General Hospital’s Rena Sofer Leaves Hollywood After 35 Years
General Hospital‘s Rena Sofer Leaves Hollywood After 35 Years
Rena Sofer, who plays Lois Cerullo on General Hospital, announced she’s moving out of Los Angeles after nearly 35 years: “And now on to quieter and calmer times.”
Rena Sofer is saying goodbye to the West Coast.
The General Hospital star, who plays band manager Lois Cerullo on the ABC soap opera, announced she’s moving out of Los Angeles after nearly 35 years.
“Yes I’m getting emotional,” she wrote on Instagram Aug. 4. “I had my children in LA met the man of my dreams and created an incredible life there. I had amazing success in the Biz and made all my lifelong friends who I will miss desperately.”
According to Rena and her husband Sanford Bookstaver, with whom she shares 20-year-old daughter Avalon Leone Bookstaver, they are moving to New York state with their five dogs.
“Thank you LA for being you,” added the actress, who is also mom to artist Rosabel Rosalind, 28, with ex and General Hospital costar Wally Kurth. “And now on to quieter and calmer times.”
E! News has reached out to ABC for comment on Rena’s departure but hasn’t heard back. However, a source close to the 56-year-old told E! News Aug. 7, “There has not been a conversation about her leaving the show.”
Rena’s relocation to the East Coast comes amid a summer of exits for General Hospital. In early July, Kirsten Storms shared she was taking an extended leave of absence to move to Tennessee.
“I really want to thank GH, the ABC network executives, the writers for agreeing to let me take this time,” she said in an Instagram video. “I am so grateful that they understand and are supportive.”
Disney/Christine BartolucciKirsten, who’s been playing Maxie Jones since 2005, continued, “When you approach a job like this, they can always be like, ‘Forget it. We’ll let you out of your contract if you’re gonna leave the state.’ GH did not do that, which was kind of amazing, because I also asked for some time off.”
Later that month, Sofia Mattsson left her post as Sasha Gilmore, saying that her seven-year run has “gone by incredibly quickly.”
“From the start, I’ve seen every day as a challenge and opportunity to grow as an actress, and honestly, that mindset never stopped,” she told TV Insider in an interview published July 18. “I feel like I learned something new every day until the end!”
For more memorable TV exits, keep reading.
BravoJax Taylor, The Valley
Jax Taylor announced he will not be returning to The Valley for season three amid growing concern from fans about his behavior during the show’s second season.
“Right now, my focus needs to be on my sobriety, my mental health, and coparenting,” the Bravo star—who is embroiled in a nasty divorce from estranged wife Brittany Cartwright—shared in July 2025. “Taking this time is necessary for me to become the best version of myself—especially for our son, Cruz.”
Disney/Bahareh RitterSofia Mattsson, General Hospital
Sofia Mattsson exited the long-running soap opera in summer 2025 after seven years playing Sasha Gilmore. Her character left Port Charles for Paris.
