in november 2011, it was announced that jackson would vacate the role due to the large amount of work he was receiving. "tv guide" reported that jackson attempted to negotiate with the network for a lighter schedule and to be repaired with on-screen love interest herbst (elizabeth), but was denied on both accounts. jackson explained: "i love to work hard but i've been at maximum capacity in terms of mental and emotional output for months on end and it has become too difficult. i am extremely thankful that they wanted to give me all those storylines with so much depth, but there's just no balance. (...) i have a wife and three kids and other things in life i have to think about. i just knew i couldn't sustain the schedule at "gh" and that kind of emotion for much longer. it was just too intense." jackson confirmed the character would not die or be recast, and last appeared the week of december 19, 2011.