General Hospital's Jason Thompson is making the transition from his long-term Port Charles role of Patrick Drake to his new role as The Young and the Restless' Billy Abbott. And though the move is an exciting one, he admits he was a bit heartbroken to say goodbye to one GH costar in particular: his on-screen daughter, Brooklyn Rae Silzer (Emma).
Thompson shared with Soap Opera Digest that he and the young actress are so close that she was the first person outside of executive producer Frank Valentini he told about his decision to leave GH. "I didn't want her to hear it from anyone else. It's a very delicate situation," he explains. "She's a nine-year-old girl that doesn't necessarily know this part of the business... We love each other like family, [so I told her] 'You might not be working as much if I'm not there.'"
The actor then promised Silzer that he's not leaving her life and will always be there for her. Which he proved shortly after by taking to social media to sing the girl's praises. "One of my most cherished gifts will always be what Brooklyn and I shared. To watch her grow as a person and actress [has] been nothing short of an amazing," he wrote. "We trusted each other and made each other better... that's what it's all about."
Thompson is set to debut as Y&R's new Billy on Thursday, January 14, 2016.
What do you think about Thompson and Silzer's special relationship? Will you miss seeing the two share the screen? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
