Station Chief John "Jack" Brennan aka Brennan, is a fictional character and a secondary antagonist on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. He was originally called John Brennan, but was changed presumably to avoid confusion with Special Agent John "Jagger" Cates.
He was portrayed by Charles Mesure from December 1, 2023-January 30, 2025.[1] Mesure first appeared from December 1-19, 2023. He returned on January 30, 2024,[2], and again on March 29, 2024, appearing regularly going forward.
Mesure was promoted to contract status in 2024[3] and his status change was confirmed on September 20, 2024 during that episode's closing credits.
On February 3, 2025, it was announced that Charles Mesure departed the role of Station Chief Jack Brennan, with soap veteran Chris L. McKenna taking over the role. Mesure's last episode was on January 30, with McKenna debuting on February 4.[4][5]
On May 3, 2023, when Frisco Jones refuses to order the W.S.B. to bomb the lab in Greenland to keep the Cassadine pathogen from being released, as an independent team is already there attempting to stop it, he is replaced as director by an unknown man, later revealed to be Mr. John "Jack" Brennan.
Storylines[]
Evidence of Jack Brennan's younger spy days (2023)
On December 1, 2023, Jack Brennan arrives in Port Charles and is first seen at Kelly's diner. He meets Carly Spencer and tells her that he is in the mood for a great burger and Kelly's was recommended to him. They share small talk. Carly tells him that she is the 3rd generation owner of Kelly's and Brennan tells Carly that he is in town on business and staying at the Metro Court Hotel.
Later, Brennan watches as Carly gives a homeless man outside a warm meal and he is impressed by her kindness. He is surprised that she invited the homeless man inside instead of sending him away because his presence could be bad for business. Before leaving, he gives Carly some money to give to the homeless man.
As he is on the way out the door, he is approached by Roman Hume. Roman tells him that they have a problem - Sonny Corinthos will no longer move their merchandise, thus revealing Brennan as the head of the Pikeman Security Group.
On December 5, Jack Brennan is revealed as the director of the World Security Bureau, who has his sights set on Sonny, regarding Pikeman, and Anna Devane, regarding an old W.S.B. operation from the 80s that went wrong.
On December 12, Brennan tells Hume that it is inconvenient that someone killed Forysth as he was more valuable to them alive.
On December 18, he learns that Hume had people following Dante Falconeri and spying on Anna Devane.
On December 19, Brennan tried to threaten Carly who clocked him with a metal tray, and is arrested along with Hume.
On January 26, 2024, Jordan realizes that Brennan called her outside of Pentonville in connection to Curtis' shooting. They visit Pentonville Penitentiary on January 30, 2024. He gets a rise out of them, and then for some semblance of a deal in his favor, he gives them information about W.S.B. seizing guns that were "lost" and now sold on the black market for them to track down and bring the shooter to justice.
On March 29, 2024, Jack Brennan's prison van is stopped, as Valentin Cassadine arranged for a chat. Valentin can't believe no one at Pikeman knew Jason was working on the inside as Alan Jacobs. Jason thwarted their latest attempt on Sonny, but it's likely Jason will be joining Brennan in Pentonville for shooting a cop. It's then revealed that Valentin has been running Pikeman since Brennan's arrest.
Crumbs have been dropped to lead Sonny to believe who's after him is a man named "Stone" - a name from his past that haunts him - so he'll never suspect Pikeman. Valentin arranged for Sonny's pharmacist to replace part of his Bipolar Disorder medications with placebos, and eventually removing him will be child's play. Brennan warns him not to underestimate Sonny, as he hasn't survived this long being stupid.
Valentin comments, "No, he's survived being medicated, and he's already unraveling as he beat an old man with his own hands." Brennan laughs, and says, "It's official, he's still diabolical."
Valentin lends him a cash for bribing the guards while on the inside. Brennan thanks his Daddy Warbucks, and asks after Anna. He knows Valentin finally achieved his lifelong goal of getting Anna to love him, only for it to go up in smoke. Valentin warns him if Anna learns of his involvement in Pikeman, this will be the last time he'll be outside the prison walls. The two men call each other bastards. Valentin leaves, and after attempting to get info out of the van driver, he discovers the man is deaf - leading Brennan to react, "Damn you are good Valentin!"
On April 11, 2024, while having a lunch date, Anna asks Valentin if he remembers Jack Brennan from their academy days. She remembers they were always "feeding off each other. You were just pushing each other to be better, to be smarter." Valentin, secretly trying to cover his connection to Jack, insists she is remembering someone else.
On April 29, 2024, Valentin comes to see Brennan. They secretly meet in the warden's office, discuss the inception of "Pikeman" and the plot against Sonny progresses. Jack suggests taking out Sonny and framing Jason, to which Valentin states they can't meet up again or someone will catch on.
On May 8, 2024, Jack Brennan is surprised by a visit from Carly Spencer. He makes it clear he's still very attracted to her, and she attempts to hide that it's mutual. He asks her about her life, she shares a few details before confronting him about his supposed attempt to kidnap her. He quickly covers, claiming that since he was a spy he carried covert supplies. They discuss Pikeman, and Carly reveals the FBI is investigating him - she knows because Agent Cates is a friend. Before she leaves, Jack asks to see her again, stating "Watch your back, Valentin" as she walks out. Following this visit, Carly comes to see him several times, sharing information and becoming more and more friendly with each other.
On July 25, Anna arrives to speak with Brennan. The new warden, Hayes, comes to greet her, stating there's no such inmate. When she asks when he was transferred out, he insists they've never had an inmate by those names. Anna produces a log of all her visits with him here, as well as his transfer to General Hospital.
Hayes continues to insist their records don't match hers. Anna says she could subpoena the guards or the inmate who stabbed Brennan. The warden says she can ask anyone anything she wants, but they likely won't remember any John or Jack Brennan. Per their records, he was never there.
On July 30, 2024, Anna arrives at the W.S.B. D.C. Facility in Washington, D.C., intent on finding Jack Brennan, when he reveals himself as not only a free man, but Agent-in-Charge of this facility. She wants to know why all traces of him in Port Charles and Pentonville have vanished. He makes a "Jedi mind-trick" joke it's because "he was never in Pentonville." Anna states he's won whatever game he's playing, so why not tell her what is going on? He says that the bureau had a use for him, it's as simple as that. Anna admits she was worried this exact scenario would happen - that he wouldn't pay for his crimes. She connects the dots:
The DC Agent-in-Charge just shrugs his shoulders. Anna points out he is walking around a free man, and Valentin Cassadine, his scapegoat for Pikeman, is lounging on a beach somewhere safe. Brennan admits she's right, but none of this will ever be made public.
Brennan wants to know what does she really want? She wants to know what leverage he has against Agent John Cates. He claims to not have any pull with the FBI, but she knows he has connections everywhere, and Cates has gone off the rails - targeting his friend, Carly Spencer.
This catches his attention - he is sorry to hear about Carly. Anna explains Carly is being targeted by Cates to get to her ex-Sonny Corinthos. Brennan points out the mobster isn't exactly the paragon of citizenship, and they both know...
She wonders how many lives he's wrecked throughout his career. He suggests she have patience - he's not in the business of ruining lives if he can help it.
On August 12, Carly delivered a requested bottle of wine to one of the MC guests, and was surprised to find Jack Brennan staying in the room. He invited her to join him in a glass which she accepted. She wonders how he got out of Pentonville...he tells her that mistake was rectified and he's staying in town. They are interrupted by Anna who demands to know how he got assigned to PC. He reveals the WSB just opened a new field office in Port Charles and made him station chief there as he was familiar with the city and its denizens.
In possession of a shiv while incarcerated [May 17, 2024]
Assaulted Gus, a fellow inmate he framed for his own stabbing [May 17, 2024]
Broke out of his handcuffs, stole scrubs, and posed as a doctor [Jun 3, 2024]
Disappeared from prison, left no record of his time served, nor his arrest, nor his hospital treatment [Jul 25-26, 2024; by the WSB, revealed Jul 30, 2024]
Deleted the FBI recording of Carly's RICO violation [revealed Jul 30, 2024]
Stabbed himself in the stomach with a shiv [May 17, 2024]
Disappeared from prison, left no record of his time served, nor his arrest, nor his hospital treatment [Jul 25-26, 2024; by the WSB, revealed Jul 30, 2024]
Thrown back when the warehouse where Sasha Corbin was held hostage exploded [Nov 8, 2024]
Tasered and handcuffed to a sofa by Anna Devane, who threatened him to stay away from her granddaughter Emma [Jan 2, 2025]
Nearly strangled to death by Valentin Cassadine, who wrongly accused him of attempting to snipe him and Charlotte in Prague; saved by Carly [Jan 28, 2025; Carly saved him on Jan 29, 2025]
Nearly poisoned with polonium by Valentin, but Carly was poisoned instead [Mar 17, 2025]
Held at gunpoint by Anna in defense of Valentin [Mar 20, 2025]
