Maurice Benard

Maurice Benard (born March 1, 1963) is an American actor. In 1993, he was cast as Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

Maurice Benard
Born
Mauricio José Morales

(1963-03-01) March 1, 1963
San Francisco, Ca, U.S.
Other namesMaurice Bénard
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Spouse(s)Paula Smith
Children4
Websitewww.mauricebenard.tv

Early life and career

Benard was born Mauricio Jose Morales in Martinez, California, the son of Martha, a bank employee, and Humberto Morales, a bakery superintendent. He grew up in San Francisco, California, and is of Salvadorian and Nicaraguan ethnicity. He started his acting career as Nico on the soap opera All My Children, from 1987 to 1990. He then went on to start a career on General Hospital, a daytime soap opera on ABC. His role on the show was the fictionalized Sonny Corinthos, a manic depressive mobster King pin. His first air date on GH was August 13, 1993. In addition to guest spots on several television series during the early 1990s, Benard appeared in television movies including the CBS television movie Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991), in which he portrayed Desi Arnaz. He also starred in the independent film entitled The Ghost and the Whale, executive produced by his wife Paula.[1]

Personal life

Benard married Paula Smith on August 11, 1990.[2] They have four children: three daughters and one son. He and his wife adopted his wife's sister's daughter, after her mother's death.[3] His cousin, Marvin Benard, played professional baseball.[4]

Benard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22. He has since become a spokesperson for treatment of the disorder with Mental Health America.[5] He made the decision to have the writers make his character, Sonny Corinthos, also have the disorder. Many of the struggles he faces on the show due to the disorder are ones he faced in his own life. Much praise has been given to the show for the realistic depiction.

Bernard has been nominated for several Daytime Emmy awards for his role of Sonny Corinthos, winning Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003 and 2019, as well as, winning three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005.[6]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1991 Her Wicked Ways Steve Television film
1991 Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter Desi Arnaz Television film
1992 Ruby Diego
1993 Mi Vida Loca Creeper
1996 To Face Her Past Jesse Molina Television film
1999 Operation Splitsville Frank
1999 Restraining Order Sicko
2000 Crystal Clear Steven
2009 Confession Mitch
2010 The Penny The Penny Voice
2015 The Ghost and the Whale Joseph Hawthorne Television film
2015 Joy Jared
2019 Victoria Gotti: My Father's daughter John Gotti Lifetime Movie
2019 Hold On[7] Peter Duran Feature film
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1987–1989 All My Children Nico Kelly 300 episodes
Nominated — Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime
1990 DEA Curro Episode: "Bloodsport"
1991 Stat Jorge Rosario Episode: "Ladyfinger"
1992 Dark Justice Kelly's Mob Boyfriend Episode: "Anniversary"
1993– General Hospital Sonny Corinthos Series regular
2000 Port Charles Sonny Corinthos 2 episodes
2007 General Hospital: Night Shift Sonny Corinthos Episode: "Time Served"

Awards and nominations
List of acting awards and nominations
Year Title Award Category Result
1996
General Hospital
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
1996
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor Won
1997
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2003
 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Won
2003
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor Won
2004
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2005
 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor Won
2006
 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2011
 Nominated
2019
 Won
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References
  1. Bowe, Jillian. "General Hospital's Maurice Benard Shooting a New Movie". Daytime Confidential. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  2. Blodgett, Lucy (April 27, 2011). "PHOTOS: Soap Star Maurice Benard's Home For $2.9 Million". HuffPost. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  3. "Maurice Benard adopts 15-year-old sister-in-law". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  4. TiffanyR (May 12, 2019). "Fun Facts About General Hopsital's Emmy Winning Maurice Benard". TVOvermind. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  5. "General Hospital Video Clips". ABC. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  6. "2019 Daytime Emmys: Jacqueline MacInnes Wood earns first Emmy, while Maurice Benard earns number two". soapcentral.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  7. https://www.abc.soapsindepth.com/posts/general-hospital-maurice-benard-movie-hold-on-143554
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