The rain-soaked streets of Port Charles witnessed a dramatic showdown that led to the demise of FBI Agent John “Jagger” Cates, played by Adam J. Harrington, in General Hospital. In a gripping confrontation, Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) fired the shots that ended Jagger’s run, marking a significant exit for a character who had quickly become central to the unfolding drama. Adam J. Harrington, who stepped into the role in February, delivered a compelling portrayal of Jagger Cates, leaving a lasting impression in a short span of time.
Jagger Cates’ storyline in General Hospital was characterized by an intense obsession to bring down Sonny Corinthos. This drive consumed him, blurring his judgment as he relentlessly pursued the mobster for past and present transgressions. His determination led him to questionable tactics, including pressuring Ava Jerome (Maura West) for a confession regarding Kristina Corinthos-Davis’s (Kate Mansi) accident and even threatening Kristina herself. This arc painted a picture of a man consumed by his mission, ultimately leading to his tragic confrontation with Sonny.
In his first public appearance since his character’s dramatic end, Adam J. Harrington joined the Michael Fairman Channel for a candid livestream interview. Harrington shared insights into his experience embodying the recast role of Jagger, a character previously portrayed by Antonio Sabato Jr. Sporting a fresh, clean-shaven look and shorter hair, Harrington hinted at a new, undisclosed role on the horizon, adding an air of anticipation for his fans.
Courtesy/ABC
During the interview, Harrington delved into the climatic scenes with Sonny, his collaborations with the General Hospital cast, memories of working with the late Billy Miller (formerly Jason/Drew on GH) on Major Crimes, and the impact of head writer changes on Agent Cates’ narrative arc.
Sonny shoots Jagger Cates in General Hospital
Reflecting on His Last Day on the General Hospital Set
Harrington offered a glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster of his final days filming at General Hospital. He recounted the sequence where Jagger was shot by Sonny in the pouring rain and the subsequent farewells to the cast and crew. “I finished on a Friday,” Adam recalled. “The shooting was filmed on a Wednesday, and on Thursday, I was partly laying on the ground, soaking wet with rain going up my nose.” The final day was a mix of emotions, “On Friday, it was wonderful and sad, and bittersweet and everything. But, it was a really intense day because it was a last day before everyone goes on hiatus for a month. Everybody was working really hard. I had 70 pages of dialogue to do that day, and the cast and the crew, and the producers, were all amazing just to try to get me through it. Then, we all had a big, and really sweet hug fest at the end. I jokingly said, ‘It was my time at soap opera school,’ because it was kind of a semester.” His words painted a picture of a demanding yet heartwarming conclusion to his General Hospital journey.
Sonny and Stone in General Hospital
The Unfulfilled Wish: Working with Stone Cates’ Legacy
One of Adam Harrington’s regrets was missing the chance to share screen time with the character of Stone Cates’ brother, poignantly played by Michael Sutton. Reflecting on potential storylines, Harrington shared, “I’m just making observations on my own. I’m not a writer, not paid to be a writer. I’m not executive producer. I wouldn’t want those jobs. They’re just high stress and a whole other skillset,” Harrington began. “But, I personally would’ve loved to have gotten the chance to work with Michael. I do understand though, that visually it might become difficult for an audience to keep investing in a new ‘Jagger’ when you are seeing Michael and I, unless it’s (under) really dim lighting.” He mused on a missed opportunity for character depth, “I think it would have been cool if ‘Jagger’ visited Stone’s gravesite. I often wondered that for myself and my own back stories, has ‘Jagger’ gone to the grave or not?” This reveals Harrington’s thoughtful engagement with his character’s history and potential storylines within the General Hospital narrative.
Adam Harrington as John Jagger Cates in General Hospital
Navigating the Shifting Sands of General Hospital’s Writing
The evolution of Jagger Cates from a principled FBI agent to a revenge-driven figure was a noticeable shift in his General Hospital arc. Harrington shed light on the behind-the-scenes changes that influenced this development. “We have to remember that there was three executive head writer changes. I think in the six months I was there, I only shot four and a half months because of the breaks (the show) would take. I think the first writers were gone within a month. And then, the second writers, I don’t know how long they lasted. And then the third came in. So, every time a new writing team comes in, they’re going to want to put their own stamp on it to show their bosses why they got hired.” He understood the implications of these changes, “So, I knew after the first writer change, everything might be up in the air as far as why I’m there, because ‘Jagger’ was so newly re-introduced. I didn’t know ahead of time that there were changes in his motivation, but I understood why they were once I clued into them and why they were happening, just because it was coinciding with the writers changing.” This provides valuable context for viewers who observed Jagger’s character trajectory.
Adam Harrington and Steve Burton in General Hospital
The Foreshadowed Exit: Learning About Jagger’s Fate
Harrington revealed that his departure from General Hospital wasn’t entirely unexpected. “I had a friend point out to me, who said, ‘Listen, just so you know, two things are going to happen. Either, half the town goes to prison, or you’re going bye-bye,’” shared Harrington. “So you bring in an FBI agent, two things are going to happen. People are going to go to jail, and/or he disappears, right? They had let me know in May, I think, that I was going to be done. So that final chunk of story, I knew it was going to wrap up. It was just a matter of how. That final arc was just backtracking from the confrontation with Sonny and how to plot that. ‘How do we get the audience to buy into the conceit that an FBI agent would show up without a gun?’ And the other one for me personally, was, ‘What happens to my son Stone?” This candid admission highlights the pragmatic nature of soap opera storytelling and the considerations involved in character arcs.
Adam Harrington General Hospital Interview
Reflections on Working with General Hospital Co-Stars
Adam Harrington shared warm sentiments about his General Hospital colleagues, particularly Maura West (Ava Jerome), Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos), Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), and Finola Hughes (Anna Devane). He speculated on a potential romance with Ava, noting, On Maura West: “I just absolutely loved, absolutely loved working with her. I think my favorite moments with her were the most tender I think of his interactions with the other characters. I always saw Jagger, and it got supported in the script, as incredibly lonely. I thought Ava could try to kill him and Jagger would still forgive her and understand.”
Describing his dynamic with Maurice Benard, On Maurice Benard: “Maurice and I had very few conversations and when we did, they were really lovely. We would talk when we got to set … we’d figure things out. It just kind of clicked right away. I trusted it, he trusted it. The intense hatred they had to play in the world of Port Charles, which culminated in Sonny unloading his gun on Jagger, ended when the cameras stropped rolling. There was a big hug after we shot the final (scene). I have an enormous amount of respect for him and he is such a delight to work with.”
About Steve Burton, On Steve Burton (Jason) “I love the back and forth between the characters, but working with Steve, he’s just such a pro and has such amazing energy. I always looked forward to the scenes we had together. I think my first real chunk of scenes was with him and it almost felt like a ‘Bourne Identity’-style interview sequence. That was a ton of fun to play.”
And regarding Finola Hughes, On Finola Hughes (Anna): “Everything Jagger was saying was right, and she wouldn’t budge. I was trying everything including pleading with her, then being argumentative, and she never budged. That’s why Finola was so much fun to work with. She is just a wonderful person. We had a lot of endless conversations about stuff. But man, did she make me angry in those scenes…” These anecdotes provide a glimpse into the collaborative and positive atmosphere on the General Hospital set.
Adam Harrington and Finola Hughes in General Hospital
Fond Memories of Billy Miller: A Major Crimes Reunion
Harrington cherished the opportunity to have worked with the late Billy Miller, a three-time Daytime Emmy winner, during their time on Major Crimes. Working with Billy Miller: Adam offered heartfelt praise, “There are people that come along in your life and they just make an impact right away. Billy was one of those people,” expressed Harrington. “I remember there was a lot of laughing between takes and then watching his work, I was like, ‘Wow, this guy’s good. This guy is really good.’ And then we would see each other around town every once in awhile and have a conversation. But I’d always thought, ‘Man, I’d love to go toe to toe with him again in some work.’” His words resonate with the widespread admiration for Billy Miller’s talent and personality.
The John Cates/Jack Brennan Name Confusion
Adding a touch of lightheartedness, Adam Harrington addressed the name mix-up between his character John Cates and Jack Brennan (Charles Mesure). John Cates/Jack Brennan: Adam humorously recounted, “I had met Charles, we got along really well, and then I decided to stick it to him and steal his name!” laughed Adam. “I had auditioned (for GH) and then there was a lot of conversations and them wanting to find me something (on the show). So, the mix-up could have just simply been they had John Brennan or Jack Brennan, and then they realized they were going to bring ‘Jagger’ back, because they were trying to find something for me and that’s where I stole his name!” This behind-the-scenes tidbit offers a fun conclusion to Harrington’s insights.
Adam J. Harrington’s portrayal of John “Jagger” Cates in General Hospital, though brief, was impactful. His reflections on the character’s journey, his co-stars, and the behind-the-scenes dynamics provide a valuable perspective for fans of the show. While Jagger Cates’ story has concluded, Adam J. Harrington’s contributions to General Hospital and the soap opera world will be remembered.
