Profile:

AJ. is the black sheep of the Quartermaine family, always seeking parental approval and hungry for the unconditional love that has been the birthright of his younger half brother, Jason.  AJ virtually grew up in boarding school.  He moved home to attend college, started drinking, dropped out of school, lost his job at cousin Ned's hotel and befriended another bad seed, Nikki Langton, who led him on (and to the altar), then ran off with a $1 million bribe from his father.  AJ began drinking more, and after surviving a suicide attempt, entered a rehab clinic.  Later, AJ enrolled in college and seemed to be getting his life back on track, until he learned why Nikki dumped him.  He became obsessed with finding her.  When he found her in California he discovered that Alan would have cut off his trust fund if they had marriedand that she married someone else after leaving Port Charles.

Predecessor: Gerald Hopkins

Replacement: Sean Kanan

Grade: B-

Kanan's uncanny physical resemblance to Steve Burton (Jason) is a plus strictly in terms of two actors who play brothers actually looking like they're relatedbut it is also a minus.  Rather than enhance the believability quotient the similarity in this instance is jarring and confusing, even after almost four months on air.  Part of what made Hopkins especially effective was that quirky look and manner played into the character's march-to-his-own-drummer persona, and that nourished the dynamic of the dysfunctional Quartermaine family.  In terms of acting ability, Kanan appears to be getting more comfortable and has displayed a credible maturity in AJ.'s quieter confrontations, both with Alan and in the brief encounter with Nikki.  GH wisely brought that chapter in AJ.'s life to a close, and now, it is hoped Kanan can chart a new course for the character that will draw from his own personality and acting strengths.

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A fighting chance!

No one can deny that GENERAL HOSPITAL has its share of great-looking men.  But what has set it apart from other daytime dramas is the show's ability to play to an actor's strengths, as with the super-success of Antonio Sabato Jr. as Jagger. We see that same potential in Sean Kanan and his character of A.J. With a past as dark as A.J.'s (his alcoholism and his feelings of neglect at the hands of his parents), we realize that the character can't become a white knight, but we do see the potential for Kanan to become a leading man that uses mischief and humor to get ahead and uses his past pain with Nikki as inspiration to become the heartbreaker that Port Charles so definitely needs among the younger set. And now that Robin is sweet sixteen, wouldn't it be interesting to see her attracted to the same man that her buddy Brenda finds so appealing? Just wondering!

Character: A. J. QUARTERMAINE

Height: 5' ll"

Hair: Blond

Eyes: Blue-green

Marital status: Single, but dating

Birthdate: November 2

Where born: Cleveland, OH - but raised in New Castle, PA

Education: The Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, PA; two years at Boston University; graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in political science

Most unusual job: A bouncer at Father's, a bar in Boston "What got me to quit was this guy on the B.U. wrestling team. He was as big as the side of a house and he was mooning the room. I told him I'd buy him beer all night long if he promised to keep his pants on. He agreed. This experience made me realize a $4-an-hour bouncer job wasn't for me."

Favorite actor: Robert De Niro

Favorite actress: Michelie Pfeiffer

Favorite movie: Lawrence of Arabia

Favorite TV show: Star Trek reruns

Favorite book: Anything by Ernest Hemingway

Favorite vacation getaway: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Favorite hangout: "Going to the movies alone."

Favorite color: Royal blue

Favorite pal on the set: Steve Burton (JASON)

Favorite place to shop: Politix clothing store at the Century City Mall

Favorite junk food: "Thin, NY-style pizza with lots of cheese."

Favorite holiday: New Year's Eve "It's a very festive time for friends and family, and you get a clean slate. And Thanksgiving, because I get to go home and see my family. They have a picture perfect house in the woods and there's snow on the ground."

People would be surprised to know: "I write poetry."

Can't resist: "Midnight yogurt runs."

Worst vice: Shopping for clothes "You've heard the expression shop until you drop, somebody must have been watching me."

Musical taste: The Doors, Neil Young, classic rock

Car you drive: "A very toned-down, blue Honda."

Pet peeves: "B.S. artists."

Best quality: Persistence

Worst quality: Impatience "I need to become a better listener."

Hobbies: Kickboxing, gourmet cooking

Favorite "toy": "I collect baseball cards from the `40s and `50s."

Worst spending vice: "Going out to dinner too much."

Previous credits: Movies -- Karate Kid III, Rich Girl, The Outsiders; TV - An episode of Wild Palms, Likely Suspects (FOX), Perry Mason, Adventures of Lois & Clark (ABC)

"I don't think anyone ever wakes up thinking 'Gee, I'm going to pose for the cover of Playgirl.' I always say it was very flattering to be asked. I've never really been worried [about the connotations of posing]. I've got a degree in political science, plus I've got all sorts of business and artistic interests. I know who I am and I'm not real worried about how other people perceive me. Also, my GENERAL HOSPITAL character is not really a bimbo type. He doesn't take his shirt off all the time, so it was almost more fun and against type for me to do something like Playgirl."

Kanan was cover"boy" for the October 1993 issue. BACK ISSUES: Send $8.00 and the month and year of issue to PLAYGIRL Press, 801 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017. All I can say is "Yowzer!"