Julian Jerome

**Julian V. Jerome** was a fictional character on the ABC soap opera *General Hospital*.

He is the late son of the late mob boss Victor Jerome.

He was originally portrayed by actor Jason Culp from 1988 to 1990 before being replaced by Anders Hove as Cesar Faison the same year.

After 23 years of being presumed dead, the character was brought back to the series in 2013 replacing Jason Morgan.

Veteran soap actor William deVry debuted in the role of Julian Jerome on July 30, 2013 using the alias Derek Wells replacing Steve Burton as Jason Morgan. deVry remained in the role for 7 years until his departure on December 21, 2020. He was later replaced by Steve Burton as Jason Morgan, Cyrus Hobbi as Yuri Tamashevich, an unknown actor as Jerome Grisham, Nicholas Chavez as Spencer Cassadine, Avery Kristen Pohl as Esme Prince in 2021, and an unknown actor as The Hook concealing her face and identity for most of 2022 until New Year's Eve when her face and identity have been revealed to be Heather Webber portrayed by Alley Mills in 2023.

## Development

The role was originated by Jason Culp on February 24, 1988. Culp made his final appearance on March 16, 1990 before being replaced by Anders Hove as Cesar Faison the same year.

On July 8, 2013, *TV Source Magazine* announced exclusively that Wiliam deVry, previously known for his role as Storm Logan on *The Bold and the Beautiful* and his Emmy-nominated role as Michael Cambias on *All My Children*, had joined the cast of *General Hospital* in an undisclosed contract role.

deVry filmed his first scenes on July 9, reportedly with Maura West, who had recently joined the cast as Ava Jerome.

deVry later took to Facebook to confirm the news and revealed his first air date to be July 30. deVry also appeared briefly on the *General Hospital* spin-off, *Port Charles*.

deVry said that when he originally auditioned for the role, he wanted to make sure the series was not using the open casting call in an attempt to cast someone else. Fortunately, no decision had been made and they were still testing candidates for the role. Three weeks after his first audition, deVry had a screen test.

The character and casting was very much a mystery. deVry revealed that he and the others who auditioned for role were only given a vague character breakdown. However, the lack of information provided for the character only piqued his interest. deVry also revealed that he was hesitant to take the role due to his history with *All My Children* and the sudden change in direction for the character of Michael Cambias with the installation of new producers.

deVry was offered a screen test immediately after his audition. deVry screen test with Maurice Benard, who portrays Sonny Corinthos. A few days later, deVry booked the role and was offered a four-year contract with the series. deVry filmed his first official scenes with Sullivan, and also confirmed that he had indeed worked with West.

In 2017, deVry temporarily went offscreen as part of a storyline where Julian was presumed dead. He was last seen on March 17 and returned on April 14, 2017.

On August 6, 2017; *Soap Opera Digest* revealed that deVry has been off contract since July and taped his last scenes at the end of June before the show took it's three week hiatus. He tells Digest that his contract negotiation relationship with the show and the network remains “amicable”. He's also fairly certain that they will come to some sort of agreement.

On August 11, 2017; Executive producer Frank Valentini revealed that deVry is staying at *GH*. It was also revealed that he signed a new three-year contract.

deVry temporarily left the show on August 25, 2017.

On October 17, 2017; it was revealed that deVry is back in the "General Hospital" studio taping scenes.

deVry returned on November 6, 2017.

On October 27, 2020; Daytime Confidential and Celebrating the Soaps reported a rumor that William deVry was out as Julian Jerome.

deVry spent the next few weeks teasing on Twitter about whether the rumors of his potential exit were true or not.

On November 13, 2020; Soaps.com finally confirmed deVry's exit from the series as Julian Jerome.

On December 3, 2020; it was revealed that deVry will be done as Julian during the week of December 14. He made his last appearance on December 21, 2020. He was later replaced by Steve Burton as Jason Morgan, Cyrus Hobbi as Yuri Tamashevich, an unknown actor as Jerome Grisham, Nicholas Chavez as Spencer Cassadine, Avery Kristen Pohl as Esme Prince in 2021, and an unknown actor as The Hook concealing her face and identity for most of 2022 until New Year's Eve when her face and identity have been revealed to be Heather Webber portrayed by Alley Mills in 2023.

## Storylines

* 1988-90
* 2013-14
* 2015-16
* 2017-20

Julian comes to town trying to help his father Victor take out his rivals alongside Victor's other henchman Duke Lavery. He helped Duke rescue Anna from the crazy Grant Andrews. They became very good friends, and Julian wanted Duke's help to legitimize his family's organization. Before they could make it happen, Julian took a bullet meant for Duke on March 21, 1988. Although they took some steps to legitimize, the plan mostly failed when Olivia tried to take over. On October 17, 1988, his former lover Cheryl was at his grave, mourning him. Its revealed that Julian is alive and Victor helped him fake his death. He was shot but the doctor went along with the idea he died, and was living in California recuperating. His father's associate Max basically confirmed to Julian that Olivia Jerome was behind the hit that got him shot. She said she put the hit out on Duke not him.

Soon after, Julian found himself in a power struggle for his father's business with his sister, Olivia and his illegitimate half-brother, Dino. Dino tried to kill Olivia, but ended up leaving her with a severe brain injury that required her to be institutionalized. Dino was arrested, and Victor died after becoming insanely obsessed with Lucy Coe.

Julian would eventually become the head of the Jerome empire, but was seeking revenge on Duke for turning against his father. He enlisted Olivia to help him finally kill Duke. However, their plan misfired and Duke's wife, Anna Devane miscarried their unborn child. Olivia tried to alert Anna about Julian's plans, but Julian abducted and killed her before she could. Duke sought revenge on the Jeromes, but ended up dead. However, he later turned up alive, though it turned out to be an imposter named Jonathan Paget. Julian and "Duke" engaged in a shootout and the both of them ended up dead. Cheryl Stansbury gave birth to his son, Lucas Jones in 1989. Lucas was adopted by Tony Jones and Bobbie Spencer after Cheryl died in a car accident in 1992.

Derek Wells is the new owner of the firm (formerly owned by Todd Manning) controlling both the *Port Charles Press* and *Crimson* magazine. He arrived in Port Charles on July 30 after threatening to take charge of *Crimson* and the *Port Charles Press* from the current hea, Connie Falconeri due to the failing performance of the Press after the death of Jason Morgan. Upon his arrival in town, he heads to Connie's office and takes it as his own. However, Connie's assistant, Maxie Jones, calls Connie, who comes to the office and tells Derek she does have a story that is going to put the *Press* back in the black. Connie leaves to get information, and Derek makes a mysterious phone call letting someone know he is in Port Charles. Connie later comes back and says she's not able to publish the story. Derek tells her to vacate her office, but Connie refuses to, saying she will publish the story, but she needs to get proof that it's a substantial story. Derek tells her to go get the proof, then calls the same mysterious person and asks them to come to the office.

Later, Ava Jerome shows up at the office, and addresses Derek as Julian. "Derek" is revealed as Julian Jerome and Ava is his sister. The two of them are planning to regain control of Port Charles from Sonny Corinthos after they were already rid of Jason Morgan thanks to Cesar Faison. Ava reveals that her daughter, Kiki, is engaged to Sonny's son, Morgan, and she's using that to gain a foothold for their plan. It's also revealed that they are behind the gambling ring that put Morgan into massive debt. Sam Morgan goes to the office looking for Connie, but instead finds "Derek." She asks him to publish a story for a bone marrow donor drive because her son, Danny, is sick and in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. Derek agrees to run the story. However, after Sam leaves, Connie comes back, and gives him the proof for a major headline.

On January 17, 2017; Julian's sister Olivia Jerome was revealed to be alive and the true head of the Jerome mob family. She forced Julian into nearly murdering Alexis and ordered the hit which killed Morgan (instead of Julian) and framing Sonny for it to cover her tracks in October 2016. Olivia kept threatening Julian to do what she told him to do and even handcuffed him to a wall at gunpoint in February, locked him in a trunk in March, and later tried to have Winston Rudge who is also Valentin Cassadine's associate from South Africa who bores an uncanny resemblance to Valentin smother him at GH. Olivia also kidnapped a pregnant Sam, caused her to give birth to Scout early, once made Leo suck, and tried to use Griffin Munro to resurrect Duke while failing to bomb GH.

On March 9, Olivia tied Ava up in her apartment and made Julian rescue her as Olivia got time to kidnap Alexis. Julian found Olivia holding a handcuffed Alexis hostage on the bridge and tried to get him to kill her, but Julian shot off her cuffs and allowed her escape while fighting Olivia for a gun. Olivia shot Julian and caused him to fall off a bridge. On March 16, Alexis confirmed to Sam that the police called off the search for Julian in the river and declared him presumed dead. Olivia was finally defeated by Carly and sent to D'Archam Asylum thanks to Valentin. One week later, the armed robbery at the Floating Rib occurs by brother Chris and Paul Gentry who are in revenge for the imprisoned Olivia Jerome and Winston Rudge and later Henry Sullivan defends the brothers just like Nora Buchanan who defended Olivia Jerome. On April 14, it was revealed that Julian is still alive.

In June, Julian cared for Ava after she accidentally burned herself in an attempt to kill Sonny and Carly. On August 25, Julian was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison for all of the crimes he committed that had to do with Olivia, but was eventually released.

In November 2017; Julian was revealed to be unharmed along with Franco Baldwin and Nathan West because of the crime at the Metro Court Hotel restaurant by Frank Anderson and Greg Barnes who were revealed to be wanting revenge for Cesar Faison before their arrest by officers Adam McCullough and James White after Sonny saved everybody's lives including Michael's biological grandmother Monica leaving Mayor Janice Lomax outraged.

In 2018, Julian entered into a relationship with Dr. Kim Nero after Janice Lomax's resignation as Mayor. He is also the owner of Charlie's pub. In March, he brought Molly Lansing-Davis over to General Hospital after the earthquake by Jim Harvey of Niagara Equities after the deaths of Faison and Nathan as Robin's brother James Scorpio was unable to call his sister Robin because the phone lines are dead. At the end of July; Julian met Brad and Lucas' adopted son, but the infant died shortly after from SIDS and Brad switched the dead baby with Michael and Nelle's newborn son. Brad told Julian that he switched with the baby of a homeless person instead and they both decide to keep the secret.

In November, Julian's niece Kiki Jerome was murdered and Julian was among those who were devastated. Griffin was the prime suspect and Julian tried to beat him up, but was stopped when Anna pinned him to a table. Julian also helped 'Kevin Collins' stop a broken Ava from shooting Griffin at the PCPD. However, Griffin did not kill Kiki because Ryan Chamberlain did while he was impersonating his twin Kevin and eloping with Ava at the same time as Ryan is like the late Cesar Faison because Ryan was revealed to be alive 23 years later (the same pattern as Julian) and 11 years after the Metro Court Hotel hostage crisis by Jerry Jacks which Ryan would've been, but was missing in action because Franco was involved.

On May 18, 2020; around three months after Wiley's true identity was revealed and Brad was arrested, Nelle blackmailed Julian into marrying her with the information that he caused Lucas and Brad's accident and kept Wiley's true identity a secret making Nelle gain Olivia Jerome as her sister-in-law.

On December 16, Julian was at a New Jersey bus station waiting for a bus to Canada. He was slowly dying from his gunshot wound and he eventually had hallucinations of the late Duke Lavery, the late Connie Falconeri, and Alexis, who all taunted Julian about the past and what he did to them. Julian missed the bus to Canada and made a stranger buy a ticket out for him, but before he could board the new bus, Sonny and Jason arrived and stopped him. However, another one of Cyrus' gunmen shows up to kill Julian and engaged Sonny and Jason in another shootout. Julian flees to a nearby bridge, only to be found by Sonny while Jason kills the gunman. Sonny tells Julian that his only chance to live is to come with him to the police, assuring that he can be redeemed if he helps take down Cyrus. A dying Julian reluctantly agrees only if Sonny promises that he won't kill him later and gets him to a hospital. He seemingly passes out moments later, so Sonny rushes to check if he still has a pulse, but Julian attacks Sonny and tries to shoot him during the ensuring struggle for the gun. As a result, Sonny accidentally pulls the trigger and Julian is shot once more, causing him to fall to the ground dead. Sonny, angry for having failed to get Julian on his side, kneels beside Julian's corpse until Jason arrives. At that moment, the bridge collapses, sending Sonny and Julian's corpse falling below. The police were able to find and identify Julian's body, while Sonny survived and lost his memory. Four months later, Julian was replaced by Yuri Tamashevich a month after the death of Franco Baldwin.
## Crimes Committed

* 1988-2014
* 2019-20

* Has been involved in "unscrupulous" mob-related activities
* Faked his death with the help of his father Victor Jerome [1988]
* Kidnapped Duke Lavery from a witness protection program and got him locked up in a Turkish Prison under false charges [1989-2008; revealed 2012]
* Planted Jonathan Paget as a cell mate with Duke so Jonathan could learn how to impersonate Duke [1989; revealed 2012]
* Got into a physical fight with Colton Shore [Mar 7, 1990]
* Kidnapped and "killed" his sister Olivia Jerome [Mar 12, 1990; Olivia was revealed to be alive in 2017]
* Shot and killed Jonathan Paget (impersonating Duke Lavery) in a gun battle [Mar 19, 1990]
* Manhandled Maxie Jones while she was pregnant [Jul 31, 2013]
* Operated an online gambling ring and knowingly lured Morgan Corinthos into a gambling debt while Robin Scorpio-Drake is being held against her will by Sonny Corinthos's enemies [Aug 2013]
* Murdered Vince, a henchman within his organization [Sep 16, 2013]

* Caused Lucas to be rendered comatose as a result of the accident before and after the arrival of his daughter Sam's parole officer and Julian's new friend Dolores Maloney [Dec 4, 2019-Feb 5, 2020]
* Drugged Brad [Feb 4, 2020]
* Assaulted Linc Brown and threatened to toss him into freezing water if he didn't release Brook Lynn from her contract [Mar 3, 2020]
* Broke into the Quartermaine estate and kidnapped Wiley Quartermaine-Corinthos under the orders of Nelle Benson-Jerome [Aug 20-21, 2020; not even Jason Morgan could stop him because of him being at the hospital room at General Hospital after his motorcycle accident caused by Chairman of the board at General Hospital Cyrus Renault who bores an uncanny resemblance to the late Cesar Faison]
* Chloroformed Monica Quartermaine in the process of kidnapping Wiley [Aug 20, 2020]
* Held Nelle at gunpoint and almost killed her [Aug 21-24, 2020; not even Cyrus nor Linc could stop him]
* Blew up the Floating Rib in an attempt to kill Jason Morgan under Cyrus' orders, killing Dev Cerci and Dustin Phillips and nearly killing his ex-son-in-law Jason, Julian's grandson Danny Morgan, Lulu Spencer, Franco Baldwin, Elizabeth Webber, and Cameron Webber, and many more in revenge for the late Cesar Faison, the late Shiloh, the late Cassandra Pierce, the late Nelle Benson, and Sam's former parole officer Dolores Maloney [Nov 20-23, 2020]

## Health and Vitals

* Cursed under the spirit of Helena Cassadine [Feb 19, 2016; shown from Feb 23-24, 2016]

## Relationships

* Family
* Friends
* Enemies

* Scout Cain - Julian's granddaughter
* Steven Culp - Julian's nephew
* Leo Falconeri - Julian's son with Olivia Quartermaine
* Ava Jerome - Julian's half-sister
* Kiki Jerome - Julian's niece/sister-in-law and Ava's daughter with Silas (deceased)
* Olivia Jerome - Julian's sister
* Victor Jerome - Julian's father (deceased)
* Lucas Jones - Julian's son with Cheryl
* Sam McCall - Julian's daughter with Alexis
* Danny Morgan - Julian's grandson

* Scott Baldwin - Former district attorney
* Hayden Barnes - Julian's friend now a blonde after the deaths of Julian Jerome and Victor Cassadine
* Raymond Berlin
* Naomi Dreyfus - (deceased)
* Fred Gray
* Dolores Maloney - His daughter Sam's former parole officer, Cyrus Renault's henchwoman, and Julian's friend
* Jeffrey Nash - Cyrus' former attorney
* Britt Westbourne - (deceased)

* Frank Anderson - Faison's former henchman (imprisoned)
* Hank Archer - aka Shiloh (deceased)
* Greg Barnes - Faison's former henchman (imprisoned)
* Linc Brown - Music producer (captured)
* Nelle Benson - His daughter Sam's former stepmother and Sam's former parole officer Dolores Maloney's friend (deceased)
* Helena Cassadine - Valentin's mother (deceased)
* Stavros Cassadine - (deceased)
* Valentin Cassadine
* Victor Cassadine - Valentin's father (deceased)
* Ryan Chamberlain - (deceased)
* Michael Corinthos
* Cesar Faison - (deceased)
* Sonny Faison - (imprisoned)
* Chris Gentry - His sister Olivia Jerome's new friend (imprisoned)
* Paul Gentry - His sister Olivia Jerome's new friend (imprisoned)
* Jim Harvey - Faison's American counterpart (deceased)
* The Hook - (captured)
* Ric Lansing - Former district attorney and Sonny's maternal half-brother/lawyer
* Jason Morgan - Julian's ex-son-in-law and his grandson Danny's father
* Cassandra Pierce - His daughter Sam's former cellmate and Cyrus' female counterpart (deceased)
* Monica Quartermaine
* Winston Rudge - His sister Olivia's henchman and Valentin's associate from South Africa who bores an uncanny resemblance to Valentin (imprisoned)
* James Scorpio - Robin's brother and detective of the Port Charles Police Department
* Robin Scorpio-Drake - Sonny and Jason's longtime best friend now living in Berkeley
* Marcus Taggert
* Johnny Zacchara - (imprisoned)