Rick Springfield originated the role of Noah Drake on March 25, 1981, and played the character for two years before leaving to pursue his music career, last airing on January 27, 1983.

The character is no longer practicing medicine as he has become an alcoholic[9] after his wife died on his operating table.

Drake returns to town at the request of Robin Scorpio[9] to aid her friend Jason Morgan, who had sustained severe brain damage.

In 2007, rock star Eli Love (also played by Springfield) is brought to General Hospital needing emergency surgery, and coincidentally looks just like Drake.

In March 2012, Noah was working with Doctors Without Borders and upon the death of his daughter-in-law Robin Scorpio, he briefly returns to Port Charles to console Patrick.

[6][12] He returns again in April 2013 to attend the revived Nurses' Ball, being held in honor of his presumed-dead daughter-in-law Robin.

Springfield had signed on to his role on General Hospital in 1981 before his widespread music fame,[9] when his song "Jessie's Girl" hit No.

[13] Some credit his appearance on GH as the reason behind his rise in popularity;[9][12][14] the summer of 1981 was a peak time for General Hospital, pulling in 14 million viewers daily.

Entertainment: "Thirty, 40 times a day I must get questions when I'm on the road about General Hospital or Noah Drake.