Steve Burton Announces Departure from Days of Our Lives After Finalizing Divorce: I’m ‘Full of Gratitude’

The series vet advised fans to “stay tuned” for what’s to come while announcing his exit news, which comes just one year after he officially returned as Harris Michaels

Steve Burton is bidding farewell to Days of Our Lives.

The series vet, 53, announced his departure on Wednesday, just one year after returning to the daytime soap. In his video message to viewers, which was shared with the Daily Drama, he reflected on his time on the show and thanked fans for joining him along the way.

“Wow! Well, I just shot my final scenes here at Days of Our Lives,” he began. “I just want to say thank you so much to the cast [and] to the crew. Everybody. It’s been amazing.”

“I can’t believe it’s been a year already! So, thank you so much to the fans,” he continued. “It’s just, I’m always so full of gratitude. So thank you!”

Wrapping up the video, Burton advised fans to “stay tuned” for what’s to come.

News of Burton’s departure comes just days after he finalized his divorce from his estranged wife Sheree (Gustin) Burton.

According to court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the pair agreed to the terms of the divorce, which included joint legal and physical custody of their son Jack and daughter Brooklyn.

Burton is required to pay his former wife $12,500 per month in child support until April 2024. The monthly payments will then decrease to $10,000 per month thereafter.

Both parties agreed to forgo spousal support “now or at any time in the future, regardless of the unforeseen circumstances that may exist in the future.” However, his ex-wife will receive retroactive support amounting to $50,000.

Burton made his daytime television debut on Days of Our Lives as Harris Michaels in 1988. He left the part in 1990 after two years

This role parlayed him into appearing on fellow beloved soap programs General Hospital and The Young and the Restless. He earned his two Daytime Emmy Awards for his efforts on both shows.

Burton, however, announced in 2021 that he was “let go” from General Hospital for failing to comply with the show’s COVID-19 regulations. He then reprised his role as Harris Michaels in the spinoff, Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, and Days of Our Lives the following year.