Rick Springfield Returns To General Hospital

Fans of General Hospital know him as Dr. Noah Drake. Music fans know him for "Jessie's Girl" and other rock and roll hits from the 70s and 80s. Now at age 63, Rick Springfield is returning to the daytime soap opera, although it seems as though he never really left.

Springfield began playing Dr. Noah Drake in 1981, the same time that "Jessie's Girl" was hitting #1 on the pop charts. He starred on the daytime series from 1981-1983 and then after a 23 year absence returned to the show from 2005 - 2008 and has had a recurring role on the show. His last appearance was in March of last year.

Now as ABC's General Hospital  celebrates its 50th anniversary, Springfield again returns as Dr. Noah Drake, father to Dr. Patrick Drake played by Jason Thompson. But to make things even more interesting, Springfield's real-life son Liam Springthorpe will appear on the soap as well,  playing an undercover cop.

Here's a 1981 General Hospital clip with Dr. Noah Drake meeting Luke Spencer.

From 1972 until 1988 Springfield managed 21 chart hits including "Don't Talk To Strangers" and "Affair of the Heart." Here's Rick performing 1984's top ten hit "Love Somebody."