, but she had moved on with Franco and wanted nothing more to do with him.

Ric’s last appearance in Port Charles was filled with drama, and his return is sure to bring even more excitement.

Source: Soap Opera Digest, ABC Network