Van Hansis in ‘General Hospital.’ Photo Credit: Disney, Bahareh Ritter.
Five-time Emmy-nominated actor Van Hansis plays the role of Dr. Lucas Jones on the ABC daytime drama “General Hospital.” He chatted about his latest endeavors and career in the entertainment industry.
Playing Lucas in ‘General Hospital’
On playing Lucas, Hansis said, “I like that every day is something different for Lucas. Being able to play such a range of material is great.”
“Lucas is so ingrained in the show, and he is basically related to everyone on that show. Being in the center of all that is really fun,” he added.
‘As The World Turns’
Prior to “General Hospital,” he played the role of Luke Snyder in the CBS daytime drama “As The World Turns” from December of 2005 until the show’s final episode in September of 2010. “That was my first job but that really set the tone for everything else,” he said.
Luke is known for a gay storyline that has been cited as one of the first in American daytime television history.
For his portrayal of Luke Snyder in “As The World Turns,” Hansis earned a total of three Daytime Emmy nominations (two for “Younger Actor” and one for “Supporting Actor” in a Drama Series). “Being nominated for Emmy Awards was great,” he said.
It is always rewarding for Hansis whenever people (especially younger queer people) come up to him and tell him that they saw themselves in his Luke Snyder character. “Whenever I hear that, it is really amazing,” he admitted.
Virtual fan event for Spectrum Celebrity Events
On Sunday June 8, 2025, Hansis will be a part of a virtual fan event for Spectrum Celebrity Events. It is hosted by Tony Moore, the host of “Dishin’ Days” podcast. “I am super excited for this Zoom,” he exclaimed.
A few years ago, Hansis did an in-person Spectrum fan event in Washington, D.C., with Jake Silbermann, who played Noah on “As The World Turns.”
“Jake is still a really good friend of mine. We did that event one year before the pandemic hit,” Hansis recalled.
MB ‘State of Mind’ podcast on mental health
Hansis recalled being a part of Maurice Benard’s “State of Mind” podcast on mental health. “Doing ‘State of Mind’ with Maurice was amazing,” he said.
“Maurice is such an interesting guy. I love how upfront he is dealing with mental health, and he is very funny. Maurice is a really good interviewer and he is really interested in people,” Hansis elaborated.
‘EastSiders’
Hansis recalled his time in the hit digital drama series “EastSiders,” where he played Thom. “I love ‘EastSiders’ so much,” he said. “Kit Williamson is great.”
For his portrayal of Thom in “EastSiders,” Hansis was nominated for two Daytime Emmy Awards for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Digital Drama Series.”
Hansis on Lin Shaye
Hansis praised Lin Shaye for winning an Emmy Award for her guest acting work in “EastSiders.” “Lin Shaye is amazing,” he said.
“I grew up watching Lin in ‘There’s Something About Mary.’ Lin was the best part of that movie as Magda, and then, years later I got to work with her in ‘EastSiders.’ She was just fantastic.”
“Also, she is a horror icon, and she is the nicest person in the world… she is very humble and sweet,” Hansis added.
The digital age
On being an actor in the digital age, Hansis said, “It feels good. We are all part of the digital age now. That is just the way it is. I didn’t know what Zoom was until the pandemic hit, and now, I am on it every week, at least. The digital age is the way of the future.”
“I do miss auditioning in person. We don’t do that anymore. Everything is either self-tapes or Zooms for auditions now, which has its pros and cons. I do miss going into a room and auditioning for roles,” he elaborated.
Advice for young and emerging actors
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “Don’t take it too seriously. Make sure that you are having fun. Understand that it’s a pretty tough career that doesn’t go linear. It has a lot of ups and downs.”
“Also, don’t be afraid of being messy in your work. There is no such thing as perfection, and doing things right. The more people bring themselves to it, that’s when the fun happens,” he elaborated.
Alan Locher of The Locher Room
Hansis had great words about Alan Locher of The Locher Room. “I’ve known Alan since my ‘As The World Turns’ days,” he said. “Alan Locher is awesome!”
Hansis’ informed conversation with Alan Locher may be seen below.
Stage of his life
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Hansis revealed, “Jumping.” “I am jumping around from place to place,” he said.
Future plans
Regarding his future plans, he shared, “I am taking things as they go. I’ve been really enjoying being on ‘General Hospital’ so I really love doing that.”
“At some point, I need to have a honeymoon. It has been a couple of years, and we haven’t had one yet, so we are planning that for the future,” he added.
Success
Hansis defined the word success as “calmness” and having “peace of mind.”
Message for his fans
For his fans and supporters, Hansis said, “Thank you for sticking by me for 20 years now. Being back in daytime is a full-circle moment for me and it’s really exciting.”
To learn more about Van Hansis, follow him on Instagram.
Content shared from www.digitaljournal.com.