Jasper Jacks
Encyclopedia
Jasper "Jax" Jacks is a fictional character
from the ABC
soap opera
General Hospital
. He has been played by actor Ingo Rademacher
from January 1996 to August 2000, and from August 2001 to July 2011. In January 2008, the role was temporarily filled by Gideon Emery
. ABC revealed that Ingo Rademacher
returned on August 5, 2011 to August 21, 2011 by faking his death and framing Sonny Corinthos
for his murder.
. Despite Lois' happy marriage to Ned Ashton, Jax pursues her romantically. To keep Jax occupied, Lois introduces him to her best friend Brenda Barrett
, who uses Jax to make her mobster ex-boyfriend Sonny Corinthos
jealous. Despite her love for Sonny, Brenda develops feelings for Jax, and the two eventually wed on his private yacht. When the two decide to renew their vows, Sonny interrupts the ceremony by bringing in Miranda, who revealed her death had been faked to hide scars she suffered in the explosion. Jax ultimately decides to move on with Brenda, who has become engaged to Sonny. Brenda, who has been battling an addiction to pain killers, is left at the altar by Sonny in an attempt to protect her from the dangers of mafia life, and Jax helps her recover from her eventual breakdown. The two become engaged yet again, though Brenda appears to die when her mental mother drives her over a cliff.
Jax learns that his father and brother Jerry Jacks
started the family empire with mafia money, and they lose all of their money. After winning money in Monte Carlo
, he begins to rebuild his fortune and also meets fashion designer Chloe Morgan. Chloe is in danger of losing her design company, and must be happily married to retain the seed money her eccentric uncle left her. Originally planning to marry a now divorced Ned in Las Vegas, Chloe's aunt Gertrude objects and Jax marries his best friend Alexis Davis
to help cover the ruse. Though Chloe eventually loses her company, she and Jax grow closer and eventually fall in love and Jax buys her company back for her. Chloe is severely injured when Helena Cassadine
runs her over in an attempt to kill Alexis. Chloe develops psychic visions tied to Helena, and Stefan Cassadine intends to use these to help destroy his devious mother Helena. Stefan shows Jax a woman who looks just like Brenda, and Jax leaves Port Charles in search of his former love.
, Sonny's wife, opening a nightclub in an attempt to free her from the mafia lifestyle. Despite initially disliking Skye, Jax becomes attracted to her, and she in turn plays the damsel in distress to lure him to her. The two make love, and are both concerned when AJ becomes involved with Sonny's sister Courtney Matthews
. The two briefly split, when Jax learns that Skye had been working with Edward behind his back, but they are able to overcome this obstacle and marry.
The night of his wedding to Skye, Jax is shocked to see a very much alive Brenda in his cottage. Brenda explains that she faked her death, fearing that she suffered from the same fatal mental illness as her mother and that she had been taken in by arms dealer Luis Alcazar. When she attempts to leave Luis, he shoots Jax, leaving him paralyzed. Depressed over his condition, Jax pushes Skye away and pretends to be in love with Brenda still. Skye learns that Brenda is not dying, and when Jax discovers that she is keeping this information from Brenda, he ends their marriage. Overjoyed, he tells Brenda the truth, and the two become engaged again. Alcoholic Skye, begins drinking again and also starts an affair with Luis. When Luis is murdered, Skye implicates Brenda and mobster Jason Morgan, forcing Brenda and Jason to marry so they cannot be forced to testify against each other. Initially found guilty, Brenda is cleared of the charges when it is revealed that Alexis killed Luis, who was responsible for the death of Kristina, in order to protect her newborn daughter. Once her marriage to Jason is annulled, Brenda and Jax prepare to wed, though Jax leaves her at the altar when he learns that she kissed Sonny the day of their wedding. Brenda leaves town, and Skye again pursues Jax. Unable to recapture their past love, Skye begs him to impregnate her, but Jax chooses to leave town again.
Jax returns to town in pursuit of a set of five cards called the Dead Man's Hand, allegedly held by Wild Bill Hickok
the night he was killed. Jax's father had them for most of his life, and believed them to be responsible for is success. Upon losing them, his father lost the will to live, and as Jax searched he met a grifter named Sam McCall who was also searching for the cards in Port Charles. Initially at odds, the two become attracted to each other while simultaneously sabotaging each other's quest for the cards. After they become lovers, Sam distracts Jax who has regained possession of the Dead Man's Hand, and Jax is unable to return the cards to his father in time to prevent his death. Jax blames her for his father's death, though he begins to suspect he is the father of Sam's unborn child. The relationship ends when Jax learns that his enemy Sonny is actually the father.
Jax begins to flirt with Sonny's sister Courtney, and the two make a $10 million dollar bet that she won't be able to resist his sexual advances. Courtney wins the bet, but the two make love and fall in love. Courtney and Jax marry, but learn that Courtney cannot conceive a child. The decide to use Elizabeth Spencer
as a surrogate, though Courtney regrets this as Jax begins neglecting her in favor of Elizabeth and their child. Courtney in turn begins a friendship with Nikolas Cassadine
that blossoms into love. Courtney sleeps with Nikolas, and becomes pregnant, though Jax changes the paternity test to say that he is the father. Courtney gives birth to a son, but dies shortly afterwards. Carly, Courtney's best friend, helps Jax raise his son, and the two begin dating. Carly discovers that Jax is not the father, but keeps quiet to protect the baby from the Cassadines. Carly's longtime nemesis, Dr. Robin Scorpio
, learns the truth and when she reveals it to Nikolas, Jax is forced to give him the baby who Nikolas names Spencer Cassadine.
, Carly marries him to avoid testifying against him. After she and Sonny are held hostage at the Metro Court Hotel by the mysterious Mr. Craig, the duo have sex, which Jax learns about. Jax resolves to fight for Carly, and though initially torn, Carly chooses a life with Jax. Carly and Sonny divorce, and Jax and Carly finally marry with her sons Michael
and Morgan blessings. When they return from their honeymoon, Jax learns that Mr. Craig is actually his brother Jerry with plastic surgery. Jerry sends Jax out of town, where Jax is kidnapped by Jerry's former lover Irina. She rapes Jax twice, though he is able to escape and return to his life with Carly.
Jax begins a new business venture with fashion editor Kate Howard
, who Carly immediately dislikes. The two learn that Kate is actually Connie Falconeri, Sonny's high school girlfriend, and she begins dating Sonny. Young teen Michael, fearful of the violence that surrounds his family, purchases a gun and accidentally shoots Kate. He runs away, leaving Carly, Jax, and Sonny fearful that he has been kidnapped by Anthony Zacchara, a mafia boss newly arrived in Port Charles. Adding to their stress, Carly and Jax learn that she is pregnant. Michael returns to town, but he and Carly are injured in an explosion caused by Diego Alcazar
in retaliation for the deaths his family suffered. Ric Lansing
rescues Carly, who is suffering from hypothermia. In the hospital, Anthony's daughter Claudia
threatens Carly and her family in an attempt to protect her brother Johnny
from Sonny and his organization. The stress surrounding her family and her injuries suffered in the explosion cause Carly to lose her baby, though she and Jax vow to keep trying.
Claudia, teamed with Jerry, orders associate Ian Devlin to kill Sonny. Devlin accidentally shoots Michael, leaving the boy in a permanent coma. On the way to install Michael at a long term care facility, Carly seduces Sonny in order to successfully manipulate him into turning over parental rights to Michael and Morgan. Kate and Jax, feeling shut out of their partner's lives, share a kiss during a romantic business trip to New York. Kate begins manipulating Jax, who leaves Carly when Kate makes it appear that she is sabotaging their business. The two reunite but split again when Jax learns that she slept with Sonny. Jax and Kate almost sleep together, but Carly interrupts them. Though both still in love with each other, the two begin divorce proceedings and Carly decides to sell her stake in their hotel to Jax's rival Nikolas. Jax hires Kate's cousin Olivia Falconeri
to work there, and she convinces Carly not to sell her shares to Nikolas. Against the advice of their lawyers, Jax and Carly stop divorce proceedings and reconcile yet again. Sonny, who left the mob for a life with Kate, marries Claudia in order to take over her family's organization when Kate is shot again.
Carly decides to host a gala at General Hospital to raise money for research to help Michael and other children suffering brain injuries. Initially leaving Port Charles for a business meeting in Hong Kong, Jax returns to discover that Carly and several of their friends have been quarantined because of a biotoxin that has been released in the hospital. When a fire begins engulfing the hospital, Jax crashes his helicopter in a rescue attempt, leaving Carly to believe he is dead. Jax survives and convinces Alexis and Mac Scorpio
to let him fly the police helicopter, and he is able to make several successful rescue flights, though Carly is not among those he saves. Carly is able to escape by one of the stairwells, and the two are reunited. They renew their wedding vows and begin to try and conceive another child.
Jerry fakes his death to keep himself safe from Claudia and the Zaccharas, and he also begins sending DVDs to the house she shares with Sonny discussing her role in Michael's shooting. Carly discovers that she is pregnant, though she does not inform Jax that the pregnancy is extremely high risk for her. Jax and Claudia's lover Ric learn the truth about Claudia's misdeeds, and Jax is stunned when Jerry is revealed to be alive and in Port Charles.
Michael returns to Jax and Carly but the two are faced with a new problem - Michael's attitude towards his mother. Jax learns that eventually Michael will remember everything he heard in the coma - even his confession that Jax's brother
and Jax were both involved in Michael's shooting. Jax asks Kristina, his former stepdaughter, to help him on how to deal with Michael.
After Sonny and Claudia returned from their trip, Sonny makes plans to honor his wife until he learns that Claudia planned the shooting. Claudia informs that both Olivia and Jax knew about it and kept it secret from both Carly and Sonny. Claudia then kidnaps a pregnant Carly and forces her into a car. Carly goes into labor and gives birth to her first daughter and Jax's first biological child-Josslyn Jacks. Sonny goes to Carly and Jax's house demanding his sons until their mother is back. , Jax is refusing on letting the boys go. Jax meets his daughter when Sam McCall brings Carly and Josslyn to General Hospital on November 4, 2009. Jax has a reunion with his wife however, Carly kicks him out of her room. Later, Carly and Jax take the baby home, but Carly, outraged that Jax had known that Claudia and Jerry were behind Michael's shooting all along, throws him out of the house.
in to help; upon discovering that Jax had helped the police bust Sonny, she moves out of the house and files for divorce, taking Morgan and Josslyn with her. However, Claire resorts to ethically questionable tactics to ensure a conviction, going so far as to pull Morgan out of school under false pretenses without Carly and Jax's knowledge to question him, much to the fury of both. Eventually, Dante discovers that it was in fact Michael who did it and convinces him to confess. However, the judge, fed up with the courtroom antics, unfairly sentences Michael to five years in Pentonville to teach everyone in the courtroom a lesson. Like everyone else involved, Jax is left guilt-ridden by his role in the tragedy and states that, when it comes to protecting Michael, he's no better than Sonny.
Claire resolves to right the wrongs she has committed and recruits Jax to help her find out how to spring Michael from jail. Dante eventually convinces the judge to release Michael on the grounds that he live with Dante and have minimal contact with Sonny (though the latter rule is eventually lifted by Claire).
Jax later asks both Robin Scorpio
and Olivia Falconeri
to testify on his behalf, but both refuse. Jax and Carly later agree to a ceasefire to celebrate Michael's graduation, but things go awry when Jax arrives at the ceremony just in time to see Michael punch out a fellow classmate who was harassing Kristina over her late abusive boyfriend, Kiefer Bauer.
Afterwards, Jax quickly resorts to underhanded tactics to improve the odds of winning custody of Josslyn, digging up dirt on Shawn Butler, who had been hired by Jason as a bodyguard to Josslyn and Carly, and provoking him into attacking him (Jax) in public, forcing Carly to fire him, and finally going so far as to issue subpoenas for Brenda, Michael, and Morgan to testify on his behalf.
On July 6, 2011, Carly comes to Jax's office and finds him with Grace Yang, who has been appointed by the court as a mediator in their custody case. When Sonny comes in during a meeting with Carly and the mediator, Jax is convinced the court will side with him. Sonny threatens him to back off and agree to joint custody or he will pay. Sonny also suspects Jax paid off Grace to throw the case his way.
At the court hearing, Grace Yang tells the judge she believes Josslyn is better off with Jax than with Carly, and says she's a danger to Josslyn's life. Brenda later testifies and inadvertently lets it slip that she and Alec were just shot at the night before on Sonny's property, strengthening Jax's case.
Outside the courtroom, Sonny, Jason, and Carly realize that Jax did indeed pay off the mediator since she never saw Carly interact with her kids, and still passed judgment on her. Sonny tells her he'll take care of it as Jason and Carly walk off.
Jax waits for the judge's ruling, refusing to back down from his case when Alexis and Brenda try to convince him to. Later, Grace shows up at his suite to discuss the case and serves him a drugged cup of coffee. When Jax realizes this, Grace locks herself in the bathroom and calls the police, while Jax bangs on the door, yelling.
Jax regains his senses at the police station, where he is handcuffed to a table. Detective Ronnie Dimestico tells him that in addition to assault, they found drugs in his room and he resisted arrest when the police came. Jax pleads his case, saying that Sonny set him up, but Ronnie tells him that the evidence points at him. Brenda later comes over and Jax tells her to somehow get Sonny to confess. While Jax is at the station, Michael shows up to pay a parking ticket, and Jax tells him to tell Carly to pay his bail to prove she wasn't involved. After he's released, he goes to Carly's place and threatens her, promising she'll lose Josslyn. Carly denies she was involved, but Jax doesn't buy it and leaves. The next day, the judge came to a decision, and Jax was devastated when Carly received sole custody of Josslyn. On July 21, 2011 Jax says goodbye to Michael, Morgan, and Josslyn.
Jax boards his plane with Brenda, who has left Sonny as a result of him framing Jax. She brings along her son, Alec. Jax drops them off at Rome and makes his way to Paris to recuperate after losing Josslyn. Eventually, he makes his way back to Port Charles, determined to get Josslyn away from Carly. On August 5, 2011, Jax sneaks into Carly's home to take away Josslyn. On his way out, Shawn catches him. Jax manages to get past him, but his car breaks down on the way to the airport. He makes his way to Robin's place with Josslyn. After a meeting at Robin's home, Shawn convinces Jax to give Josslyn back to Carly. Later on, Sonny comes to Robin's house, intent on killing Jax because he blames him for Brenda leaving him. Just as he holds the gun up, Robin stops him and gets hurt in the process. Jax leaves so that he won't get arrested by the police.
At the airport, Jax is waiting for takeoff, but flies into the air without permission from air traffic control to avoid the police. As he starts flying, his plane starts to shut down, as he realizes that Sonny messed with his plane. Dante later reports that Jax's plane crashed into the harbor.
On August 19, Skye finds Jax passed out at a warehouse amid a parachute. When he wakes up, he says that he barely made it out of the plane before it crashed. He asks Skye for help to get out of town. When Skye leaves to find him what he needs, Carly shows up, and Jax hides from her. He listens as she begs for Jax to be alive. Shawn later joins her, and they talk about Jax during the better times of his marriage to Carly. Jax is surprised when he hears Shawn say that Carly wants to cut Sonny out of her children's life once and for all. Carly tells Shawn she now understands why Jax wanted to get custody of their daughter, and doesn't know how to tell Josslyn that her dad is never coming home. Shawn tells her to hold onto hope that he's still alive, and they leave. Skye returns with cash and some fresh clothes for Jax. With one last look, Jax, now confident that Josslyn will be safe in Carly's care, departs Port Charles.
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...
from the 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...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
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 played by actor Ingo Rademacher
Ingo Rademacher
Ingo Rademacher is a German-born US-based Australian television actor. He has played the role of Jasper "Jax" Jacks on the American daytime soap opera General Hospital almost continuously since 1996.-Career:...
from January 1996 to August 2000, and from August 2001 to July 2011. In January 2008, the role was temporarily filled by Gideon Emery
Gideon Emery
Gideon Emery is an English actor and voice actor, known for his stage work in South Africa and for providing voices in video games. He lives in Los Angeles.-Early life:...
. ABC revealed that Ingo Rademacher
Ingo Rademacher
Ingo Rademacher is a German-born US-based Australian television actor. He has played the role of Jasper "Jax" Jacks on the American daytime soap opera General Hospital almost continuously since 1996.-Career:...
returned on August 5, 2011 to August 21, 2011 by faking his death and framing 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...
for his murder.
Arrival and Brenda Barrett
Corporate raider Jasper "Jax" Jacks is born in Australia, though his family eventually moves to Alaska. As a young man, he marries Miranda Jacks, who appears to die in an explosion. He comes to Port Charles at the behest of Lois Cerullo to help her get her company back from Edward QuartermaineEdward Quartermaine
Edward Louis Quartermaine is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. The character was created in 1978, originally played by David Lewis. When ill health forced Lewis to step down from the role in 1989, the character was killed off in a plane crash. Lewis' voice was still...
. Despite Lois' happy marriage to Ned Ashton, Jax pursues her romantically. To keep Jax occupied, Lois introduces him to her best friend 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...
, who uses Jax to make her mobster ex-boyfriend 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...
jealous. Despite her love for Sonny, Brenda develops feelings for Jax, and the two eventually wed on his private yacht. When the two decide to renew their vows, Sonny interrupts the ceremony by bringing in Miranda, who revealed her death had been faked to hide scars she suffered in the explosion. Jax ultimately decides to move on with Brenda, who has become engaged to Sonny. Brenda, who has been battling an addiction to pain killers, is left at the altar by Sonny in an attempt to protect her from the dangers of mafia life, and Jax helps her recover from her eventual breakdown. The two become engaged yet again, though Brenda appears to die when her mental mother drives her over a cliff.
Jax learns that his father and brother Jerry Jacks
Jerry Jacks
Jerard Aloysius "Jerry" Jacks was a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. He was portrayed by Julian Stone from April 10, 1998 to December 14, 1999. In January 2007 the role was resumed by Sebastian Roché with the in-universe explanation that character James Craig ...
started the family empire with mafia money, and they lose all of their money. After winning money in Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
, he begins to rebuild his fortune and also meets fashion designer Chloe Morgan. Chloe is in danger of losing her design company, and must be happily married to retain the seed money her eccentric uncle left her. Originally planning to marry a now divorced Ned in Las Vegas, Chloe's aunt Gertrude objects and Jax marries his best friend Alexis Davis
Alexis Davis
Alexis Davis is a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. Nancy Lee Grahn originated the role in April 1996. She is the daughter of Mikkos Cassadine and Kristin Bergman. She is also the mother of Sam McCall, Kristina Davis and Molly Lansing...
to help cover the ruse. Though Chloe eventually loses her company, she and Jax grow closer and eventually fall in love and Jax buys her company back for her. Chloe is severely injured when Helena Cassadine
Helena Cassadine
Helena Cassadine is a fictional character on the American soap opera General Hospital, famously originated by film actress Elizabeth Taylor in November 1981...
runs her over in an attempt to kill Alexis. Chloe develops psychic visions tied to Helena, and Stefan Cassadine intends to use these to help destroy his devious mother Helena. Stefan shows Jax a woman who looks just like Brenda, and Jax leaves Port Charles in search of his former love.
Return, Skye and Courtney
While searching for Brenda, Jax meets Kristina Carter and he realizes that she is Alexis's sister. He reunites the sisters, though Chloe refuses his advances when she learns he left her to pursue Brenda. Stavros Cassadine murders Chloe, who has become involved with Stefan, leaving Jax heartbroken. Returning to corporate raiding, Jax teams up with Skye Chandler Quartermaine and her brother AJ Quartermaine to take over ELQ, their family company, and to destroy Sonny. Jax also goes into business with Carly CorinthosCarly 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...
, Sonny's wife, opening a nightclub in an attempt to free her from the mafia lifestyle. Despite initially disliking Skye, Jax becomes attracted to her, and she in turn plays the damsel in distress to lure him to her. The two make love, and are both concerned when AJ becomes involved with Sonny's sister Courtney Matthews
Courtney Matthews
Courtney Matthews was a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. She was the daughter of Mike Corbin and Janine Matthews, and the half sister of mobster, Sonny Corinthos. Courtney was portrayed by Alicia Leigh Willis from December 20, 2001 until February 21, 2006...
. The two briefly split, when Jax learns that Skye had been working with Edward behind his back, but they are able to overcome this obstacle and marry.
The night of his wedding to Skye, Jax is shocked to see a very much alive Brenda in his cottage. Brenda explains that she faked her death, fearing that she suffered from the same fatal mental illness as her mother and that she had been taken in by arms dealer Luis Alcazar. When she attempts to leave Luis, he shoots Jax, leaving him paralyzed. Depressed over his condition, Jax pushes Skye away and pretends to be in love with Brenda still. Skye learns that Brenda is not dying, and when Jax discovers that she is keeping this information from Brenda, he ends their marriage. Overjoyed, he tells Brenda the truth, and the two become engaged again. Alcoholic Skye, begins drinking again and also starts an affair with Luis. When Luis is murdered, Skye implicates Brenda and mobster Jason Morgan, forcing Brenda and Jason to marry so they cannot be forced to testify against each other. Initially found guilty, Brenda is cleared of the charges when it is revealed that Alexis killed Luis, who was responsible for the death of Kristina, in order to protect her newborn daughter. Once her marriage to Jason is annulled, Brenda and Jax prepare to wed, though Jax leaves her at the altar when he learns that she kissed Sonny the day of their wedding. Brenda leaves town, and Skye again pursues Jax. Unable to recapture their past love, Skye begs him to impregnate her, but Jax chooses to leave town again.
Jax returns to town in pursuit of a set of five cards called the Dead Man's Hand, allegedly held by Wild Bill Hickok
Wild Bill Hickok
James Butler Hickok , better known as Wild Bill Hickok, was a folk hero of the American Old West. His skills as a gunfighter and scout, along with his reputation as a lawman, provided the basis for his fame, although some of his exploits are fictionalized.Hickok came to the West as a stagecoach...
the night he was killed. Jax's father had them for most of his life, and believed them to be responsible for is success. Upon losing them, his father lost the will to live, and as Jax searched he met a grifter named Sam McCall who was also searching for the cards in Port Charles. Initially at odds, the two become attracted to each other while simultaneously sabotaging each other's quest for the cards. After they become lovers, Sam distracts Jax who has regained possession of the Dead Man's Hand, and Jax is unable to return the cards to his father in time to prevent his death. Jax blames her for his father's death, though he begins to suspect he is the father of Sam's unborn child. The relationship ends when Jax learns that his enemy Sonny is actually the father.
Jax begins to flirt with Sonny's sister Courtney, and the two make a $10 million dollar bet that she won't be able to resist his sexual advances. Courtney wins the bet, but the two make love and fall in love. Courtney and Jax marry, but learn that Courtney cannot conceive a child. The decide to use Elizabeth Spencer
Elizabeth Webber
Elizabeth Spencer may refer to:*Lady Elizabeth Spencer , wife of Henry Herbert, 10th Earl of Pembroke*Elizabeth Spencer, Baroness Hunsdon*Elizabeth Spencer , American novelist...
as a surrogate, though Courtney regrets this as Jax begins neglecting her in favor of Elizabeth and their child. Courtney in turn begins a friendship with Nikolas Cassadine
Nikolas Cassadine
Prince Nikolas Mikhail Stavrosovich Cassadine is a fictional character on the long-running American soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated by Tyler Christopher, who played the character from 1996–1999, and then after a four-year hiatus resumed the role in 2003 and left the show in 2011...
that blossoms into love. Courtney sleeps with Nikolas, and becomes pregnant, though Jax changes the paternity test to say that he is the father. Courtney gives birth to a son, but dies shortly afterwards. Carly, Courtney's best friend, helps Jax raise his son, and the two begin dating. Carly discovers that Jax is not the father, but keeps quiet to protect the baby from the Cassadines. Carly's longtime nemesis, Dr. Robin Scorpio
Robin Scorpio
Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital and its prime time SOAPnet spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, originated and portrayed by Kimberly McCullough since 1985. The character came to mainstream attention when she was diagnosed as HIV-positive...
, learns the truth and when she reveals it to Nikolas, Jax is forced to give him the baby who Nikolas names Spencer Cassadine.
Marriage to Carly Corinthos
Jax and Carly continue their relationship, and eventually become engaged. Their wedding is delayed several times, and Jax is forced to leave town to help his wayward brother Jerry. When Sonny shoots mobster Lorenzo AlcazarLorenzo Alcazar
Lorenzo Alcazar is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, originated by actor Ted King, who previously played Lorenzo's deceased brother Luis Alcazar...
, Carly marries him to avoid testifying against him. After she and Sonny are held hostage at the Metro Court Hotel by the mysterious Mr. Craig, the duo have sex, which Jax learns about. Jax resolves to fight for Carly, and though initially torn, Carly chooses a life with Jax. Carly and Sonny divorce, and Jax and Carly finally marry with her sons Michael
Michael Corinthos III
Michael Morgan Corinthos III is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. The character is the son of Carly Corinthos Jacks and A.J. Quartermaine , and was adopted as a child by his mother's former husband Sonny Corinthos...
and Morgan blessings. When they return from their honeymoon, Jax learns that Mr. Craig is actually his brother Jerry with plastic surgery. Jerry sends Jax out of town, where Jax is kidnapped by Jerry's former lover Irina. She rapes Jax twice, though he is able to escape and return to his life with Carly.
Jax begins a new business venture with fashion editor 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...
, who Carly immediately dislikes. The two learn that Kate is actually Connie Falconeri, Sonny's high school girlfriend, and she begins dating Sonny. Young teen Michael, fearful of the violence that surrounds his family, purchases a gun and accidentally shoots Kate. He runs away, leaving Carly, Jax, and Sonny fearful that he has been kidnapped by Anthony Zacchara, a mafia boss newly arrived in Port Charles. Adding to their stress, Carly and Jax learn that she is pregnant. Michael returns to town, but he and Carly are injured in an explosion caused by Diego Alcazar
Diego Alcazar
Diego Alcazar was a fictional character on the popular ABC daytime drama, General Hospital. Diego is the son of Lorenzo Alcazar and Maria Sanchez. Ignacio Serricchio originated the role of Diego in October 2004 and portrayed him until the character's "death" in November 2006...
in retaliation for the deaths his family suffered. Ric Lansing
Ric Lansing
Richard "Ric" Lansing was a fictional character on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital. The character was played by soap opera veteran Rick Hearst from 2002 to 2009.- Casting and background :...
rescues Carly, who is suffering from hypothermia. In the hospital, Anthony's daughter Claudia
Claudia 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...
threatens Carly and her family in an attempt to protect her brother Johnny
Johnny Zacchara
John "Johnny" Anthony Zacchara is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital and the contract role has been portrayed Brandon Barash since 18 September 2007. Within the series, he is known as the son of mobster Anthony Zacchara.-Arrival:...
from Sonny and his organization. The stress surrounding her family and her injuries suffered in the explosion cause Carly to lose her baby, though she and Jax vow to keep trying.
Claudia, teamed with Jerry, orders associate Ian Devlin to kill Sonny. Devlin accidentally shoots Michael, leaving the boy in a permanent coma. On the way to install Michael at a long term care facility, Carly seduces Sonny in order to successfully manipulate him into turning over parental rights to Michael and Morgan. Kate and Jax, feeling shut out of their partner's lives, share a kiss during a romantic business trip to New York. Kate begins manipulating Jax, who leaves Carly when Kate makes it appear that she is sabotaging their business. The two reunite but split again when Jax learns that she slept with Sonny. Jax and Kate almost sleep together, but Carly interrupts them. Though both still in love with each other, the two begin divorce proceedings and Carly decides to sell her stake in their hotel to Jax's rival Nikolas. Jax hires Kate's cousin Olivia Falconeri
Olivia Falconeri
Olivia Falconeri is a fictional character on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. She has been portrayed by Lisa Lo Cicero since September 19, 2008...
to work there, and she convinces Carly not to sell her shares to Nikolas. Against the advice of their lawyers, Jax and Carly stop divorce proceedings and reconcile yet again. Sonny, who left the mob for a life with Kate, marries Claudia in order to take over her family's organization when Kate is shot again.
Carly decides to host a gala at General Hospital to raise money for research to help Michael and other children suffering brain injuries. Initially leaving Port Charles for a business meeting in Hong Kong, Jax returns to discover that Carly and several of their friends have been quarantined because of a biotoxin that has been released in the hospital. When a fire begins engulfing the hospital, Jax crashes his helicopter in a rescue attempt, leaving Carly to believe he is dead. Jax survives and convinces Alexis and Mac Scorpio
Mac Scorpio
Malcolm "Mac" Scorpio is a popular long running fictional character on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. The role was originated by John J. York in February 1991 and is still currently portrayed by him. He is the ex-husband of Felicia Cumming Scorpio-Jones and the adoptive father of...
to let him fly the police helicopter, and he is able to make several successful rescue flights, though Carly is not among those he saves. Carly is able to escape by one of the stairwells, and the two are reunited. They renew their wedding vows and begin to try and conceive another child.
Jerry fakes his death to keep himself safe from Claudia and the Zaccharas, and he also begins sending DVDs to the house she shares with Sonny discussing her role in Michael's shooting. Carly discovers that she is pregnant, though she does not inform Jax that the pregnancy is extremely high risk for her. Jax and Claudia's lover Ric learn the truth about Claudia's misdeeds, and Jax is stunned when Jerry is revealed to be alive and in Port Charles.
Michael returns to Jax and Carly but the two are faced with a new problem - Michael's attitude towards his mother. Jax learns that eventually Michael will remember everything he heard in the coma - even his confession that Jax's brother
Jerry Jacks
Jerard Aloysius "Jerry" Jacks was a fictional character on the popular ABC soap opera, General Hospital. He was portrayed by Julian Stone from April 10, 1998 to December 14, 1999. In January 2007 the role was resumed by Sebastian Roché with the in-universe explanation that character James Craig ...
and Jax were both involved in Michael's shooting. Jax asks Kristina, his former stepdaughter, to help him on how to deal with Michael.
After Sonny and Claudia returned from their trip, Sonny makes plans to honor his wife until he learns that Claudia planned the shooting. Claudia informs that both Olivia and Jax knew about it and kept it secret from both Carly and Sonny. Claudia then kidnaps a pregnant Carly and forces her into a car. Carly goes into labor and gives birth to her first daughter and Jax's first biological child-Josslyn Jacks. Sonny goes to Carly and Jax's house demanding his sons until their mother is back. , Jax is refusing on letting the boys go. Jax meets his daughter when Sam McCall brings Carly and Josslyn to General Hospital on November 4, 2009. Jax has a reunion with his wife however, Carly kicks him out of her room. Later, Carly and Jax take the baby home, but Carly, outraged that Jax had known that Claudia and Jerry were behind Michael's shooting all along, throws him out of the house.
Sonny's Trial and Michael's Imprisonment
After Carly gives birth to Josslyn, Claudia attempts to kidnap the baby, but is bludgeoned to death by Michael. Sonny is accused and put on trial for Claudia's murder, and Jax, determined to put him away for good, brings Claire WalshClaire Walsh
Claire Walsh is a fictional character from the original American daytime drama, General Hospital. She has been portrayed by Dahlia Salem as a recurring character from February 24, 2010 to January 21, 2011.-Early history:...
in to help; upon discovering that Jax had helped the police bust Sonny, she moves out of the house and files for divorce, taking Morgan and Josslyn with her. However, Claire resorts to ethically questionable tactics to ensure a conviction, going so far as to pull Morgan out of school under false pretenses without Carly and Jax's knowledge to question him, much to the fury of both. Eventually, Dante discovers that it was in fact Michael who did it and convinces him to confess. However, the judge, fed up with the courtroom antics, unfairly sentences Michael to five years in Pentonville to teach everyone in the courtroom a lesson. Like everyone else involved, Jax is left guilt-ridden by his role in the tragedy and states that, when it comes to protecting Michael, he's no better than Sonny.
Claire resolves to right the wrongs she has committed and recruits Jax to help her find out how to spring Michael from jail. Dante eventually convinces the judge to release Michael on the grounds that he live with Dante and have minimal contact with Sonny (though the latter rule is eventually lifted by Claire).
Custody battle
In spring 2011, Jax becomes convinced that Carly is an unfit mother due to her constant association with Jason and Sonny and decides to fight her for full custody of Josslyn, though Carly merely wants joint custody. To this end, he hires Alexis to help him, but Alexis knows that Jax is being unreasonable and repeatedly tries to convince him to compromise with Carly; recalling that her own attempts to keep Kristina safe from Sonny's world did nothing but convince Kristina that Sonny didn't love her, Alexis fears that Jax may make the same mistake. Despite Alexis' advice and good points, Jax flatly refuses to listen, and after several arguments, finally demands that Alexis actually start acting like his attorney and tell him how to beat Carly in court.Jax later asks both Robin Scorpio
Robin Scorpio
Dr. Robin Scorpio-Drake is a fictional character from the ABC soap opera General Hospital and its prime time SOAPnet spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift, originated and portrayed by Kimberly McCullough since 1985. The character came to mainstream attention when she was diagnosed as HIV-positive...
and Olivia Falconeri
Olivia Falconeri
Olivia Falconeri is a fictional character on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. She has been portrayed by Lisa Lo Cicero since September 19, 2008...
to testify on his behalf, but both refuse. Jax and Carly later agree to a ceasefire to celebrate Michael's graduation, but things go awry when Jax arrives at the ceremony just in time to see Michael punch out a fellow classmate who was harassing Kristina over her late abusive boyfriend, Kiefer Bauer.
Afterwards, Jax quickly resorts to underhanded tactics to improve the odds of winning custody of Josslyn, digging up dirt on Shawn Butler, who had been hired by Jason as a bodyguard to Josslyn and Carly, and provoking him into attacking him (Jax) in public, forcing Carly to fire him, and finally going so far as to issue subpoenas for Brenda, Michael, and Morgan to testify on his behalf.
On July 6, 2011, Carly comes to Jax's office and finds him with Grace Yang, who has been appointed by the court as a mediator in their custody case. When Sonny comes in during a meeting with Carly and the mediator, Jax is convinced the court will side with him. Sonny threatens him to back off and agree to joint custody or he will pay. Sonny also suspects Jax paid off Grace to throw the case his way.
At the court hearing, Grace Yang tells the judge she believes Josslyn is better off with Jax than with Carly, and says she's a danger to Josslyn's life. Brenda later testifies and inadvertently lets it slip that she and Alec were just shot at the night before on Sonny's property, strengthening Jax's case.
Outside the courtroom, Sonny, Jason, and Carly realize that Jax did indeed pay off the mediator since she never saw Carly interact with her kids, and still passed judgment on her. Sonny tells her he'll take care of it as Jason and Carly walk off.
Jax waits for the judge's ruling, refusing to back down from his case when Alexis and Brenda try to convince him to. Later, Grace shows up at his suite to discuss the case and serves him a drugged cup of coffee. When Jax realizes this, Grace locks herself in the bathroom and calls the police, while Jax bangs on the door, yelling.
Jax regains his senses at the police station, where he is handcuffed to a table. Detective Ronnie Dimestico tells him that in addition to assault, they found drugs in his room and he resisted arrest when the police came. Jax pleads his case, saying that Sonny set him up, but Ronnie tells him that the evidence points at him. Brenda later comes over and Jax tells her to somehow get Sonny to confess. While Jax is at the station, Michael shows up to pay a parking ticket, and Jax tells him to tell Carly to pay his bail to prove she wasn't involved. After he's released, he goes to Carly's place and threatens her, promising she'll lose Josslyn. Carly denies she was involved, but Jax doesn't buy it and leaves. The next day, the judge came to a decision, and Jax was devastated when Carly received sole custody of Josslyn. On July 21, 2011 Jax says goodbye to Michael, Morgan, and Josslyn.
Jax boards his plane with Brenda, who has left Sonny as a result of him framing Jax. She brings along her son, Alec. Jax drops them off at Rome and makes his way to Paris to recuperate after losing Josslyn. Eventually, he makes his way back to Port Charles, determined to get Josslyn away from Carly. On August 5, 2011, Jax sneaks into Carly's home to take away Josslyn. On his way out, Shawn catches him. Jax manages to get past him, but his car breaks down on the way to the airport. He makes his way to Robin's place with Josslyn. After a meeting at Robin's home, Shawn convinces Jax to give Josslyn back to Carly. Later on, Sonny comes to Robin's house, intent on killing Jax because he blames him for Brenda leaving him. Just as he holds the gun up, Robin stops him and gets hurt in the process. Jax leaves so that he won't get arrested by the police.
At the airport, Jax is waiting for takeoff, but flies into the air without permission from air traffic control to avoid the police. As he starts flying, his plane starts to shut down, as he realizes that Sonny messed with his plane. Dante later reports that Jax's plane crashed into the harbor.
On August 19, Skye finds Jax passed out at a warehouse amid a parachute. When he wakes up, he says that he barely made it out of the plane before it crashed. He asks Skye for help to get out of town. When Skye leaves to find him what he needs, Carly shows up, and Jax hides from her. He listens as she begs for Jax to be alive. Shawn later joins her, and they talk about Jax during the better times of his marriage to Carly. Jax is surprised when he hears Shawn say that Carly wants to cut Sonny out of her children's life once and for all. Carly tells Shawn she now understands why Jax wanted to get custody of their daughter, and doesn't know how to tell Josslyn that her dad is never coming home. Shawn tells her to hold onto hope that he's still alive, and they leave. Skye returns with cash and some fresh clothes for Jax. With one last look, Jax, now confident that Josslyn will be safe in Carly's care, departs Port Charles.