‘General Hospital’ (GH) spoilers reveal it is hard to imagine ‘General Hospital’ without Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard). Maurice Benard celebrates 30 years on GH. In 1993, the actor was not looking for a long-term role on a daytime soap.
After he auditioned, he was offered the choice between two roles. One was to play the smarmy, sleazy Damian Smith (Leigh McClosky), which was supposed to last two years.
‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Maurice Benard Celebrates 30 Years on GH
Or, he could portray what was supposed to be the role of the “bad guy,” Sonny Corinthos, who was a nightclub owner, and the role was only supposed to last for six months.
Obviously, Maurice chose to play Sonny. It turns out he made the right decision. Benard made his ‘General Hospital’ debut on August 13, 1993.
Soaps back then usually only had good guys and bad guys. At first, Sonny was a bad guy. He took advantage of a young Karen Wexler (Cari Shayne), got her hooked on drugs, and convinced her to strip at his club.
Maurice was deeply affected by playing this role, and his emotions started to translate on screen. Maurice had not been taking his medication for his bipolar disorder at the time, and he took a short break.
The behind-the-scenes team at General Hospital was very supportive of Maurice, and he came back to work. Maurice started adding layers to Sonny that probably no other actor could have.
‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Sonny and Brenda and Sonny and Carly
It was game over when Sonny paired with Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil). Sonny and Brenda became a super couple with massive popularity.
Anyone who watched General Hospital at the time remembers how electrifying those two were on screen. Their chemistry was off the charts. The actor became a heartthrob.
Maurice became ‘General Hospital’s mobster with a heart of gold. This kindness became especially apparent with the Stone and Robin AIDS storyline.
When Marcil left, it was time for Sonny’s subsequent love interest. Sara Brown entered the role of Carly Corinthos. It was difficult at first to root for Sonny and Carly because Carly was such a troublemaker.
Tamara Braun was the second Carly. This Carly had more vulnerability and depth. Sonny and Carly were starting to gain popularity. The two of them were great together.
Once Laura Wright stepped into the role of Carly, fans were invested in Sonny and Carly big time. The two of them were the next big super couple, and the writing of Sonny, Carly, and Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) became a soap legend
‘General Hospital’ Spoilers: Nixon Falls Changed Sonny
These days, Maurice’s on-screen partner is Cynthia Watros, who plays Nina Reeves. It is a controversial pairing for General Hospital fans. Many fans don’t like it and can’t wait for it to end.
Some fans find it refreshing that Sonny has become “softer.” Nina kept secret from Sonny’s family that he was alive. They all thought he had died but had amnesia and was staying in Nixon Falls.
Sonny fell in love with Nina, not knowing who he was. It is not an issue that General Hospital fans take lightly.
Maurice chose to address his bipolar with his fans. It was written into the script that Sonny was bipolar so Maurice could be honest and authentic to himself.
His podcast, “State of Mind,” has a lot of fans who have also been through tribulations with their mental health.
Maurice’s book, “Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved My Life On and Off General Hospital,” has also been successful with his fans.
General Hospital fans appreciate Maurice’s openness about his struggles and how he has helped countless people with his story. It is difficult to picture GH without its leading man, as Maurice Benard celebrates 30 years on GH.
Tune into General Hospital to discover what’s in store for Sonny Corinthos next.
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