Peter August is a fictional character from General Hospital, an American soap opera on the ABC network, portrayed by Wes Ramsey. Peter is introduced as a media publisher in 2017, and is soon revealed to be the previously unknown son of Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) and Alex Marick (Finola Hughes). However, he was believed to be the son of Anna Devane (also Hughes), Alex's twin sister.
Peter’s introduction garnered very mixed reactions from both critics and viewers alike. While most felt the story undermined Anna's long history and backstory, a few, including ABC Soaps In Depth actually liked the umbrella affect the story had on the canvas. Despite the critiques about Peter being Anna's son, many praised Ramsey for his "compelling" and "nuanced" portrayal of the character. TV Insider hailed the revelation of Peter's lineage as one of the "Best Moments" of the year, while Michael Fairman TV said Peter was the "Most Polarizing Character" of the season and Soap Opera Digest felt it was too big a "rewrite" for fans to believe.
Development
Casting and creation In October 2017, TVLine announced that Wes Ramsey, previously recognized for his portrayal of Sam Spencer on Guiding Light, had been cast in the "mystery role" of Peter August. Besides his first air-date, no further details were made available at press time. Ramsey, who had recently become known to General Hospital fans as the boyfriend of Laura Wright – who plays Carly Corinthos – took to social media about his casting: "Port Charles is a dream come true!" Ramsey accompanied Wright to set one day and had a friendly encounter with executive producer Frank Valentini. A few months later, Ramsey came in to audition for the role of Peter. In 2009, Ramsey auditioned at One Life to Live where Valentini also served as executive producer. Ramsey felt he and Valentini had "unfinished business" after their first meeting in 2009. With his most recent stint in daytime being a short lived role at Days of Our Lives, Ramsey turned to daytime once again because he missed the genre. "To tell you the truth, I felt better about this time and this role and this show than any other time in my career." Wright helped him prepare for the screen test. Ramsey competed against 8 other actors, and auditioned 3 times for the role. The actors, including Ramsey, auditioned with opposite Finola Hughes who plays Peter's mother, Anna.
Hughes concluded that Henrik/Peter's creation was a surefire way to, in the words of ABC Soaps In Depth, "blow up" the canvas for so many characters. In an interview with Soap Opera Digest, Ramsey explained that Peter was presented to him as a "much smaller role and throughout the course of a few weeks, grew into something else." Despite their hesitation, both Hughes and her co-star Tristan Rogers — who plays Anna's ex-husband Robert — agreed that the story of Peter's conception and birth would fit into the timeline without completely upending the history between their own characters.
In June 2021, Ramsey exited the role. Following a two month absence, Ramsey returned to the role during the final moments of the August 23 episode. On February 23, 2022, he exited the role once again. In 2026, Ramsey made an unannounced guest return during the January 23 episode. Six months later, he returned with ongoing appearances. Scenes concerning Ramsey's exit in the role aired on September 9, 2026.
Characterization Personality Ramsey characterized Peter August to be a "genuinely good guy" as originally presented to the audience. But, Ramsey insisted, "He's no pushover!" Peter is "complicated, confusing and disturbing" the actor stated. Ramsey said that Peter "obviously believes he's capable of outwitting anyone." Ramsey's favorite thing about Peter is "his complexity." Peter "thinks he's invincible" Ramsey later said. As far as Peter is concerned, "there isn't a situation he could find himself in that he can't handle." Underestimating those around him is "hubris." Peter has consistently been described as a "puppeteer" or "puppetmaster." Ramsey further described Peter as a "master communicator and manipulator." Despite his apparent arrogance, Peter can also show "vulnerability," "sadness and weakness" when he has to.
ABC Soaps In Depth has described the character as "debonair" "mysterious" and "rather cocky." The magazine described Peter as an "educated, well-mannered, worldly guy." However, he is a "recovering villain." Hope Campbell of Soap Hub described Peter as the "mild-mannered infamous traitor." She continued, "he seems a little humdrum… kinda like Nathan." Janet Di Lauro of said Peter looks like a "stiff, buttoned-up executive" at first glance. While he can be "devious" like Faison, he's "not as deadly." Caralynn Lippo of TV Fanatic described Peter as "menacing-yet-conflicted." Donald Thompson said Henrik/Peter is "like a chameleon." Anders Hove described Peter as a "brilliant, good-looking young man who's been let down — and has certain genes from his father that are not worth bragging about." Shabnaj Chowdhury saw Peter "as a man haunted by his upbringing and desperate for redemption."
Backstory Peter, whose birth name is Henrik Faison, is the oldest son of Cesar Faison. According to Liesl Obrecht, Henrik idolizes his father but Faison doesn't show him any affection because of who his mother is, or isn't. Faison ships Henrik off to boarding school when he is old enough. In Peter's own words, Faison "rejected and hated" him. All Henrik knows of his mother growing up is that she abandoned him as an infant, and Henrik is delivered to Faison through a third party so not even Faison can determine which of his many lovers had given birth to his son. Henrik fantasizes about his mother coming to rescue him one day but Faison warns that it will never happen. Henrik finds relief that Faison usually ignores him to focus on business. Henrik attends several boarding schools in Europe, including one very prestigious school in Bern, Switzerland under the alias, Henri Francois. As a child, Henrik finds a friend and mentor in Valentin Cassadine, one of Faison's business associates. Valentin even attends one of Henrik's school plays after Faison refuses. After boarding school, Henrik comes to America to attend Harvard University. Henrik seemingly changes his name to Peter August just before his 21st birthday. As Peter, he attends graduate school at the Yale University's School of Management. After graduation, Peter finds work at several companies in Europe, including Modesto Media in Milan, Italy. However, he does not have much time for romantic relationships because he moves around too much. Peter successfully runs a publishing company for a couple of years in Europe before his arrival in Port Charles.
Henrik was born on June 13, 1976, with the help of midwife Mireille Lambert in a house located at 27 Rue De Louvain in Brussels, Belgium. Alex Marick seduces a drunken Faison to steal information from him. It was easy, as Faison had been paying prostitutes to impersonate Anna. Soon after, Alex suddenly leaves school for "special training" but in actuality, she was pregnant. Alex refuses to even look at her child and begs the midwife place the baby with a loving family. However, Valentin having followed Alex, tracks down Hernik's adoptive family, and threatens them into relinquishing the child whom he then turns over to Faison.
Peter craves "love and acceptance" but that desperation only makes life more difficult. With Faison as a father, "all he got was pain, abuse, manipulation and abandonment. He developed scars" Ramsey said. In 2019, Ramsey said the "trauma of being Faison's son" holds Peter back from having "a real life — real connections and real friendships and a real relationship" for most of his life. He grows up trying to "outrun" Faison's shadow. Before Anna, Peter does not have that "female energy to confide in or a mom to go and seek counsel from."
Introduction and identity (2017–2018) Peter debut occurs during Sweeps in November 2017. On Peter's arrival, Ramsey described it as "very cloak-and-dagger and very manipulative." He also said Peter is "tugging on string and using words and intentions to make people dance the way he wants them to." For the first two months, Ramsey was "simply in the dark" about Peter's backstory. "Sometimes ignorance is bliss" Ramsey said. In December 2017, Ramsey met with Frank Valentini and script writer Elizabeth Korte to fill in the blanks about Peter. "It was a slow reveal but the moment I really needed what I needed, they gave it to me full force and I was able to run with it." In January 2018, Peter is revealed to be the traitorous son of Cesar Faison, born to Faison's arch nemesis, super spy Anna Devane. Ramsey described the plot twist as "overwhelming in a wonderful way" and he was "flattered" that the producers trusted him with such a pivotal role. Ramsey, who grew up watching Anna, was very excited about working with the Hughes. "I have a great scene partner in Wes" Hughes said of Ramsey.ABC Soaps In Depth said "Perhaps the most tragic part of Peter’s tale is that the mother he hates for abandoning him only wants to find him, explain herself and take him into her arms." Ramsey said "an incredible and complicated backstory has been gifted to me." Shelly Altman explained that Peter and Anna are on a "collision course" because Peter resents the mother he never knew for abandoning him.
Peter takes center stage as Anna, Robert Scorpio, and Nina Cassadine are all prying into his past for different reasons. At the same time, Peter's confidant Valentin is on edge as he fears Peter's exposure. Meanwhile, mobster Jason Morgan and investigative journalist Lulu are also looking for Henrik. Peter is "at odds with some very powerful people, and they're getting close, but he's not fearful in anyway." Wes Ramsey was particularly excited about the potentially explosive reveal. "Things are about to get crazy" he declared. The revelation that Peter is Henrik "feels like a time bomb that's hardwired to branch out and devastate so many lives in so many different ways. When it goes off, it's going to spread like wildfire." Postponing the climax of the story "only has created more tension. Now, we're all horses at the gate, ready to run. We want the race to start!"
The storyline was set to climax during May Sweeps during the Nurses' Ball. By this time, more than half of the characters on canvas was invested in the plot in one way or another. It is not until Peter discovers that Anna has seemingly set a trap for him by "posing" as his mother that he views her as a real threat. Peter is insulted by the idea that Anna would use something so personal against him. "It is something that is he not going to let pass." Peter and Anna's first interactions before the reveal were "foreshadowing" of their eventual relationship. They "have an intellectual standoff, using their wits, minds and language to face off. Neither would back down, and that was powerful…" In their standoff, Peter is forced to confront the "anger and animosity" that he harbors for Anna.
Redemption (2018–2019)
In the summer of 2018, Peter undergoes the painstaking process of redemption which starts with delivering Maxie's baby under "dramatic" circumstances. Wes Ramsey described it as a "right of passage, to deliver a baby on the side of the road." Ramsey admitted that he did his best to support Kirsten Storms during the scenes because "as much was on my shoulders, there was even more on hers." While playing out the drama, the actors tried to find moments to insert a "light touch of humor" while also maintaining the realism.