‘General Hospital’: How Many Actors Have Portrayed TJ Ashford?
Though he was first introduced on the show with loose connections to the canvas, the character of TJ Ashford is now an integral part of General Hospital. Since he first debuted in 2012, the character has been portrayed by multiple actors.
Krys Meyer’s time in the role
Krys Meyer was the very first actor to debut in the role of TJ Ashford. Meyer was cast in the role in early 2012 and remained in it for about half a year. He exited the role after reportedly nabbing a new gig and the character was immediately recast.
Storylines during the Meyer era included TJ’s introduction as a surrogate son to Shawn Blakeford. The character’s mother sends him to live with Shawn, with military school being the alternative option. He befriends Molly Lansing-Davis (Haley Pullos) and later gets in a romantic relationship with her.
Since General Hospital, Meyer has recurred on several series, including Wayward Pines, The Fosters, The Affair and Tell Me a Story.
Tequan Richmond is the longest-tenured and most-recognizable TJ
Tequan Richmond is the most identifiable actor who has portrayed the character. Prior to General Hospital, he was a primetime actor with a huge role on the comedy series, Everybody Hates Chris. He starred in the series from 2005-2009.
During the Richmond era as TJ, the character’s estranged mother, Jordan Ashford, arrived in town. She is revealed to be an undercover cop. It is also eventually revealed that Shawn is actually TJ’s biological father, and not Tommy Ashford, as presumed.
While on the show, Richmond was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and a Daytime Emmy.
Both TJ and Molly began having reduced appearances on the show and the two actors bumped down off of contract to recurring cast members as both actors began appearing in other projects more often and would only be on the series when they could.
Richmond then landed one of the lead roles in BET’s television series, Boomerang, executive produced by Lena Waithe and Halle Berry, and effectively left General Hospital.
Tajh Bellow is the new actor playing TJ
After Richmond left in 2018, Tahj Bellow was eventually tapped as his replacement. Before stepping into the role of TJ, Bellow had guest-starring and recurring roles on a number of series, primarily on the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, including Sam & Cat, K.C. Undercover, and Girl Meets World.
Bellow is currently with the show on a recurring basis, as is Pullos, who is making an appearance on the show soon.
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC.
