Carnes first started acting in 2004 when he became the ninth actor to portray Lucas Jones on the ABC opera General Hospital from July 2004 until September 2005.

From 2004 to 2006, Carnes had a recurring role on Desperate Housewives as Justin, the love interest of Andrew Van de Kamp, played by Shawn Pyfrom.

[4] In the 2008 horror film Trailer Park of Terror, based on the Imperium comic series of the same name, Carnes plays an arrogant teenager called Alex.

He also starred as the title character in the Syfy miniseries The Phantom, based on Lee Falk's comic strip of the same name.

[5] It was reported on December 11, 2013, that Carnes would reprise the role of Lucas on General Hospital,[6] returning on January 17, 2014.