Soap star Maurice Benard is an indisputable force on “General Hospital.”
His 29-year tenure on the longest running soap opera speaks for itself, perTheWrap.
After playing Sonny for years, Benard has found many ways to reinvent himself while reaching fans.
He shared that he was institutionalized after having a breakdown shortly before landing his role as Sonny.
I knew there was a reason why I was doing this, why I was there."
For Benard, the reason was to help others with mental illness.
Thanks to Benard, Sonny is one of the most beloved characters in soap opera history.
But there was a time where he almostleft the show.
As of April 2022, he’s starred in over 2,886 episodes of the hit series, perDaily Mail.
“I said I didn’t want to act again.
He recounted how everyone encouraged him to keep going, and the impact that this had on him.
“I said ‘[T]here’s no way I can say a line.’
“We handed you this [character] and you put it all together,” Curtis explained.
The veteran soap producer added on that everyone believed in him, even when he didn’t.
“And your co-workers loved you.
Once you got up there and did it, you couldn’t believe you did it.
As of right now, Benard continues to nail his role as the mobster.
But it’s inevitable that fans will miss him when he’s ready to say goodbye.
