Beloved General Hospital star Steve Burton is leaving the ABC soap two years after his return as Jason Morgan.

Burton has played the character on and off for 35 years. The actor has revealed he’s taking a break from General Hospital, but it’s not like his other two exits from the show.

Taking to Instagram, Burton revealed he is taking a temporary leave of absence from the ABC soap until the summer.

“Hey everyone, I wanted to share that I’ll be taking a short break from @generalhospitalabc 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,” he wrote as his caption as well as on a photo of him sporting Jason’s signature black T-shirt look.

Burton didn’t give any other details. General Hospital tapes four to six weeks in advance, so Burton and Jason will be on-screen for a little while longer. Soap Opera Digest confirmed that Burton taped his last day as Jason on Friday, February 6.

Executive producer of General Hospital, Frank Valentini, confirmed Burton’s break with a statement 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,” Valentini shared with the outlet.

The soap star married Michelle Lundstrom in May 2024. Burton was previously married to Sheree Gustin, with whom he shares children, Makena,Jack, and Brooklyn. Lundstrom has two daughters from her previous marriage.

This isn’t the first time Burton has taken a break from General Hospital. In 2012, he left the show to pursue other projects and joined The Young and the Restlessas Dylan for five years.

Burton returned in 2017, only to leave again in 2021 amid General Hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, and came back again in spring 2024.