For six unforgettable months, Ross Cullum transformed from what was originally planned as a short-term guest character into one of the most feared and talked-about villains on General Hospital. Andrew Hawkes brought an icy intelligence, ruthless ambition, and unpredictable menace to the corrupt WSB director, creating a character viewers loved to hate. Now, after Cullum’s shocking death in the July 2 episode, Hawkes is saying goodbye to Port Charles with heartfelt gratitude, while reflecting on what he calls one of the greatest experiences of his acting career.
Cullum’s reign of terror ended exactly as dramatically as it began. During the explosive showdown that served as the climax of the WSB storyline, Cassius Faison was shot by Cullum in a desperate attempt to eliminate anyone standing in his way. But the villain underestimated Josslyn Jacks. Wounded but determined, Josslyn managed to grab a nearby gun and fired the fatal shots that finally ended Cullum’s deadly campaign. As the dust settled, a WSB helicopter descended onto the scene, delivering one final surprise as John Oliver made his first appearance as the mysterious figure known only as Z. It was a breathtaking conclusion that instantly became one of the most cinematic moments the soap has produced in years.
Cullum leaves behind an unforgettable legacy of destruction. Throughout his time in Port Charles, he committed some of the darkest crimes viewers have witnessed in recent memory. He brutally murdered Marco Rios in a vicious knife attack, attempted to kill Jason Morgan during a tense confrontation on the docks with a mysterious weapon hidden inside his coat, manipulated Britt Westbourne for years by secretly poisoning her medication, and deceived her into believing she suffered from Huntington’s disease when the illness was never real. He also turned against Cassius Faison and betrayed nearly everyone who trusted him. Every appearance seemed to raise the stakes, making Cullum one of the rare soap villains whose presence immediately created suspense.
Despite portraying such a ruthless character, Andrew Hawkes quickly became a fan favorite behind the scenes. As viewers reacted to Cullum’s downfall, Hawkes found himself overwhelmed by the outpouring of support flooding his social media accounts. Rather than focusing on the loss of the role, the actor chose to celebrate the connection he built with fans throughout his journey on the ABC daytime drama.
In an emotional Instagram video shared after the episode aired, Hawkes thanked viewers for every message, comment, and word of encouragement they had sent him. He admitted that the overwhelming kindness from fans deeply moved him and reminded him of something he has always believed.
“I’ve gotten so many amazing supportive messages,” Hawkes shared. “It really means so much that people take time out of their day just to say, ‘Hey, great job,’ leave a fire emoji, or simply watch something I posted. I believe kindness is a superpower, and it’s one we all have.”
The actor became visibly emotional as he continued his message. He explained that while he wished he could personally respond to everyone, balancing his career with family life simply made that impossible. Even so, he wanted fans to know that every message had been read and appreciated.
“You’ve all been incredibly kind to me, and I’m so grateful,” Hawkes said. “I promise I’ll never take that for granted. I’ve read every single message. I can’t respond to all of them because I have two kids and a wife, and my wife would probably divorce me if I spent all my time replying online. So I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve truly lifted me up, and I’m incredibly grateful.”
Long before Cullum’s final scenes aired, Hawkes had already begun reflecting on what the experience meant to him personally. Speaking about wrapping production, he admitted it took several days before he could fully process everything that had happened. Rather than immediately moving on to his next project, he found himself appreciating just how significant this chapter had become in his career.
“I needed a few days to recover and really understand what this entire experience meant to me,” Hawkes explained. “This has been one of the greatest experiences of my career. It’s one of the things I’m most proud of and happiest to have been part of.”
His final filming day was every bit as intense as fans witnessed on screen. Hawkes revealed that there was so much action packed into the production schedule that he barely had time to think about the emotional reality of saying goodbye. With complicated stunt work, explosive action sequences, and the dramatic helicopter arrival all taking place on location, he remained focused on delivering the strongest performance possible instead of dwelling on the end of his run.
“There was so much happening that I had to stay completely focused,” Hawkes recalled. “Whatever emotions I was feeling had to wait because the job came first. I couldn’t spend the day thinking about how sad I was. We had an enormous episode to finish.”
Looking back, Hawkes believes the scale of the finale perfectly honored the ambitious WSB storyline that General Hospital had spent months building. The combination of practical stunts, location filming, major action sequences, and surprise character introductions created a finale unlike anything the series has attempted in recent memory. For Hawkes, there was never any doubt that Cullum deserved an unforgettable exit.
“There’s no question,” he said. “It was an epic farewell.”
Although Ross Cullum is now dead, Andrew Hawkes leaves General Hospital with something far more lasting than any fictional villain could ever hope for: the admiration of viewers who embraced both his unforgettable performance and his genuine humility. His heartfelt farewell reminds fans that while villains may come and go in Port Charles, the actors behind them often leave an impact that extends far beyond the final scene. Whether this marks the end of Hawkes’ journey in daytime television or the beginning of an exciting new chapter, one thing is certain: his unforgettable portrayal of Ross Cullum will remain one of the standout performances of the year.
