Over the last five decades, General Hospital’s Tracy Quartermaine has seen it all, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when the beloved fan-favorite Jane Elliot announced her plans to retire from the long-running Daytime Drama in 2021. However, two years later, the Emmy-winning actress returned, and she has finally revealed why.
In a recent interview with Woman’s World, Elliot reflected on her experience on the show and what it means to be a part of General Hospital’s enduring legacy.
“I’m a failed retiree,” Elliot admitted. After decades in the industry, she originally thought it was time to relax. “I thought I needed a break,” she explained.
For years, Elliot worked tirelessly to support her family. “I was a single parent. I raised two children on my own, and I raised them exclusively on acting money.” She said. But once her children were grown, Elliot felt she could finally take a step back. “I no longer had children to raise, and I was 70. I had my pension and my Social Security. I thought, ‘Oh, yay. I don’t need this job anymore. I can retire.’”
But retirement didn’t suit her. “It wasn’t what I thought it would be, I was like, ‘But wait, I really like that job! And whether I need the money or not, I want to keep doing it’”
So in 2023, Elliot was ready to return to General Hospital, sharing, “I luckily had a wonderful boss who kept a place at the table for me and didn’t replace me. He didn’t hire someone else to play the part.”
Over the years, Elliot had made multiple exits and returns to the beloved ABC soap opera. She first joined General Hospital in 1978 and remained until 1980, before returning from 1989 to 1993. After a brief appearance in 1996, her longest run came from 2003-2017, followed by another return in 2019 through her ‘retirement’ in 2021. The actress most recently came back in 2023 and has remained a constant presence ever since.
Viewers can watch Elliot’s story continue to unfold weekdays on ABC and streaming weeknights on Hulu.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 21, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.