Q: "I just read that the long-ago "General Hospital" character Amy Vining was returning to the show. Who is she? It said the actress who played the role for almost 20 years has been replaced. Why isn't the original returning?" — Alicia, North Olmstead, Ohio

A: Amy Vining is Laura's sister — in a roundabout way. Amy Vining is the daughter of Jason and Barbara Vining. Barbara's child died at birth and her baby was switched with Leslie Faulkner's daughter, Laura. When Leslie tracked down her daughter it was in the nick of time: Leslie rescued her daughter from a cult and brought her back to Port Charles. In 1979, 16-year-old Amy tracked down her big sister, Laura who had just married Scott Baldwin. Amy turned out to be quite a bit of trouble. She had a knack for discovering everyone's secrets and loved to gossip. Putting a strain on Laura and Scott's already-rocky marriage, Amy went to live with Leslie Webber and her second husband, Dr. Rick Webber.

Amy rarely had her own story. She was a sounding board for the constantly troubled sister, Laura. Unfortunately Amy was heartbroken when Laura (supposedly) died. When it turned out Laura was alive and well, Amy was thrilled; yet she was furious that Laura let her think she was dead. Amy was a dedicated nurse and even more dedicated gossip. When she was not helping patients, she was spreading rumors, many of them untrue. That never stopped her. At one point Laura was so irritated by one of Amy's stories that she disowned her. That lasted for two days, because Laura and everyone around Amy know she means no harm. That lasted a week. Judy Lewis, daughter of famed star Loretta Young, played Barbara Vining, who longed to have Laura and Amy with her. The girls always preferred living with Leslie.

When Amy returns to the "GH" canvas on May 4, she will be played by Risa Dorken. By the way, Dorken is only in her early 20s — so this Amy Vining may have the same name but not be the original Amy.

May 4 is also the day Elizabeth (Becky Herbst) returns to the show. During protracted contract negations, the actress and the character were AWOL for six weeks.

As For Shell Kepler, the original Amy, being replaced: Sadly, the actress 20 years died in 2008 of renal failure. The twice-divorced actress was quite the businesswoman. Moving to Portland from California, she began her business, Lacy Afternoons. A home-shopping club staple, Kepler told the Associated Press that it raked in millions of dollars. A dedicated charity worker, Kepler was also a writer.

To find out more about Lynda Hirsch and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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