Jonathan and his future
"Jackson, at 16 has already graduated from high school and will go to college, most likely in January and in Loas Angeles. Smarts apparently run in the family: his 20-year-old sister Candice has already graduated from Stanford and plans to attend Pepperdine Law School.
While two-time Daytime Emmy-winner Jackson wants to stay on GH--in the role he dearly loves--both parties are working to devise a mutally satisfactory arrangement that will give the young actor enough time to do the show, yet also attend classes and study. So, no, he's not leaving. But more flexibility will probably have to be built into his schedule."
Jonathan Jackson (Lucky), who recently won his second Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Younger Actor, may leave GH in January. Jackson notified GH July 13 that he is considering exercising a contract option that would allow him to leave to attend college. His contract stipulates that he must give the show six months' notice. A representative fo the actor says, "I emphasize the word considering, because we are willing to entertain options as to how Jonathan can pursue his education without interfering with GH." Jackson, who turned 16 May 11, just graduated from high school. His sister and brother both have attended Valley College, a two-year junior college in Los Angeles. "He will probably choose to follow the family tradition," the representative says, noting that a decision to enroll in January would have to be made in early November. "He could decide to hold off on college another year and continue on GH until the end of his contract. Or he might decide to take six years to graduate and work college around a work schedule. Jonathan loves his involvement on the show, but education is a fundamental element in his family."
Rumors are flying that Jonathan Jackson has given notice to GENERAL HOSPITAL that he plans to leave the role of Lucky, sometime this fall. "Let me put the record absolutely straight," asserts Jackson's manager, Tony Monziotti. "I want this made very clear. Jonathan's current contract with GENERAL HOSPITAL has a provision in it that allows him to leave prior to the end of the contract to matriculate into college. At 16 years of age, Jonathan has completed his high school and is actively looking at going to college. We are exploring options with ABC where Jonathan can pursue his college education and remain with GENERAL HOSPITAL, which would require some scheduling considerations from GENERAL HOSPITAL. No decision has been made except to notify GENERAL HOSPITAL as per his contract agreement that we would give them six months' advance notice in order to meet that requirement."
If Jackson does decide to attend college, would he consider doing double duty with GH? "We would be willing to sit down and talk and find ways in which all parties could be satisfied with the situation," responds Monziotti. "If Jonathan were to attend college and leave GENERAL HOSPITAL, it would not be to attend the fall semester, but the winter semester, begining in January [1999]. The period of the contract that would allow him to leave ends January 13. That is the official position. I don't know where the rumor started. I wish everybody would relax."
"We are in discussions to work out the logistics so he can do both and we expect to work this out," responds a GH spokesperson.
