Marcus Taggert has been worried about Trina on General Hospital, unfortunately for the most part that has been offscreen, but Réal Andrews, the actor who originated the role, has something to celebrate — a very special milestone.

Happy Birthday, Réal Andrews!

And that’s because he was born on January 31, 1963, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which means that this much-beloved performer is turning 61 years old today! Andrews, a track and field star, was well on his way to the 1984 Olympics when he was sidelined due to an injury.

Instead, Andrews decided to pursue a career in the acting field. He entered the business as a stuntman, and eventually earned several small speaking parts in films like Wild Thing (1987), Nowhere to Hide (1987), and Last Man Standing (1988), as well as episodes of primetime programs like 21 Jump Street (1987), China Beach (1988), Night Heat (1985-1988), and Street Legal (1989).

In 1992, Andrews booked a role on the NBC daytime drama Santa Barbara. Three years later, he appeared as a police officer of Days of our Lives opposite Kristian Alfonso’s Hope Williams Brady.

In 1996, Andrews joined the c ast of General Hospital in the role of Marcus Taggert — the PCPD’s newest hire. He remained at the soap for a mere four months before leaving in order to appear in the primetime series Soldier of Fortune, INC. Once that series was canceled, Andrews returned to GH, succeeding actor Matthew St. Patrick in the process.

Andrews’s second stint lasted until 2003, and he subsequently moved on to As the World Turns, where he played Walker Daniels (2003-2004), All My Children (ex-Agent Trumbull; 2011), and DAYS (ex-Hal Michaels; 2016 and 2017).

Andrews’s other acting credits include episodes of Renegade (1994), Step by Step (1994), The Clinic (1995), Law and Order (2006), and several made-for-TV movies. Between 2010 and 2018, he recurred on The Bay as Dr. Keith Campbell.

Andrews has been married to Michele Viscasso since November 4, 2000. Together the couple has welcomed three children: Marcus, Nathan, and Danika. Whether or not their firstborn was named after Andrews’ GH character, or if his character was named after his son, is a mystery lost to time. The only thing Andrews is sure of is that his son’s birth coincided with the reveal of Taggert’s long-withheld Christian name.

Soap Hub would like to wish Réal Andrews a very happy birthday, and you can, too, by clicking on the X (formerly Twitter) link below. Also, share your favorite memory of his work or if you’ve met him personally in the comments section.