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Steve Burton Announces He’s Taking a Break from ‘General Hospital’

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: ABC/SBurtoncom

General Hospital star Steve Burton confirmed on February 10 that he has decided to step away from his role of Jason Morgan to focus on his family, but for a short hiatus.

Taking to his Instagram on Tuesday morning, the two-time Daytime Emmy winner explained, “Hey everyone, I wanted to share that I’ll be taking a short break from General Hospital. “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family. I’m grateful for all the support and will be back this summer. Much love.”

Burton cleverly chose the Simple Minds song, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” to accompany his Instagram message. As Burton’s fans know, he tied the knot with his lady love chef and content creator Michelle Lundstrom back on May 17, 2025.

Photo: ABC

Frank Valentini, the executive producer of General Hospital offered up this statement on Burton’s departure to Soap Opera Digest: “We love Steve and I am glad the show worked it out so he can get some personal time with his family. We have some great Jason story leading up to spring and look forward to his return in the summer.”

Burton taped his last episode for now on Friday, February 6. The show is set to go on a two-week hiatus. With GH taping several weeks ahead of air, viewers will still see Jason in the thick of his current story trying to save Anna (Finola Hughes) and Britt (Kelly Thiebaud), and bring down Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) and Sidwell (Carlo Rota).

On Monday’s February 9 episode, Jason learned of Anna’s supposed mental breakdown and believes the WSB baddies have something to do with her condition. Meanwhile, Jason and Britt finally have become closer. Could something happen to Jason again, where he disappears off the canvas for several months, or could GH go by way of how they handled Kristen Storms temporary leave, when Maxie was put into a coma? In an ironic twist, as Kirsten Storms returns on-screen this week on February 12, we soon will say a temporary goodbye to Steve Burton.

COMING AND GOING FROM GENERAL HOSPITAL

This is not the first time Steve has left General Hospital. Having debuted back on 1991 as Jason Quartermaine during his initial run, when it came to signing a new contract in 1999, he decided not to sign on the dotted line at that time. He later came back full-time in May of 2002. Then, in 2012, he exited again and eventually made his way to The Young and the Restless to take on the role of Dylan McAvoy in 2013.  He later returned to GH in 2017, but wound up exiting again at the end of 2021, due to the Disney/ABC Covid vaccine policy that had been implemented.

After heading to Days of our Lives for a few years, when the dust settled with the Covid pandemic, Steve announced his comeback on the January 4, 2024 special General Hospital: 60 Years of Stars & Storytelling, and was first seen on air on March 4 of that year. He has stayed with the series since that time.

What are your thoughts on Steve Burton taking an extended break until this summer? What do you think, given his desire for some time away, they will do with the character of Jason Morgan? Will he disappear? Be injured? Something else? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

 

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Hope he has a great break. Maybe he will be caught in some cold fusion experiment and he is frozen in some unknown side affect… then he could re- emger with the same affect Nathan is in…

Since it appears they had some time to plan this, let’s hope the writers think of a clever way to usher Jason off the canvas. No coma (used too much recently) nor assumed death (been there, done that twice). Maybe something happens to Danny where Jason feels he needs to get him out of Port Charles for a while?

This also frees some money in Frank’s budget for 4 months. Use that to thoroughly rework some sets (MC dining room, Windermere).

Yes, exactly. No more comas or fake death. They need to come up with something more interesting.

keep it simple how bout Jason takes off with Danny to be with/Jake and spend sometime with his kids. Wasn’t Finola Hughes off for a while to ? they sure kept her off the air for a while with her kidnap saga, and is Jason gonna disappear for a while? does this mean this Faison storyline is winding down? I sure hope so,

Here we go again. Maybe he marries Britt and they take a long honeymoon.

Good! I will never miss him

Hopefully it’s nothing serious

Maybe the new wife wants a baby Baby making times

He could do that on a coffee break lol

I hope he’s pretaped some episodes, much like Finola Hughes did before her recent vacation, so his absence isn’t as bad as it could be.

Because we all saw what GH can turn into when Jason’s not around, like that toilet spiral of a show that existed from November 2021 – March 2024.

Hopefully they will come up with a viable reason for his absence, and not bother with another “presumed death” story, because nobody’s going to buy that again.

I hope he’s pretaped some episodes, much like Finola Hughes did before her recent vacation, so his absence isn’t as bad as it could be.

Given everything I have read online today, it sounds like this is what’s been done. Because, otherwise, other storylines would pause.

Let’s hope they had him pre-tape material so his absence won’t be so noticeable. I really hope they aren’t going with the missing and presumed dead gag again.

We’ll likely see Jason on screen through the end of March or first week of April as Burton’s last tape day was last Friday (2/6).

Frank or Steve would’ve mentioned pre-taping. Burton’s 2-year contract ends next month (he returned in March 2024). Similar to Kirsten Storms, he’ll likely be off-contract until his return in the summer, thus saving on the show’s production budget.

Good we can see more of Fizz instead!

Please…NO Coma….NO death…NO hostage holding. Please just don’t show him for a while. There are many characters on GH to fill the airtime. Please don’t waste out time with one of these stupid types of stories where we know the end game already. Let him enjoy his time with his family and allow us to continue GH’s story without being insulted by a lame exit.

I am so happy for Steve and his family ! He is a newlywed, let him enjoy it !! Nothing is more important than family. Everything else can be replaced !! See you in the summer ☀️

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‘Santa Barbara’ Alums A Martinez and Marcy Walker: In Conversation; Two-Hour Livestream Event with the Iconic Cruz and Eden Announced

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Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 7.  That’s when Daytime Emmy winners, A Martinez and Marcy Walker, also known as beloved Santa Barbara supercouple, Cruz and Eden, will participate in a global two-hour streaming event where they will be in conversation together for the first time in years.

The last time A and Marcy appeared publicly together was back in August of 2024, when both stars were in attendance at the 40th anniversary of Santa Barbara. Now, host Melissa Braverman, who has also penned the upcoming book, Santa Barbara: The Complete Story, will moderate this special event beginning at 4pm ET/1pm PT.

Fans around the world who continue to celebrate the enduring legacy of Santa Barbara will be able to watch Braverman lead an intimate discussion with the actors and go behind the iconic characters of Cruz Castillo and Eden Capwell.

Photo: JPI

In a statement, Braverman shared, “A Martinez and Marcy Walker didn’t just play a couple. They created a cultural phenomenon that resonated across continents. This event is a rare opportunity for fans to hear directly from A and Marcy about their chemistry, their favorite storylines, and the lasting impact of the show’s unique storytelling.”

She added, “A and Marcy’s partnership as Cruz and Eden was unforgettable. Bringing them together for a dedicated conversation about their SB journey is a true event, and a testament to their enduring appeal and the sheer popularity of the characters they created.”

The exclusive event will feature: a moderated discussion exploring the actors’ favorite memories from the Santa Barbara set. Behind-the-scenes insights into the show’s most famous location shoots and dramatic arcs, and a Q&A session where ticket holders can submit questions in advance to the stars.

Martinez, currently starring in AMC’s hit series Dark Winds is known for his multi-decade TV and film career. He won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1990 for his portrayal of Cruz. In the soaps, A has also appeared on General Hospital, One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives and The Bay. Walker, whose unforgettable daytime run began as Liza Colby on All My Children before her definitive turn on Santa Barbara, took home the Outstanding Lead Actress honors in 1989 for her work as Eden Capwell.

Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime reunion are $100, and registration is open now. For additional event information, visit Melissa’s author page on Facebook or www.melissabraverman.com.

So, if you are a Santa Barbara fan and one of the unforgettable Cruz and Eden, does this sound like the event for you? Let us know, and share your favorite Santa Barbara moment and storyline of Cruz and Eden’s via the comment section, But first, in case you missed it, the Michael Fairman Channel shared the arrivals at the 40th anniversary of Santa Barbara in this video below.

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Jennifer Harmon, ‘One Life to Live’s’ Cathy Craig, and ‘How to Survive a Marriage’ Star, Dead at 82

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Sad news to report for the One Life to Live family. Actress Jennifer Harmon who was the last actress to play the emotionally troubled Cathy Craig has passed away. Harmon, who also starred on the defunct NBC soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage, died in New York on May 9 at the age of 82. Harmon’s family made the announcement.

Jennifer was the fifth actress to play One Life to Live’s Cathy, following Catherine Burns, Amy Levitt, Jane Alice Brandon and Dorrie Kavanaugh. During her two year tenure with the soap, from 1976 through 1978, she received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series at the 5th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 1978. The award that year went to Another World’s Laurie Heineman (ex-Sharlene Frame).

In her soap career, not only did Harmon have major success as Cathy on One Life to Live, but she starred on NBC’s new soap opera, How to Survive a Marriage as Chris Kirby and stayed with the series through its entire run which lasted just over a year from 1974-1975.   

Photo: NBC

How to Survive a Marriage told the story of divorced couple as they battle for custody of their daughter, and as the mom enters the workforce. In the span of a year, Chris got divorced, remarried and battled alcoholism. Rosemary Prinz was the featured name in the cast.

On One Life to Live, Cathy was the nemesis of Victoria Lord (Erika Slezak). Cathy blamed the wealthy Viki for the accident that killed her child Megan Craig Riley (even though the baby has a congenital heart defect and her life expectancy was short).  So, she set out to make Viki’s life hell by kidnapping Viki and Joe’s child, Kevin.

Later,  Jennifer would return to One Life to Live in the 90s to play Viki’s attorney in a new role, went on to play Jean Weatherill on Guiding Light in 1991 and Lucretia Jones on Loving in 1995. Her primetime TV credits included: Barnaby JonesDallasThe White ShadowSt. ElsewhereHomicide: Life on the StreetOzRescue Me and The Good Wife.

Harmon was also known as one of the most accomplished stage actresses on Broadway having appeared over 21 times in different productions spanning nearly 50 years including in plays of the works of legendary playwrights: Noël Coward, Wendy Wasserstein, Lillian Hellman, Neil Simon, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee and Jon Robin Baitz. Throughout her theatre career she was was known as a reliable actress, and at times was an understudy for the likes of: Stockard Channing, Judi Dench, Jessica Lange, Blythe Danner and Jessica Lange.

Share your remembrances of Jennifer Harmon on One Life to Live, How to Survive a Marriage, and more, in the comment section below.

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‘EastEnders’ Wins Best Soap at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards

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Our friends from across the pond, BBC One’s EastEnders took home Best Soap honors at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards in London, England on Sunday, May 10.

Just last year, EastEnders celebrated 40 years on television and has seen a resurgence. In attendance were cast members: Michelle Collins, Jessie Wallace, Diane Parish, and Aaron Thiara, as well former executive producer Chris Clenshaw and his successor, current showrunner Ben Wadey.

EastEnders was nominated in the category along with their rivals, Casualty and Coronation Street. Accepting on stage was 20-year veteran of the series, Diane Parish, who paid tribute to all the hard working people in front of the camera and behind the scenes. “It’s not easy doing a soap, but we manage to make it work,” shared Parish.

Courtesy/BBCOne

A BIG RETURN AND MEDICAL CRISIS IN STORY AHEAD

Recently, it was confirmed that in honor of her two decades with the show, Parish’s character, Denise Fox, is set for a major storyline this year, when she is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer.

And there’s more! In the winner’s press room, Ben Wadey shared there is a major return in store teasing,“I would keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks, there might be some surprises on the horizon.”

On the official EastEnders Instagram account it also shared, “EastEnders has gone and won the Soap award at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards! 🎉🥳🍾🙌What a huge honour, we truly couldn’t be prouder. Thank you BAFTA the whole cast and crew will be holding this one high when it makes it way home to Walford.”

Photo: EastEnders

BAFTA TV AWARD HISTORY IS MADE

Adolescence, the Netflix drama that took home Emmys and Golden Globes stateside, made BAFTA TV history during the ceremony winning four awards for the first time ever. Stephen Graham finally took home the coveted Leading Actor category in what was his 8th attempt to win a BAFTA in the fields of both TV and motion pictures.

The series is Netflix’s second most-watched English-language show of all time, and won BAFTA’s for Limited Drama and Supporting Actor and Actress for Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco. 

For a complete list of all the winners, click here.

So, happy to hear EastEnders won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Soap? If you catch EastEnders, who do you think might be returning on the horizon as teased by the series current EP? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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