A compelling off-screen relationship has set the stage for a new on-screen dynamic on General Hospital. Daniel Goddard, who joined the cast in April 2025, is now sharing scenes with Genie Francis, his former television mother from The Young and the Restless. The actors have moved from playing family to potentially being foes in Port Charles.
From Genoa City to Port Charles
Daniel Goddard joined General Hospital in April 2025, taking on the role of Professor Henry Dalton, an environmental physics teacher at Port Charles University whose mysterious past has drawn the attention of the WSB. Around the same time, Goddard revealed on his social media that he had finally filmed scenes with Genie Francis, who plays Mayor Laura Collins.
The two actors share a rich history, having worked together for over a year on the CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. From 2011 to 2012, Francis played the role of Genevieve Atkinson, the sophisticated and sometimes troubled birth mother of Goddard’s character, Cane Ashby. Their real-life friendship has made their professional reunion a long-awaited one.
“Reunited and it feels so good,” Goddard posted on Instagram alongside a photo with Francis. He added, “Genie Francis โ a true TV legend โ was my TV mom on The Young and the Restless, and now I have the honor and fortune of working with her again on General Hospital. Only this timeโฆ maybe sheโs my nemesis?”
A New Storyline with Old Ties
The reunion marks a significant shift in their character dynamics. On The Young and the Restless, their relationship was defined by family ties, with Genevieve’s complex schemes often involving her son Cane. On General Hospital, their characters are positioned on potentially opposing sides.
Henry Dalton has been confirmed as an associate of the villain Jenz Sidwell. They are working on a mystery project that appears to be a continuation of work started by the late supervillain Cesar Faison, a known enemy of Laura Collins. As the mayor of Port Charles, Laura is now determined to protect her city from Sidwell’s threatening plans, which puts her in direct opposition to Dalton’s activities.
Earlier in the spring, Goddard had expressed his hope to share the screen with Francis again, even suggesting a playful nod to their shared past for longtime soap viewers. He mentioned the idea of ad-libbing a line like, “Hey, have we met? I feel like I know you,” to create a moment that would resonate with fans who watched them on The Young and the Restless.
Soap Opera Legacies Collide
The professional paths of both actors are deeply woven into the fabric of daytime television. Genie Francis is an icon, having originated the role of Laura Spencer on General Hospital in 1977. Her character’s wedding to Luke Spencer in 1981 remains one of the most-watched events in soap opera history, drawing 30 million viewers. Francis has won a Daytime Emmy and has been a central figure on the show for decades, now portraying the city’s mayor.
Daniel Goddard is best known for his long-running role as Cane Ashby on The Young and the Restless, which he played from 2007 to 2019. His connection to General Hospital alumni doesn’t end with Francis; his Y&R character’s father was played by the late Tristan Rogers, who was famous for his role as Robert Scorpio on GH.
This reunion highlights a common and often appreciated practice in the world of soap operas, where actors with established histories from other shows are brought together, allowing networks to create engaging new storylines that also playfully acknowledge their shared past.
A Welcome Return for Daytime Fans
Goddard’s return to daytime television has been met with enthusiasm. When his casting was announced, he shared his gratitude for the soap opera fanbase, recalling a time in 2010 when his character was temporarily written out of The Young and the Restless.
“It goes back to in 2010 when Cane was killed off and fans banded together, rented an airplane, and flew it over CBS with a banner saying, ‘Bring Daniel Goddard back as Cane,’” Goddard recalled. “I never realized, up until that moment, how the fans of daytime are truly the greatest fans in the world.”
His new character, Henry Dalton, is directly involved in a current major plot. Josslyn Jacks has gone undercover in his class as his research assistant as part of a WSB mission, putting her in potential danger as Dalton’s shady secrets slowly come to light. This places Dalton at the center of the mystery and on a collision course with Laura Collins, setting the stage for compelling drama that blends a beloved off-screen reunion with a new on-screen conflict.
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