Who is Jude Jacks on General Hospital? Wil Traval Teases What’s Ahead

On the Thursday, October 29 episode of General Hospital, the mystery man played by Wil Traval finally introduced himself by name: Jude Jacks, the surprise son of notorious Port Charles baddie Jerry Jacks (Sebastian Roché) — and he claimed to be the biological father of Phoebe, who was recently adopted by Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard). “It’s such a gift to be so well entrenched and connected to the Port Charles universe,” Traval enthused in a new interview with TV Insider teasing what fans can expect from Jude.

Jude Jacks is ‘a James Bond Villain and James Bond Mixed’

Wil Traval didn’t know that he’d been playing Jude Jacks when he first auditioned for General Hospital with what he called “a very neutral, safe script” — but when Executive Producer Frank Valentini finally gave him the lowdown on his character, he was thrilled — not only because the Jacks family’s roots on the show go all the way back to 1996, when Jasper “Jax” Jacks was first introduced and gave Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) a run for his money for Brenda Barrett’s (Vanessa Marcil) heart, but because of the delicious way the role was described to him.

“‘Audiences won’t see what’s coming with this guy. Just think of a James Bond villain and James Bond mixed,’” Traval recalled being told.

While whether Jude truly is Phoebe’s father remains to be seen, he does have one confirmed family member in Port Charles: his cousin, Josslyn Jacks (Eden McCoy). Joss recently became CEO of Jasper Jacks Enterprises, the company her dad (and Jude’s uncle) Jax founded. But as viewers know, Joss only accepted the gig because of her other career: WSB agent.

The bureau had its reasons  — which have yet to be revealed — for installing Josslyn in the CEO chair. But if Jude shares his father’s penchant for crimes, corporate and otherwise, he may well be involved. And Traval hinted that Jude does, indeed, take after his dear old dad, who was last spotted in Port Charles in 2015 and is currently on the loose after escaping from Steinmauer Prison in 2019.

Traval mused that like Jerry, Jude is not above taking actions that are “probably not so legal or ethical” to get what he wants and advised fans, “when you’re thinking about who his father is, think about the kind of man Jude might have been brought up to be. Always keep that in your back pocket.”

In the coming days and weeks, viewers will see Jude — who prior to darkening the Quartermaines’ doorstep had only had a significant interaction with one-night-stand (and maybe more) Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) — make the Port Charles rounds. That includes clashing with his cousin. Said Traval, “I think the relationship between Josslyn and Jude is the one that’s going to be the most fraught with tension.”

Jude will soon cross paths with Sonny, with Travail describing his first scenes with Maurice Benard’s alter ego as “a couple of predators sizing each other up.”