Paternity puzzle: Who is TJ's real father on General Hospital?

General Hospital's TJ Ashford (Tajh Bellow) often leans on his Uncle Curtis (Donnell Turner) as a father figure. After all, Curtis' brother, Tommy, died years ago, leaving TJ without a father — or did he? TJ's origins can be a little confusing, so let Soap Central walk you through his history.

TJ's arrival on General Hospital

TJ (played by Krys Meyer and Tequan Richmond as a teen) first arrived on the GH scene in 2012 to live with one of Sonny Corinthos' (Maurice Benard) right-hand men, Shawn Butler (Sean Blakemore). His mother was ready to send the 14-year-old to military school before Shawn took him in. Shawn had felt guilty for his part in Tommy Ashford's death and believed he was obligated to take care of TJ when his mother couldn't handle him. He quickly became friends with Molly (then played by Hayley Pullos), who tutored him and helped him find his way as a Port Charles high school student.

After TJ fell for Molly, but also got himself in trouble multiple times, his mother, Jordan Ashford (then played by Vinessa Antoine), arrived in PC to fetch her son. When TJ wanted to stay in his newfound home, Jordan decided to stay, too.

Jordan's arrival brings on the secrets

Life didn't get any easier for TJ when Jordan arrived in town. In fact, it became much more complicated and emotional for TJ when he learned some harsh truths. First, Jordan and Shawn revealed that Shawn shot Tommy in self-defense after Tommy discovered Jordan and Shawn having an affair.

To make matters worse, it turned out that TJ was a result of an on-again/off-again relationship between Shawn and Jordan. Tommy was not TJ's father, after all. The man who was his guardian was actually his biological father. On top of that, the real reason that Jordan sent TJ to live with Shawn was revealed. She was an undercover DEA agent who wanted to keep her son away from her work.

Not long after learning that Shawn was his biological father, Shawn was arrested and sentenced to prison for his alleged part in Hayden Barnes' (Rebecca Budig) shooting and his role in Sonny's organization.

TJ is still an Ashford

To this day, TJ still considers himself an Ashford and considers Tommy Ashford's family his own, including his grandfather, Marshall (Robert Gossett), and his Uncle Curtis and Aunt Stella (Vernee Watson). He even named his stillborn baby Irene after Tommy and Curtis' mother. Since Jordan (now played by Tanisha Harper) was also married to Curtis for a few years, he fits right in with the Ashford clan.

In 2021, Shawn was finally released from prison and re-established his relationship with TJ. Although TJ had a hard time thinking of Shawn as his father, he held no resentment toward him. Shawn moved away in 2022, but it's assumed that TJ and Shawn still keep in touch. Perhaps we will see Shawn again one day so he and TJ can establish a real father-son relationship.

Catch all-new episodes of General Hospital weekdays on ABC and Hulu.