Exclusive Video
‘General Hospital’s Genie Francis Spills on Kin Shriner Romance in ‘State of Mind’ Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
What To Know
- Genie Francis discusses her real-life romance with Kin Shriner, her first boyfriend, in a new episode of Maurice Benard’s State of Mind podcast.
- Francis reflects on how Shriner was a supportive presence during her early career.
- The interview also features Francis’ husband, Jonathan Frakes, and includes behind-the-scenes stories about cast relationships.
General Hospital icon Genie Francis continues to open up to costar Maurice Benard about her life and career in the second edition of Benard’s State of Mind podcast interview, which will drop November 23 on YouTube and all other major podcast platforms.
In Swooon’s exclusive preview of the episode, Francis opens up about her real-life romance with Kin Shriner, who plays Scotty Baldwin. The actors’ relationship in the late 1970s mirrored their onscreen one. Shriner was Francis’ first boyfriend, and she raves over how supportive he was of her.
“Kin Shriner is just, I just love him, and I always will,” Genie says. “First boyfriend in my life. Important person in my life. Always remembers my birthday to this day. Always calls me on my birthday. You know, he was a great boyfriend. He took such good care of me.”
ABC / Everett Collection
Francis has been candid with Benard about the early days of her career and her battle with social anxiety. “During that period of time where I was so lonely, basically. The happy time that I had, the happiest time that I had on that show was when I was with him,” she says about Shriner.
Jonathan Frakes, Francis’ husband, joins her for the second part of her interview with Benard. “Did he take you out on the Vespa?” Frakess asks. Francis replies, “No, he didn’t have a Vespa. He had a motorcycle. He took me out on that. That was fun. My parents weren’t happy.”
Courtesy of Maurice Benard
Benard then brings up Laura’s onscreen romance with Luke. “So if you weren’t with Luke, you would have been with Scotty. Is that the way it works?” he asks. Genie explains, “I was with Scotty. Yeah, first. And then Luke came and stole her away.”
Frakes chimes in to joke, “Poor Kin. Poor Kin Shriner bucket… He’s still bitter. Then I came in.” Francis married Frakes in 1988.
This prompts Benard to recall his first day on the GH set and initial interaction with Shriner. “Steve Burton says I was just an a**hole,” Benard admits. “I just didn’t talk to anybody. I was a method actor, you know, playing this mob guy.” That day, Shriner walks in and gives Benard some advice. “Never let them f**k with your character,'” Shriner told Benard.
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