‘General Hospital’: Evan Hofer Talks Dex’s ‘Pretty Cool’ Exit, Mixed Feelings in Final Days of Filming (VIDEO)
General Hospital’s Dex Heller is the latest character to die a mysterious death in Port Charles, which means his portrayer, Evan Hofer, has wrapped his run on the soap.
Hofer, who joined the cast in 2022, sat down with TV Insider to discuss his exit, which he took in stride. “I think my first reaction to Frank [Valentini, executive producer] was, ‘Is it cool, like, is it a cool death?’ ” Hofer recalls. “And he goes, ‘Let me get back to you,’ and I said, ‘Well, that’s not promising!’ But then it ended up, it’s pretty cool.”
In the story, Dex was stabbed but expected to survive; however, he went into cardiac arrest. For Hofer, who had previously played out a death scene in the film, Run the Race, Dex’s proved to be more of a challenge. “I had to lay there in that bed for these big, long monologues [given by other people],” he explains. “Like, Eden [McCoy, who plays Dex’s girlfriend, Josslyn Jacks] had this big, beautiful monologue, and I was like, ‘I’m going to serve dead as best as I can to do it for her,’ and I think at one point, I definitely had to gulp for air.”
Hofer admits he had mixed feelings in Dex’s final days. “It was both exciting and it was sad,” he reflects. “I really fell in love with Dex over the last three years. I told my mom it’s almost like mourning the loss of a friend. He was such an incredible guy, and I wanted all these wonderful things for him, and he got to experience a lot of those wonderful things. It was sad, but it’s also really fun to be able to play those scenes and do these extremes.”
His ouster came as a surprise to his coworkers, partly because Hofer kept the news under wraps. “I didn’t tell anybody, so a lot of the crew found out on my second to last day, ’cause we filmed my death my second to last day,” he says. “People were coming up to me, like, ‘What’s going on?’ and I was like, ‘Don’t worry about it; we’ll talk on Monday.’ I kind of wanted to kick the can down the road. I love everyone there so much and so saying goodbye to everyone, I knew, was going to rip my heart out.”
That last day, he describes, “was so wonderful. The crew threw me a party, a going away thing. My mom brought cookies for everybody. It was super beautiful and just great to be able to express that love for everyone there for making that a home for me for the past three years.”
Hofer says he will take a lot of good memories with him from his time in Port Charles, from his relationship with Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) to his friendship with the late Johnny Wactor (Brando Corbin), who was killed in Los Angeles in May. “Johnny was my big brother on the show, and from my first day there he was like, ‘You need anything, you come to me. You ever want to hang out in my room, come knock,’ ” Hofer relays. “And did that plenty. Took him up on that a ton. Even after he left the show, we spent tons of time together, always got dinner and stuff. He was just such an incredible example of the kind of man that I want to grow into.”
In this farewell video above, Hofer shares the highlights of his Port Charles stay, who he wanted to work with more, how he prepared for Dex’s stabbing, and so much more.
As for what’s next, he teases, “Fun stuff in the works; stay tuned.” And if another soap reaches out, he is open to taking the call. “If the right role and the right story came along, absolutely,” concludes Hofer.
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O
I’ve been watching GH from 1976 and These episodes are getting worse each week, Josslyn losing Oscar wasn’t enough, now Dex also? The Lulu storyline is ridiculous and Sam’s death even worse. I think GH needs New writers.
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G
I wish the writers would be of a teaching tool.
One doesn\'t get up after a 4 year coma and look and act or move around like Lulu did. Her hair was perfect and walking as she did. We never saw her receiving therapy.
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S
I have watched GH for the past 60 years and those writing for them now are awful; there is nothing exciting happening and definitely not realistic. Lulu should not be able to walk are talk this quickly after a 4 year coma. Now taking Dex off the show not to mention several others who have left. What are ya thinking. I can write storylines better than ya.put some excitement back in to the script. I think ya want GH to tank.
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R
I agree; I\'ve also been watching GH for over 60 years and I don\'t understand what the writers have been thinking lately. It was absolutely ridiculous that LuLu was able to wake up after 4 years in a coma and start walking right away let alone sneak out of the the nursing home and start walking towards home. SO unrealistic; do they think the viewers are stupid? And why not ask the original LuLu back? I the hate this storyline where Cyrus is killing great characters off. And yes, there would be cameras in the hallways that would show the comings and goings of the people going into the various rooms. Killing Sam off was so unnecessary.
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i agree 100 %. the Lulu storyline is so far-fetched. i know that it is a soap opera, but come on. also, i have counted at least 10 popular characters that have been let go/left in the past year. i don\'t know what is up these writers, but come the new year they will be losing viewers right and left.
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G
I\'m glad to see others observations as I do.
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C
I was disappointed with this storyline. Does General Hospital NOT have security cameras in the hallways so they can see Cyrus the virus is creeping around the hospital rooms killing people and let\'s not forget he attempted to kill LuLu. Any other time something happened there weren\'t they checking security camera? Come on now.
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O
Exactly! I did not like that they killed Sam off AND NOW DEX! Whhhyy! I liked him for Joselyn. What is the powers that be doing… Thinning out the cast???Who’s next 🤷🏻♀️
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O
I am starting to wonder like other people is this the being of the end for GH? the writing is horrible. Stupid decisions are being made about who they are letting go. Killing off Dex? really the guy barely had a storyline sense he came on the show except for the beginning when he first came on. They (GH) needs to do better or call it a day.
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P
I agree with the other comments about the direction the storylines are taking. I have watched for a long time and am definitely considering not watching anymore. The way they brought LuLu back is unbelievable. For a medical show surely they must have experts who would have rejected her being able to do anything upon awakening from such a long coma. It is ludicrous, shortsighted, and lazy. I can never forgive what they did to Sam. I am so mad that I wait days to watch the taped shows and before I couldn\'t wait for showtime every day. I am so disappoint ed and feel something drastic has happened with the writers, Not only that, but the dialogue has had on several occasions really obvious grammatical errors. They need not only a medical expert involved and a grammar expert.
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G
I can\'t believe what the writers try to push over.
Would a person who had been in a coma for 4 yrs.
wake up ready to go. I doubt it.
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R
Been watching GH since 1978. The current writers are the WORST ever! Too many decent characters killed for no good reason.
12
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O
yes. and now just found out that chad duell is leaving also. is it even worth watching anymore ??
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G
I really think General Hospital is missing big opportunities with killing off Dex, I truly thought Joss and Dex were on the road to being the next Epic couple like a Luke and Laura. I\'m extremely disappointed in the writers. Evan, if you get to see this I wanted to wish you luck in your future endeavors, you\'re going to be missed big time.
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This is a soap, are we sure he\'s dead? He is a cop and Anna was hovering closely at the time could they be faking his death so he could go under cover?
My only argument against that is I can\'t imagine dex would agree to do that to joss. Who knows.
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G
It sucks because the show does not care what the fans want. I am 56 and have watched since I was 10. The past couple of years have been the worse.
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G
Why in the world is this getting so much media coverage? People leave soaps all the time, and this guy, while great looking, can\'t even act and barely had anything to do on the show. It\'ll be 6 months before anybody even notices that he\'s gone.
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Dex has been a great character. He went from working for Sonny & almost being taken out to Joss\'s lover to LEO. He had a horrible childhood & was determined to break the pattern. Spencer should be coming back soon with his partner dove to Trina\'s & who knows who else will come back as characters exit. Cody may be around for a while & who knows about Sasha\'s future. Whose baby she\'s pregnant with. Gio is another mystery. About time for Lucy & Granny Tracy Q to come back too. Maybe Charlotte? That\'s exactly the mo of GH & most soaps. Nothing surprises me & everything potentialy can. Stop watching if you\'re so disappointed with it. Then there\'s the Bensonhurst folk! I\'m stopping here. Got stuff to do related to Christmas. Fa, la, la, la, la....
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N
A good murder mystery can be exciting, bringing some thrills and chills to the show. We think we know who is knocking off the citizens of PC, but there’s definitely more to be revealed. I’m willing to wait and see what else is going on, who else is behind this plot. It’s always sad to see anyone lose their job, but that’s also the nature of the business. I wish him well and look forward to seeing what he does next.
As for the impossibility of Lulu’s recovery, I’m rolling with it. I don’t have the patience to sit through weeks and months of realistic rehab and therapy before she can even sit up again. Watching poor Lucky play poker for weeks on end after his return before he was given any story or added to the action was painful! I do not want to go through that again with another character, so I can suspend my disbelief with Lulu and just be glad we’re moving forward with her story.
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G
I agree with alot that has been said about the story lines. I also think that the start of the relationship with Willow and Drew was very awkward and fake. Then she tells him to stay away, and they both ignore that. It just didn\'t flow. It feels fake. She wants to save her marriage, and then invites him over to Nina\'s for Christmas? BS
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P
Gen Hospital! What\'s wrong with you? Poor Jos. First Oscar now Dex? Can this girl find no happiness?
Don\'t get me started on the new Lulu! I know she only says what the \'writers write\' but she is very unlikeable. I know she wants to find her daughter but she\'s a real Bitch!
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G
I am super pissed off. I wanted Jos aand Dex to get married. Now Jo\'s has 2 dead boyfriends.
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O
I think it\'s all full all of Jocelyn boyfriends die general hospital change a lot I have been washing it since I was 10 with my oldest sister and now she gone and I\'m 71 and still watching it
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G
So ANOTHER great character is being killed off. I just don\'t understand it. It\'s unfortunate on the direction these writers are going in. I\'ve been watching GH since the early Luke&Laura days and I just can\'t get onboard with this story line. I may be just one person but I\'ll be stepping away from this show going forward. SMH. 💔
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