The mystery surrounding Wil Traval’s character on General Hospital has finally been resolved, revealing that the actor is playing Jude Jacks, the son of the infamous Port Charles figure Jerry Jacks. Traval admitted that when he submitted his self-tape in June, he had no idea what role he was actually reading for, describing the initial audition script as neutral and safe.
After securing the part, Traval was briefed by executive producer Frank Valentini and the show’s writers, learning that he would be stepping into a rich family legacy. Showrunners told him to imagine a hybrid of a classic villain and James Bond, hinting at deep connections spanning the entire fictional universe. Traval remarked that joining the storied family tree felt like receiving an extraordinary gift.
The Jacks family history in Port Charles dates back to 1996 with the arrival of Jasper Jax Jacks, played by Ingo Rademacher. Jerry Jacks made his debut in 1998, initially portrayed by Julian Stone before Sebastian Roché took over the role in 2007. Jerry’s notorious criminal past includes holding hostages at the Metro Court, an incident resulting in Alan Quartermaine’s death, poisoning the local water supply, and orchestrating other violent schemes before being imprisoned and later escaping.
Traval noted that astute viewers quickly guessed his character’s lineage simply because he is Australian, though he deliberately avoided online fan forums to keep his performance grounded. One particularly imaginative fan theory that amused the actor suggested his character was actually Jerry Jacks returned with facial reconstruction and altered vocal cords.
Looking ahead, Traval expressed excitement about exploring specific character dynamics, particularly with his cousin Josslyn Jacks, played by Eden McCoy, who currently runs the family business, JJE, as a WSB agent. He anticipates that friction between the two will provide significant dramatic tension as Jude settles into town.
The actor also praised his experiences working alongside Maurice Benard, teasing forthcoming interactions between Jude and Sonny Corinthos. Traval described their scenes as a matchup between predators calmly sizing one another up while avoiding immediate hostility.
As Jude establishes himself in Port Charles, Traval suggested viewers keep his paternal heritage in mind. The character possesses a pragmatic drive to accomplish his goals, utilizing both conventional methods and alternative routes that may lack legal or ethical boundaries.
