6 best General Hospital Moments that defined the Quartermaine family

The Quartermaine family of General Hospital stays relevant despite the show being about the titular medical facility. While both Alan Quartermaine and his wife, Monica, were senior doctors at the hospital, there were various other reasons that made the family stand out in Port Charles. The Quartermaine family has returned to the spotlight lately, thanks to the Willow-Michael feud, Tracy challenging Sidwell, and Brook Lynn facing family issues with Gio.

The Quartermaine family has had a presence on General Hospital since 1977, when Dr. Alan Quartermaine arrived in Port Charles to join the hospital's cardiac wing. His affair with Dr. Monica Bard resulted in their 1978 wedding, following which Alan settled in town with his parents, Edward and Lila. With Tracy’s arrival in town, Alan bought the Q-mansion and gifted it to his wife in 1979. Since then, the Quartermaine family expanded its branches and entertained fans with various arcs.

General Hospital: 6 memorable events in the Quartermaine family

1) Tracy denies Edward his medication to challenge his will

General Hospital's Tracy and Edward Quartermaine | Image: JPI

In May 1980, on General Hospital, fans saw Edward and Tracy in an altercation where he threatened to disinherit Tracy from his will if she did not drop the paternity suit on Alan Jr. At that same moment, Edward, played by John Ingle, was in a distressed condition due to chest pain, presumably suffering a heart attack. As such, he asked his daughter to get him his medication.

Tracy, played by Jane Eliot, remained cold-hearted and negotiated the provisions of the will while holding the life-saving medication in her hand. While she declared that she loved no man more than her father, she wanted to talk money. Even when Edward collapsed, Tracy held on to the medication, wanting her father to give Ned the family inheritance.

Tracy later realized that the episode was a test of her loyalty, and she failed it. While Edward was faking his death and tricking Tracy into revealing her greed, the episode highlighted Tracy’s character and the Quartermaine family’s uncompromising approach to money and power.

2) Monica fights breast cancer

General Hospital's Monica Quartermaine | Image: JPI

Monica Quartermaine’s 1994 story arc took General Hospital viewers through the complete journey from breast cancer diagnosis to its impact on a patient’s life. Starting with a mammogram and diagnosis to chemotherapy and remission, fans saw Monica, played by Leslie Charleson, go through the complete cycle of cancer. The arc found Alan striving to stay close to his wife, who tried to push him away.

While the scene of Alan making love to Monica during this depressing time was endearing, the couple eventually drifted apart after her cancer went into remission. However, Monica’s cancer treatment brought Emily, the daughter of a fellow cancer patient, into the family fold. When Emily’s mother, Paige, died, Monica adopted Emily.

Fans were moved by the arc's relatability. This also marked a vital milestone in the Quartermaine family’s journey with AJ’s alcoholism, Emily’s tragic arc, and Jason’s alienation from the family following soon after.

3) Jason’s journey into Quartermaine family, and then to Morgan

General Hospital's Jason and Monica | Image: JPI

Jason, played by Steve Burton, was born to Susan Moore as Alan’s illegitimate child. Although Monica was upset with her husband’s son from another woman, she accepted Jason as a Quartermaine after Susan’s death. The couple eventually loved Jason more than their own son, AJ.

After Monica’s cancer treatment, AJ’s alcoholism became worse. As he crashed his car in an inebriated condition, his passenger, Jason, suffered a brain injury and amnesia. However, his amnesia caused him to forget his past with the Quartermaines and his love for Monica and Alan. Moreover, he stopped being an A-grade medical student.

Unable to regain any memories, a frustrated Jason dropped his family name and adopted his middle name, Morgan, which was his grandmother, Lila’s maiden name. Realizing that his new self was causing distress to his biological family, Jason moved out and befriended Sonny Corinthos. He reinvented himself as a henchman for the Port Charles mob boss.

4) Alan’s death at the Metro Court hostage disaster

General Hospital's Alan and Monica | Image: JPI

In a shocking turn of events in February 2007, Dr. Alan Quartermaine was at the Metro Court hotel when Mr. Craig took the hotel hostage. Inside the hotel, Robin was shot, and Alan tried to negotiate her freedom. After being struck down by Craig, Alan suffered from severe chest pain.

At the same time, a pregnant Elizabeth was in distress, and the culprit asked Emily to pick one hostage to be freed. Since Alan, played by Stuart Damon, was facing a possible heart attack, Emily selected him to be released. However, outside the hotel, bullets shot Alan down. Despite hospitalization and Monica performing surgery on him, Alan passed away on February 26, 2007.

On one hand, Alan’s death exposed the hostage culprit, Craig, as Jerry Jacks. However, this was also the time when Alan was rebuilding his relationship with his son, Jason. However, their reunion was cut short, a regret Jason confided in Monica during Alan’s memorial.

5) The Quartermaine curse and Thanksgiving pizza tradition

Outback eyeing Thanksgiving turkey in a scene from General Hospital I Image: ABC

One of the most popular, long-running storylines on General Hospital, the Quartermaine family’s tradition of having pizza instead of turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, started in 1994. At the time, Lila’s dog, Annabelle, ate the festive turkey to be served for dinner. Finding no food at home and no restaurants open, the family was forced to order in pizza.

Since 1994, every Thanksgiving dinner at the Quartermaine home has been marred for various reasons. From Lucy dissuading the family from eating the cooked bird, to the cook quitting, and Emily donating the meal to the ovens exploding. The storyline for the 2022 Thanksgiving event featured a live turkey delivered from the farm, which created chaos in the kitchen as the family was locked out. Every time, the family ended up having pizza.

The 2025 Thanksgiving saw Chase prepare an elaborate dinner to break the Thanksgiving curse on the Quartermaine family. After all possible issues, from smoke alarms and fire extinguishers to Outback’s hunger, were taken care of, Chase managed to deliver a table full of food. However, believing that they were tempting fate, Brook Lynn suggested they deliver the food to the doctors and staff at the hospital.

6) Inheritance bringing family together

General Hospital's Monica, Tracy, Dillion, and Ned | Image: JPI

As mentioned before, a prominent Quartermaine family trait is a love of power and money, and the family often plays out a power struggle drama. Besides the previously mentioned inheritance drama between Tracy and Edward, the family has also seen feuds between Tracy and Monica many decades ago that continued until the two patched up.

Recent examples of this Quartermaine inheritance grab showed after Monica’s death, when her will was being read. Martin faked the will to give the mansion to Ronnie, Monica’s long-estranged sister. This caused much friction in the family, as Tracy left home while the rest befriended Ronnie. After Tracy discovered Monica’s real will, leaving all to her, Ronnie apologized.

In another scenario, Drew took away all the Quartermaine's small assets and heirlooms. He insisted he was a Quartermaine by blood and entitled to them, since he was left nothing in the will. Tracy broke into Drew’s house and had Martin allow the return of family heirlooms to the mansion. However, in each case, the family came together to fight it out and later make up their differences.

While a family ruled by passions, obsessions, and emotional fervor, the Quartermaine family continues to be the most entertaining part of General Hospital. Currently, Tracy plays the fiery matriarch who keeps the family together and calls the shots. She shows a clear preference for Jason while disinheriting Drew. She is committed to protecting her family, no matter what.

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