James Patrick Stuart recently made a surprising return as Valentin on General Hospital. However, since then, rumors have come out that he might soon be leaving the soap once again.
Some Fans Worry Valentin’s Return To General Hospital Might Be Short-Lived
Stuart is notably the son of the late Chad Stuart, who was part of the musical duo, Chad & Jeremy. James started his career as a child actor, notably playing Dr. Zee on Galactica 1980.
In 1989, Stuart would play Will Cortlandt on All My Children. He would continue in the role until 1992.
In 2016, Stuart would then take on the role of Valetin Cassadine. Initially presented as a character named “Theo,” Valetin is a mysterious member of the Cassadine coming to Port Charles to cause trouble.
The character’s parentage had been an ongoing story, with him turning out to be the son of Victor Cassadine. Notably, Valentin himself is also the biological father of Charlotte Cassadine.
As previously reported, the character made his most recent return to the soap in late December 2024. As recent events showed, Valentin was warned by Anna about legal troubles that could come back to bite him. Since then, the character has decided to flee Port Charles.
While Valentin has presumably gone into hiding from the WSB, viewers have noticed his absence has gone on for quite a while. This has gotten fans to wonder whether Stuart is vacating his role on General Hospital or if Valentin’s return is right around the corner.
Valentin’s Story Could Take Some Time To Be Told
There are reasons to believe there could be more in store for the character. Notably, it took the soap some time to introduce the character.
While Valentin made his debut in 2016, the character was allegedly conceived back in 2009. In other words, it could take more time for Valentin’s full story to unfold.
An interview Stuart previously gave with Soap Opera Digest also assured fans that he loves playing the character. At the time, Stuart was also attached to a Disney series, The Villains of Valley View.
A Love Story For Valentin Might Have Reached Its End
The actor shared that he still wanted to continue in the role in spite of a scheduling conflict. As he noted, “I took Frank [Valentini, executive producer] out to dinner and I told him, ‘I hope you realize that my heart is here. I love the work we do together, I love this family.’ [And] he said, ‘Well, we’ll make it work.’”
This means that Stuart may still have an interest in playing the character should he make his return. However, it’s ultimately the writers who will determine Valentin’s fate and if he will return.
However, there is also another driving character impacting Valentin’s fate. His actions might have also cost him much in his love life.
In particular, his actions might have cost him a relationship with Anna. This could mean the characters could eventually have a confrontation. However, it could also mean the two have parted forever.
According to Coming Soon, there is no official word of Valentin being written out of the soap. Similarly, there is no word on Stuart vacating the role.
As the publication noted, both the actor and the character’s popularity should keep the showrunners interested in keeping them on the soap. However, only time will tell what will happen on General Hospital.
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