'General Hospital' fans are divided over tribute to Stuart Damon

Many longtime fans of GENERAL HOSPITAL are troubled by recent developments related to Stuart Damon who portrayed Alan Quartermaine for 3 decades on the daytime drama. The actor began his role as Dr. Quartermaine in 1977 when Alan, Tracy, Edward, and Lila first arrived in Port Charles. Damon's character was witty and charming and loved by those who watched the ABC soap.

Stuart Damon married former actress, dancer, and singer, Deirdre Ann Ottewill, March 12, 1961. They remained husband and wife until she passed away from Alzheimer's disease on December 25, 2019. The couple had two children, Christopher and Jennifer Zonis. Damon himself died on June 29, 2021, from kidney failure. He was 84 and passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement community in Los Angeles, where he had been living for the previous seven years.

Viewers are angry because in December of 2006 GENERAL HOSPITAL abruptly fired Damon and killed off his character. Viewers were outraged that a close to 30 year veteran of the show was treated so badly. Damon's last scene came in February of 2007 when Alan had a heart attack during the Metro Court siege by Jerry Jacks. His final day on the show was actually his 70th birthday which was February 5.

GENERAL HOSPITAL brought Alan Quartermain back as a ghost who haunted his sister Tracy. He showed up from time to time to harass his sibling until December 2008. Fans were glad to see him on screen again but were still troubled that Damon was fired. Some viewers thought the show was mocking him by having him become a spirit. His castmates spoke out about the injustice of a long-time member of the soap being let go. GH executives moved right along and have never given a reason for why they wrote Alan out of the ABC daytime drama.

Leslie Charleson who portrayed Alan's wife Monica was very outspoken on what had taken place. At the time she was quoted as saying "This is the 30th anniversary for the two of us, in August. The timing leaves me very discouraged about the way soaps are going, the total disregard for history, and the blatant disregard for the veterans." Charleson continues on GENERAL HOSPITAL TODAY and many viewers say that Alan should have been right by his side.

At the end of the Monday, August 9, episode of GENERAL HOSPITAL a notice came across the screen acknowledging the death of the veteran soap star. Fans immediately began pointing out that the ABC daytime drama had treated Damon badly. To add insult to injury Frank Valentini who probably is the one who axed the popular actor announced that an official tribute is coming. This has caused mixed reactions from fans as some believe the show owes it to Stuart Damon's legacy to remember him.

There are other fans of GENERAL HOSPITAL who are saying that under the circumstances a tribute is not in order. They believe Frank Valentini has a lot of nerve since Damon was fired seemingly without a cause. These viewers are saying that GH did Stuart wrong and should have honored him while he was alive to know about it. The best tribute would have been allowing him to remain on the ABC soap.

At this point, no details have been given but hopefully, the tribute will not be anything like what GENERAL HOSPITAL did for John Reilly who portrayed Sean Donnelly. There was a big buildup and a lot of advertising but the tribute episode was a failure in the eyes of the viewers who commented on it. Be on the lookout for updates about a date and time for the tribute to Stuart Damon. Perhaps what the soap did not do in life they will do now that he has passed away.

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