The latest episode of Soapy, the podcast hosted by soap favorites Greg Rikaart from Days of Our Lives and Rebecca Budig from The Bold and the Beautiful, featured a very familiar face. Rick Hearst, best known to fans as Ric Lansing from General Hospital, joined the show for a wide-ranging and very honest conversation.
The episode covers Rick’s long career in daytime television, along with how he has managed to balance soap fame with real life and family.
The three-time Daytime Emmy Award winner also talked about how he ended up becoming the only living actor to appear on every current daytime soap, with just one exception. He has yet to appear on Beyond the Gates, the newest on the soap block.
That alone makes Rick a true soap history maker. Over the years, he has appeared on Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful, and General Hospital. That kind of résumé is hard to beat.
Rick and Rebecca also looked back fondly on their time working together on Guiding Light. He played Alan Michael Spaulding, while Rebecca portrayed a young Michelle Bauer. Rick joked that he had a “1940s mentality” back then and described himself as an old soul during that period of his life.
The General Hospital Casting Story You Probably Never Heard
One of the most interesting moments of the episode came when Rick shared a behind-the-scenes story from General Hospital that even longtime fans may not know. He revealed that he actually turned down the role of Ric Lansing twice because he refused to screen test for it.
“When I went in and met for that role, Bob Guza and Chuck Pratt were writing the show, and I met with them. So this was my first meeting. I didn’t have an audition. I didn’t have a screen test, nothing. Every other time, you know, I would go through the process, and this was like, ‘woo, look at this,’ you know.”
After that meeting, Rick expected to hear when he would start. He said, “And I went in, and I met them. And this may sound funny, but in auditions, I tend not to be chatty. I just sort of lay back, let them do all the talking, and then respond in kind and kind of feel them out at the same time.”
He explains, “After I left, I expected, ‘okay, well, you’re going to start on this day, and here’s your scripts and whatnot.’ And Mark Teschner called my agent, should I say, and I said, ‘So, what’s the deal?’ And they said, ‘Well, they want to know if you want a screen test for it, maybe.”
Rick said no, and he admits that he panicked. He believed his body of work should speak for itself.
“I went, ‘Wait, I thought this was an offer.’ And they said, ‘No, no, no, it is, but they’re just, you know, they had some other ideas, some other people, and everything.’”
Becoming Ric Lansing
“I’m like, ‘Well, um, no.’ And that’s the first time I’ve ever done that. I panicked. I was like, ‘Oh my god, I just said no.’ And I said, whatever they’ve got to do, that’s fine. If they need to make the decision, let them make the decision.”
Rick explained that they went on to screen test other actors, but none of them got the role. They later reached out to him again to screen test, and once again, he respectfully declined.
“If they’re concerned about me playing this part, that’s up to them,” Rick said. “I said to my agent, send my reel over to them so they can at least see a body of work.”
“And when I did that, they still screen tested guys, but then I got a call from my agent on a Friday night. It’s 10:30. The job starts on Monday early.”
Rick ultimately got the part, and years later, he is still playing the infamous hotshot attorney and brother of a mob boss, Ric Lansing.
Rick also shared a great first-day story. When he arrived on set at General Hospital, he learned his character was stuck in a South American jail and had lines in Spanish. He had to learn them on the spot with help from a background guard.
Life Outside the Soap World
The conversation also touched on Rick’s first professional film credit in the 1988 cult horror movie Brain Damage. He revealed that a possible sequel is being discussed with a writer connected to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The idea is to have Rick’s son play the child of his character.
Rick also discussed his role as a licensed realtor and also launched a successful specialty food business in Atlanta with his mother, Anne. Sadly, his mom passed away.
Hearst also sang the praises of his GH co-star Nancy Lee Grahn, who plays Alexis Davis. You can watch the full interview below.
Photo Credit: CBS Broadcasting Inc.
Rick Hearsts on Soapy Podcast
- The podcast episode features Rick Hearst discussing his career in daytime television, including his role as Ric Lansing.
- Rick Hearst reveals he turned down the Ric Lansing role twice due to his refusal to screen test.
- He shares a memorable first-day story on General Hospital involving learning lines in Spanish on the spot.
- Outside of soap acting, Rick has pursued a career as a licensed realtor and launched a specialty food business.
- He discusses upcoming projects, including a potential sequel to Brain Damage, with his son possibly involved.
Follow Soap Opera News on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.
Leave a Reply