Chris McKenna Breaks His Silence On Shocking General Hospital Departure
Chris McKenna is opening up about his unexpected exit from General Hospital and admitting that Jack Brennan’s shocking death left him disappointed
Chris McKenna Breaks His Silence On Shocking General Hospital Departure
In the September 1 episode, Brennan was discovered floating lifeless in the Metro Court pool, which had been closed for the season. The gruesome discovery officially ended McKenna’s run as the complicated WSB station chief.
Speaking with TV Insider’s Stephanie Sloane, McKenna revealed that he completed filming in June and has since had “a few months to adjust” to both Brennan’s demise and his departure from the ABC soap.
“It’s disappointing how it’s ending right now, but this was a gift,” McKenna admitted.
Despite his feelings about being killed off, the actor remains grateful for his time in Port Charles. McKenna welcomed a son during his run and credited the show with introducing him to a new generation of daytime viewers.
“I got to be introduced to an entire new legion of soap fans who weren’t familiar with me, got back into the daytime world and did some powerful work I’m really proud of,” he shared. “It’s been a great experience. I have no complaints.”
Brennan’s Storylines Kept Changing Direction
McKenna joined General Hospital on February 4, 2025, taking over the role of Jack Brennan from Charles Mesure. Although McKenna initially appeared regularly, the show later placed him under contract.
According to the actor, several promising storylines for Brennan ultimately changed direction.
McKenna believed the show was setting the stage for a romantic triangle involving Brennan, Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright). Instead, Carly became romantically involved with Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart), leaving Brennan on the outside.
“
When they put me on contract a year ago, I was very much looking forward to the Jack and Anna love story that they were very clearly going to do and the love triangle with Jack, Anna and Carly,” he explained.
Although Brennan may have received “the short end of the straw,” McKenna acknowledged that the storyline still provided him with some of the strongest material of his career.
The actor also expected Brennan to emerge from his coma and play a major role in stopping Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes). However, John Oliver (Z) became involved in the climax, and Brennan was once again pushed to the sidelines.
McKenna stressed that he enjoyed John Oliver and the direction of that story, even if it meant that Brennan was no longer central to the action.
Chris McKenna Wanted More of Brennan and Nina
One storyline McKenna especially wished General Hospital had explored was Brennan’s growing connection with Nina Reeves.
The actor praised Cynthia Watros and suggested they both recognized the spark between their characters.
“I think we both felt that we had a really special kind of crackling chemistry between us, and it was gonna be really fun,” McKenna said.
He jokingly declared “Brennina” the greatest General Hospital love story that was never told. While Brennan and Nina shared several memorable moments, the potential romance never received the opportunity to develop fully.
Even so, McKenna remains appreciative of the material he was given and the chance to portray such a morally complicated character.
“I was given such a cool gray, complex character,” he reflected. “I’m very fortunate that I got as much as I did.”
An Emotional Final Day at General Hospital
McKenna’s final day on set was both emotional and unusual. After spending several days filming Brennan’s body floating in the Metro Court pool and being moved around as part of the aftermath, the cast and crew gathered to applaud him.
Executive producer Frank Valentini also presented McKenna with a bottle of bourbon.
“He said, ‘I’d give you flowers, but I’m told you’d prefer bourbon,’ and he was right,” McKenna recalled.
McKenna also revealed that Paige Herschell, who played Jacinda Bracken, learned that she was being let go on the same day. Having experienced soap departures before, McKenna wanted to make sure Herschell felt supported and received her flowers “literally and figuratively.”
Although he was sad to leave his colleagues, McKenna does not view his exit as a permanent goodbye. He remains friends with many members of the cast, lives near the General Hospital studio, and expects to reunite with his former co-stars at fan events. He is also reportedly collaborating with some of them on other projects.
For now, the actor is leaving Port Charles grateful for the experience, proud of his work and understandably disappointed that Jack Brennan’s story ended before some of its most promising possibilities could be explored.
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