Genie Francis

Laura Spencer

1976-1981, 1983-1984, 1993-present

Born in Englewood, New Jersey on May 26^th, Ms. Francis got her start in television on General Hospital with a guest appearance on ABC's primetime series, Family.  She was soon picked to take over the role of Laura Vining from its originator, Stacey Baldwin, and lived out her adolescence on General Hospital. 

The wedding of Laura to Luke Spencer (played by Anthony Geary) in November, 1981, remains the most-watched daytime drama event in the history of television. The super-couple's fictional romance even garnered a cover story in Newsweek magazine.

In 1981, after five years on General Hospital, Ms. Francis left the show, and returned briefly two years later and again in 1984.  Following her work on General Hospital, Ms. Francis was featured in the television movie, Bare Essence. The movie was then developed into a primetime series in which Ms. Francis re-created the starring role of Tyger Hayes. She also co-starred in the hit ABC miniseries, North and South (Books I and II), as the good Southern sister, Brett Main. Genie's extensive television work also included recurring appearances on Murder, She Wrote.

Ms. Francis went on to create the role of Ceara Connor on ABC's daytime drama, All My Children, in 1990. Her portrayal of an adult incest survivor earned her critical and viewer acclaim.

Her stage appearances include Crimes of the Heart and See How They Run. In 1991, Ms. Francis appeared in the Williamstown Festival Theater production of Defying Gravity. That same year, she made her New York City debut in The Baby Dance at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village. She also appeared in a Comedic Curtain Raiser at Manhattan Class Company for their festival of One Acts, called "The Group."

She has been seen in the television movie, Perry Mason and the Case of the Killer Kiss, and in ABC's Heaven and Hell, the third North and South installment.

Genie is married to actor/director Jonathan Frakes, who starred as Captain William T. Riker in the popular syndicated television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. They maintain residences in both Los Angeles and Manhattan with their two children.   

Ms Francis has received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress and has won Soap Opera Digest awards for both Favorite Actress and Outstanding Lead Actress.