Steve Burton Re-joins 'General Hospital' After Divorce Settlement

Steve Burton is starting the new year with renewed opportunities!

Days after the Indianapolis actor closed the door on his marriage to Sheree Gustin, fate opened the path for his spectacular return to an iconic soap opera series. He will reprise his longtime role as Jason Morgan on the beloved "General Hospital" show after losing the gig in 2021 over COVID-19 regulations.

Burton's return to "General Hospital" arrived on the show's 60th Anniversary, with showrunners dropping the news via a dramatic teaser on their X page. The video began on a shadowy stage with three doors placed side by side when a light suddenly flickered above an entrance.

The door opened to reveal "GH" actress Laura Wright in an all-black outfit. "You know what they say when one door closes," she said before the door on the farthest end cut her off to unveil her fellow cast member, Kelly Monaco. "Another door opens," the latter concluded.

The women paused in front of their respective doors, flashing each other intense stares with the background music reaching a crescendo. Then Burton stepped through the center entryway, leaving smoke effects behind while rocking an all-black ensemble similar to Wright's.

"Happy anniversary, General Hospital. Stay tuned. Big things are coming to Port Charles," the actor declared in the pre-recorded clip. His unexpected return sent fans screaming in the comments, with one user chiming:

"I'm so happy! I literally jumped out of my bed! Now, I will never be able to go to sleep! GH needed this !!! Btw handsome as ever !!!!!!!!"

"Omg I can't wait. I've been waiting for him to come back," a fellow supporter declared, while a third wrote, "I just screamed and clapped and woke up the house. Lol. Oops. To say I'm excited is an understatement ♥️"

Burton first appeared on "General Hospital" in 1991, with his character gaining attention as Jason Quartermaine. However, the fictional character reinvented himself as Jason Morgan after losing his memory in a car crash.

The following 11 years saw Burton gaining more popularity for his role, including winning a 1998 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Before his COVID-19 drama, he dropped out of the soap opera series in 2012 and returned in 2017.

Unfortunately, he was fired from the show in 2021 for failing to adhere to the program's COVID-19 regulations. At the time, Burton promised he would return in a statement on Instagram, saying:

"I'll always be grateful for my time at General Hospital. I love it there. Maybe one day, if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor."

As stated, Burton returned to "GH" following the conclusion of his marriage. But his renewed opportunity also marked the end of his time on "Days of Our Lives," which he rejoined at the start of 2023.

He played Harris Michaels, a role he began in 1988 and reprised on the Peacock Original series spinoff "Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem." In his farewell announcement, per Deadline, Burton thanked fans for their support, saying:

"Well, I just shot my final scenes here at Days of Our Lives. I just want to say thank you so much to the cast [and] to the crew. Everybody. It's been amazing. I can't believe it's been a year already! Thank you so much to the fans. It's just I'm always so full of gratitude. So thank you!"

Last year concluded with the end of Burton's longtime marriage to Sheree Gustin. The former couple finalized their divorce after reaching a settlement, which saw both parties waiving their rights to spousal support irrespective of any "unforeseen circumstances."

The agreement noted that Burton will pay Gustin $50,000 in retroactive support following a monthly installment plan of $2,500. The couple will also share joint legal and physical custody of their two minor children, Brooklyn and Jack.

As for the children's finances, the Indianapolis actor will provide Gustin with $12,500 per month in child support for their kids until April 2024. The fees included $10,000 for nine-year-old Brooklyn and $2,500 for 17-year-old Jack.

After April, the monthly child support payment will be reduced to $10,000 — a sum dedicated solely to Brooklyn until she reaches the age of 18. In summary, Burton's child support obligations for Jack will cease when he turns 18 at the end of March 2024.

Burton and Gustin, who tied the knot in January 1999, reportedly fell apart after the patriarch lost his role on "General Hospital." The severity of the situation became public in 2022 when the actor revealed Gustin was expecting another man's child.