Can fans take Steve Burton at his word that he will leave acting behind in a few years?

Disclaimer: This article is not a judgment against Steve Burton but holding him accountable for what he has said in public. Actors are human and allowed to change their minds but fans pay attention to what is in print or on a video.

Out with Harris and in with Jason

Steve Burton is a beloved soap vet and General Hospital viewers are excited that he is returning to his role as Jason Morgan. Burton says he has taped his last Days of Our Lives episode as Harris Michaels and already back on the ABC set. Spoilers tease that Harris will be shot during February sweeps and although DOOL fans don't know if he will die they are prepared for him to exit Salem.

Some General Hospital viewers are concerned, however, because of a rumor that Burton said he will stop acting in two or three years. These fans want to see more of him as Stone Cold but before they become bent out of shape that his return will be brief and over before it begins let's look at the actor's track record of following up on what he says.

Steve Burton's comments on his career

When Burton left General Hospital in late 2012 he said he was done with acting and was moving away from California to the Midwest to spend more time with his family. Only months later in 2013, he joined the cast of The Young and the Restless as Dillon MacaVoy. (Strike 1) In 2017 he returned to GH (After saying he would not) as Patient 6 who later turned out to be Jason. (Strike 2)

Burton was let go from General Hospital in October 2021 because he would not get a COVID-19 vaccine. When he joined the cast of Days of Our Lives Beyond Salem II in the summer of 2023 he said he was not looking for a long-term job because of his family and other commitments. Burton mentioned his tours and Stone Cold and the Jackal podcasts with his General Hospital castmate Bradford Anderson (Damian Spinelli).

He also said he had other projects that kept him busy and that he could not commit to a full-time schedule. Even so, he accepted a contract role on Days of Our Lives for one year. (Strike 3) When it was announced that he would be heading back to Port Charles Burton said he felt like this was his home and he had left the door openh that he might one day return and now he has.

Will Port Charles welcome Jason

Although it has not been confirmed Burton will probably be on contract when he returns to General Hospital. How long he will stick around depends on several factors. When Steve Burton returned to Gh in 2017 he fell back into a life that seemed to be waiting for him.

Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) andh Carly Corinthos Spencer (Laura Wright) were missing him and glad he returned. Although Sam McCall (Kelly Monaco) had moved on with Drew Cain (Billy Miller now Cameron Mathison) she foudn herself caring for Jason again.

A lot has changed in Port Charles and some fans wonder if Jason has a place anymore. Carly is involved with his twin brother Drew and Sonny is heavily relying on Brick (Stephen A Smith) and Dex Heller (Evan Hofler) who Jason is not aware of. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Monaco) whom he was building a relationship with is dead and Sam is dating Dante Falconeri (Dominic Zampragna).

Some General Hospital fans believe these changes will leave Jason out in the cold unless the writers are creative and that the storyline will push Steve Burton out the door. If the soap vet did say he would be done with acting in a few years he may have been telling the truth. Based on the way his other decisions went his follower may want to take this with a grain of salt.