Steve Burton is returning to General Hospital after Days of Our Lives exit

The actor was previously fired from the ABC soap after refusing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2021.

By
Emlyn Travis
Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at Entertainment Weekly with over five years of experience covering the latest in entertainment. A proud Kingston University alum, Emlyn has written about music, fandom, film, television, and awards for multiple outlets including MTV News, Teen Vogue, Bustle, BuzzFeed, Paper Magazine, Dazed, and NME. She joined EW in August 2022.

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Published on January 5, 2024 11:01AM EST

Steve Burton is swapping soaps. 

The actor, 53, confirmed that he will officially return to General Hospital this year in a segment that was broadcast at the end of the series’ 60th anniversary special on Thursday. The move comes less than three days after Burton announced that he will be departing his current soap, Days of Our Lives. 

Burton shared the news alongside his GH costars Laura Wright and Kelly Monaco. “You know what they say: when one door closes,” Wright began as she walked through a doorframe. Monaco, who appeared through a second door, then added, “another door opens.”

Then, Burton walked through his own back-lit door. “Happy anniversary, General Hospital,” he said. “Stay tuned. Big things are coming to Port Charles.” 

Burton has starred in his Daytime Emmy-winning role as Jason Morgan on General Hospital for over 20 years now: first from 1991 to 2012, and then again from 2017 to 2021. He was previously fired from the series for refusing to comply with its COVID-19 vaccine mandate in 2021. 

Burton explained in an Instagram video that he had applied for “medical and religious exemptions” at the time, but that his request had been denied. 

“Which, you know, hurts, but this is also personal freedom to me. I don't think anyone should lose their livelihood over this. But with that being said, you know me,” he added. “I’ll always be grateful for my time at General Hospital. I love it there. I grew up there. I grew up with some of you. I'll always be grateful. And I believe when one door closes, multiple doors open. That's always been my perspective, so I am excited to see what the future brings."

The following year, Burton joined the cast of the Days Of Our Lives spinoff series Beyond Salem, before joining the main series in March 2023.

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