Ben Hogestyn knew that joining the cast of popular ABC soap opera General Hospital would have a big impact on his life. The charismatic actor had seen his stepfather, Days of Our Lives veteran Drake Hogestyn, deal with the daytime grind for countless years. “I thought I knew the pace,” says the younger Hogestyn, who appeared on the short-lived NBC series American Dreams, the Lifetime drama The Division and on the Nickelodeon series Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide. “You don't realize until you're right in the middle of it, the difference between film and daytime. It's crazy.”

Hogestyn also knew that his taking the pivotal role of Lucas, nephew of classic soap couple Luke and Laura, would have a big impact on others. Hogestyn joined the GH cast
in September 2005, and his character soon revealed he is gay to on-screen cousin Georgie, her boyfriend Dylan and a few close friends.

“I'd heard rumors that they were going to make the character gay and how that was going to kind of unravel and how they were going to handle it,” Hogestyn says, calling during a rare break from learning scripts and filming dramatic scenes. He says he talked with GH producers and writers about the character's development.

“I was hoping that I was given the opportunity to jump into that role,” he adds. “It was just the story and the character. I believed in it. Anytime you get that--whatever the medium happens to be--a story is a story. There's different ways of it being told, but essentially, it's the same journey.”

Hogestyn replaced in-demand actor Ryan Carnes, who has gone on to gay roles in the indie film Eating Out (alongside gay American Idol alum Jim Verraros) and on prime-time ratings monster Desperate Housewives.

Replacements are a regular occurrence amid the breakneck pace of daytime serials.
Still, Hogestyn knew Carnes had made a definite mark during his stint as Lucas .

“Every actor has their own take and their own view on something. You don‘t have to worry about being the same as them … but at the same time, the fans have a certain amount of attachment to the actor before you,” Hogestyn says. “I guess it does add
some sort of pressure.”

Since Hogestyn has assumed the role, the character of Lucas has seen important new storyline developments. Hogestyn, who is straight, tackles the role with pluck, charm
and grace.

This week, Lucas revealed his homosexuality to an ex-girlfriend during a friendly meeting
at a straight bar. During the course of the evening, Lucas strikes up a conversation with
a seemingly interested--and attractive--stranger, who invites him out for pizza. The foreshadowing is thick, and all signs point to danger.

Without chronicling the actual violence, Lucas is next seen injured and bleeding outside in the snow, a victim of a gay bashing. For Hogestyn, traveling down that painful road has been an eye-opening experience.

Page 1 / 2 - Next