Ryan Paevey is officially making his long-awaited return to General Hospital after seven years away from the show. The actor, best known for his role as Detective Nathan West, has already begun filming scenes that will start airing in September 2025, marking a full-circle moment for fans who have hoped for his comeback since his character’s tragic death in 2018.
Paevey originally joined the long-running ABC soap in 2013, quickly becoming a fan favorite for his portrayal of the compassionate, steadfast Port Charles detective. His character’s relationship with Maxie Jones, played by Kirsten Storms, was one of the series’ most popular romances until Nathan was killed by his own father, the villainous Cesar Faison. The 2018 storyline appeared to close the door on Nathan for good, but like most things in daytime TV, no one is ever truly gone forever.
During his time away from General Hospital, Paevey found major success with the Hallmark Channel, starring in several romantic comedies such as Unleashing Mr. Darcy and A Little Daytime Drama. However, in 2024, he announced that he would be stepping back from acting to prioritize his mental health and spend time with his family amid his mother’s illness. That hiatus made his decision to return to GH even more meaningful for longtime viewers.
According to executive producer Frank Valentini, the idea for Paevey’s return came after a casual text exchange turned into a serious discussion about the show’s future storylines. The creative team crafted a return arc that not only fits naturally into the current General Hospital universe but also adds emotional depth to ongoing plots involving Maxie, Britt Westbourne’s legacy, and the West family’s unresolved history. Paevey has hinted in interviews that fans should expect his comeback to be “wildly different,” teasing a version of Nathan that may surprise audiences and reignite major storylines in Port Charles.
While details about how Nathan is back remain tightly under wraps, insiders confirm Paevey’s return is not a cameo but a contract role, meaning he’ll be woven into upcoming plots for the foreseeable future. His reappearance is expected to intersect with several of the show’s central characters and set up a new mystery arc heading into late 2025.
Ryan Paevey’s re-entry represents more than a nostalgic callback; it’s a signal that General Hospital is leaning back into the kind of long-term, emotionally grounded storytelling that has kept it on air for over six decades. For fans, seeing Paevey back on set after seven years isn’t just another soap twist; it’s a homecoming for one of the show’s most beloved modern heroes.
