Legendary Veteran Actress Joining ABC Series

Erika Slezak is moving from Llanview, Pennsylvania to Port Charles, New York.

The veteran soap star, who won six Daytime Emmys for her portrayal of Viki Lord on ABC’s One Life to Live, has signed a “short-term” deal to appear on ABC‘s General Hospital.

News of her casting was announced Thursday in a message shared by fan club president Walter Miller to Slezak’s official website: “Erika has just informed me she has signed a short-term contract with ABC’s General Hospital. At this time, Erika does not know which character she will be playing or when her scenes will air, but is excited to be working again with Executive Producer Frank Valentini and the cast of GH!”

Slezak’s upcoming appearance in General Hospital will reunite her with Valentini, who executive produced One Life to Live from 2003 until its conclusion in 2012. He moved on to executive produce fellow ABC soap General Hospital that same year.

“I am thrilled to confirm that my dear friend and former “One Life to Live” colleague, Erika Slezak, will appear on @GeneralHospital this Fall,” Valentini shared on X. “Stay tuned as we prepare to introduce another daytime legend to Port Charles.”

Slezak is best known for her portrayal of Viki Lord on One Life to Live. The soap centered around the lives of three families in the fictional town of Llanview, Pennsylvania, with Slezak’s character serving as the matriarch of the Lord family. The role of Viki was originated by Gillian Spencer when the show premiered in 1968, with Slezak taking over after auditioning for what she thought was a “new role.”

The actress appeared in the role for over 2,500 episodes from 1971 through 2013, and returned as Viki for the short-lived online revival on Prospect Park’s The Online Network, making the character one of the longest-running characters on daytime TV. Her portrayal of Viki earned Slezak a total of nine Daytime Emmy awards nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress. She ultimately took home six wins – in 1984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 2002 – and holds the record for most wins in the Outstanding Lead Actress category.

Outside of One Life to Live, Slezak has also appeared in Blue Bloods, The Resident, Guest Artist, and Next Stop, Christmas, among others. She is next set to appear in Craig Brewer’s musical film Song Sung Blue, also starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson.

General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC, with episodes also available to stream on Hulu.