Ryan Paevey on 'General Hospital' exit: 'Decision to leave was mine'

Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Ryan Paevey has wrapped his run as Port Charles Police Detective Nathan West on ABC's General Hospital.

West was shot by his nefarious father Faison, played by Anders Hove, while saving his pregnant wife Maxie, played by Kirsten Storms, last week. Paevey has portrayed West since 2013.

"The decision to leave was mine," the 33-year-old actor tweeted. "@valentinifrank and I sat down to talk as gentleman, and while he was disappointed, he gave me a better send-off than i ever could have asked for, and i will always be grateful. Cut the guy some slack, his job is hard, and thankless."

"THANK YOU so much for all the Twitter love @GeneralHospital fans! This is a sad (& amazingly written) story we are telling. I feel blessed to have been given the challenge to portray it. I appreciate all of your kind words on my work You guys are why we do it! Xoxo," Storms wrote about the online reaction to her performance as a grieving widow.