Mac In Action

John J. York Celebrates 30 Years On GH.

Mara Levinsky

On February 18, 1991, GH viewers got their first glimpse of Mac Scorpio, played by a then-32-year-old John J. York. As he marks his 30th anniversary in Port Charles, he reflected on the milestone with Digest.

Soap Opera Digest: A hearty congratulations on 30 years as Mac! John J. York: I can’t even believe it. Thirty years! That’s a lifetime. Where did the time go? The simple truth, for me, is that I believe it’s divine intervention. I feel like God has been watching over me and my family and I don’t know if I deserve it, but I’ve been given this incredible gift. This job came at a time when [wife] Vicki was seven months pregnant [with daughter Schyler]. I started auditioning and got a callback and got another callback and was tested, and then the test went from five guys to two guys. I was working as a waiter at The Cheesecake Factory and I remember getting the phone call like it happened just a couple days ago. I was waiting a lunch shift and I’d bring someone out some cake or some coffee and then I’d go back into the kitchen area and check my answering machine and there were no messages and I was feeling sad, thinking, “Ah, I didn’t get it, I’d have gotten a phone call by now.” I remember bringing the check out to some gals who came in kind of regularly and they said, “Are you okay? You seem kind of down.” I said, “I was expecting a phone call, but it’s no big deal.” I finished up, filled up all the ketchup bottles and the salt and pepper shakers, got in my car, and drove home and by the time I got there, there were like 13 messages on my machine. It was very exciting. And here we are, 30 years later. It’s crazy. I started January 14 and my daughter was born February 9.

Digest: You first met Tristan Rogers (Robert) and Finola Hughes (Anna) at your audition. What were your first impressions of them? York: They were fantastic. I read first with Fin and she was just nothing but attention and involvement; she was right there and excited and she gave each and every actor that same energy. Tristan was a little bit gruff, let’s say [laughs] — just like my brother. He was Robert Scorpio, you know what I mean? He was strong and intimidating and part of the process as an actor was to stand up to that, and I guess I did. We had a great time, and as we started working together, it was just a piece of cake. We really hit it off. Tristan’s an awesome guy. He has a great sense of humor, very dry.