Maurice Benard (Actor)
As his General Hospital character might say, it’s been a great ride. Maurice Benard is a native of San Francisco, Calif., who has been front and center in daytime television since 1987.
In his early days in showbiz, the actor worked as a model. Being cast as rough-around-the-edges Nico Kelly on All My Children marked his first foray into soaps. After three years, he left Pine Valley to try his luck in primetime. In 1991, he starred opposite Frances Fisher in Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, a TV movie about Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
Two years later, General Hospital gave Benard the choice of two roles: mobster Damian Smith or mobster Sonny Corinthos. He chose the latter since it was only supposed to be short-term. Little did he know that he’d still be playing the part decades later!
In addition to his long run as the godfather of Port Charles, Benard has also appeared in primetime (as John Gotti in Victoria Gotti: My Father’s Daughter) and on the big screen (in the independent film The Ghost and the Whale).
Benard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22 and has gone on to become an outspoken advocate for mental health. He even hosts his own YouTube show on the subject. He and wife Paula have been married since 1990 and have four children, among them Joshua Benard, who recurred as Adam on General Hospital.
ncG1vNJzZmirn5a9tHrSoZykpp%2BswG%2BvzqZmoJ2emr%2BiuIyhpqyomamurXvAnKuoqqNkuqLB0aKanmWSmruivsNo