What happened to Billy Miller’s character on General Hospital? Explained

Billy Miller originally came to General Hospital in 2014 as a recast of the original character, Jason Morgan. At first, his character was not suspected to be Jason, and in fact, his entire identity changed through Miller's five years on the show. In 2017, after Steve Burton's return, it was revealed that Miller was portraying Andrew “Drew” Cain, the long-lost twin brother of Jason.

Drew Cain’s journey on General Hospital showcased the internal struggle of a man trying to build a life based on stolen memories. Miller added a new angle to the show, with the fight for his memories and his attempt to find his place in Port Charles.

The storyline continued involving relationships with characters such as Sam McCall and navigating through the Quartermaine family legacy. All this inner turmoil from Drew between life and the past he left behind made for compelling drama, leading to Miller’s departure from the show in 2019.

Drew left the show in an episode where he was sent on a mission to Mt. Kilimanjaro. His character disappeared after his plane was sabotaged. Though his death was confirmed, his true fate was left ambiguous, leaving room for a potential return or a resolution to his storyline in future episodes.

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When was Billy Miller's character introduced on General Hospital?

Billy Miller’s version of Jason Morgan was introduced on October 1, 2014, although a stand-in actor portrayed Jason starting in August of that year.

At first, viewers were led to believe that this was the original Jason, who returned from the dead after being shot and presumed killed in 2012. However, this would later be proven to be a misdirection.

The character’s storyline began with an amnesia plot, where Miller’s Jason had no recollection of his past life. This led to various dramatic twists, as he formed new relationships and slowly uncovered his identity. Miller’s portrayal added depth to the role, contributing to the mystery of whether he was truly Jason or someone else entirely.

In 2017, the character’s true identity was revealed as Drew Cain, which marked a major turning point and added fresh layers of drama. This revelation set the stage for the character’s eventual departure two years later.

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What is Drew Cain's character arc?

Billy Miller as Drew Cain (Image via YouTube/@General Hospital)

Drew Cain’s arc centered on lost identity and family ties. After realizing he wasn’t Jason Morgan, he worked to reclaim his past, erased by memory manipulation, while forging his own path. His love life was also a key part of his story.

When the truth about his identity was revealed, his relationship with Sam McCall, which was based on her thinking he was Jason, became even more complicated. This relationship with the Quartermaine family brought Drew closer to Port Charles as he began to understand his place with them.

The most important arc for Drew might have been getting lost in the night on a perilous mission. His destiny remains unspoken, but his storyline was one of the biggest emotional turns in General Hospital during Billy Miller's tenure at the network.

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Why did Billy Miller leave General Hospital?

Billy Miller as Drew Cain (Image via YouTube/@General Hospital)

Billy Miller ultimately left General Hospital in 2019, which marked the end of Drew Cain's storyline. Rumors began circulating in June 2019 that Billy Miller was leaving and his manager later confirmed he was done filming in July 2019. Fans were then left with questions over why he would leave when Drew still had so much of his story left to be told.

One possible reason for his exit was the uncertainty surrounding his character after Steve Burton's return as Jason. With two characters sharing almost identical backstories, the writers may have struggled to create a distinct path for Drew. Additionally, behind-the-scenes contract negotiations could have played a role in his departure.

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Interested fans can catch the episodes of General Hospital on ABC every weekday.