Steve Burton Announces Return to General Hospital 1 Day After Announcing Exit from Days of Our Lives 

Steve Burton shows that when one door closes, another opens.

The day after the soap opera announced its exit from Days of our livesrevealed the 53-year-old actor, which he would return to General Hospital to reprise his role as Jason Morgan.

The news of his return was announced on Thursday, in the final moments of the ABC special General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars and Stories. “Happy Anniversary, General Hospital” Burton said in a pre-recorded clip. “Stay tuned – big things are coming to Port Charles.”

Burton did his thing General Hospital debuted in 1991. His character was first known as Jason Quartermaine. Brain damage he suffered in a car accident wiped his memory and caused him to reinvent himself as Jason Morgan.

He remained on the show for the next 11 years, even winning a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1998 during his tenure. He exited the series in 2012, returned in 2017, and announced in 2021 that he had been “dropped” from the series for not complying with the series’ COVID-19 regulations.

“I will always be grateful for my time General Hospital. I like it there,” he said at the time. “Maybe one day, if these mandates are lifted, I can come back and finish my career like Jason Morgan. It would be an honor.”

Between his performances at General HospitalBurton joined the cast Young and restless 2013, winning another supporting actor, Daytime Emmy in 2017 for his role as Dylan McAvoy.

Steve Burton announces departure from Days of our lives After finalizing the divorce: ‘I am very grateful’

Steve Burton on ‘Days of Our Lives’. Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock via Getty

His return to Days of our lives — which was Burton’s first soap opera role dating back to 1988 — PEOPLE exclusively confirmed in November 2022. He reprized his role as Harris Michaels in the Peacock spinoff Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem last April.

In June, the actor said Soap opera summary it was an “honor” to reprise the role after many years of absence from the soap opera. He added that it felt like I was playing a “new character” because “obviously I haven’t been on the show long enough to know [much about the] character.”

“I’ve mentioned that character a few times in the digital series, but it’s a new character,” he explained. “And I simply allowed it [Days of Our Lives head writer] Dive [Carlivati] figure it out and do our thing, as we always do as actors, and talk to him about it.”

Burton seemed happy about the experience, sharing positive words when he announced that he had finished filming. “Wow! Well, I just shot my last scenes here Days of our lives,” he said in a video on social media. “I just want to say a big thank you to the cast [and] to the crew. All. It was incredible. I can’t believe it’s already been a year! So, a big thank you to the fans. I’m just always so grateful. So thank you!”

Sheree Gustin and Steve Burton.

David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Steve Burton finalized his divorce from wife Sheree almost 2 years after the split

Although Burton was filming days is over, the actor’s episodes will continue to air until spring 2024.

Burton’s casting news comes just days after he finalized his divorce from his estranged wife Sheree (Gustin) Burton.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the couple agreed to the terms of the divorce, which included joint legal and physical custody of their son Jack and daughter Brooklyn.

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General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC, and Days of our lives can be streamed on Peacock.

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