Kirsten Storms' General Hospital Character Written Off After 21 Years

Kirsten Storms' character Maxie Jones has departed General Hospital, months after a reported personal crisis.

Maxie Jones, one of General Hospital's longest-running characters, left Port Charles in the July 23 episode — an on-screen exit for actress Kirsten Storms after 21 years with the soap. The character's departure was written into the show's storyline, with the exit described as potentially temporary ('at least for now,' according to Just Jared). The off-screen context involves Storms' ex-husband obtaining an emergency restraining order against her in April. In court, he reportedly told a judge that Storms was experiencing a 'mental health crisis,' according to Page Six. The two sources together establish the basic timeline: a personal crisis reported in April, followed by the character's on-screen write-off in late July. Neither source provides detail about the specific circumstances of her departure from the show or whether it was voluntary.

Why it matters

Storms has played Maxie Jones for 21 years, making her one of the show's most recognizable figures; her absence affects a long-running daytime drama with a large dedicated audience.

What's next

The character's exit was described as potentially not permanent, leaving open the possibility of a future return.

Key facts

• Kirsten Storms played Maxie Jones on General Hospital for 21 years
• The character's on-screen exit aired July 23
• Storms' ex-husband was granted an emergency restraining order against her in April
• He told a judge she was experiencing a 'mental health crisis,' per Page Six
• The character's departure from Port Charles was described as potentially temporary

Bias & framing notes

Page Six frames the story around the mental health crisis and restraining order, linking the personal situation to the professional exit as cause and effect — a connection neither source fully establishes with on-record sourcing. Just Jared focuses narrowly on the plot event itself. The restraining order claim is attributed to court statements but is reported by a single tabloid outlet; no independent corroboration of the personal details is present across these two sources.

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