Steve Burton, who has portrayed Jason Morgan on “General Hospital” since the early 1990s, recently announced to fans that he would be taking a temporary hiatus from the soap. Burton shared that he needed some time off to spend with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom, and their blended family.
Amid the hiatus, Maurice Benard, who has portrayed Sonny Corinthos on “GH” for more than three decades, took to social media to praise Burton. Here’s what the soap legend had to say.
Maurice Benard Praises Steve Burton in New Social Media Post
As viewers are well aware, Jason Morgan is Sonny Corinthos’s right-hand man in Port Charles. However, what some fans might not know is that the duo is pretty close in real life, too.
In a recent Instagram post, Benard posted an old clip of Burton from the podcast, “State Of Mind with Maurice Benard.”
Benard captioned his post, “Blast from the Past, I know Steve is taking a little time off from @generalhospitalabc, I was very proud of Steve for doing SOM [State Of Mind]. The way he turned his life around. I call him the next @tonyrobbins.”
In the clip, Burton is speaking out about the importance of mental health. He starts out by saying, “Truly, the only thing we have control over… right, we can eat clean, and you still get a disease.”
In a motion pointing to his head, the soap star continues his thought, saying, “This is the real estate that you have control of, and if you don’t actively work on controlling it, it will control you.”
Benard agrees with Burton’s take in the clip, and the duo empathizes with each other over both having had their own mental health struggles and having to overcome those.
Fans React to Maurice Benard’s Message About Steve Burton
Soon after dropping his latest Instagram post, “General Hospital” fans flooded Benard’s comment section.
One fan wrote, “I agree Maurice!! Steve def has a lot of great insights.”
A second fan added, “My two faves together! I LOVED THIS EPISODE! A dose of truth!”
Another commenter replied, “Oh this conversation had me all in my feels i watched it multiple times it’s truly something that stays with you and know there is always light at the end of the tunnel and to never give up hope.”
Fellow “GH” co-star Asher Antonyzyn also dropped into the comment section, writing, “2 very important people to me.” The 16-year-old portrays Burton’s on-screen son, Danny Morgan.
Benard’s post clearly struck a chord with fans and fellow “GH” co-stars, who praised both actors for their honesty and vulnerability.
Maurice Benard Compares Steve Burton to Tony Robbins
Fans who follow Steve Burton shouldn’t be shocked by Benard’s comparison of his co-star to Tony Robbins. Now, while Burton may not have as many followers as Tony Robbins, just yet, the soap star does have quite the knack for motivating others.
Along with his illustrious soap career, Burton is a weight loss and mindset coach. As the founder of M3 Fitness, Burton works with clients worldwide. In his programming, the 55-year-old promotes a holistic approach to health through the three M’s: mind, muscle, and macros.
In addition to working with his private clients through M3 Fitness, Burton continually shares mental health and mindset content with his Instagram followers. Plus, any fans interested in working with Burton privately can find more information through the link in his Instagram bio.
As Burton takes time away from General Hospital, Benard’s public support highlights the strong bond between the two actors, and the fan support reflects the lasting impact both actors have had on viewers.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to reach the toll-free Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week (dial 888-628-9454 for assistance in Spanish). You can also speak with a trained crisis counselor anytime by texting HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line.
