Katelyn MacMullen, who portrays Willow Tait on ABC’s “General Hospital,” is still adjusting to the absence of her on-screen husband, Michael Corinthos, played by Chad Duell, who recently departed the soap opera.
“How I found out is that we were on set and we pulled each other aside and were like, ‘What’s going on? What are we thinking?’ And that’s when he told me,” MacMullen shared with Soap Opera Digest. “On the one hand, I was so sad because I was like, ‘Wait, I can’t even imagine this. I’ve seen you every single day, or practically every single day, since I started working here.'”
General Hospital Spoilers: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow Tait) Opens Up About Chad Duell’s Shock GH Exit; “It’s Different On Set Now”
The two actors have formed a close bond over the years, both professionally and personally. “We’ve been through a lot of story together and we’ve been through a lot together just in general,” MacMullen explained. “We’ve seen each other in our personal lives for six years now and then we’ve obviously worked together for six years, as well, in a [close] capacity. It will certainly, I think, be an adjustment for me for him not to be here.”
MacMullen fondly recalled their shared experiences on set, particularly Duell’s infectious humor. “Chad is extremely funny; he’s a goofball,” she said affectionately. “That is so nice because it breaks the dramatic tension that can exist when we’re all in this environment. It’s nice to have someone who can make you laugh. I’ll definitely miss the surprise pranks and the little jokes that he’s so good at saying between scenes.”
Since Duell’s departure, MacMullen has noticed a subtle shift in the on-set atmosphere. “There’s definitely been a feeling of, ‘It just feels different,'” she acknowledged. “I’ll be like, ‘Oh, that’s weird. Usually, Chad walks up to me at this point, or we have a little conversation here or there, or we’d give each other fake dirty looks in the hallway.’ You know what I mean? There are just these little things that happened with Chad and me throughout the day and I’m like, ‘Oh, weird. That’s not happening!'”
However, MacMullen remains optimistic about Duell’s future and is hopeful for his eventual return to the canvas. “I’m just rooting for him in any capacity,” she enthused. “I think he is super-talented and he has every opportunity for success ahead of him.”
Duell’s departure leaves a significant void in Willow’s storyline. As MacMullen pointed out, “Michael has pretty much been part of Willow’s journey from day one.” Their on-screen marriage, though tumultuous, has been a central part of Willow’s character arc. Now, with Michael absent, Willow’s future remains uncertain, opening up a new chapter of exploration and growth for the character.
