General Hospital spoilers and updates tease Steve Burton had a much earlier mentor than Maurice Benard on the show. Long before Maurice came to Port Charles as Sonny Corinthos and hired Jason “Stone Cold” Morgan, there was medical student Jason Quartermaine and his father, Alan Quartermaine aka Stuart Damon.
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General Hospital Spoilers – Like Father And Son, Stuart Was Steve’s First Mentor
Stuart Damon supported the GH writers in giving Steve Burton more opportunities on the show; Maurice Benard also advocated for Steve Burton during his early years on General Hospital.
However, it was Stuart, surprisingly who played a role in transforming Burton’s character, Jason Quartermaine, into Jason Morgan; this change had a significant impact on both the actor and the character.
It is possible that Jason Morgan may not have existed if not for this transformation-the Morgan came from Lila Morgan (Anna Lee) Alan’s mother.
In 1991, Burton began portraying a SORASED Jason Quartermaine, who aspired to become a doctor like his parents, Monica Quartermaine (Leslie Charleson) and Alan, Bernard as Sonny arrived in 1993.
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In 1995, Jason was involved in an accident that caused permanent brain damage and memory loss. Sonny took him in and changed his last name to Morgan. From there, Jason became the most formidable enforcer in daytime TV history.
GH Spoilers – Burton Finally Guested On “State Of Mind”
Burton finally had his moment on “State of Mind,” the popular YouTube series dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, hosted by the talented Benard.
In the latest episode on June 2nd, the two shared laughs and delved into Burton’s career journey-with a playful tone, Burton jokingly revealed that he had grown tired of serving tea to Jason’s grandmother, Lila.
Benard, upon seeing a clip of Burton’s work, was captivated by his talent and despite not having had many conversations before, Benard approached Burton and commended him for his depth.
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Curious about his technique, Benard asked the burning question; in a nonchalant manner, Burton replied, “I don’t really have a technique, man… I just do what I do, you know?”
General Hospital Spoilers – So How Did Stuart Damon Play A Role In Changing Jason?
Benard was unaware that Burton was on the verge of quitting and had offered to mentor him.
When Benard questioned the change from Quartermaine to Morgan, he jokingly guessed that Burton was the one who suggested it.
Burton denied it, admitting he was too scared of getting fired to approach the producers; instead, it was Stuart Damon who advocated for him.
Burton said Stuart Damon was a strong supporter of his-he would always say, ‘Give this guy a chance, he’s talented’-he believed in me even before you did.” Burton explained how Benard mentored him and helped him explore his character’s emotions.
However, he always remembered the impactful storyline Damon had pushed the producers and writers to create for him.
GH Spoilers – Steve Burton Praised Damon Upon His Passing In 2021
In June 2021, Burton mourned the loss of Damon, who passed away at age 84. Sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, Burton praised Damon as one of the greatest guys ever, highlighting his kindness, generosity, and humor.
He also emphasized Damon’s role as a loving husband and father, expressing his sorrow over the loss. Burton highlighted not only the onscreen father and son relationship between the two, but the offscreen one as well-calling him truly his first mentor on GH.
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