Sometimes in the world of daytime television, a character’s popularity can supercede the actor playing the role. And that can become an issue when said actor wants to move on when their contract expires. This was the situation “General Hospital” was facing recently when Jacob Young, the second actor in the Lucky Spencer role, decided to leave. Such a pivotal role required just the right recast.

This Dallas, Texas native began his modeling career in high school and traveled all over the world on assignments.  But the lure of the bright lights was always on his mind.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to be an actor,” he states. “The rest of it was just for fun. I have a great love of music so I just fiddle around with that. For acting, I just knew that was my calling since I was a kid. Coming out of a movie and being just so amazed and mesmerized by what I was feeling. If I could be moved at that young of an age, then I felt I wanted to do the same for other people.”

The soap world was a bit surprised when Vaughan landed the “GH” role.  Not because he doesn’t have the acting chops though. Lucky has always been blonde and in his early twenties. If you looked at Vaughan he certainly was the opposite.

“I think what they were looking for was somebody younger, in their early twenties, that could still bring the dynamics to the role that they needed. I think they had been looking for awhile and they could never find what grabbed their attention. At first, they asked me if I’d come in and then the producers thought I was to old for the part. I think that was based on “Y&R” and my appearance. Then once we shaved me up and cut my hair, it put a different spin on it.  I guess I delivered for them that day and they stuck with me,” he says.

Of course, this is not Vaughan’s first soap role. He had been playing Diego on “Y&R” for most of the past year. A role that came to an unexpected end.

“It took us all by surprise. We were all in shock. Just the way the whole thing worked out,” he trails off. “You know what-what happened, it all came out perfectly because one door closed, another opened.  It just couldn’t have been more perfect for me. I swear, God, he just opened that door for me and shut that other one. There’s a reason for everything and I have to believe there WAS a reason it happened the way it did.

 “They said there was just nowhere to go with the storyline. It’s night and day now. I had to create my own stuff there.  Bring in a whole new character that was just a support. Now I get to play a character that’s so THERE! He’s such a pivotal character for the whole show. He’s one of the most beloved characters you can have on daytime. Being able to come in and pick up the reigns, hopefully I can just keep delivering what I’m doing and in time, it will be accepted.”

Vaughan landed on his feet and landed the role of Lucky, son of the legendary Luke and Laura.  Most certainly a part cemented in a very popular show.

“I always knew “General Hospital” was one of the better shows in daytime television,” he says. “Whether you watch or not, everybody knows who Luke and Laura are. They are one of the biggest couple in daytime television. I knew who Tony Geary was-being in L.A. it’s six degrees of separation.  Then starting to work in daytime, as an actor I follow everything.  You’ve got to know everybody’s show and what’s going on out there.”

Vaughan’s initial scenes on “GH” were with Tony Geary (Luke), one of daytime’s greatest assets. “It’s great walking in to work and knowing that you get to work with Tony Geary everyday,” he enthuses. “It’s just such a freedom, a free range knowing that you can go anywhere and take the scene in any direction. He, as Luke, really adores his son so much that he really wants the father/son relationship to be a good thing. To have the good dynamic, but butt heads.  They are like looking in the mirror, Lucky is a reflection of who Luke is,” he states.

Walking in to an established role can be problematic.  Daytime fans are loyal to the actors they love and very fickle when change is made, something Vaughan is very aware of.

The actor says, “Everybody’s going to have their different opinion on whether they feel I’m right for the character.  They will pick and choose. Everybody loved Jonathan (Jackson, the first Lucky), but they accepted Jacob after awhile. Nobody will probably like me stepping in and completely think I’m opposite of what Lucky should be or looks like, based on my appearance. I hope in some time that I change their opinion.”

It’s not only fans that Vaughan needs to work hard for.  After all, he’s taking on a role played by two previous actors who won Emmy awards. Does Vaughan feel any pressure?

“No, “ he states. “I think they were acknowledged for their performances and they were good at what they were doing. Hopefully, in return, people will see the same for me. I think the welcoming that I’ve already received from Jill Phelps (executive producer), all the producers and the people on the show has been great. Mark Teschner, the casting director, he was really the one who pushed this forward in the sense of giving the producers the opportunity to meet me and test me. They’ve just really given me the freedom to bring what I want to do (to the role) and not step in Jacob’s shoes. He did what he had to do. Now, they’re saying, you do what you want to do. 

He continues, “I think it was a big pressure on Jacob for awhile to take over what Jonathan had already created. So I did my homework and research in the sense of what my relationship’s were with the cast. Who I was close with, who Lucky had problems with. Just the basic stuff to do. I watched a bunch of old tapes of Jonathan and Jacob also.”

And that homework has paid off. Vaughan hit the ground running in a major storyline that will play for some time to come. The actor has some thoughts on the story playing out.

“It’s interesting. I think they are playing the dynamics of the whole father/son/brother relationship right now. Lucky is leaning on his brother (Nicholas), though I know it’s not a great, close relationship. Then my dad being confused and lost. I think this whole girl (Summer) thing has been a big twist. Now it’s all emotional. I think there’s going to be this whole triangle thing. It’s still so fresh. I have no idea what direction it’s going to go.”

“I’m excited,” he states. “I’m going to try to open up and bring a lot more different dynamics to my character. I’m going to try to show different layers of what I think and what I see. I have a lot of respect for the show and the character. I have to really deliver what is true and real and hopefully I can back it up.”

Does future story include Liz?  “Liz and Lucky, will they ever get together?,” he says. “I screen tested with Becky (Herbst, who plays Liz). I think they wanted to see the relationship, if it’s possible to go in that direction. They wanted to see if there was good chemistry. It definitely works. That was my first instinct that was the direction they may go at some point. It’s yet to be seen. Maybe when times get tough, Lucky could lean on her. They’re very platonic right now, but they are very curious at the same time. They wonder what’s going on in that person’s life and they care enough to ask.”

Vaughan can also lean on his co-stars to help him fill in any gaps in Lucky’s history. The cast was very helpful as the actor made the hectic leap from “Y&R” to “GH”.

 “I had a couple of weeks off,” he says. “My last air date for “Y&R” was a Monday and my first for “GH” was that Thursday.  It kind of worked out perfectly. It was funny how both shows came on the air in the same week. They were talking about having Jacob making love with Summer and then all of a sudden they were going to plop me in the bed. That would’ve been not right.”

Having covered the realm of the entertainment world, did Vaughan have a favorite job?

Vaughan explains, “Everything has been just such a great stepping stone for me. My mother is so grateful-she always said I could do daytime. There’s something about daytime that’s really interesting because you’re actually challenged more as an actor. I think you’re given more opportunity to keep working, but you actually have a life outside of work. It’s the hardest job. The memorization of so much material and there is so much going on every day, you have to keep changing. In prime time you have a more laid back environment because it’s like I’m getting paid a lot and I can do a page today. Compared to daytime, where you do thirty pages a day. The scheduling, the pressure, the push, the prep-it’s so much different. Daytime has definitely been more challenging for me as an actor because it’s made me work harder and it’s pushed me more. And my grandparents get to see me more, that’s always a good thing.”

 “Modeling was fun. I got to see the world-all the different places and different cultures-at such an early age in my life. It was perfect at that point in my life. I love daytime. It’s fun. I get to work with so many different people. And there are so many different layers of who a character really is, so you get to really try and find those feelings. Prime time was fun.  I’ve met a lot of great people who I watched before I became an actor. I was never really a part of something from the beginning. Like (Beverly Hills) ‘90210’, I was a supporting character. And ‘Charmed’, I was only a prop in the background making the storyline move forward.  It’s been a rollercoaster ride-it’s very emotional. I just keep doing my homework.”

Paul Newman, Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen are all actors Vaughan admires. “You always strive to be at that level,” he says.

Vaughan recently made a guest appearance on the CBS prime time comedy ‘Still Standing’ and there is a possibility he could make future returns to the show. The actor also does a lot of charity work, namely with various children and homeless organizations. “I’m very appreciative of what I have. If there’s anyway I can make a difference, I definitely try to give back,” he says.

It’s not surprising that if Vaughan wasn’t an actor, he’d be a child psychologist. “I always wanted to work with children,” he states.

The fans also play huge in Vaughan’s life. He has a website, www.GregVaughan.com, that the actor uses to keep in touch with his loyal following.  He does answer his emails and the site also features regular chats with the actor. And Vaughan’s fan base will only grow now that he’s part of one of daytime’s hottest shows.

“Send them all my love. I’m so thankful to be at “GH”.  Step back and enjoy I hope everyone likes it,” he says.

Check out the Greg Vaughan website at www.GregVaughan.com . Also Greg will be having a live chat at the site at 5pm eastern time on Thursday March 13^th.  Stop by and chat with the actor and tell him you saw his interview at Soaptown USA.