Eugenie Ann Francis
December 28, 1976 to January 15, 1982; November 14, 1983 to December 27, 1983; November 9, 1984 to December 11, 1984; October 29, 1993 to
September 6, 2002;
October 26, 2006 to
November 22, 2006;
August 26, 2008 to
November 12, 2008;
February 11, 2013 to
August 28, 2013;
June 5, 2015 to
January 22, 2018
Ms. Francis got her start in television on General Hospital as a teenager (following a guest appearance on ABC's primetime series, Family) and literally grew up in the enormously popular role of Laura. The wedding of Laura to Luke Spencer (played by Anthony Geary) in November, 1981, remains the most-watched daytime drama event in the history of television. The fictional couple's romance even garnered a cover story in Newsweek magazine. It wasn't until 1997 that Francis received her first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination. In 2007, the actress won an Emmy in the Supporting Actress category.
In 1981, after five years on General Hospital, Ms. Francis left the show, returned briefly two years later, and again in 1984.
Following her work on General Hospital, Ms. Francis was featured in the television movie, Bare Essence, in 1982. The movie was then developed into a primetime series in which Ms. Francis re-created the starring role of Tyger Hayes. She also co-starred in the hit ABC miniseries, North and South (Books I and II), as the good Southern sister, Brett Main. Genie's extensive television work also included recurring appearances on Murder, She Wrote. Ms. Francis created the role of Ceara Connor on ABC's daytime drama, All My Children, in 1990. Her portrayal of an adult incest survivor earned her critical and viewer plaudits.
On the stage, she has appeared in Crimes of the Heart and See How They Run. In 1991, Ms. Francis appeared in the Williamstown Festival Theater production of Defying Gravity. That same year, she made her New York City debut in The Baby Dance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village. She also appeared in a Comedic Curtain Raiser at Manhattan Class Company for their festival of One Acts, called "The Group."
Ms. Francis has been seen in the television movie, Perry Mason and the Case of the Killer Kiss, and in Heaven and Hell, the third North and South installment.
Francis and her husband, actor/director Jonathan Frakes, reside in Los Angeles, along with their two children, Elizabeth, 11, and Jameson, 14. She also owns a cottage furnishings and home accessories store in Maine called The Cherished Home.
The Young and the Restless
Genevieve Atkinson
May 27, 2011 to November 2, 2012
TV You Control: Bar Karma
2011
Taking a Chance on Love
Peyton Macgruder
2009
The Note
Peyton Macgruder
2007
Roswell
2000
Oh Baby
Rachel
2000
3rd Rock From the Sun
Gwen McMichael
February 8, 2000
Terror in the Shadows
Sarah
1995
Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III
Brett Hazard
1994
Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss
Kris Buckner
1993
Loving
Ceara Connor Hunter
1991
All My Children
Ceara Connor Hunter
1990-1992
Days of our Lives
Diana Colville Winters
1987-1989
North and South II
Brett Main Hazard
1986
North and South
Brett Main Hazard
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Victoria Brandon Griffin
1984, 1986 and 1990
Bare Essence
Tyger Hayes
1983
General Hospital
Laura Spencer
December 28, 1976 to January 15, 1982; November 14, 1983 to December 27, 1983; November 9, 1984 to December 11, 1984; October 29, 1993 to September 6, 2002; October 26, 2006 to November 22, 2006; August 26, 2008 to November 12, 2008; February 11, 2013 to August 28, 2013; June 5, 2015 to January 22, 2018
Camp Nowhere
Mrs. Spiegel
1994
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2007; for
General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actress (1997)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2007; for
General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2012; for
The Young and the Restless)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2007; for
General Hospital)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actress (2012; for
The Young and the Restless)
Soap Opera Digest Award Favorite Actress (1981)
Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actress (1997)
DATE OF BIRTH: May 26, 1962
HEIGHT: 5'5"
HAIR: Blonde
EYES: Blue
MARITAL STATUS: Married, Jonathan Frakes [May 28, 1988]
CHILDREN: Two; Son, Jameson [Aug 20, 1994] and Daughter, Elizabeth [May 30, 1997]
News Archive: Fans to get an Intimate Portrait of GH star Francis. [Oct 29, 2001]
News Archive: Francis could exit GH by end of the summer. [May 27, 2002]
News Archive: Done deal: Francis to leave GH. [Aug 12, 2002]
News Archive: ABC confirms Francis will exit GH. [Aug 26, 2002]
News Archive: Genie Francis to return to GH for milestone anniversary. [Jun 26, 2006]
News Archive: This week on GH: Laura awakens from her catatonic state. [Oct 23, 2006]
News Archive: Genie Francis wins first Daytime Emmy. [Jun 15, 2007]
News Archive: Francis apologizes to fans for leaving GH. [Dec 10, 2007]
News Archive: Francis scheduled for another short-term return. [Jul 11, 2008]
News Archives: GH confirms it's in talks with Genie Francis about a return. [Jan 4, 2010]
News Archives: Stunner: Y&R signs GH icon Genie Francis. [Mar 31, 2011]
News Archives: Francis to exit Y&R, but show says she'll be back. [Aug 7, 2011]
News Archive: LISTEN: Genie Francis reunite with GH mom Denise Alexander in once-in-a-lifetime interview. [Dec 2, 2011]
News Archives: Y&R cuts Genie Francis, is a GH return next? [Sep 13, 2012]
News Archives: Genie Francis returning as GH's Laura Spencer. [Jan 8, 2013]
News Archives: Genie Francis drops 30 pounds, becomes Nutrisystem spokesperson. [Jan 20, 2015]
News Archive: Genie Francis to return as GH's Laura Spencer [Apr 30, 2015]
News Archive: Genie Francis' GH return date revealed; Laura headed back to the canvas because "her family needs her" [Jun 1, 2015]
News Archive: Genie Francis to continue on GH after Luke's exit storyline [Jun 12, 2015]
News Archive: Genie Francis on Luke's emotional exit, surprise blasts from the past and the new love interest headed Laura's way [Jun 17, 2015]
News Archive: WATCH: Genie Francis reveals her issues with GH and the surprising way she became famous [Apr 15, 2016]
News Archive: VIDEO: Genie Francis reveals the shocking reason she left GH; "I was angry" [Apr 22, 2016]
News Archive: PHOTOS: Check out GH star Genie Francis' new LA home [Sep 21, 2017]
News Archive: Stunner: Genie Francis dropped from General Hospital [Jan 20, 2018]
News Archive: Genie Francis breaks her silence following her GH ouster [Jan 22, 2018]
News Archive: Genie Francis: No one fought harder to re-establish Laura than Frank Valentini [Mar 13, 2018]
News Archive: Genie Francis' return to GH kicks off with a bang [Sep 11, 2018]
News Archive: SNEAK PEEK: Genie Francis returns to GH; Laura smooches Ryan [Sep 27, 2018]
News Archive: Genie Francis on the scary GH story that "makes for good television" [Oct 11, 2018]
News Archive: INTERVIEW: Genie Francis dishes on her satisfying return to General Hospital [Oct 24, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Genie Francis says Ryan may be the death of Laura and Kevin [Nov 3, 2018]
News Archive: Genie Francis shares depression battle tied to her unexpected GH exit [Jan 21, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital stars set for second fan event at Graceland [Nov 20, 2019]
News Archive: Explosive story brings Genie Francis back to General Hospital [Oct 30, 2020]
News Archive: The Bold and the Beautiful's Heather Tom hosts Leading Ladies Lunch for 2021 Emmy nominees [Jun 21, 2021]
News Archive: Genie Francis exits General Hospital but promises "I will be back!" [Aug 14, 2021]
News Archive: Genie Francis makes holiday return to General Hospital [Dec 1, 2021]
News Archive: Genie Francis exits General Hospital, but Laura's story isn't over [Jul 18, 2022]
