Franco (General Hospital)
Encyclopedia
Robert "Franco" Frank is a fictional character
on ABC
's daytime drama General Hospital
. He has been portrayed by James Franco
since November 19, 2009 and was listed as special guest star before the opening credits. Franco left the role for a short time on January 11, 2010.
James Franco returned to General Hospital on June 30, 2010. His character was a part of a summer-long storyline. Franco will return on September 20, 2011 for an extended stay.
, who had been murdered by Michael Corinthos on November 5, 2009. He then sent photos of a re-enactment of Claudia's murder to Jason.
Franco disguised as a homeless vagrant is spraypainting the word CO77X on a wall, where Joey Limbo and his crew were hired by Anthony Zacchara to murder Sonny Corinthos
and Dante Falconeri
, Limbo notices Franco and asks him what he's doing, Franco holds out his hand for spare change which Joey throws down coins which fall to the floor.
On November 19, 2009, Franco, still dressed as a vagrant, witnessed Jason, Max, Milo and Dante Falconeri
engage in a shootout with Joey Limbo and his men. Realizing Joey was still alive, Franco approached him and stepped on his neck until Limbo died and repositioned his body in an odd figure.
Following the incident, Franco attended the opening for his art exhibit, filled with numerous crime scene re-enactments, which had been organized by Maxie Jones
and Kate Howard
for Crimson. Maxie was placed in charge of insuring all Franco's needs were met, which took a disturbing turn when later on when the two were alone. Franco blindfolded her, took photographs of her in a chalk outline and then slept with her.
During the week of December 7, 2009 Franco finally came face to face with Jason Morgan, offering him beer and pretzels, unnerving Jason about how much he idolizes his work calling it art, telling Jason they are the same. Franco is less than thrilled with Jason's lack of respect for Franco or his work. Jason leaves after Franco tells him he saw Michael kill Claudia. After Jason left, Franco decided to send Jason another message to let him know he's serious. On December 14 that message came in the form from Damian Spinelli who went over to Franco's to confront him about his sleeping with Spinelli's girlfriend Maxie Jones. Franco told Spinelli to tell "Stone Cold" he's not through with him yet.
On December 15, Maxie Jones and Lulu Spencer break into Franco's apartment to look for other compromising photos of Maxie, and run into Franco's agent Gillian Carlyle, who informs the two young ladies Franco's back in Paris. On December 18, Franco was in an alley when he was approached by Dante's cop partner Ronnie. It is then revealed the two have been working together for quite a long time. After Ronnie left, he is then run over by a dark car driven by Franco. Lulu Spencer
rushes him to the hospital. Lulu encounters Franco in Ronnie's room after Franco told Ronnie to give Jason Morgan a message "you choose". He then exits. Soon after Jason and Dante arrive, Ronnie, hooked up on a ventilator, gives Jason the message. We see the CO77X spray painted in Ronnie's hospital room. On the week of December 28, Franco kidnaps Jason's girlfriend Sam McCall and his best friend Carly Corinthos
. Franco waits for Jason to come and try to rescue them. Jason manages to save Carly, but Franco gives him the slip.
team up to save them, both going after their respective lovers. Sam's bomb is revealed to be a fake. However, Lulus is indeed real. Dante reaches Lulu just in time to get her away from the bomb. Jason begins to fear he is indeed like Franco, though Sam assures him otherwise. Franco soon leaves town after leaving Jason a video message, explaining his past and motivations and revealing he plans to kill someone for every person Jason kills.
On June 11, 2010 after Jason kills Carter, he tells him "Franco says Hi".
On July 1, 2010, Franco is seen as a homeless person who is holding up a "Will entertain for money" sign. Diane comes across him and says she left her purse at home, when Franco asked her to for some change. So instead, he pulls out a little toy monkey, and says "I hope to get a real one, one day", as Diane hands him $ 20.00 she had in her briefcase - and a stick of gum. After she leaves, Franco gets up and spray paints his symbol on a crate. When Jason goes home, Franco follows him to Harbor View Towers.
On July 2, 2010, While Maxie is -alone- talking to someone on the phone at Crimson, the elevator opens. She thinks it's James coming to give her the shoes, but it is Franco, dressed in black, with six red roses in his hand. When Dante and Jason visit Karen Anderson (his mother) and tell her it's about her son, she replies "I don't have a son". It is revealed Franco's real name is Robert Frank.
On July 16, 2010, Franco once again appears at Crimson, but this time looking for Lulu. Lulu tries to call for help but Franco threatens to kill her and pose her body for Dante to find. Franco then gives Lulu and envelope and tells her to give it to Dante. Lulu tries to follow Franco after he leaves but loses him. The envelope is later revealed to be a clue to lead Jason and Dante to Francos exhibit.
Jason and Dante later head to Los Angeles, where Franco is preparing a large exhibit at the MoCA
based on his exploits in Port Charles. While searching for Franco, the pair discover a DVD revealing Franco had paid Carter to attack Michael in order to play mind games with Jason. Carter took it upon himself to not only attack, but to rape Michael. In an ensuing battle with Jason, although the large crowd witnesses brush it off as nothing more than live entertainment, Franco fakes his death.
It has been revealed Franco took Aiden to give to his mother to raise as the son she always wanted. Lucky Spencer later reclaims the child without incident or reprisal from Franco.
Franco is last mentioned when his agent attempts to ask international model Brenda Barrett
to pose for a few pictures. Knowing of Franco's history as a serial killer, Brenda turns down the offer, refusing to glorify violence for money.
On March 25, 2011, Carly receives a video message from Franco, who is somehow aware of what happened to Josslyn. Franco says he feels "somewhat responsible" for what has happened and will keep a very close eye on Josslyn.
On September 20, 2011, Franco was seen taking photos of the thug that died. He looks out the window and says to his toy monkey that Jason and Sam forget his wedding invite. He is later seen in disguise setting up security cameras around the church before the wedding and steals Sam's wedding dress, putting another in its place. During the wedding reception, Franco watches everything filmed by the security cameras in his apartment and dances with Sam's wedding dress.
On October 3, 2011, Jason and Sam arrive in Hawaii for their honeymoon and Franco is seen in a cabin wearing a lei. Later, he sneaks into Jason and Sam's cabin while they're on a walk and sets up a few security cameras. Back in Port Charles, Carly finds a package on her doorstep addressed to Josslyn from Hawaii. Carly excitedly opens it, thinking it's from Jason, to find a lei and a note. Her excitement turns to shock when she sees the note ends with "Aloha, Franco." Franco works on and finishes a painting, possibly another painting with hidden clues. Jason and Sam find the security cameras; Sam thinks they are just toy robots but Jason is more suspicious. Carly, Shawn and Josslyn fly to Hawaii to warn Jason and Sam about Franco. Franco also wraps a box with a wind-up baby toy inside for Josslyn.
On October 25, 2011, Jason gets a call saying Franco is in Toronto setting up a new art exhibit, having checked into a hotel room under the alias "C. Firth." Carly, Josslyn and Shawn return to Port Charles relieved that Franco isn't in the area. However, on October 28, Jason and Sam leave the cabin to go to the beach and Franco crawls out from under their bed to set up another security camera. On November 2, Franco is seen at his computer watching live footage of Jason and Sam about to compete in a 'romance challenge' to see who buys the other a good present.
On November 4, 2011, Jason comes back to the cabin after shopping for Sam's present. He sees a bottle of beer and note addressed to him. Thinking they're from Sam, he reads the note: "A toast for the grand finale. You'll never guess what happens next," and drinks the beer. Sam arrives a while later with Jason's present. Jason is gone, but she also finds a beer bottle and a note addressed to her. Her note reads: "I'm way ahead of you," and she drinks her beer.
Jason's beer was drugged and he wakes up in a locked, windowless room with a TV screen. Knowing Franco kidnapped him, Jason pounds on the door yelling Franco's name. The TV turns on to show Franco's toy monkey and then live footage of Sam in the cabin takng a shower. Jason pleads with Franco not to hurt Sam and to come hurt him instead. While Sam showers, Franco slowly walks into the bathroom while Jason watches the screen in horror. Sam thinks he's Jason, but passes out because her beer was drugged too. Franco catches Sam when she falls and carries her into the bedroom. He lays Sam down on the bed and starts to undress. Jason screams that he will kill Franco. Franco walks up to the security camera in the room and taunts Jason about wanting some privacy. He then covers the security camera with his shirt, leaving Jason in the dark as to what's happening. The screen goes back to showing Franco's monkey and Franco's painting while Franco casually strums a ukulele in the background. Jason manages to escape and runs back to the cabin. Sam is fine, but she faintly remembers being in bed with someone. Jason sadly tells her that Franco was in bed with her, leading them to believe that Franco raped her.
On November 10, 2011, Jason and Sam go to the room Jason was locked in to look for Franco. Franco's not there but they see he spray-painted his new signature, NO2CCAH5, on the wall shortly after Jason escaped the room. Sam wonders why Franco's signature is different from his old one (CO77X) and finds the key to Franco's cabin behind the TV. They go to Franco's cabin and find the dead body of a hula dancer. Franco also spray-painted his signature along with the word "Aloha." Knowing Franco is gone for now, Jason and Sam return to Port Charles. On November 23, Jason receives a call saying that the body of the hula girl was gone by the time police arrived and the police assumed Franco's signature on the wall was only vandalism.
On November 30, Carly and Shawn find two wrapped up gifts for Josslyn. One is the wind-up baby toy, the other is a video. In the video, Franco tells Josslyn he's sorry that Jax isn't there to watch over her, and promises he will always be there for her when no one else will. Later on, Sam is walking near the alley by Jake's Bar and she sees Franco's signature recently spraypainted on the wall.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's daytime drama General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
. He has been portrayed by James Franco
James Franco
James Edward Franco is an American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author, painter, performance artist and instructor at New York University. He left college in order to pursue acting and started off his career by making guest appearances on television series in the 1990s...
since November 19, 2009 and was listed as special guest star before the opening credits. Franco left the role for a short time on January 11, 2010.
James Franco returned to General Hospital on June 30, 2010. His character was a part of a summer-long storyline. Franco will return on September 20, 2011 for an extended stay.
2009
Prior to officially being seen on the canvas, Franco witnessed Jason Morgan, Max Giambetti and Milo Giambetti disposing of the body of Claudia ZaccharaClaudia Zacchara
Claudia Antonia Corinthos is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. The daughter of New York City mob boss Anthony Zacchara, Claudia was portrayed by Sarah Brown beginning January 31, 2008. She left the role of Claudia on November 6, 2009 to join the cast of The...
, who had been murdered by Michael Corinthos on November 5, 2009. He then sent photos of a re-enactment of Claudia's murder to Jason.
Franco disguised as a homeless vagrant is spraypainting the word CO77X on a wall, where Joey Limbo and his crew were hired by Anthony Zacchara to murder Sonny Corinthos
Sonny Corinthos
Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr. is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera General Hospital. Maurice Benard has played the role, that of a manic depressive Mob boss living in Port Charles, since the character's storyline originated on August 13, 1993...
and Dante Falconeri
Dante Falconeri
Dante Angelo Falconeri is a fictional character on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital. Dante is the son of the popular character Sonny Corinthos and his old flame Olivia Falconeri. He has been portrayed by contract player Dominic Zamprogna since June 22, 2009.-Character description...
, Limbo notices Franco and asks him what he's doing, Franco holds out his hand for spare change which Joey throws down coins which fall to the floor.
On November 19, 2009, Franco, still dressed as a vagrant, witnessed Jason, Max, Milo and Dante Falconeri
Dante Falconeri
Dante Angelo Falconeri is a fictional character on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital. Dante is the son of the popular character Sonny Corinthos and his old flame Olivia Falconeri. He has been portrayed by contract player Dominic Zamprogna since June 22, 2009.-Character description...
engage in a shootout with Joey Limbo and his men. Realizing Joey was still alive, Franco approached him and stepped on his neck until Limbo died and repositioned his body in an odd figure.
Following the incident, Franco attended the opening for his art exhibit, filled with numerous crime scene re-enactments, which had been organized by Maxie Jones
Maxie Jones
Mariah Maximilliana "Maxie" Jones is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital currently portrayed by Kirsten Storms. She is the oldest daughter of supercouple Frisco and Felicia Jones. In 2009, Storms was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her role of Maxie Jones...
and Kate Howard
Kate Howard
Katherine "Kate" Hardwicke Howard is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. The character was introduced to the show in May 2007, and was portrayed by Megan Ward since the character's introduction. Ward last appeared on-screen on October 20, 2010...
for Crimson. Maxie was placed in charge of insuring all Franco's needs were met, which took a disturbing turn when later on when the two were alone. Franco blindfolded her, took photographs of her in a chalk outline and then slept with her.
During the week of December 7, 2009 Franco finally came face to face with Jason Morgan, offering him beer and pretzels, unnerving Jason about how much he idolizes his work calling it art, telling Jason they are the same. Franco is less than thrilled with Jason's lack of respect for Franco or his work. Jason leaves after Franco tells him he saw Michael kill Claudia. After Jason left, Franco decided to send Jason another message to let him know he's serious. On December 14 that message came in the form from Damian Spinelli who went over to Franco's to confront him about his sleeping with Spinelli's girlfriend Maxie Jones. Franco told Spinelli to tell "Stone Cold" he's not through with him yet.
On December 15, Maxie Jones and Lulu Spencer break into Franco's apartment to look for other compromising photos of Maxie, and run into Franco's agent Gillian Carlyle, who informs the two young ladies Franco's back in Paris. On December 18, Franco was in an alley when he was approached by Dante's cop partner Ronnie. It is then revealed the two have been working together for quite a long time. After Ronnie left, he is then run over by a dark car driven by Franco. Lulu Spencer
Lulu Spencer
Lesley Lu "Lulu" Spencer is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She is the daughter of supercouple Luke and Laura Spencer. She has notably been portrayed by Julie Marie Berman, who debuted in the role in November 2005...
rushes him to the hospital. Lulu encounters Franco in Ronnie's room after Franco told Ronnie to give Jason Morgan a message "you choose". He then exits. Soon after Jason and Dante arrive, Ronnie, hooked up on a ventilator, gives Jason the message. We see the CO77X spray painted in Ronnie's hospital room. On the week of December 28, Franco kidnaps Jason's girlfriend Sam McCall and his best friend Carly Corinthos
Carly Corinthos
Caroline Leigh "Carly" Corinthos Jacks is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. Originated by Sarah Brown on April 8, 1996, the role of Carly has been portrayed by Laura Wright since 2005...
. Franco waits for Jason to come and try to rescue them. Jason manages to save Carly, but Franco gives him the slip.
2010
On January 6, 2010 it is believed, Franco went to Crimson to get Maxie for a choose-one-not-both game with Jason, but she is not there, so he kidnaps Lulu. Both women are above bombs. Jason and DanteDante Falconeri
Dante Angelo Falconeri is a fictional character on the popular daytime soap opera General Hospital. Dante is the son of the popular character Sonny Corinthos and his old flame Olivia Falconeri. He has been portrayed by contract player Dominic Zamprogna since June 22, 2009.-Character description...
team up to save them, both going after their respective lovers. Sam's bomb is revealed to be a fake. However, Lulus is indeed real. Dante reaches Lulu just in time to get her away from the bomb. Jason begins to fear he is indeed like Franco, though Sam assures him otherwise. Franco soon leaves town after leaving Jason a video message, explaining his past and motivations and revealing he plans to kill someone for every person Jason kills.
On June 11, 2010 after Jason kills Carter, he tells him "Franco says Hi".
On July 1, 2010, Franco is seen as a homeless person who is holding up a "Will entertain for money" sign. Diane comes across him and says she left her purse at home, when Franco asked her to for some change. So instead, he pulls out a little toy monkey, and says "I hope to get a real one, one day", as Diane hands him $ 20.00 she had in her briefcase - and a stick of gum. After she leaves, Franco gets up and spray paints his symbol on a crate. When Jason goes home, Franco follows him to Harbor View Towers.
On July 2, 2010, While Maxie is -alone- talking to someone on the phone at Crimson, the elevator opens. She thinks it's James coming to give her the shoes, but it is Franco, dressed in black, with six red roses in his hand. When Dante and Jason visit Karen Anderson (his mother) and tell her it's about her son, she replies "I don't have a son". It is revealed Franco's real name is Robert Frank.
On July 16, 2010, Franco once again appears at Crimson, but this time looking for Lulu. Lulu tries to call for help but Franco threatens to kill her and pose her body for Dante to find. Franco then gives Lulu and envelope and tells her to give it to Dante. Lulu tries to follow Franco after he leaves but loses him. The envelope is later revealed to be a clue to lead Jason and Dante to Francos exhibit.
Jason and Dante later head to Los Angeles, where Franco is preparing a large exhibit at the MoCA
MOCA
-Museums:* Museum of Chinese in America, a museum in New York City which exhibits Chinese American history* Museum of Contemporary Art , any of several museums with this title...
based on his exploits in Port Charles. While searching for Franco, the pair discover a DVD revealing Franco had paid Carter to attack Michael in order to play mind games with Jason. Carter took it upon himself to not only attack, but to rape Michael. In an ensuing battle with Jason, although the large crowd witnesses brush it off as nothing more than live entertainment, Franco fakes his death.
It has been revealed Franco took Aiden to give to his mother to raise as the son she always wanted. Lucky Spencer later reclaims the child without incident or reprisal from Franco.
Franco is last mentioned when his agent attempts to ask international model Brenda Barrett
Brenda Barrett
Brenda Veronica Barrett is a fictional character from the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital. The role was originated by Vanessa Marcil on September 18, 1992. After a six-year run with the show, the character of Brenda was believed to have died after her mentally ill mother drove their car...
to pose for a few pictures. Knowing of Franco's history as a serial killer, Brenda turns down the offer, refusing to glorify violence for money.
2011
On February 25, 2011, Franco is shown in a tux with self images behind him, calling Jason shortly after the limo explosion at Sonny and Brenda's wedding. Franco takes credit for the bomb, so it is presumed he is in league with the Balkan. He later calls Jason again while he is at the hospital with Sam, taunting him further while claiming he will have a "present" for Jason when they meet again. Jason, however, swears he will kill Franco on sight.On March 25, 2011, Carly receives a video message from Franco, who is somehow aware of what happened to Josslyn. Franco says he feels "somewhat responsible" for what has happened and will keep a very close eye on Josslyn.
On September 20, 2011, Franco was seen taking photos of the thug that died. He looks out the window and says to his toy monkey that Jason and Sam forget his wedding invite. He is later seen in disguise setting up security cameras around the church before the wedding and steals Sam's wedding dress, putting another in its place. During the wedding reception, Franco watches everything filmed by the security cameras in his apartment and dances with Sam's wedding dress.
On October 3, 2011, Jason and Sam arrive in Hawaii for their honeymoon and Franco is seen in a cabin wearing a lei. Later, he sneaks into Jason and Sam's cabin while they're on a walk and sets up a few security cameras. Back in Port Charles, Carly finds a package on her doorstep addressed to Josslyn from Hawaii. Carly excitedly opens it, thinking it's from Jason, to find a lei and a note. Her excitement turns to shock when she sees the note ends with "Aloha, Franco." Franco works on and finishes a painting, possibly another painting with hidden clues. Jason and Sam find the security cameras; Sam thinks they are just toy robots but Jason is more suspicious. Carly, Shawn and Josslyn fly to Hawaii to warn Jason and Sam about Franco. Franco also wraps a box with a wind-up baby toy inside for Josslyn.
On October 25, 2011, Jason gets a call saying Franco is in Toronto setting up a new art exhibit, having checked into a hotel room under the alias "C. Firth." Carly, Josslyn and Shawn return to Port Charles relieved that Franco isn't in the area. However, on October 28, Jason and Sam leave the cabin to go to the beach and Franco crawls out from under their bed to set up another security camera. On November 2, Franco is seen at his computer watching live footage of Jason and Sam about to compete in a 'romance challenge' to see who buys the other a good present.
On November 4, 2011, Jason comes back to the cabin after shopping for Sam's present. He sees a bottle of beer and note addressed to him. Thinking they're from Sam, he reads the note: "A toast for the grand finale. You'll never guess what happens next," and drinks the beer. Sam arrives a while later with Jason's present. Jason is gone, but she also finds a beer bottle and a note addressed to her. Her note reads: "I'm way ahead of you," and she drinks her beer.
Jason's beer was drugged and he wakes up in a locked, windowless room with a TV screen. Knowing Franco kidnapped him, Jason pounds on the door yelling Franco's name. The TV turns on to show Franco's toy monkey and then live footage of Sam in the cabin takng a shower. Jason pleads with Franco not to hurt Sam and to come hurt him instead. While Sam showers, Franco slowly walks into the bathroom while Jason watches the screen in horror. Sam thinks he's Jason, but passes out because her beer was drugged too. Franco catches Sam when she falls and carries her into the bedroom. He lays Sam down on the bed and starts to undress. Jason screams that he will kill Franco. Franco walks up to the security camera in the room and taunts Jason about wanting some privacy. He then covers the security camera with his shirt, leaving Jason in the dark as to what's happening. The screen goes back to showing Franco's monkey and Franco's painting while Franco casually strums a ukulele in the background. Jason manages to escape and runs back to the cabin. Sam is fine, but she faintly remembers being in bed with someone. Jason sadly tells her that Franco was in bed with her, leading them to believe that Franco raped her.
On November 10, 2011, Jason and Sam go to the room Jason was locked in to look for Franco. Franco's not there but they see he spray-painted his new signature, NO2CCAH5, on the wall shortly after Jason escaped the room. Sam wonders why Franco's signature is different from his old one (CO77X) and finds the key to Franco's cabin behind the TV. They go to Franco's cabin and find the dead body of a hula dancer. Franco also spray-painted his signature along with the word "Aloha." Knowing Franco is gone for now, Jason and Sam return to Port Charles. On November 23, Jason receives a call saying that the body of the hula girl was gone by the time police arrived and the police assumed Franco's signature on the wall was only vandalism.
On November 30, Carly and Shawn find two wrapped up gifts for Josslyn. One is the wind-up baby toy, the other is a video. In the video, Franco tells Josslyn he's sorry that Jax isn't there to watch over her, and promises he will always be there for her when no one else will. Later on, Sam is walking near the alley by Jake's Bar and she sees Franco's signature recently spraypainted on the wall.