Photo Credit: CBS

One of the biggest stars in the soap genre landed in Genoa City two and half years ago, and since that time there has been no looking back for Daytime Emmy winner and fan favorite, Steve Burton.  Playing the role of a war vet and all around good guy, Dylan McAvoy on CBS’ The Young and the Restless, and learning about his on-screen family ties has been the backdrop for plenty of drama.  After all, it turned out Dylan is the bio-child of none other than rich, and often boozing socialite, Nikki Newman (Melody Thomas Scott), and the man always on the right side of the law, Paul Williams (Doug Davidson).  But while trying to adjust to his new connections, Dylan’s former flame Avery Bailey Clark (Jessica Collins) was also in town, and the two struck up their romance that had many ups and downs.  But in the end the two parted ways, especially when it became apparent that Dylan had fallen for the often misunderstood, often troubled, but loveable and beautiful Sharon Newman (Sharon Case), who has been doing everything she can to get her life back on track.  Now Sharon is pregnant with Dylan’s child.  The question is can the duo known as “Shylan” build a family, and find happiness that will last?

On-Air On-Soaps sat down with Steve Burton to get his thoughts on the rollercoaster ride that his character has gone through in the love department of late, and to chat with him about his co-stars, past and present.  Recently, Jessica Collins finished her four year run on the series as Avery, and shared heart-tugging final scenes with Dylan.  Steve fills us in on the dramatic and emotional finish to their on-screen relationship, and moving on to work with Y&R stalwart Sharon Case as his leading lady.

During our conversation Steve teases upcoming episodes where Dylan will work very closely with Paul.  And he pays tribute to his former General Hospital cast mate, Tony Geary (Luke Spencer) as the legend ended his 37-year-run on-air this week.  Steve also reflects on the joy of being a dad for the third time, and finding a new lease on life working at The Young and the Restless.  With great candor, charm, humor, and professionalism, you can’t get much better then Mr. B.  Here’s what he shared.

MICHAEL:

Viewers of Y&R recently saw the poignant goodbye scenes between Dylan and Avery, as Jessica Collins (Avery) left the series.  Major kudos has to go to both of you.  First, for the touching performances in your final on-screen moments together, and also for having the ability to bring to a life a back-story that no one saw previously on-air … and to make it work.

STEVE:

Courtesy/CBS

It was different for me to come on and have this back-story that we didn’t know.  All we knew was that Avery (Jessica Collins) was married, and it was then, “OK, now do your scene!” (Laughs)  Jessica is an amazing actress, and an all-around anything you can ask for in a scene partner, and always willing to work.  We worked on our stuff a lot, and trusted each other.  And when you trust each other, things can happen on the stage that are not planned, or aren’t on the page.  It’s the kind of relationship we had, and obviously the goodbyes are difficult.  We hate to lose her, and I loved working with her.  It wasn’t really acting, because you are saying goodbye to someone who you have a great working relationship with.  Those are not easy scenes, in general.

MICHAEL:

Did you rehearse those scenes, or did you let them organically happen, because the emotional stakes were high, in that it was Jessica’s final scenes with you?

STEVE:

It’s weird.  The person is leaving and your relationship on the show is ending.  I learned the dialogue, of course, but I don’t really want to say it out loud till we tape.  Everybody knew it was going to be emotional.  Christian LeBlanc (Michael) and all of her friends were there, and hanging around the set.  Those scenes you have to really hold back more on than cry.  That is what we really should be doing all the time.  For me, the more difficult one was the moment in the hotel room with Joe (Scott Elrod), and Dylan kind of said goodbye to her there, first.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/CBS

The most touching moment occurred after Dylan and Avery said their goodbyes. Dylan goes behind the coffee house counter, and pulls out his journal with a beautiful picture of Avery that he has kept with him all this time, and even through the war. What did you think of that little accent on the scene that gave it even more heart?

STEVE:

Actors leave and things change. They have to figure out how to give the person a good send off, and wrap it up and button up story.  I thought the picture was actually a very nice touch.  I haven’t had the journal that Dylan writes in on camera with me, so I thought it was nice that they did that for my character when she left.

MICHAEL:

What do you think about the contentious relationship that you have built on-screen with Scott Elrod (Joe) as the thorn in Dylan’s side?

STEVE:

We have had fun doing those types of scenes.  I like punching people! (Laughs) He is very punchable. (Laughs)  Scott is a great guy.  I liked the tension between the two guys.

MICHAEL:

Courtest/CBS

So when you found out that the powers-that-be were now going to pair the character of Dylan with Sharon (Sharon Case), I am assuming you clearly saw the writing on the wall that they were going to become another major duo on the canvas?

STEVE:

You could kind of tell that they were going that way.  The two brilliant things were: Josh Griffith (former head writer, Y&R, now co-head writer DAYS) doing it when I first got here as a friendship, instead of going romantically that way in the beginning.  If he hadn’t done that, we wouldn’t have had the payoff that we do now with the way Chuck Pratt (EP and head writer, Y&R) is writing us.  And it works!  The audience seems to respond to it, and it’s working!  It’s fun, and we have a lot of great story coming up.

MICHAEL:

I think these two characters have both suffered from forms of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in different points in their lives, so they probably have a deep understanding of what tragedy and stress can do to someone, which draws them even closer.   Do you think Sharon could calm Dylan down if he has an episode of PTSD?

STEVE:

(Laughs) I am the calming element in Sharon’s life right now.  Sharon has been very stable lately, and it’s great to show that side of her.  I enjoy the pacing of what we are doing, but who knows what’s down the line … or what could be coming?

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

MICHAEL:

Is it at all hard for you to play the good guy all the time?  I know Y&R head writer Chuck Pratt Jr. does see that as one of your strengths that you are, and can play a lovable, sincere, real good guy with emotional substance.  Do you think that is what you bring to the table?

STEVE:

I think more of my personality has probably shown than I could ever do before in my role as Dylan, which is great.  I don’t want to say I am playing myself, but a lot of times I am myself.  It’s much easier for me to play this role, because I can have fun, and can joke and smile! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Sharon is pregnant, and Dylan had a very difficult time upon learning the son that he thought he had with Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan), then baby Connor, was actually Adam’s (Justin Hartley).  Because of his previous heartbreak, is there just a twinge in him that thinks that the rug could be pulled out from under him, again?

STEVE:

Courtesy/CBS

I don’t know.  Dylan wants a kid so bad.  He wants a family. That’s the one thing he wants, and the normalcy of having a family.  And with him being off to war, and coming back and having issues with how Dylan and Avery’s relationship was, and they couldn’t really get together, that was hard on him.  Joe came back into the picture, and there was never any amount of serenity at all in Dylan’s life, including finding out who his biological parents were – all of the things that have happened in his life in the last two and half years.  Sharon’s pregnant now, and we are going to go down that road, and let’s see what happens!

MICHAEL:

Y&R is much faster-paced right now than it was in recent years.  It has more action, and less traditional two-person scenes.  Which do you prefer?

STEVE:

My personal opinion does not matter, because the ratings are the ratings right now.  Number one: they are doing something right.  Number two: I don’t mind the fast pace because for a while it was very slow.  Things weren’t moving, and Chuck Pratt came in and started moving things.  I know some fans like it, and some fans don’t, but again the ratings are what they are right now, and it’s pretty impressive.  I’ve got to say, I am impressed!  For a soap to have its highest rating in five years, in the daytime landscape now … people are tuning-back in!  That’s cool!  The great thing about coming to work at Y&R is I get to come to work and focus on it, and then I get to go home, and be with my family in Nashville.

MICHAEL:

Tony Geary’s (Luke Spencer) last episode on General Hospital aired on Monday, which means it’s the end of an era for a man that broke the mold in our genre.  What can you share about your time working with Tony while at GH, and his legacy?

STEVE:

Courtesy/ABC

When I came to GH, and I don’t want to take any credit away from any other daytime person who was before Tony Geary, but Tony changed the ballgame for daytime, and changed everything.  You had this guy who was such a phenomenal actor in this space that the story he was put in with Luke and Laura (Genie Francis), and the rape, and the fact that their wedding became the most watched television event in the history of daytime … you can’t forget that!  That was in 1981, and we are now 30 years plus past that.  He changed a lot for guys like me to come along, and be on a show, and do what we do.  Tony was always a great mentor, always a great guy, and professional when you worked with him. You’ve got to step up your game when you work with Tony Geary.  I know he is really appreciated by a lot of people.  He deserves all of the accolades he gets.  Tony is just a great person, and such a cool guy that he doesn’t make you nervous.  Now, Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) he makes you nervous! (Laughs) And he knows what I am talking about! (Laughs)  But I remember I had one scene in Luke’s bar, where we were actually short.  It was right after I became Jason Morgan, and they basically let us improv a scene, which has never happened since then in my life.  They would go, “So, this has to be kind of about this.  So just go!”  It was cool to do that with him.  I am so glad Tony gets to go to his home in Amsterdam, because we would have conversations about it all of the time.  It’s been his last year for the last 20 years (Laughs)!  He would say to me, “Yeah. I think this is it, Steve.  I am going to leave.  I think it’s time.”  And I would go, “Get out of here!  Go home, man.” (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

The incomparable Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) plays your mother on Y&R. How was it when you first met Mel, and the two of you created this mother and son bond?

STEVE:

Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com

With Melody, she was, and is awesome, and was open to me immediately.  I have the same chemistry with her as I did with Leslie Charleson on GH (Monica), where no matter how long we didn’t work together, when we did, it just felt like mother and son.  Same thing with Mel.  It was just kind of there. 

MICHAEL:

Doug Davidson plays your on-screen dad.  Paul is always telling Dylan to stop getting in his way during his official police investigations! (Laughs)  How was creating the relationship with Doug as father and son?

STEVE:

It was very easy.  Doug and I are close in real life, and that was a no-brainer.  I have spent a lot of time after work with him, and I love the guy.   It’s great that he is my dad on the show, because we are going to start working together a lot coming up.  There is some good stuff we are playing that will emphasize the father and son relationship.

MICHAEL:

In real life, you and your wife Sheree welcomed your third child almost a year ago at this time.  How has it been being a dad with three kids now?  Shocking? (Laughs)

STEVE:

Courtesy/SBurtonTwitter

It was surprise baby Brooklyn!  It is awesome!  I thought it was going to be a horrible drag being older now, and having an 11-year-old and a 9-year-old, and having such a huge gap.  I was like, “I don’t know if this is going to be good, or what’s going to happen.”  It’s amazing!   The kids love having her.  It changed the dynamic in the house.  As kids get older they start doing their own thing.  They are upstairs by themselves watching movies, or hanging out, so you might not see your kids for three hours, or be hanging out with them.  But now with the baby, everybody is always together.

MICHAEL:

How is Nashville working out for you?  It seems like all your buddies have moved out there, too!

STEVE:

I love it there.  I actually have a social life there, after 43 years I figure I could have one! (Laughs)  Scott Reeves (Ex-Y&R, DAYS, GH)  is there, Jonathan Jackson (Ex-GH, now Nashville) is there, and one of my wife’s best friend’s husband, who she went to school with got a job there as an Athletic Director at a private girl’s school.  We are all there, and it’s a lot of fun.

MICHAEL:

Does your wife ever watch your work on Y&R?

STEVE:

Photo Credit: Kushalagband

No, not really.  She is usually just asking, “So what’s happening on the show now?”  And I will go, “Well, you know I am at the coffee house, and Avery’s baking cakes.” (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

What would you still like to explore with the character of Dylan?  Would you be interested to delve into more back-story about what happened to him in the war?

STEVE:

I don’t think the war thing should ever be over with.  We just haven’t gone back and addressed it.  We dabbled in it.  I don’t know if we want to get into it so deeply, but it’s always a great thing to have, from a character aspect.  Anytime something can pop up!  I would like to work more with Melody and Doug, and do the brother thing with Joshua Morrow (Nick).

MICHAEL:

Ummm, the brothers have slept with each other’s girls! (Laughs)

STEVE:

Courtesy/CBS

It’s a soap opera!  I can’t even keep track of who’s sleeping with who on this show, and who’s been where.  It’s a small city, quite honestly! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

What have been some of your personal favorite scenes you have gotten the opportunity to play during your time at Y&R thus far?

STEVE:

It seems like I have had a lot of good scenes to play since being at Y&R.  I liked going down the road a bit with PTSD, and the material with Dylan and Avery being highly emotional.  The first year when Dylan found out that Connor was not his, was amazing to get to do.  Then, I would say the reveal with Paul that he is, in fact, Dylan’s biological father.  And I would say, I liked the scenes that just aired where Dylan and Avery say goodbye.

MICHAEL:

What are your thoughts about working with the iconic Eric Braeden (Victor)?

STEVE:

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Oh, I love Eric!  He has an energy about him that you just don’t know what he is going to do in a scene.  He could say something else that’s not even on the page, and you just roll with it.  We did this one scene, and it really wasn’t on the page and it ended up being a good scene.  Eric said, “Thanks for rolling with me on that!”  And I said, “Thank you Mr. Braeden.  I will have your coffee in your room in about an hour!” (Laughs)  By the way. I paid my dues here with Joshua and Eric.  I will be serving the Newmans for the next few years! (Laughs)

MICHAEL:

Dylan looks to be truly in love with Sharon right now.  What are your thoughts on that, coming out of having this long-standing relationship with Avery?

STEVE:

He has a great relationship with Sharon right now, and Dylan loves her.  But I do want to say what has been unique, and this is one thing I never got to play as an actor … I never had to play that I had feelings for two women at the same time.  That is a very interesting dynamic for me, because that is so not what I was used to before.  As an actor, I found it very challenging where things weren’t really great between Dylan and Avery.  She is up with Joe taking care of this guy who is using her, and she can’t see through it.  But then there is this girl over here who is a friend, who is attractive, and wait a minute … I am feeling something here, too!  Then, there was no communication between Dylan and Avery, and there were a lot of assumptions.  Then a lot of things happened where Dylan just kept going towards Sharon, and taking care of her, and finding that she needed him.  So it was interesting, because as an actor I can see that he loves Avery, but I also could see how Sharon and he are friends, and it could be more one day … and it ended up going there.

MICHAEL:

Photo Credit: Ashtonion Twitter

When Avery was raped, Dylan was just ripped up inside.  When he went to see her following that, it was just heartbreaking. What made it interesting also is that he had to leave Sharon to go check on Avery to make sure she was alright, because that it the kind of guy he is.

STEVE:

If it was even a friend, or an acquaintance of someone who got raped, I would be torn up.  And if it was someone you love and wanted to be with forever, and that happened, I would kill somebody.  I get goose bumps now thinking about when Dylan saw her for the first time after she was raped.  It was also how Jessica played it, too.  And you are right, Michael, at that point you could see that Dylan was leaning towards Sharon.  Then all of a sudden the rape happened!  He was like, “I’ve got to go over there and take care of Avery real quick.”  He likes to take care of people!  I don’t know if this is a serial bad habit (laughs), or a good thing?

MICHAEL:

So for all the Shylan fans out there, can you tell them that this relationship has legs?

STEVE:

I believe it does.  It’s a love story.  I don’t see any other way it would go right now. Working with Sharon Case (Sharon) is fun, and she is never in a bad mood   She has a very positive outlook on life.  I am in good hands at Y&R, and I know I have said it a million times, but it’s true.  The cast and the crew have been so welcoming.

MICHAEL:

Courtesy/Pinterest

In closing, when you look back at when it was announced that you were coming to Y&R and showed up at this fantastic new place for you to work, you don’t think anyone was going, “Oh, God!  Burton’s coming?” (Laughs)

STEVE:

Well, I am sure a lot were, because someone new was coming on to the show, and I am not joking when I say, I started over here.  It’s great, and making that transition, and going to Nashville, and coming here has turned out to have been life-changing for me, personally.  Once there was an end, there was a new beginning for me.  I could not be more grateful.