Longevity on a daytime soap opera is never guaranteed. For a character who started as an annoying lab technician with a penchant for blackmail, thirteen years is an absolute lifetime.
Parry Shen recently took to social media to celebrate a massive, surreal milestone: exactly 13 years since he first walked onto the set of General Hospital as Brad Cooper. Fans have watched Brad evolve from a ruthless schemer into a deeply flawed but fiercely loyal friend, enduring more heartache, prison stints, and dramatic fallout than most characters could ever survive.
But the celebration off-screen stands in stark contrast to the absolute chaos Brad is currently facing on-screen. And unfortunately for Brad’s cheek, his best friend is in a complete downward spiral.
The Slap Heard ‘Round the Hospital
Brad has always been the voice of deeply cynical reason for his best friend, Britt Westbourne. So when he showed up at Britt’s office with a flask to help her drown her sorrows, he thought he was just being supportive.
Britt is currently unraveling. She is carrying the massive, crushing guilt of Jason taking the fall for a crime he didn’t commit to protect her. When Brad logically pointed out that she was probably better off without Jason deserting her again, Britt snapped. In a raw, emotionally exhausted moment, Britt delivered a massive slap straight to Brad’s face.
But this is what makes the Britt and Brad dynamic — dubbed “Britch and Brad” by devoted fans — so iconic. Most friendships would crumble under the weight of physical altercations and life-ruining secrets. For these two, it’s just a Tuesday.
Ride or Die Best Friends
Instead of walking out on her, Brad did what he always does: he stayed. When a hysterical Britt admitted that she regretted missing her one chance to eliminate Cullum, Brad just took a swig from his flask and dryly told her to let him know the next time she tried to take someone out so he could help her hide the evidence.
Parry Shen and Kelly Thiebaud share an undeniable chemistry that elevates every scene they share. They balance the intense, dramatic stakes of the mob storylines with dark humor and genuine, unconditional friendship. Brad isn’t afraid to tell Britt the hard truth — like advising her to honor Jason’s wish and stop digging into the case — even if it earns him a slap across the room.
As Parry Shen celebrates thirteen incredible years in Port Charles, fans can only hope that Brad Cooper continues to be the beautifully messy, fiercely loyal character we’ve grown to love. Because as long as Britt keeps finding herself in impossible situations, she is going to need Brad standing right there beside her — flask in hand.
