The bond between Tracy Quartermaine (Jane Elliot) and her complicated nephew, Jason Morgan (Steve Burton), has always been layered, fractured, and fascinating. But in 2025, that relationship has evolved

into one of the most unexpected emotional anchors of General Hospital. This past week, the soap delivered a storyline of devastating grief, and in the process, gave two of its most seasoned performers

the chance to remind fans why they are daytime royalty. For their breathtaking, gut-wrenching performances, Steve Burton and Jane Elliot are our undisputed General Hospital Performers of the Week.

A Storyline Steeped in Legacy

The Quartermaine family is no stranger to tragedy, but Monica Quartermaine’s (Leslie Charleson) death sent shockwaves not just through the family, but through General Hospital history itself. Monica was more than the matriarch of the Quartermaines—she was the soul of the mansion, the grounding force that tethered even the most chaotic family members back to love and loyalty.

With the late Leslie Charleson’s real-life passing earlier this year, the show faced the delicate task of honoring both the character and the actress. The choice to center Monica’s death around Jason and Tracy was nothing short of brilliant. Both characters carried rich, complicated histories with Monica, and both actors carried decades of personal connections with Charleson. What unfolded on screen felt achingly authentic—so much so that it was difficult to separate the scripted moment from the reality of collective grief.

Jason Delivers the Unthinkable

The episode began innocently enough, with Jason carrying yet another burden on his shoulders. He had just weathered emotional conversations with Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud) and Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), playing sounding board and steady protector as always. Exhausted but dutiful, Jason made his way home to the Quartermaine mansion, prepared to share devastating news with Monica about Drew Cain (Cameron Mathison) being shot.

But when Jason climbed the famous Quartermaine staircase and entered Monica’s room, his world shattered. The look on his face as he descended the stairs moments later told Tracy—and the audience—everything. We knew before he spoke. Still, Tracy needed the words, and Jason, voice heavy with restrained grief, gave them to her.

With only a few lines of dialogue, Steve Burton managed to communicate a lifetime of emotion. His Jason was at once “stone cold” and deeply broken, his trademark stoicism splintering just enough to reveal the child within—the son who had just lost his mother. Burton’s mastery lay in his ability to balance Jason’s hardened exterior with his unspoken love for Monica, a love that had always been complicated but never in doubt.

Tracy’s Raw, Layered Reaction

Opposite him, Jane Elliot delivered a performance that was equal parts raw, subtle, and devastating. Tracy, long known for her sharp tongue and unflinching pragmatism, was suddenly stripped bare. Her first reaction was shock—an audible gasp, a refusal to believe what she had just heard. Denial gave way to horror, and finally, to reluctant acceptance.

But Elliot did not stop there. As paramedics removed Monica’s body from the home, Tracy’s composure faltered. The grief in her eyes spoke volumes. Here was a woman who had spent years sparring with Monica, often claiming to despise her, only to realize in her absence that Monica was the very person who gave the Quartermaine family its backbone. Elliot played every beat with devastating accuracy, reminding us why she remains a legend in the daytime industry.

A Quiet Moment That Broke Us

What followed was one of the most poignant scenes General Hospital has delivered in years. Jason and Tracy, drained and devastated, sat together on the Quartermaine couch. The mansion was eerily quiet, stripped of its matriarch’s presence, and in that stillness, the two characters let their grief spill out.

Burton delivered one of his most layered performances in decades, channeling both the hardened mob enforcer Jason had become and the idealistic young pre-med student Jason Quartermaine once was. The grief wasn’t just about losing Monica—it was about losing the chance to reclaim the years he had lost to memory, to family, to circumstance. This Jason longed for the mother who had chosen him as her son, despite his complicated origins, and now that chance was gone forever.

Jane Elliot played the perfect counterpart, slipping seamlessly into a maternal role as she sat beside Jason. She allowed Burton to lean into Jason’s pain while grounding the scene with her quiet strength. Together, they reflected on Monica’s legacy, and the line between actor and character blurred. Were they speaking as Jason and Tracy, or as Steve and Jane remembering their dear friend Leslie? Perhaps both.

The Tear That Said Everything

The moment that left fans utterly shattered came when Tracy instinctively reached over and wiped a tear from Jason’s cheek. The gesture was so natural, so tender, that it felt unscripted—an organic response born from the genuine connection between the actors. In that single touch, Elliot conveyed volumes: Tracy’s unspoken love for Jason, her admiration for Monica, and her recognition that grief has the power to unite even the most fractured families.

Why This Storyline Resonates

What made these performances resonate so deeply was their authenticity. For decades, Jason has been portrayed as stoic, unflappable, even emotionally distant. To see him cry—the tears of a son, not just a soldier—was a rare gift. And for Tracy, who has often hidden her vulnerability behind sarcasm and bravado, this loss stripped her bare, exposing the soft heart beneath.

Together, Burton and Elliot reminded fans why soap operas endure. They don’t just tell stories—they reflect human truths. Grief, regret, love, and legacy were all on display, portrayed with such honesty that viewers couldn’t help but feel as though they were grieving alongside them.

Performers of the Week, Without Question

There was never any doubt: Steve Burton and Jane Elliot earned the spotlight this week. Their work was more than acting; it was a tribute, a love letter to Leslie Charleson, and a reminder of Monica Quartermaine’s indelible mark on Port Charles.

As General Hospital moves forward with its tribute episodes, fans can expect more tears, more memories, and more powerful performances. But for now, it is Burton and Elliot who stand tall, having given us a masterclass in storytelling and raw emotion.

A Legacy Carried Forward

Though Monica is gone, her presence will linger in the choices, regrets, and bonds of those she left behind. And as Jason and Tracy proved this week, her influence is still shaping the Quartermaine family in profound ways.

Steve Burton and Jane Elliot gave fans a gift this week—one born of heartbreak, legacy, and love. And for that, they are our General Hospital Performers of the Week.