Kimberly McCullough didn’t exactly have a normal childhood.
After being discovered at a breakdancing battle when she was 5 years old, the former child star landed a small role in the movie Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Two years later, she beat out Shiri Appleby to land the role of Robin on General Hospital.
For more than 1,200 episodes, McCullough, now 47, grew up in Port Charles and experienced the glitz and glamour of Hollywood with Daytime Emmy wins, spinoff opportunities and more.
But in 2012, McCullough left the soap opera to pursue her other passion of directing.
“I remember that I was so supported,” she shared on a 2021 episode of the “Dishing With Digest” podcast. “I remember all of the people on the show were like, ‘We’re so sad to see you go, but you need to go.’ It was almost like graduating college or something and hoping to make my parents proud. At the time, I had no idea if any of this was going to work out. Thankfully, it has.”
Ever since she was a little kid, McCullough remembered being impressed with Ron Howard and dreamed of becoming a director.
Kimberly McCullough Craig Sjodin/ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection
Over time, she got the opportunity to do just that when she worked on hit shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
“Recently, I directed Fantasy Island in Puerto Rico,” McCullough recalled on an August 2021 episode of the “State of Mind With Maurice Benad” podcast. “I’m definitely Latina and this was the first time that I was surrounded by brown people and a brown crew.”
She continued, “I feel like in a way, I’m getting more back to my roots and my original dreams and wants for myself.”
To be clear, McCullough remains grateful for the memories and friendships she made on General Hospital. But when asked if she misses acting, the director said she’s moved on to other things.
Kimberly McCullough Courtesy of Kimberly McCullough / Instagram
“I would just say that it was a time in my life that I appreciate so much and I wouldn’t be who I was without it but I don’t feel the need to do it anymore,” she said on a December 2024 episode of “The Locher Room” podcast. “I feel like I’ve just transitioned to another part of myself where I can expand a little more. But I miss the people and the awesome storylines.”
Instead of walking red carpets or attending Hollywood events, McCullough prefers to remain behind the camera working on a variety of projects, including an original musical film with Xochitl Gomez titled No Te Olvides.
Her Instagram is filled with pictures from her garden or quality time spent alongside her dog and son, whose face is often hidden.
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“Being a boy mom means I’ve truly realized my potential as a human being,” she joked via Instagram in May 2025. “Happy Mothers Day to all who celebrate.”
Although she has moved on from her General Hospital days, McCullough still has a deep appreciation for her soap opera character.
“Now that I’ve had a little bit of time away from Robin, I think now I can finally really appreciate how much I am her and she is me,” she shared on “The Locher Room” podcast. “I think that’s even more pronounced because nobody else has played my character. Of course that could always happen but I’m the only one to have ever played Robin.”
