As General Hospital star Dominic Zamprogna marks his 15th anniversary on the long-running soap opera on June 22, he has even more reason to celebrate.
Not only has he reached a major career milestone, but he is also grateful for the warm welcome he received when he returned to the show following his departure in 2018.
For Zamprogna, who portrays Dante Falconeri, leaving General Hospital wasn’t an easy decision, but it was one he felt he needed to make.
When he stepped away from the role, he was eager to explore new opportunities and test the waters in Hollywood.
Reflecting on that time, he told Soap Opera Digest, “I came here with this job and didn’t know any casting people.
I was almost 40, and I was like, ‘OK, worst-case scenario, the show gets canceled tomorrow, I haven’t done my due diligence in this town to make sure people know me…’”
Stepping Away from General Hospital
Zamprogna acknowledged that networking in Hollywood was not his strongest suit. “I’m a terrible networker,” he admitted. However, he recognized that auditioning was key to expanding his career beyond daytime television. For much of his time on General Hospital, contractual obligations made it difficult to pursue other projects. But in 2018, executive producer Frank Valentini allowed him to take on a role in a show filming in Calgary.
That experience opened his eyes to how limited his exposure had been outside of the soap world. “I had actually screen-tested the two previous years for other pilots,” he said. “I realized, ‘That’s really the only exposure I’ve had to other casting directors down here. I should really kind of get out there.’ So I did.”
A Much-Needed Break
In hindsight, Zamprogna sees his time away from the soap as beneficial not only for his career but also for his personal well-being. “I call it kind of a mental health break because I’ve never been in the same place for this long, playing the same character,” he shared. “I just felt, ‘I think I need to go and kind of do something else for a while.’”
The experience helped him grow both personally and professionally. “In doing that, I achieved what I wanted to do — I met a lot of casting directors, you take general meetings, you do a bunch of auditions. You kind of get your hustle back, and that’s important, too.”
His time away also helped him develop other creative projects. “Even now, outside of this show, I work on two or three other projects that I’m trying to get going,” he revealed. “And that only happens from hustling and getting things done. [The break] kind of snapped me back into that frame of mind.”
Returning to General Hospital
When Zamprogna eventually returned to General Hospital, it was an easy decision. Dante Falconeri, the beloved son of Sonny Corinthos and Olivia Falconeri, had been a staple of Port Charles for years, and fans were eager to see him back in action.
“I legitimately missed my friends that I’ve made here,” he said of his GH family. “Even when you have a bad day, as everyone does, you’re surrounded by people that you care about and that care about you.”
Beyond the friendships, he also missed being part of something bigger. “I missed being part of a team,” he explained. “And so when I had kind of accomplished what I wanted to accomplish, I was grateful they wanted me to come back.”
Looking Ahead
Now, as he celebrates his 15-year journey on the soap, Zamprogna is in a place where he can enjoy the best of both worlds—continuing his role on General Hospital while also pursuing outside creative projects. His time away not only strengthened his career but also reaffirmed his love for the show and the people who make it special.
Fans of General Hospital can continue to enjoy Dante’s storylines, knowing that Zamprogna is back where he belongs—with a renewed passion for both his character and the craft of acting.
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