Julian Jerome[1] is a fictional character from the original ABC Daytime drama General Hospital.

Created by Ann Marcus and Norma Monty, the role was originally portrayed by Jason Culp from 1988 to 1990.

While in graduate school, Julian has a three-year romance with Cheryl Stansbury (Jennifer Anglin) and they fall in love.

deVry also revealed that he was hesitant to take the role due to his history with All My Children and the sudden change in direction for the character of Michael Cambias with the installation of new producers.

"[12] Six days later, executive producer Frank Valentini announced a deal had been reached with deVry, ensuring his return to the role.

[18] TV Source confirmed the character's name as Derek Wells, the boss of fashion editor Connie Falconeri, portrayed by the departing Kelly Sullivan.

Soaps In Depth described Derek as a "media mogul" who would cause trouble for several other characters, including Sullivan's Connie and by extension Benard's Sonny.

[10] Derek is introduced as the new owner of Connie's fashion magazine, Crimson, and its parent publication, the tabloid recently abandoned by Todd Manning (Roger Howarth).

[7] Ron Carlivati previewed the month of August and hinted that Derek Wells shared a connection to Ava and the original Jerome family.

[9] Upon's deVry's introduction as Julian, it is revealed that he and sister Ava were behind the gambling ring that afforded them the opportunity to infiltrate the Corinthos crime organization.

[23] Julian agrees to help Duke Lavery (Ian Buchanan) find his kidnapped wife, Anna (Finola Hughes), much to his father's chagrin.

Julian's attempt to help Duke ends in tragedy when he is shot and wounded in a shootout with a rival mob boss in March 1988.

Julian still protects Cheryl when he is implicated in Olivia's attempted murder after her earring, which he gave to her as a gift, is discovered at the crime scene.

Anna and Cheryl are cleared when it is revealed that Dino, Victor's illegitimate son, had shot Olivia, hoping to claim the Jerome empire for himself.

[39] With the family weakened by Victor's death, Julian heads up the organization, and makes it his business to neutralize Olivia, who has escaped from the mental hospital.

He puts a hit out on Duke, who has gotten plastic surgery and is going by the name Jonathan Paget (Greg Beecroft), and plans to frame Olivia for the crime.

However, Julian ends up killing Olivia when he learns that she told Anna about Paget's true identity.

The child, Lucas is eventually adopted by Dr. Tony Jones (Brad Maule) and his wife, Bobbie (Jacklyn Zeman), after Cheryl's death in 1992.

[41] Media mogul Derek Wells arrives as the new owner of Crimson magazine and The Port Charles Press.

Sam Morgan (Kelly Monaco) requests Derek's help to find a bone marrow for her ailing son, Danny, but when he bumps the story, he agrees to get tested to make up for it.

[42] Sonny discovers that Julian had survived the shooting and that the WSB and then Police Commissioner Robert Scorpio had arranged for him to receive a new face and identity in exchange for his testimony against the mob.

This boss is revealed to be Luke Spencer (Anthony Geary), who shows a ruthless side to handling the business.

Olivia Falconeri (Lisa LoCicero) becomes pregnant with Julian's child after a one-night-stand, but she claims that Ned Ashton (Wally Kurth) is the father.

However, he is acquitted at the trial, thanks to his lawyer, Scott Baldwin (Kin Shriner) who was having the video of the will reading of Helena Cassadine, and Ava.

In May 2020, he marries Nelle Benson (Chloe Lanier) after being blackmailed by her due to his role in allowing Brad Cooper (Parry Shen) to raise her child Wiley as his son (Julian's grandson via Lucas).

Due to his role as a domestic terrorist, Ava tries to kill Julian, who jumps off a parapet once Sonny and Jason show up.

Soap Central noted the irony in deVry's casting being announced on the ten-year anniversary of the actor's performance on All My Children as the evil rapist of Bianca Montgomery.

[43] Michael Fairman praised the scenes in which deVry was revealed to be Julian Jerome, along with his first meeting with his daughter, Sam.

[45] deVry was ranked as the second-most enjoyable newcomer to GH in a Soap Opera Digest poll, with 44% of votes.

[46] deVry ranked at #10 on Daytime Confidential's list of the "10 Best Male Soap Opera Entertainers" for the year and praised the actor for portrayal of concerned father and grandfather, and a ruthless mob boss.