Steve Burton isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. According to a court filing from the General Hospital star, Burton signed a new three-year contract with the ABC soap in June and has permanently relocated back to California.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Burton signed a new three-year contract to remain at General Hospital.
- Burton has permanently moved back to California after his brief hiatus.T
- Burton earned his 11th Daytime Emmy nomination this year.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
The long-term deal comes just months after Burton stepped away from his role as Jason Morgan for what he described as “a short break.” In February, the actor announced on Instagram that he was taking time away after recently marrying chef and content creator Michelle Burton and wanted to spend quality time with his family.
Burton’s temporary exit was written into GH when Jason took the fall for the shooting of WSB agent Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) and was sent overseas to a WSB prison. His final episode before the hiatus aired on March 25.
TMZ reported in August that court documents filed by Burton’s former wife revealed the actor had moved to Tennessee in February 2026. However, his latest filing shows another major change: Burton has since returned to California permanently.
Burton was back on the GH set by June 1, with Jason making his on-screen return July 13. Now, with a three-year contract in place, Burton’s latest filing offers a much clearer picture of his future in Port Charles.
Another Major Milestone for Burton
The contract news came on another big day for Steve Burton. The GH star also received a 2026 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor, marking his fourth nomination in the category and his 11th Daytime Emmy nomination overall.
Burton is already a two-time Daytime Emmy winner. He took home Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1998 for his portrayal of Jason Morgan on GH and won the category again in 2017 for playing Dylan McAvoy on The Young and the Restless.
His history with daytime stretches back more than three decades. Burton debuted as Jason on GH in 1991 and remained with the soap until his first departure in 2012. He joined Y&R as Dylan the following year, staying through 2017 before returning to Port Charles.
After leaving GH again in 2021, Burton resurfaced on Days of Our Lives as Harris Michaels, a role he had briefly played in 1988. He completed filming at DAYS in 2023, setting the stage for another Port Charles comeback.
Character Development
Burton’s new three-year deal comes as Jason Morgan enters a major new chapter on General Hospital. In August, Jason made the life-changing decision to walk away from the mob and end his decades-long association with the Corinthos organization, where he first began working in 1996.
Jason explained his decision to Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard), revealing that his teenage son, Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), played a major role in the choice. After years of putting his life on the line for Sonny and the organization, Jason decided he needed to set a better example for Danny.
With Burton now committed to GH for three more years and Jason leaving his longtime mob life behind, the move opens the door to a very different future for the character in Port Charles.
Are you excited to hear Steve Burton is sticking around Port Charles?
