"Nice to Meet You"

Jason Thompson

By Janey Di Lauro

As the resident playboy/doctor of Port Charles, General Hospital's Patrick Drake can break hearts and revive them.  Actor Jason Thompson has been acclimating to both roles, one conquest/patient at a time.

Weekly: How embarrassing was your GH debut, going at it on top of a gurney with a nurse?

Thompson: That was "Welcome to Daytime television," right there.  I didn't know anybody, so it was, 'All right.  Here I am.  Let's get it down.' It was over quickly.  Now that I know everyone on set, it would be more embarrassing.

Weekly: Would you agree that it defined Patrick with record speed?

Thompson: It was great.  Patrick being on the table with the girl and Robin coming in and saying, "We need a miracle and you're it," really summed him up.  It made a lot of sense [regarding] where he's coming from and where he's going.  To get a character description in one quick scene like that is not easy!

Weekly: Are you anything like the cocky, debonair doc?

Thompson: The people who know me think it's absolutely crazy that I play that guy.  I'm not that good at anything, so that cockiness doesn't come out of me.  but I enjoy it.  I'd rather do that than be a tough guy all the time, which would be harder for me.

Weekly:  Were people impressed when you told them you were playing Rick Springfield's (Noah) son?

Thompson: When I mentioned that I was on the show and that Rick was my father, every female person in my life was like, "Oh, my God!  I love Rick Springfield!" All of them said that their first concert was Rick Springfield and, surprisingly enough, they all told me they had front-row seats.

Weekly: What's your background?

Thompson: I'm originally from Alberta, Canada.  Growing up, I realized that acting was what I wanted to do, but I wasn't vocal about it.  Then, I started modeling in Europe.  I traveled around for a couple of years.  It was a great experience to see the world at a young age.  Eventually, modeling brought me to Los Angeles, which is where I wanted to end up.  It afforded me the opportunity to make the money I needed to survive, to stay in the country with my visa situation, and to get into acting class.  Now, five years later, here I am.

Weekly: Has there been one person who has been instrumental in helping you adjust to GH?

Thompson: Kimberly McCullough (Robin) was the first actor I met on the show.  I screen-tested with her and most of my scenes in the beginning were with her.  She coaxed me through everything and was very supportive.  She'd say, "Do it as well as you can.  If [the director] likes it enough to move on, then just forget about it."  Because I was worried about everything.  I'd always thing, "I could do that scene better."  She made me realize you don't have time to do that.

Weekly:  Do you have any friends in the daytime world?

Thompson: I knew Greg Vaughn (Lucky) before I joined General Hospital.  We have mutual friends.  I also know Josh Duhamel (ex-Leo, All My Children) and Eric Winter (ex-Rex, Days of Our Lives), and I'm good friends with Galen Gering (Luis, Passions).  I talked to Galen before I auditioned for General Hospital.  He said, "If you have any questions, let me know."  Galen was very encouraging.  he loves his job.  That was comforting, because it was coming from someone I respect in the business."

Weekly:  The writing is on the wall for a Patrick and Robin pairing.  What are your thoughts on that, considering that Robin is HIV positive?

Thompson: It's definitely intriguing, and an issue that needs to be tackled, because it is out there.  Playing that is going to be a challenge, but I admire Kimberly and know we'll have a good time doing it.  I'm sure it will [be handled] tastefully.

Weekly:  In the meantime, you're getting to work with all the women on the show.  Have any of the other actors been ribbing you about that?

Thompson: No, but the cameramen are like, "Jeez, man!  You've got a great job."  I get around the hospital, that's for sure.  I'm just trying to keep up with Sonny.  I don't ever see myself doing it, but I've got something to strive for.

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