Actor Maurice Benard, born Mauricio Morales, brings his own deeply personal experiences, both high and low, to the portrayal of Sonny, adding color, menace and seduction to an already intricate character. He first appeared in the role on August 13, 1993.
Mr. Benard's multi-cultural upbringing began in San Francisco, where he was born to parents from Nicaragua and San Salvador. Uninspired by the traditional education route, he gleaned an education in the open job market after high school. He began modeling in his early twenties. Following that, Mr. Benard took up acting in numerous theatrical productions in the Bay area.
After auditioning for a role on the ABC drama All My Children, Mr. Benard was cast as Nico Kelly. Two years later, he struck out to find new challenges and moved to Los Angeles, where he was cast as the lead in the much-publicized TV movie, Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter. He later added a pivotal role in the feature film Ruby to several other prominent film and television credits.
Mr. Benard has been a popular voice in the battle against bipolar disorder. He has been very open about his personal battle with the illness, appearing on television programs such as The View, Entertainment Tonight, and Oprah. He has also been featured in People and LA Life magazines. He also began working with the National Mental Health Association (NMHA) on the "Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It?" campaign to help educate Americans about the importance of recognizing the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Mr. Benard lives in the Hollywood Hills area of Southern California. He enjoys the martial arts, working out and playing host to a menagerie of dogs and cats. He and his wife, Paula, are the proud parents of daughters Cailey Sofia and Cassidy Rose and son Joshua James.
Port Charles
Sonny Corinthos
2000
General Hospital
Sonny Corinthos
August 13, 1993 to
September 24, 1997;
December 18, 1998 to Present
To Face Her Past
Jesse Molina
1996
Dark Justice
Kelly's mob boyfriend
Ep: "Anniversary" (1992)
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
Desi Arnaz
1991
Lethal Charm
Steve
1991
All My Children
Nico Kelly
1987 to 1989
Crystal Clear
Steven
2000
We Married Margo
Himself
2000
Operation Splitsville
Frank
1999
Restraining Order
1999
Mi vida loca
Creeper
1993
Ruby
Diego
1992
Daytime Emmys Winner, Outstanding Lead Actor (
2003,
2019,
2021)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor (
1996,
2003,
2004,
2006,
2011, 2019,
2021,
2023)
Daytime Emmys Nomination, Outstanding Supporting Actor (1997)
Daytime Emmys Pre-Nomination, Outstanding Lead Actor (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013,
2014)
Soap Opera Award Winner, Outstanding Lead Actor (2003)
Soap Opera Award Winner, Outstanding Lead Actor (1996)
ALMA Awards Nominee, Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama (2000, 2001, 2002)
PLACE OF BIRTH: San Francisco, CA
DATE OF BIRTH: March 1, 1963
HEIGHT: 5'9"
HAIR: Black
EYES: Brown
MARITAL STATUS: Married, Paula Smith (August 11, 1990)
CHILDREN: Daughter, Cailey Sophia [Sep 18, 1994]; Daughter, Cassidy Rose [Apr 18, 1999]; Son, Joshua James [Dec 5, 2004]
News Archive: Rumors circulating question Benard's future with GH. [Oct 2, 2000]
News Archive: GH writers plan to bring in Sonny's family. [Oct 1, 2001]
News Archive: Benard named Outstanding Lead Actor at Daytime Emmys. [May 16, 2003]
News Archive: GH spokesperson confirms that Benard has re-signed with the show. [Oct 15, 2004]
News Archive: Fire erupts at home of Maurice Benard. [Jun 11, 2012]
News Archive: VIDEO: Maurice Benard on the Red Carpet at the 2012 Daytime Emmys. [Jun 23, 2012]
News Archive: Benard announces via Twitter he's extended his GH run. [Dec 4, 2012]
News Archive: Benard, GH reach deal on new contract. [Dec 26, 2014]
News Archive: Maurice Benard and Susan Lucci opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in new film? [Jul 17, 2015]
News Archive: Maurice Benard and Susan Lucci comment on working with Joy director David O'Russell [Dec 14, 2015]
News Archive: Maurice Benard checks in to another daytime medical series [Feb 16, 2016]
News Archive: The Ghost and the Whale, starring GH's Maurice Benard, now available on Amazon [Aug 18, 2016]
News Archive: Maurice Benard on mob stories, love and being crucified by GH fans [Aug 18, 2016]
News Archive: Maurice Benard admits GH's Sonny is a "dog" [Dec 7, 2016]
News Archive: Rumor Report: Is GH's Sonny really dying? [Jul 26, 2017]
News Archive: Maurice Benard cops a role in Lifetime's A Lover Betrayed [Sep 6, 2017]
News Archive: GH's Vanessa Marcil shares emotional tribute to Maurice Benard [Sep 22, 2017]
News Archive: Holy moly: GH's Maurice Benard takes on priest role in new horror film [Oct 6, 2017]
News Archive: Stephen A. Smith compares basketball player LeBron James to GH's Sonny Corinthos [Nov 28, 2017]
News Archive: Maurice Benard signs new GH contract, but will it be his last? [Jan 30, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Maurice Benard and Bryan Craig post about mental illness following the deaths of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain [Jun 12, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Maurice Benard stars opposite Ice-T in film Equal Standard [Jun 29, 2018]
News Archive: Maurice Benard celebrates 25th anniversary as GH's Sonny Corinthos [Aug 13, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Maurice Benard lands role of real-life mobster John Gotti [Sep 14, 2018]
News Archive: GH to air special Sonny Corinthos episode titled "What If...?" [Nov 7, 2018]
News Archive: General Hospital releases 20 classic episodes about Sonny and Carly's tempestuous relationship [Nov 12, 2018]
News Archive: Maurice Benard takes on GH in stand-up routine [Nov 21, 2018]
News Archive: Lifetime sets airdate for The Victoria Gotti Story, starring GH's Maurice Benard [Dec 7, 2018]
News Archive: GH's Maurice Benard plays tough dad in trailer for Victoria Gotti: My Father's Daughter [Jan 12, 2019]
News Archive: GH's Maurice Benard admits he's "a fan of Margaux and Sonny" [Feb 14, 2019]
News Archive: 46th Annual Daytime Emmys Reels: Find out which episodes were submitted for Emmy consideration [Apr 22, 2019]
News Archive: 2019 Daytime Emmys: Jacqueline MacInnes Wood earns first Emmy, while Maurice Benard earns number two [May 5, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard to release memoir in spring of 2020 [Aug 6, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital releases special episode collection focusing on Sonny [Sep 9, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital star Maurice Benard launches inspiring website State of Mind [Oct 15, 2019]
News Archive: Maurice Benard, Tobias Truvillion featured in the dramatic trailer for Equal Standard [Dec 11, 2019]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard and Laura Wright celebrate 15 years of their Sonny and Carly [Mar 6, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard gets brutally honest about bipolar disorder in just-released memoir [Apr 9, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital dedicates week to Sonny and Carly's epic romance [Jun 1, 2020]
News Archive: Maurice Benard says bringing Vanessa Marcil back to General Hospital is a "no-brainer" [Jun 5, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard gets emotional while officiating his daughter's wedding [Jun 10, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital star Maurice Benard named winner of Mental Health America's Clifford W. Beers Award [Jun 26, 2020]
News Archive: General Hospital's Vanessa Marcil says her fave Sonny and Brenda scenes are "still coming!" [Feb 22, 2021]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard to play Michael Spilotro in The Legitimate Wiseguy [Mar 12, 2021]
News Archive: Maurice Benard opens up about playing Mike on General Hospital [Mar 19, 2021]
News Archive: Maurice Benard comments on Vanessa Marcil General Hospital rumors: "We are working on something, but..." [Jun 22, 2021]
News Archive: Maurice Benard: "All hell is going to break loose" when Sonny returns on General Hospital [Jul 21, 2021]
News Archive: Maurice Benard and Laura Wright talk "Mike, Nina, Sonny, Carly, Jason" storyline on General Hospital [Sep 13, 2021]
News Archive: LISTEN: General Hospital's Maurice Benard guests on The Adam Carolla Show [Jan 17, 2022]
News Archive: Joshua Benard back to General Hospital as Adam [Mar 31, 2022]
News Archive: General Hospital star Maurice Benard's State of Mind podcast hits major platforms [May 5, 2022]
News Archive: Maurice Benard reflects on 30 years as the infamous dimpled don Sonny Corinthos [Aug 11, 2023]
News Archive: Maurice Benard's son Joshua Benard returns to General Hospital [Sep 8, 2023]
News Archive: General Hospital's Maurice Benard opens up about contemplating suicide [Nov 5, 2023]
News Archive: Is it over for Sona? General Hospital fans have the answer [Feb 28, 2024]
News Archive: How General Hospital's Maurice Benard became a "Swiftie" [Apr 3, 2024]
News Archive: [Apr 8, 2024]
News Archive: General Hospital's Sonny and Brenda reunite: How you can see it happen [Apr 18, 2024]
News Archive: INTERVIEW: How General Hospital's Maurice Benard finally learned how to have fun playing Sonny [May 7, 2024]
News Archive: The emotional reason Maurice Benard was forced to take a General Hospital break [Jul 15, 2024]
