Guiding Light: Character Profiler - Brandon "Lujack" Luvonaczek Spaulding

[@karenfelder3901]

Loved Lujack and Beth!! Their love story was amazing. So sweet and romantic. He made Beth come alive. Beth and Phillip I’ll pass..

[@unique1049]

I was 19 when LuJack was on GL. I had a crush on him that you would not believe.. When he died, I was shocked, and I couldn't believe GL killed him off. The last time I watched GL was Lujacks funeral ... 😪

[@annsmith2161]

Thank you so much for this. Lujack and Beth are my favorite characters from this time period. Had a HUGE crush on him.

[@treybelcher848]

Ann Smith so

[@karenfelder3901]

Me too. I still do now. He’s still hot now!!!

[@gregwilliams3120]

This guy was such a good actor. I remember thinking at the time he was destined for major stardom. The next Kevin Bacon from Guiding Light but it never happened.

[@peachmarie6079]

Thank you, thank you THANK YOU, Spauldingfield!!! I have waited, lord knows how long, for a Lujack profiler. This makes a great late bday gift for me! I absolutely love Lujack and Beth! And, I am so glad you included Almost Paradise in the end. I think my favorite part of Lujack's run, is the buildup of his and Beth's relationship. And, as crazy as it is, I'd like to see more of the Infinity storyline. Vincent Irizarry is a fantastic actor! I agree with you, you can't tell that he played both Lujack and Nick. Lujack was a few years before my time, but I've seen a lot of episodes from his '83-'85 run. I watched, with my mom, from '95-'99, and Nick was still on when I started watching. I like both characters, but I prefer Lujack because he was artistic and more of VI's talents were displayed through him...At 12:52, was that Josh with Lujack? I never knew there was ever an interaction between the two. I knew Lujack had a couple interactions with Reva and some of the other Lewises, but didn't recall Josh....As far as why he was killed off, here is what I heard from somewhere: Don't quote me on this, but apparently VI and the EP at the time, Gail Kobe, didn't get along. He had requested temporary time off to work on the movie Heartbreak Ridge, but Kobe didn't approve. What originally was supposed to happen was that Lujack was only to be presumed dead in the explosion and turn up alive a couple months later. So for spite, she let him go, and that's how he was killed off. From all the episodes I've seen, I truly believe if he had lived, they could've taken his and Beth's story a lot further.

[@Spauldingfield]

Thank you for the backstory. It would have been nice if he was never found after the explosion. That clip with Josh and Lujack was after Reva was mugged by the Galaheads. Lujack wasn't responsible but Reva summoned Lujack and told him that there was a particular item she wanted back and if he got that for her then she wouldn't tell the cops the Galaheads were responsible. So that scene is when he walked out of the room. Josh attacked him thinking he was one of the attackers.

[@peachmarie6079]

That makes sense. I figured it was around that time frame. The episode where he gives Reva back the ring Darcy took from her is on here, but the episode with the Josh encounter doesn't seem to be around. That's about May 1984.

[@katierowen3166]

Kobe was/is an idiot. It would have worked perfectly to have Lujack presumed dead, Beth grieves, Phillip comforts her, they get engaged, and Lujack comes back just in time to start the wedding. Done to death I know but it still would have been great. God, soaps were so good back then. I was obsessed with all of them pretty much one time or another back when there was ten of them. Now when I turn one on once in a while they are soooo boring.

[@katierowen3166]

Stop not start

[@ryanwolff4058]

I heard a version of that story from VI during a 2020 interview that fully aligns (but I think there was also an opportunity for VI to perform musically during the leave). The GL EP decided instead of writing VI/Lujack off for a few months he was killed off. When VI rejoined GL as Nick, he was thrilled to be working again with Beverlee McKinsey/Alex, and remained in touch with BM after she left (due Jill Farren Phelps unwillingness to reduce BM's amount of studio time from 5 to 3 days a week... BM was 58 at the time and was getting burned out). VI was great with Marj Dusay (who he then worked with on AMC), but imagine how different GL might have been during the 1980s if VI had been able to continue on as Lujack/Brandon as Alex's son. One other thing I've always noticed - VI's Lujack/Nick resembled both Alan-Michael 1 and 2 (Rick Hearst) - everytime VI/Nick and RH/A-M were in a scene together in the 1990s, I always thought that could pass for first cousins in real life.

[@elizdavidson]

I adored LuJack. Thank you!

[@ritacuccaroni8379]

Thank you! My favourite character ❤

[@uzi_187]

I remember watching the hypnotic trance shootout with my grandmother on Italian TV, a couple of years after it aired in the US as there always was a delay for some reason. Must have been 1988, I was about 7. First time I had heard the phrase "hypnotic trance"

[@danielmarquis5258]

This brings me back to when I was six and my mom had just picked me up from school. I wanted to be 10 shades of cool like Lujack.

[@melindakinnaird]

Lujack was awesome! He and Beth had great chemistry. Did Beth and Nick ever meet? I can't remember.

[@barihope]

Melinda Kinnaird nope. I was very glad they didnt. Beth n phillip left show in February 1991. Then nick McHenry came. By time phillip n beth returned nick had left show with susan.

[@phaedraD]

I named my budgie after him- I was 4. My mom really had me into guiding light and AMC- loved me some Jesse and Angie!

[@bredrew1990]

More Characters I would like a Character Profile of if you get the chance. Kat Speakes Hamp Speakes Tony Reardon Bea Reardon Annabelle Simms Trish Lewis Mel Boudreau Dahila Crede

[@793ism]

I totally forgot how many dudes tried to get with Beth

[@malindagarza8762]

Guiding light should have brought back lujack. Tony anabel. And darcy. As good people. In the final episodes

[@MichaelJosephRojas]

Okay, (I was born in 1980 here) the whole time watching this, I am like, it's Nick. How does this wind up being Nick? Wow, great unknown GL chapter for me, thanks, trying to catch up on before 'my' times.

[@TiggyTabbycat]

wow I feel really old now

[@aphillyate1]

"I'll NEVER be a Spaulding!" 2:29 Next scene, Spaulding City. 🤣🤣🤣

[@darlenegattus8190]

I loved this couple, made my 1984!

[@zt1053]

Such a shame, his twin brother Nick never met Beth

[@johnkelly1198]

He was in 1985 heartbreak ridge

[@phalynwilliams4119]

I never understood why they killed off Lujack. Did the actor want to leave the show?

[@karenfelder3901]

Phalyn Williams He wanted to leave the show.. I loved Lujack..

[@soapunk]

Where did you find the episodes with Beth and Lujack on the run and the boat escapade?

[@renla71]

There are so many missing episodes of Lujack out here. Are you interested in selling any of them(tapes/cds) that you have?

[@soulshaker9018]

What a BABE he was 😊

[@Reneebenson]

So was lujack a twin

[@deeks1970]

How about a profile on Beth, Phillip and Rick?

[@deeks1970]

Excellent!

[@lindajones8895]

I loved LuJack and Nick

[@thejuggernaut2121]

Is there anywhere to find his death scene? I remember it when I was young, he was my favorite character

[@renla71]

Its under "GL-we had the real thing".

[@thejuggernaut2121]

@@renla71 thank you!!

[@katierowen3166]

Did Lujack and Beth ever actually get married?

[@swilter75sw]

Who played Darcy?

[@farhanarahman9009]

Sweet Memories FromGL Farhana

[@stylinsue535]

Beth and lujack always made me 🤢 barf.

[@barihope]

I love phillip n beth. Could not stand lujack n beth.

[@TheFrankenstein1972]

barihope Exactly. Can't break up 2 of the 4 members of "The 4 Musketeers."