Wil Traval Unveils His General Hospital Character as Jude Jacks
The actor discusses joining the iconic television family and what viewers can expect from his mysterious role.
The mystery surrounding Wil Traval's character on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital has finally come to an end. During the broadcast on Thursday, October 29, the actor was revealed to be playing Jude Jacks, the secret son of the notorious Port Charles figure Jerry Jacks.
Reflecting on his casting process, Traval shared that he had no initial knowledge of who he would portray when he submitted his audition self-tape in June. He explained that he used a neutral and safe script during his audition. After landing the part, producers informed him that details would follow later, keeping him in eager anticipation.
Executive producer Frank Valentini and the show's writing team eventually brought Traval up to speed. He expressed immense excitement upon learning he would become part of the historic Jacks family, describing the opportunity as an incredible gift. Production team members advised him to approach the character by blending the traits of a James Bond villain with James Bond himself, while hinting at deep connections spanning the entire fictional universe.
The Jacks family holds a long history on the program, originating in 1996 with the arrival of Jasper Jax Jacks, played by Ingo Rademacher. Jerry Jacks later entered the storyline in 1998, eventually returning with a villainous streak portrayed by Sebastian Roché until his imprisonment in 2015 and subsequent escape in 2019. Observing his real-life Australian background, observant fans had previously speculated online regarding a potential connection to the Jacks family.
Traval largely avoided reading online theories prior to his official on-air debut to prevent outside influence on his performance. However, he did note one particularly elaborate fan theory that suggested his character might actually be Jerry Jacks undergoing facial reconstruction and vocal alteration, a concept he found amusing.
As Jude settles into Port Charles, Traval is particularly looking forward to navigating relationships with established characters. He teased significant tension ahead in interactions with his cousin Josslyn Jacks, played by Eden McCoy, who currently serves as CEO of Jasper Jacks Enterprises while operating as a WSB agent.
Additionally, viewers can anticipate high-stakes encounters between Jude and Sonny Corinthos, portrayed by Maurice Benard. Traval described their initial scenes together as resembling two predators sizing each other up quietly and carefully.
Providing insight into his character's moral compass, Traval indicated that Jude shares several similarities with his father. He warned that Jude understands how to accomplish his goals and is not afraid to explore paths that may cross outside legal and ethical boundaries.