‘General Hospital’ Welcomes Back Michael E. Knight

Fan favorite Michael E. Knight — last seen on General Hospital in February — is set this week to reprise his role this week as Martin Grey on the ABC sudser.

The actor told Soap Opera Digest that his absence was only supposed to last for a few months, but the changes in the writers room — including the decision to bring back Chris Van Etten as co-head writer with Elizabeth Korte –delayed his comeback until now.

Knight credits Executive Producer Frank Valentini for keeping him in the loop.

“Frank [Valentini] brought me on initially to work with Roger [Howarth] when I was trying to make my health insurance. And I will love Frank for the rest of my life for doing what he did, because four days turned into four years,” Knight told the outlet. “So, to me, I already had the brass ring in my pocket. I wasn’t going to complain about four days turning into four years! I’m one grateful monkey, you know what I mean?”

Knight, who is best known for playing Tad Martin for decades on All My Children, likes to tease his work on GH by saying “It’s kind of like paprika. You don’t use it a lot but you use it to sort of spice things up.”

“Now I get the benefit of Chris being back … Chris created Martin. And I get to be a new toy for Chris, twice,” he said.

When Knight was last on the show, his character ended his relationship with Lucy after discovering she was in a relationship with Scotty Baldwin.

“If it wasn’t for the fans, none of us would have a job,” Knight told Soap Opera Digest. “So, to the fans, God bless each and every one of you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me the chance to play.”