Some actors like to hop from soap to soap throughout their careers, others like to try their wings at film, and primetime–and then there are others who get that all out of their system and decide there’s no place like home.
That seems to be what’s happened to Steve Burton, the actor who soared to daytime fame as Jason Morgan, also known as Jason Quartermaine with a permanent brain injury.
When Burton left GH in 2012, it wasn’t because he needed to try other things, but because he wanted a more flexible schedule that allowed him to commute to Tennessee where he is raising a family. So, Sam (Kelly Monaco) mourned Jason, then Jason returned as Billy Miller, and now…
Ultimately, Burton did try something new and that something was playing Dylan McAvoy, Nikki and Paul’s long-lost son on The Young and the Restless. He created the role in 2013, and Y&R allowed him the schedule he wanted, but he left earlier this year not sure what would happen next.
According to the September 25 issue of Soap Opera Digest, a chance meeting with Maurice Benard’s agent at the Emmys offered him his next opportunity–one he always knew in the back of his mind he’d have.
“The emotional attachment I have to the show, to the people, to the crew, to everyone there was obviously a gigantic part of my decision-making because I always thought maybe I’d go back,” he told Digest.
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“With the production schedule now, giving me time off to be home with my family, it was a no-brainer. It was the perfect job.”
Burton admits that he signed on not sure of the story (or who he’d play, perhaps, as that is still a mystery), but was just thrilled to be able to return to the show he called home since he was 21-years-old.
“Now, I’m like, ‘Man, I’m so blessed to be able to go back to a show that I grew up on. And hopefully finish there.’ It’s kind of like the circle of life in a weird way.”
The actor is very adamant about his plans to stick around for the long-haul.
“For the record, I’m there longterm,” he told Digest. “This is not stunt casting for me to be here for a month and leave. At all.”
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