Tracy Quartermaine is a fictional character on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. She is played by actress Jane Elliot, who originated the role in 1978 and has played her intermittently since that time, primarily on GH and briefly on The City from 1996 to 1997. In 1980, Elliot won the Daytime Emmy for outstanding supporting actress and was nominated again in 1993. Briefly in 1989, while Jane Elliot was on maternal leave, Christine Jones took on the role. Tracy Quartermaine is currently the show's fifth longest-serving character after Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Luke Spencer, Laura Spencer, and Scott Baldwin.
Tracy is the spoiled, rich, and often badly behaved daughter of the wealthy Edward Quartermaine and Lila Morgan Quartermaine. She has two sons, Ned Quartermaine (also known as Ned Ashton) and Dillon Quartermaine; two stepsons, Lucky Spencer and Ethan Lovett; and a stepdaughter, Lulu Spencer. Many of her storylines over the course of 30 years involved feuds with her sister-in-law, Dr. Monica Quartermaine, Tracy's unsuccessful attempts to find love, her determination to gain power in ELQ, the family company, and her attempts to one-up family members who have tried to displace her or her sons in ELQ or in her father's affections.
Tracy was originally presented as a vivacious socialite who hid her scheming nature, but her brother and parents saw through that and warned her sister-in-law Monica. Although friendly on the outside, Tracy could be snobbish on a whim, although that became more apparent when she was older rather than during her early days in Port Charles. While Tracy wanted to get in good with her father, Edward, he still deemed his son Alan Quartermaine, Tracy's brother, his favorite. In recent years, Tracy has greatly mellowed, showing her maternal side with her sons Ned and Dillon, as well as stepdaughter Lulu, supporting her sister-in-law Monica through various ordeals, and befriending female characters after never really having had women friendships while younger.
Casting
The role of Tracy Quartermaine was originated by actress Jane Elliot in June 1978. After two years with the series, Eliot left the role in June 1980. The actress later reflected on the decision to leave, citing an insult from executive producer Gloria Monty over a salary dispute as the reason for her departure. In December 1988, after months of rumors, it was announced that Elliot would reprise the role of Tracy. She returned on screen on March 17, 1989. Later that year, Elliot went on maternity leave, and veteran soap opera actress, Christine Jones assumed the role of Tracy that November. Jones portrayed the role for about a month, before Elliot's return. Elliot left the series once again in 1993, last appearing on June 16. She briefly returned to the series from July 26 to October 7, 1996. Later in 1996, it was announced that Elliot would bring the role of Tracy to fellow ABC soap opera, The City. Elliot made her debut on the October 7, 1996 episode of The City. The decision was an attempt to garner interest in the series, after the departure of lead actress Morgan Fairchild. Elliot remarked, "It was all the network's idea. Morgan was leaving and it was a very big loss for the show. It was already in the works that I was returning to General Hospital for a while" The City was canceled in 1997, to make room for the General Hospital spin-off, Port Charles. Elliot remained with the series through its finale on March 28, 1997. In 2003, it was announced that Elliot would once again be reprising the role on General Hospital. She returned on April 15, 2003.
In March 2017, Daytime Confidential and other media outlets broke reports that Elliot would be leaving General Hospital at the end of her current deal with the serial; she last appeared on May 4, 2017.
In November 2019, Entertainment Weekly reported that Elliot will be returning to the show. She appeared from December 23, 2019, to February 4 of the following year. In November 2020, it was announced Elliot would again reprise the role, she returned from November 30 to January 29, 2021. Elliot then made a surprise return on January 3, 2022. She departed again on February 2 of that year.
On January 11, 2023, at ABC's Television Critics Association panel, it was announced Elliot would return for the soap's 60th anniversary. Soap Opera Digest reported Elliot's return would be a "long-term stay". She was set to make her return during the April 17, 2023, episode; however, due to a preemption, her return date was pushed back to April 18.