Justus Ward

Last updated
Justus Ward
General Hospital character
Justus Ward-Morrison.jpg
M'fundo Morrison as Justus Ward
Portrayed by Joseph C. Phillips (1994–1998)
Monti Sharp (1998–1999)
M'fundo Morrison (2003–2006)
Duration
  • 1994–1999
  • 2003–2006
First appearanceJune 2, 1994
Last appearanceJune 20, 2006
Classification Former; regular
Created by Claire Labine
Introduced byWendy Riche (1994)
Jill Farren Phelps (2003)
Book appearances Robin's Diary
JCPhillips Justus.jpg
Joseph C. Phillips as Justus Ward
Justus Sharp.jpg
Monti Sharp as Justus Ward
In-universe information
OccupationAttorney
E.L.Q. board member
City councilman
Family Quartermaine
Parents Bradley Ward
Isobel Ward
Sisters Faith Ward
Grandparents Edward Quartermaine
Mary Mae Ward
Aunts and uncles Alan Quartermaine
Tracy Quartermaine
Jimmy Lee Holt
David Ward
Idios Ward
Nieces Maya Ward
First cousins Keesha Ward
Roy Ward
Austin Gatlin-Holt
Skye Quartermaine (adoptive)
A. J. Quartermaine
Jason Morgan
Andrew Cain
Emily Quartermaine (adoptive)
Ned Ashton
Dillon Quartermaine
Other relatives Lila Rae Alcazar (adoptive)
Michael Corinthos
Jake Webber
Daniel Morgan
Brook Lynn Ashton

Justus Ward is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital . He is the son of Bradley and Isobel Ward, and the grandson of Edward Quartermaine. The role was originated by former Cosby Show actor Joseph C. Phillips, who appeared as Justus from June 2, 1994 to July 1, 1998. Justus was subsequently de-aged on two occasions, as evidenced by later portrayals of the character by Monti Sharp (1998–99) and M'fundo Morrison (2003–06).

Contents

Storylines

Justus comes to Port Charles from Philadelphia for his late father Bradley Ward's memorial service. His cousin Keesha comes as well. Justus falls in love with Simone Ravelle who had just divorced Tom Hardy. Tom's mother Audrey Hardy, doesn't approve of Justus and Simone's relationship, but it is Tom who finally breaks them up. Edward Quartermaine offers Justus the position as Council for ELQ and gives him shares of the company, which enrages his cousins A.J. and Ned. Ned and Justus seem to get along, but Ned later blackmails Justus to get the shares of ELQ back.

Laura Spencer becomes the owner and administrator of the Ward House when Mary Mae Ward dies. Damian Smith wants to buy the Ward House to build a shopping mall. Laura refuses to sell to him because she loved Mary Mae and wants to honor her by continuing her work. Damian breaks into the house and douses gasoline on everything. Justus catches him just as he tries to set the house on fire. Justus knocks Damian unconscious with a baseball bat. He tries to get Damian out but the fire spreads quickly, so he leaves to call the fire department. The Ward House is destroyed. Damian Smith is presumed dead. Laura is arrested and charged with Damian's murder. Edward Quartermaine figures out Justus had killed Damian and convinces him not to turn himself in. Justus agrees to keep quiet. Even though Edward hires a lawyer to defend Laura, Justus is riddled with guilt and becomes her lawyer instead. He is successful in getting Laura acquitted but her husband Luke finds out Justus killed Damian and let Laura go through the entire ordeal. Justus confesses his guilt to Laura, who forgives him, but the friendships are never the same.

Justus resigns from ELQ, and eventually goes to work for his cousin Jason Morgan who is running Sonny Corinthos' territory in Sonny's absence. Justus gets Jason acquitted for assaulting Tony Jones after Tony had kidnapped Michael Corinthos and harmed Robin Scorpio. Justus also gets Carly Roberts acquitted for shooting Tony in a courtroom. When Sonny returns, Justus decides to work for Sonny and is persuaded to move into the empty penthouse across from Sonny's. As the Assistant District Attorney, Dara Jensen is very uncomfortable with this turn of events.

Detective Taggert dislikes Justus due to his connection for mobster Sonny Corinthos, as well as his involvement with Dara Jensen. Taggert figures out Alan Quartermaine has a drug addiction and sets him up to be busted for drug possession. Taggert then confronts Monica Quartermaine and blackmails her into getting information on Justus and Jason in exchange for saving Alan. Monica refuses to turn on Jason, but gives Taggert damaging information connecting Justus to the death of Damian Smith. Taggert arrests Justus, but Alexis Davis is able to get him out of jail since the evidence was obtained illegally. Edward Quartermaine uses his power and money to cover up the entire affair for his grandson.

Justus decides to get out of organized crime and runs for District Attorney. He wins with the help of Edward Quartermaine and Sonny Corinthos. Justus tells Sonny he killed Damian Smith. They made a deal. Sonny will leave him alone if Justus does not use anything he knows about Sonny's business to prosecute him. When Justus assumes the District Attorney position and becomes Dara's boss, What was left of their relationship fizzles. He later holds a press conference and resigns as District Attorney.

Justus is seen again in late 2003. He had just taken a vow of silence at a monastery when Jason arrives and asks Justus to return to Port Charles to defend Sonny Corinthos, who had just tried to kill Lorenzo Alcazar. Justus breaks his vows of silence, and at first tells Jason he refuses to return to Port Charles, but eventually agrees and takes on Sonny's case. During the trial, Justus argues Sonny was trying to protect his family from Alcazar. Due to jury tampering, Sonny is found not guilty.

In 2006, Justus goes to a meeting as a last minute replacement for Jason. The meeting was an ambush and Justus is murdered [1] by Manny Ruiz.

Reception

In 2020, Candace Young and Charlie Mason from Soaps She Knows put Justus on their list of Daytime's Most Important African-American Characters, commenting that "The oft-recast grandson of Edward Quartermaine — first played by Joseph C. Phillips in 1994 — was just never going to fit in with the relatives that he discovered late in life. Not because he was Black, mind you, because he had scruples. And the Q crew? Not so much." [2]

Related Research Articles

Alexis Davis (<i>General Hospital</i>) Fictional character

Alexis Davis is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Nancy Lee Grahn originated the role on September 26, 1996. She is the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine and Kristin Bergman. She is also the mother of Sam McCall, Kristina Davis and Molly Lansing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ric Lansing</span> Soap opera character

Ric Lansing is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. The role has been portrayed by Rick Hearst, who joined the series on November 8, 2002 and exited the series on June 25, 2009. Following a five-year absence, Hearst returned to the series on February 24, 2014. He later left the series again on June 13, 2014. Hearst, once again, returned to the series on December 23, 2014. His last on air appearance was on July 20, 2016. His exit from the show remains unexplained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carly Corinthos</span> Fictional character from General Hospital

Carly Corinthos is a fictional character from General Hospital, a soap opera on the ABC network, portrayed by Laura Wright from 2005. A collaborative effort between the writers, Carly – originally played by Sarah Joy Brown from 1996 to 2001 — was introduced under executive producer Wendy Riche. A "love to hate" character who brings excitement to storylines because of her devious ways, Carly is the illegitimate daughter of former bad girl turned heroine, Bobbie Spencer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Quartermaine</span> Soap opera character

Emily Quartermaine is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated on January 20, 1995 by Amber Tamblyn, who portrayed the role until July 11, 2001. Natalia Livingston subsequently played Emily from April 1, 2003 until May 7, 2008, despite the character's death in November 2007. Livingston also appeared for two episodes in 2009, last appearing on June 23. Livingston made a surprise return for the show's 50th anniversary, appearing on April 2, 2013. She returned once again on March 18, 2014 & April 1, 2014. In 2005, Livingston won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Emily.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Corinthos</span> Fictional character from General Hospital

Michael Corinthos is a fictional character on General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. Introduced in 1997, the role was portrayed by several child actors—most notably Dylan Cash when the character was rapidly aged in 2002. In 2009, the character was aged again when Drew Garrett stepped into the role. Garrett was replaced by Chad Duell after one year with the series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lorenzo Alcazar</span> Fictional character in the soap opera General Hospital

Lorenzo Alcazar is a fictional character on the American ABC soap opera General Hospital, originated by actor Ted King, who previously played Lorenzo's deceased brother Luis Alcazar. He was temporarily portrayed by Jay Pickett in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skye Chandler</span> Soap opera character

Skye Chandler is a fictional character from the ABC soap operas All My Children, One Life to Live, and General Hospital. Initially portrayed by Antoinette Byron, the role was then portrayed by Robin Christopher for most of the next 25 years, with the exception of the mid-1990s, when Carrie Genzel portrayed the character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracy Quartermaine</span> Soap opera character

Tracy Quartermaine is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She is played by actress Jane Elliot, who originated the role in 1978 and has played her intermittently since that time, primarily on GH and briefly on The City from 1996 to 1997. In 1980, Elliot won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress and was nominated again in 1993. Briefly in 1989, while Jane Elliot was on maternal leave, Christine Jones took on the role. Tracy Quartermaine is currently the show's fifth longest-serving character after Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Luke Spencer, Laura Spencer, and Scott Baldwin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monica Quartermaine</span> Soap opera character

Monica Quartermaine is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network, played continually since August 17, 1977 by longtime soap opera actress Leslie Charleson. She is a cardiologist at the eponymous hospital, and widow of physician Alan Quartermaine. The role was originated by Patsy Rahn in 1976, who played the role until showrunners replaced her with Charleson. Charleson's tenure with the serial is one of the longest in American soap operas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Quartermaine</span> Fictional character from the soap opera General Hospital

Edward Quartermaine is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. The character was created in 1978, originally played by David Lewis. John Ingle stepped into the role in 1993, and besides a brief hiatus from 2004 until 2006, he portrayed Edward up until his death on September 16, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Quartermaine</span> Fictional character

A.J. Quartermaine is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network. Born on-screen in 1979 as the only biological child of the iconic Drs. Alan and Monica Quartermaine, A.J. was "SORASed" in 1991, revising his birth year to 1973. The role has been most notably portrayed by the actors Sean Kanan from 1993 to 1997 and Billy Warlock from 1997 to 2003, with a brief return in 2005. Kanan made his on-screen return as A.J. on October 26, 2012, after a 15-year absence. Kanan announced in March 2014 that he would once again be leaving the series, voicing his disappointment over the writing for the character.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Jacks</span> Soap opera character

Jerard "Jerry" Aloysius Jacks is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. He was portrayed by Julian Stone from April 10, 1998 to December 14, 1999. In January 2007, the role was recast with Sebastian Roché, who was initially introduced as a terrorist named Mr. Craig, with his true identity remaining hidden until a few months later. Roche has held the role sporadically since, with his latest arc occurring from August to September 2012. He returned for one episode on December 18, 2012 and made a second return for multiple episodes starting September 30, 2013. After last appearing on December 3, 2013, Roché made several guest appearances throughout October 2014. He once again reprised the role of Jerry on December 10, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quartermaine family</span> Fictional family on the General Hospital soap opera

The Quartermaine family is a fictional family from the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Created and introduced by Douglas Marland, the wealthy and eccentric family has been a continuous staple on General Hospital since their introduction in the 1970s. The Quartermaines were first introduced in 1977, when Stuart Damon originated the role of Alan Quartermaine. His parents and sister were next to be brought on canvas.

Mary Mae Ward is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital from 1994–1995. Introduced as a grandmother character running an orphanage, it was revealed through backstory that she had formerly been the mistress of Edward Quartermaine, with whom she had the son Bradley Ward. She is also the grandmother of the late Justus Ward, Keesha Ward and the great-grandmother of Maya Ward.

General Hospital is an American television serial drama, airing on ABC. The show was created by Frank and Doris Hursley, who originally set it in a general hospital in an unnamed fictional city. The series premiered on April 1, 1963. In the 1970s, the city was named Port Charles, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny Corinthos and Carly Benson</span> Soap opera character

Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. and Caroline Leigh "Carly" Benson are fictional characters of the long running ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital and also a supercouple. Sonny is the most powerful mobster in Port Charles, New York and Carly is the daughter of one of the show's popular characters, Bobbie Spencer, and the niece of soap opera supercouple, Luke and Laura.

References

  1. "The Story: A Quartermaine Curse". General Hospital Blog. ABC.com. 2012-10-26. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. Candace Young; Charlie Mason. "Black History Month Tribute to (But Some of) Daytime's Most Important African-American Characters [PHOTOS]". Soaps She Knows . She Media . Retrieved 26 July 2023.