Steve Burton Celebrates Return To ‘General Hospital’ After Being Fired For Refusing To Take Covid-19 Vaccine

Steve Burton said it feels “amazing” to be back starring as mobster Jason Morgan on the soap opera General Hospital after being fired in 2021 for refusing to comply with a Covid-19 vaccine mandate.

The 53-year-old actor recently said that “life is amazing right now” since rejoining the cast of the ABC soap in March.

“It’s been amazing to come back to the show. It’s always felt like home,” Burton said on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmy Awards with ET. “I love the cast, I love the crew, and life is amazing right now. It really is, truly.”

Burton was dropped from General Hospital in November 2021 after he refused to abide by the series’ COVID vaccine requirement. He said at the time that his requests for religious and medical exemptions had been denied.

“Which, you know, hurts, but this is also personal freedom to me. I don’t think anyone should lose their livelihood over this,” Burton said in an Instagram video when he departed.

After leaving GH, Burton landed roles on the Days of Our Lives spinoff Beyond Salem and the main series in 2023. But he made a surprise appearance on General Hospital‘s 60th anniversary episode in March to announce his return.

Burton has reprised his Daytime Emmy-winning role for the third time, having played Jason from 1991 to 2012 and again from 2017 until 2021, when he was fired over the vaccine issue.

The actor says he’ll “always be grateful” for his time on General Hospital and believes “when one door closes, multiple doors open.”