Michael Easton Exits General Hospital — And His Final Airdate Is (Very) Soon!
Michael Easton is scrubbing out as General Hospital‘s Hamilton Finn.
The daytime-TV vet announced his exit in a video posted to Instagram early Wednesday morning, Los Angeles time — though Easton apparently “pre-taped” said video and then sat on it for a while, seeing as TVLine has confirmed that his final airdate is… tomorrow, Thursday, June 27!
“I’ve always been partial to the Irish goodbye. That’s where you leave the party without actually telling anyone you’re gone,” Easton says in the video below. “But I thought you all deserved better, so I just wanted to let you know that I just filmed my final scenes here at General Hospital.
“I’ve loved every minute that I’ve been here. I want to thank the entire cast and crew for allowing me to share their stage this past 10 years,” he continues. “Most importantly, I want to thank all of you for the kindness and love you’ve shown me and my family. I won’t ever forget you. And as I walk out here for the last time, and with apologies to the great Lou Gehrig, I feel like the luckiest man on the face of the Earth.”
Easton’s exit news continues a busy week of GH news. On Tuesday, it was announced that five-time Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson is returning as Lucky Spencer. Prior to that, TVLine exclusively reported that Bryan Craig will reprise his role as Morgan Corinthos, the late son of Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly (Laura Wright), for one episode in early August.
Easton’s original move from One Life to Live, where he created the character of John McBain, to GH was first announced in January 2012, as the Llanview-based soap was still winding down its run. Fellow OLTL vet Frank Valentini, then new to GH as showrunner, said at the time, “I am confident viewers and fans alike will be excited for the arrival of John (played by Easton), Starr (Kristen Alderson), Blair (Kassie DePaiva) and Todd (Emmy winner Roger Howarth). Incorporating characters from One Life to Live continue the legacy of the show as we weave them into General Hospital.”
Come February 2013, though, legal/rights issues dictated that Easton, Howarth and Alderson all would have to exit GH as their OLTL characters. Months later, the three OLTL vets returned to GH in brand-new roles.
Easton’s new GH character, Silas Clay, was killed off in August 2016; a little over six months later, he resurfaced in yet another GH role, as Dr. Hamilton Finn.
I’m okay with this.
What??!! Why is he leaving? Makes no sense!! GH, what are you doing?? I hope Violet isn’t leaving, too!!
I hope Jophielle, who plays young Violet gets to stay too. She’s such a wonderful young actress. For anyone who doesn’t know, Jophielle also has recurred in ABC’s Will Trent as Michael Ormewood’s (Jake McLaughlin) daughter, Cooper.
I suspect whatever happens to Finn (death, rehab, character closet), Violet will stay with Chase and Brooklyn.
I’m guessing Violet will stay on and Brooke Lynn and Chase will be her new guardians.
Very classy and talented guy. Was not a fan of Finn but am a fan of Michael Easton since his Days era.
I will miss you, I hope you well.
Last connection to One Life to Live
Except Brook Lynn…
The actor who played Cody spent time on OLTL too.
Didn’t one or both of his Port Charles characters also appear on GH? I miss the 12 week storylines. That would do so well now in the Hulu era…
They did a day or two with Caleb Morley from PC, several years ago.
DOOL has been really enjoying bringing back long lost characters lately (Harris, Diana, Megan)
Could Tanner be coming back to Salem?
HELL TO THE NO NO NO! are you out of your mind?
That bug eyed mess was NOT Diana Colville. Not even remotely close. And don’t even get a Devil started on the abomination they laughingly called “Eve Donovan” in recent years.
Now on the other horn, I could definitely see ReRon calling up his old friend Michael Easton and asking him to come back as Tanner Scofield.
It’s not like Tanner was an important character in the history of Salem, but then neither was Harris Michaels, and they managed to bring him back, 35 years later.
The character was an ok one. I enjoyed his connection with Tracy. More than anything, I’ll miss seeing the actor on my screen. It was nice GH gave him so many opportunities after ABC killed One Life to Live.
This is a huge disappointment. Easton’s work this week and last, as the character struggled with addiction and possibly losing custody of daughter Violet, has been really amazing. After the ho-hum relationship with Elizabeth, I was glad to see him in an interesting storyline.
I was seriously thinking he would get the Emmy. Still could I guess.
But is this whole plot being dropped? It seemed really promising. Hopefully it will get wrapped up since they film several weeks ahead.
The story will finish and Chase and Brooklyn will get custody of Violet.
I know people have been complaining about the plausibility of this storyline happening so quickly, but ME has been killing it these past few weeks! He’s shown a range that I don’t think we’ve seen his entire time as this character. He’s going out strong.
What will happen to violet???
Violet is going to Chase and Brooklyn.
Michael is a brilliant actor he makes it look so easy people might take it for granted. However his recent performances with his TV dad & the aftermath was of Gregory’s death were so riveting and truthful I rewatched them. I hope he gets an Emmy nomination next year. Thank you Michael for your talent, class and dedication to your craft.
I agree. He’s going out with a bang.
General Hospital has a bad habit of ruining good characters, Austin, Nicholas, Finn and Valentine while keeping the same over used Sonny, Carly, Nina, Josselyn. Mix it up!
I’ll miss him. Always liked Michael Easton. I heard Violet was leaving too. Hopefully he’s got something else booked and we can see him again
No surprise based on the current storyline where is has alienated himself from everyone and Violet was taken away by court order. This allows her to stay on the show at the Quartermain house after he leaves for rehab.
Exactly. It’s obvious that’s how this was going to go. I just wish they’d stop coddling that child. She’s not 5 years old. They need to just sit her down and explain to her what is happening.
But there is so much that could be done with his storyline. Most interesting it’s been in a long time! Seems like a bad time to leave the show. Disappointing!
I’’VE BEEN WATCHING GH EVERY SINCE I’VE BEEN RETIRED I’VE ENJOYED WATCHING HOWEVER I’M BECOMING A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED LATELY IT’S SO MANY DISAPPOINTING CHANGES SO MANY ACTORS LEAVI AND IT’S BEEN SO DEPRESSING LATELY NOTHING BUT BAD NEWS NO GOOD NEWS SO SAD IT ONCE WAS A VERY GOOD DAYTIME SHOW
why are you yelling?
Finally…
No need to ruin Finn’s life work, his love for his father, brother and his daughter by making him a mean, selfish drunk. This was not the man we saw and respected for the last 8 years. Now there is a little lost soul left without a grandfather and a father. Stop destroying your characters. I am not ok with this.
What will Micheal Easton do next ? Cause I am really going to miss him a lot !
We all gonna skip over this “Llanview-based soap”???? New York-based soap. 😁😁😁
He is a great actor who suffered from a lousy decision to create a romantic pairing that did not work. The ALS storyline was excellent. This last story of Finn’s relapse to drinking rather than pills was rushed, I assume because he was leaving, but it still could have been written much better. Here’s hoping that the changes at GH are good for the show in the long run.
Never saw OLTL or GH but loved him in Mutant X
I met him yearrrsss ago and he graciously signed my Mutant X DVD! Lol He got a pretty good chuckle out of it too when I asked. Super nice guy.
So sad to see him go!!
So they dumped Roger Howarth and Gregory Harrison, and now Michael Easton. The way they’ve been writing Valentin and Ava I think they have to be next. Is this all to find the $$ to afford Steve Burton and some other expensive people? Or does somebody really want to purge all the OLTL faves and Cassadines and anybody who isn’t part of Jason, Sonny or Carly’s story? I guess I shouldn’t complain because I haven’t been watching since they killed off Gregory. He was a really good character played by a really good actor and he gave Jane Elliot something to do. They were so great together. Can’t have that. It might mean people invest in something besides JaSonCar rinse repeat.
I am very sad to see Finn leave however they do it. Have loved him on GH for last 10 yrs and on OLTL. I wish Michael Easton nothing but the best and hopefully Finn will resurface one day! I can dream! Love you Finn!
We willl miss Finn very much! Love his character! Good luck and may God go with you wherever you go.