Quick, name five of the most talented men in soaps today?  Ok, how about three?  I guarantee anyone who tries to put that list together would have Rick Hearst on it.  Hearst has been a daytime fixture for the past fifteen years.  Currently, Hearst is honing his craft as the multi-faceted Ric Lansing on “General Hospital”.  A veteran of five daytime roles, soap fans have watched Hearst grow into one of the finest actors in the medium.

Starting in 1989 as Scotty Banning on “Days Of Our Lives”, Hearst was thrust into a front-burner story on a show going through many internal problems.  The role didn’t last.  A year later, in 1990, Hearst jumped ship-and coasts- to take over the role of Alan Michael Spaulding on the New York based “Guiding Light”.  Luck and talent won out and Hearst went on to become one of the show’s most popular actors in a role he held until 1996.

After leaving “Guiding Light”, it was back west and time to test the prime time waters.  Hearst managed to make a splash in Hollywood, landing roles on several night-time shows including ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, ‘Charmed’ and a few films.


Daytime came calling again in 2000 in the form of a recast Matt Clark on “Young & Restless”.  The character of Clark was evil incarnate and gave Hearst a chance to shine in a new light.  Of course evil doesn’t equal longevity on a soap and Clark was killed off.





Hearst wasn’t unemployed long when the Bell daytime dynasty came knocking again.  This time Bradley Bell created the role of Whip Jones on “Bold & Beautiful” just for the actor in 2002.  It was a short-a scant six months-but sweet role that allowed Hearst to show off another aspect of his talent-comedy.

But it was late in 2002 when Hearst hit his stride, joining the cast of “General Hospital” in the complex role of Ric Lansing, a man with a mission.  The layers were peeled away slowly and we soon learned Ric was a man with an agenda-and a very complicated, well-drawn character was off and running.

Hearst remembers his daytime roles and the diversity in all of them.

“At “Days”, I was such a newbie.  I was working as an actor the only way I knew how.  I was just learning so much at that point.  At “Guiding Light”, I really learned to cut my teeth and play out a character in small increments.  In daytime, it’s the shortest amount of time to prepare and shoot.  However, everyday is a full play for that character and then you pick up the next day.  You’re constantly evolving and I really learned that at “GL”

He continues, “With each show I’ve learned when to give it all and when to cut back a little and I really learned that in my six years at “GL”.  When I came back to do “Young & Restless”, I had a renewed feeling about working in daytime.  That is where I was fearless and smarter, I think.  So when “Bold & Beautiful” came along, again I was fearless.  Whip had no back-story .  I think Brad (Bell, the show’s producer) saw what I did and just kept writing for him.  I had a great time there.”

“Being on “GH” is a combination of all of it.  I feel like the journeyman who is continuously practicing his craft and has the knowledge that the master has but will always continue to work as the craftsman.,” Hearst adds.

And “GH” is home to the actor now, who is loving his latest daytime creation and having the time of his life.  The actor tries to explain what makes Ric tick.

“I think with Ric, he’s like anybody,” the actor says.  “In my opinion, none of us have gone through this world without taking the road that was frequently traveled, rather than less.  Meaning so many of us wont take the most difficult road or the road we know is ultimately better for us but more difficult to achieve.  In order to do that, you’re going to fall.  You’re going to carry with you those moments of your life that you regret, that you will forever pay for and forever try to make up for.  In that, you’re always struggling.  You’re always involved in a journey.  You’re always involved with conflict with yourself.  That IS Ric.  That is something that is completely innate with Ric and the majority of the characters on “GH”.  I think if you look at Sonny, Jason and Carly, they’ve all had their share of darkness and it rears it’s ugly head from time to time.  That is why Ric fits in so well.”

Continuing, he adds, “Now the choices Ric makes are not always conscious choices.  Maybe they are sometimes.  Sometimes he’s just going to mess up.  That is his conflict, his struggle.”

Conflict also comes in the form of Sonny Corinthos, the Mafioso brother that Ric has spent a lifetime competing with despite just meeting a year and a half ago.  Hearst has definite opinions on that relationship.

“Ric just doesn’t like Sonny, in my opinion,” he states.  “I don’t think he has any untold vendetta against him anymore.  I think after being around him and dealing with him, he just does not like him at all.  They will always be at odds.  As (headwriter) Bob Guza puts it, it’s Cain versus Cain.  That’s how they’ve written these guys.  They love that dynamic between the characters.  When you get the two together, it goes off.  The beauty of Ric is he’s tenacious and Sonny hates that.”

Not only have we watched Ric battle his demons with Sonny the past year and a half, but we’ve watched Ric face the sting of cupid’s arrow.  And what a sting it’s been!  The lucky gal is Elizabeth Webber, longtime heroine and sweetheart of the show.  It’s not an obvious match and we’ve seen the love of a good woman alter Ric’s outlook on life.  In turn, Liz and Ric  have become one of the show’s most popular couples, despite the push/pull of the whole romance.

Hearst explains the couple’s appeal, “Here’s the deal, as an actor it’s always my job to find the positive aspect of playing a relationship.  And as an actor that can be an extreme challenge.  All of the factors are against Elizabeth and Ric.  The one thing people cant deny is the fact, regardless of what has happened, what will happen, where both of these characters have come from, was that connection between the two of them they cannot deny.  This is something that opened up a part of each of them, that they don’t want to let go of.  Something they know is at the core of who they are.  To me, that is the essence of true love.  Marriages succeed and fail based on how two people deal with adversity, joy, finance, family and so on.  And sometimes there comes a point where there is too much or too little.”

Continuing, “For Liz and Ric, their relationship has never had a chance to be real.  As an actor, that is what I am looking forward to.  What happens beyond that, I don’t know.  I look at Ric’s investment in the relationship.  I think when these two characters are together, whether they are screaming at each other or wrapped around each other as tightly as can be, there is a connection and understanding between them.  It’s passion.  It’s about trust, or trying to trust.  Ric trusts Liz completely.  They see each other’s vulnerability, that secret inside of them, whether it’s spoken or not.  And THAT is why this couple works.  Although I would love to see them have more than five seconds of joy.”

One complaint of fans is that the character of Liz seems to have been altered to be a better fit with Ric.  Longtime viewers feel a lot of the Liz/Ric story has gone against the true character of who Liz is.  The actor agrees with this assessment, but feels that in the long run this is about Liz growing and changing.

“This is where the story gets interesting.  This will be about the choices Liz makes in her life.  What she has learned as she’s gotten older and the realism that comes into play and the decisions and choices you have to make.  Do they take you so far away from who and what you are?  It’s a process of seeing Liz grow up and evolve.  She started as a hardcore witch, then came the rape and then she became America’s sweetheart.  Now it’s about dealing with all that.  You want to see a full, rich character.  You are going to see Ric make choices and Liz react.  Will she be able to deal with them?  That remains to be seen,” he says.

And while Hearst is thrilled with his on-screen coupling and extremely happy at “GH”, the actor has seen his on camera time cut back in recent months.  He feels there is a reason for that.  “The process of distance was a good thing at one point,” says the actor.  “There were a lot of factors to be dealt with and to be distanced from the character.  To possibly shove him in the audience’s face and try to justify or glorify where he’s come from and what has transpired the past year or so would be a losing situation for Ric anyway you look at it.  I think it’s been for the best doing what they’ve done.  It allows us all to re-group and re-focus the character.”

Also contributing to that lack of airtime is the real life pregnancy of co-star Becky Herbst.  Hearst is looking forward to the birth of Liz’s baby to really pull the couple together.  And as Ric straddles the gray line, leaning towards a more likable and, dare I say, heroic character, you have to wonder about the character’s recent metamorphosis.  In true soap opera fashion (or is that only on “GH”!) we’ve witnessed Ric Lansing go from holding a pregnant Carly hostage and drugging Liz to the DA’s office.  “In any true corrupt society, it is sort of the pecking order, isn’t it?,” he laughs.

And as Ric becomes one of the good guys, or as good as he can muster, the spectra of Lansing’s recent past looms large.  Specifically a certain blonde mob widow Ric dallied with and her action’s in trying to wipe out the competition, namely Liz.  Hearst feels there is untapped story potential there.

“Is Faith going to open her mouth?,” he chuckles.  “Talk about leaving a story up in the air!  If Ric were to find out what she did, man.  Everyone wants Faith dead.  I never want any actor to lose their job and I think Cynthia (Preston) is great, but obviously people want her dead.  Sonny definitely wants her dead.  If Ric found out what she did to Liz and Faith disappeared, the audience wouldn’t know who did it.  The writers know how to keep that secret in their hip pocket.  And you may see it some day.  If or when they decide to do it, boy look out!”

As the writers plot the future of Ric Lansing, viewers still wonder about the man’s past.  What brought him to the place in his mind when he arrived in Port Charles?  We know a little, but rumors persist we will soon learn more.  Hearst has certainly given Ric’s back story a lot of thought and responds to the rumors.

“The funny thing about rumors is they are started by the wants and needs of others,” he laughs.  “I would love to see Ric’s past dealt with.  I don’t think you’re going to see it right away.  I think you will see bits and pieces of it.  The key to back story is it can’t come out of his mouth.  Anytime you hear information about somebody on a soap, the perspective is skewed, because it’s coming from their own perception, rather than someone who’s impartial.  I’d like to see Elizabeth un-earth the whole thing.”  The actor goes on to describe his fascinating thoughts on Adela and Trevor and how he sees Ric’s past.

Clearly, Hearst is having the time of his life at “GH”.  Talking to him, hearing how much thought he has put into his character, his joy and excitement are overwhelming.  The charming Hearst is very popular with his co-stars.  He counts Chad Brannon (Zander), Tyler Christopher (Nikolas), Maurice Benard (Sonny) and Becky Herbst (Liz) as his closest friends at the set.  He also considers Tamara Braun (Carly) a special friend.

“Ah Tamara,” he says.  “She’s like my sister.  Anytime I see her I can talk to her about anything.  She’s just good people.  She is like family to me.  She’s a class act and just a joy, a beautiful woman inside and out.”

When asked who he’d like to work with more at “GH”, two names come up.  “I’d love to trade barbs with Jane Elliot (Tracy).  She is a force to be reckoned with, my friend,” he says emphatically.

“And Robin Christopher (Skye).  I am in absolute awe of her.  She’s a stunning woman.  She is immensely talented.  She really has such a handle on her character.  She’s so colorful.  I can’t say enough about her,” he states.

The actor is also very excited about the baby story with Liz.  “Anything can happen,” he points out.  With co-star Becky Herbst due to have her baby in April, we’ll be seeing even less of Elizabeth in the coming months, but Hearst thinks the story will still be great.  “There is lots, lots of story in March,” he says.  He assures this writer that Ric will still be a vital character while Elizabeth is off the canvas and urges viewers not to worry.

A great job, great co-stars-a great life for Hearst.  Things keep getting better for this past Emmy winner.  The actor is listed on the pre-nomination list for this year’s daytime Emmys and is a virtual shoo-in for a sixth nod.  “I would love it, I wont lie,” Hearst laughs.  “I did not put myself in last year (for Whip).  Hearst does admit he will have a tough time putting his Emmy reel together because he has so much to chose from.

Of course this gracious actor credits his fans with his success.  He is in the process of creating an official web site.  For now, don’t be surprised to see the actor posting at various message boards, thanking fans for their support.  “I recently posted something.  I did it to thank the fans.  It was a short little note to thank them.  The Lyric fans send so many gifts to Becky and myself and I’m so appreciative of that.  I wanted to be able to say thank you.  And I’ll say it again-thank you,” he says.

The actor doesn’t mince words when it comes to how much he appreciates all his fans who support him.

“I’m extremely grateful, and very fortunate, to have had the positive response I’ve had from the fans.  The out-pouring of emotions, gifts, letters, all of that, I cant tell you how much I appreciate that and I have been for so many years, through all my daytime roles.  It’s the reason I love this medium so much, we invoke such passion out of these people.  That helps feed me as an actor.  It makes me WANT to do better, to surprise them and make a character interesting.  And they need to know their voices ARE heard.  Hopefully I’ll continue to give performances that make you sit up, take notice and cause you to spit at the TV, run from the room screaming or just smile,” says Hearst.

Heartfelt words from a truly amazing man.

*Thank you to Rick Hearst for giving up several hours on his day off to do this interview.  And thank you to Charles Sherman for setting this up.