In the past several weeks, Pine Valley has seen the return of three familiar and well-loved faces as regulars on the ABC daytime drama, All My Children.  Rebecca Budig has once again assumed the role of Greenlee Smythe, which she originated anyway, while Debbi Morgan and Darnell Williams are back as super couple, Angie and Jesse.

Sadly, one of All My Children's current mainstays will be leaving in the following weeks.  Soap Central reports that Jeff Branson, who plays Jonathan Lavery on the soap, will be making his exit from the series in the next few weeks.

Over the past few months, Branson has seen less and less time onscreen as the once psychotic-turned-meek and gentle Jonathan on All My Children.  Rumors of his imminent departure from the soap began when he grew increasingly scarce and practically absent in All My Children's weekly storylines.
Finally, after months of speculation on internet message boards, the daytime drama eventually confirmed what many had already come to fear.

"Jonathan Lavery will be written off," an All My Children spokesperson simply said.

Jeff Branson first became part of Pine Valley's community in 2004.  A year into his stint with All My Children, his character became consumed by madness and insanity.  For a while, Branson left the series when Jonathan was believed to have been killed in an explosion.  He subsequently returned in August of 2005, when it was then revealed that his character's disturbed behavior was a result of a brain tumor.  Since then, Branson's screen time has continually diminished, leaving his character with no storyline and relegated to the background.

For now, all that is certain is that Branson will exit All My Children in the spring, but his final airdate has not yet been determined.

Meanwhile, although Branson and his All My Children alter-ego have been confirmed to depart the series, a representative for the show has assured that Leven Rambin, who plays his onscreen love interest Ava Benton, will continue on with the soap.

"Leven Rambin is not leaving," the show rep promised.

Rambin has portrayed both of Branson's All My Children romantic partners – as Jonathan's ex-wife, Lily Montgomery, and as Lily's her half-sister, Ava.


-Rosario Santiago, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Soap Central
(Image Courtesy of ABC)