Chris Pizzello / AP

Rick Springfield's Dr. Drake is returning to "GH"!

For fans of Rick Springfield, this is just what the doctor ordered: The "Jessie's Girl" singer is returning to "General Hospital," reprising his role as Dr. Noah Drake.

Even better, reports People, he'll be joined by his son, Liam Springthorpe. (Springfield was born Richard Springthorpe.) The young actor-musician, who will play an undercover cop, isn't expecting to share scenes with his famous father.

Springfield debuted on the ABC soap opera in 1981 -- the same year "Jessie's Girl" topped the charts and earned him a Grammy award for best male rock vocal performance. Since we last saw Noah Drake in March 2012, Springfield says the good doctor has been "going to Doctors Without Borders and going around the world helping people."

"He lost his wife and became a drunk and regretted all these terrible, sinful ways and then cleaned his act up when he almost died from the alcohol," Springfield told People about the troubled neurosurgeon.

Noah Drake returns to Port Charles in April 2013.

"General Hospital" airs at 1 p.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET weekdays on ABC.

Will you be watching him with those eyes? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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Todd Williamson / AP file

Steve Burton is leaving "General Hospital" -- at least that's what he's saying. 

ABC had no comment Tuesday morning, following a TV Guide interview in which he announced his departure from his job of the last 21 years, but he seems adamant.

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"I have no complaints, no negative feelings at all," Burton said. "But it's time to go."

Burton followed the lengthy Q&A with comments on his personal Twitter, thanking fans and calling it a "difficult time."

The 42-year-old actor, who first joined the series as Jason Morgan in 1991, recently appeared alongside his fellow cast members at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. While all were cautious about their embattled genre, new showrunner Frank Valentini spoke optimistically about the immediate future.

"All I can say is they invited us here, and that's a great sign," said Valentini. "They're very excited about the 50th anniversary. I'm pretty confident... I like the way that we're being positioned with the other shows around us. The network is doing a big push to inform the viewers."

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"General Hospital" was renewed in April, just a year after ABC canceled its fellow soaps "One Life to Live" and "All My Children." When Katie Couric's new daytime talker premieres on Monday, Sept. 10, "General Hospital" will move from 3 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET.

Burton told TV Guide his last tape date will be Sept. 25, likely placing his last episode somewhere in October, though the series does not schedule that far in advance.

His rep at James, Levy, Jacobson & Associates did not immediately respond to The Hollywood Reporter's request for comment on the actor's immediate plans.

How would you like to see Steve's character exit the show? Tell us on our Facebook page!

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