General Hospital star Jane Elliot has been a fixture on television screens and in film since the late 1960s. She has had a long career, working with many actors along the way, including the legendary Elvis Presley.

Key Takeaways

• Jane Elliot began her acting career as a teen, signing with an agent at 17 and landing early roles in film and daytime TV.
• She became a fan favorite on General Hospital as Tracy Quartermaine, debuting in 1978 and returning multiple times over the decades.
• Elliot starred in major soap roles on Guiding Light and All My Children, playing complex characters with dramatic storylines.
• She portrayed Anjelica Deveraux on Days of Our Lives, mother of Alexander Kiriakis, linking her to the Kiriakis family legacy.
• Elliot is a celebrated daytime actress, winning a Daytime Emmy in 1981 and being honored as a Gold Circle Inductee in 2025.

GH’s Tracy Quartermaine

But daytime audiences will remember her most from her time on GH as Tracy Quartermaine. Elliot made her GH debut in 1978 as Tracy Quartermaine and quickly became a fan favorite. Her first run included one of the soap’s most memorable moments when Tracy withheld her father Edward’s heart medication during his fake heart attack. Elliot left in 1980 and returned several times over the years — 1989–1993, 1996–1997, 2003–2017, when she said she was retiring.

She appeared briefly in 2019 and 2020, 2021, and 2022 before returning full-time in 2023. She also appeared on the ABC spinoff of Loving, called The City, from 1996–1997, bringing Tracy Quartermaine from Port Charles to New York City. She filled the void left by Morgan Fairchild, who would later play Elliot’s former Days of Our Lives character, Anjelica. Tracy has had a lot to deal with lately, with the death of her sister-in-law, Monica (Leslie Charleson), and the arrival of Monica’s long-lost sister, Ronnie Bard (Erika Slezak). She is always a scene stealer, and any day she is featured, you know you are in for a wild ride.

1. A Star Is Born

Elliot was born on January 17 in New York City. Her birth name is Jane Vivien Stein. Despite never receiving formal academic training in acting, Elliot took voice and acting classes to refine her skills. At 17, she signed with an agent who sent her on a wide range of auditions, helping launch her professional acting career. In 1969, she starred in the film Change of Habit as Sister Barbara, opposite Elvis Presley. She made her daytime drama debut in 1965 on A Flame in the Wind as Linda.

2. Primed And Ready

From 1980-1981, Elliot took on the recurring role of Judy Trent on the primetime CBS drama Knots Landing. During her time on the series, she appeared opposite Donna Mills, who years later joined GH as Madeline Reeves.

3. Drama Queen

From 1981 to 1982, Elliot starred as Carrie Todd on the CBS soap Guiding Light. Carrie was revealed as the killer of Diane Ballard (Sofia Landon Geier) and Joe Bradley (Michael J. Stark). After marrying Ross Marler (Jerry verDorn), Carrie’s split personality was exposed, cementing the storyline as one of the soap’s most memorable twists. In 1984 Elliot joined All My Children as Cynthia Chandler Preston Cortlandt, a schemer who married Palmer Cortlandt (James Mitchell) for his wealth while secretly rekindling an affair with his son, Ross Chandler (Robert Gentry) — whom she had already divorced. She stayed with the show until 1986

4. Diva Days

From 1987 to 1989, Elliot played Anjelica Deveraux on Days of Our Lives and was involved with Justin Kiriakis (played by Wally Kurth) and Adrienne Johnson (played by Judi Evans). Anjelica and Justin welcomed a son, Alexander Kiriakis (Robert Scott Wilson), after having an affair. Kurth would later go on to play Elliot’s son on GH as Ned.

5. Peer Reviewed

Elliot was honored as the Gold Circle Inductee at the 2025 Daytime Emmys. She previously won in 1981, Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Daytime Drama Series for her role as Tracy.