‘General Hospital’ Actress Dead At 70

LOS ANGELES, CA — Actress Jacklyn Zeman, who spent most of her life portraying the beloved Barbara "Bobbie" Spencer on "General Hospital," has died. The 70-year-old soap icon joined the long-running ABC soap opera in 1977 and appeared on the show as recently as April.

Her death after a brief battle with cancer stunned colleagues and fans of the show. She died at the Los Robles Regional Medical Center, her family confirmed.

"On behalf of our @GeneralHospital family, I am heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved @JackieZeman," executive producer Frank Valentini tweeted Wednesday evening. "Just like her character, the legendary Bobbie Spencer, she was a bright light and true professional that brought so much positive energy with her to work.

"Jackie will be greatly missed, but her positive spirit will always live on with our cast and crew," Valentini added. "We send our heartfelt sympathy to her loved ones, friends, and family, especially her daughters Cassidy and Lacey."

Zemen began playing Spencer on "General Hospital" in 1977, after playing another character on ABC's popular daytime soap "One Life to Live" in 1976 and 1977.

And her character was memorable even by soap standards. Bobbie was born of tragedy, the youngest of a poor family from the docks whose parents were killed and who worked as a prostitute who put her child up for adoption before turning her life around and becoming a nurse at "General Hospital." Decades of romances, betrayals and intrigues later, Bobbie remained a fan favorite.

Producers and critics attributed her character's hold over fans to Zemen's warmth and charisma.

"Jacklyn Zeman has been a beloved member of the `General Hospital' and ABC family since she originated the iconic role of Bobbie Spencer over 45 years ago," the show's official Twitter account posted. "She leaves behind a lasting legacy for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of the bad girl turned heroine and will always be remembered for her kind heart and radiant spirit."

Over the years, Zemen was nominated for five Daytime Emmy Awards.

She appeared in more than 900 episodes of "General Hospital" episodes over the years, on a regular basis until 2010 and on a recurring basis in recent years. The show is taped in Los Angeles, and Zemen lived in Calabasas.

Born in Englewood, N.J., Zemen moved to New York City as a teenager to pursue dance and drama. She was just 23 when she was cast in her first soap opera, becoming an icon of the genre in nearly five decades of continuous work.

She is survived by her two sisters Lauren Fischetti and Carol Kolb and her daughters Lacey Rose Gorden and Cassidy Zee Macleod and two grandchildren.

According to Macleod, some of the nurses who cared for Zemen in her final weeks said it was her enduring performance that inspired their careers.

“We recognized how many lives she touched,” Macleod told the New York Times. “They said they became nurses because of her.”

City News Service contributed to this report.