Steve Burton joined General Hospital in 1991 as do-gooder Jason Quartermaine. The character was destined to follow in the footsteps of his father, Alan, and adoptive mother, Monica, as a doctor. But his storyline took a turn when he was hurt in a car crash.

The do-good aspiring doctor became a bad boy and mob enforcer, Jason Morgan. Steve Burton played the role to perfection but was shockingly fired in 2021 for refusing to comply with ABC’s COVID vaccine mandate. The soap star quickly found work on Days of Our Lives but made his long-awaited return to the ABC soap in 2024. He announced in early 2026 that he was taking a break from the show. He was back on set this week. Stay on this page for a first look at his return.

Steve Burton Takes Break From Soap Role

Steve Burton’s personal life is straight out of a soap opera. He made a post on social media in 2022 announcing that his then-wife was pregnant, but it wasn’t his baby. A separation and divorce quickly followed. The former couple has been locked in a custody battle ever since.

He married Michelle Lundstrom in 2025. His marriage was a huge factor in his decision to step away from General Hospital for a bit. Steve Burton wanted to spend time with his wife and family. The couple recently celebrated their first anniversary with a trip to Aruba. But now he’s ready to get back to business.

The official General Hospital Instagram posted a video of the show’s cast and crew celebrating a huge milestone. The ABC soap opera marked the filming of 16,000 episodes. Steve Burton was spotted in the video, standing with his co-stars as they posed for photos. Other GH stars included in the celebration were Laura Wright, Finola Hughes, Maurice Benard, and more.

The show recently lost a significant character when Kate Mansi announced her exit from the role of Kristina. Steve Burton bringing Jason Morgan back to town – or at least back on screen – is perfect timing as the summer storylines heat up. The actor previously assured fans that he would return from the break after rumors that he was leaving for good.

Fan Favorite Back On General Hospital Set

Jason Morgan left town with everyone thinking that he shot Ross Collum. Viewers know that it was actually Rocco who pulled the trigger. Jason was taken into custody by the WSB and taken to an undisclosed location. Fans of the show were excited to see where the storyline picks up.

• “Looking forward to seeing Anna and Jason soon”
• “we have Jason, Anna, Rocco AND Britt back?! I’m sure there arrivals will all have to do with each other”
• “maybe we can explore Anna’s chemistry with Jason?”
• “Congratulations on this amazing milestone. Here’s to 16,000 more”