Maurice Benard

Actor

Birthday March 1, 1963

Birth Sign Pisces

Birthplace San Francisco, California, U.S.

Age 61 years old

Nationality United States

Height 1.75 m

#25697 Most Popular

1963

Maurice Benard (born March 1, 1963) is an American actor.

1980

In 1980s, he began career as a model before acting.

1987

He played Nico Kelly in the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children from 1987 to 1990 and in 1991 portrayed Desi Arnaz in the biographical television film Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter.

In 1987, Benard made his television debut playing Nico Kelly in the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children, a role he played until 1990.

1989

He received Soap Opera Digest Award nomination for Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime in 1989.

He later made guest appearances in prime time shows include DEA, Stat and Dark Justice.

1990

Benard married Paula Smith on August 11, 1990.

They have four children: three daughters and one son.

He and his wife adopted his wife's younger sister Heather, after their mother's death.

His cousin, Marvin Benard, played professional baseball.

Benard was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 22.

He has become a spokesperson for treatment of the disorder with Mental Health America.

He made the decision to have the General Hospital 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.

1991

In 1991, Benard appeared in a supporting role in the made-for-television movie Her Wicked Ways and later that year played Desi Arnaz in the biographical television film Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter opposite Frances Fisher.

1993

In 1993, Benard began starring as Sonny Corinthos in the ABC soap opera General Hospital.

For his role in General Hospital, Benard received three Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Benard was born Mauricio José 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 Nicaraguan and Salvadoran ancestry.

The following year he made his big screen debut appearing in the biographical drama film, Ruby and later had secondary role in the 1993 independent film Mi Vida Loca.

In 1993, Benard was cast as Sonny Corinthos, a manic depressive mobster King pin in the ABC daytime soap opera, General Hospital.

His first air date on GH was August 13, 1993.

Initially, the character was only supposed to last for six months as Benard was not interested in anything more than a year.

He revealed that after his stint on All My Children, he was not interested in doing another soap.

He joined the cast of General Hospital because he had gone broke and acting was all he knew at the time.

The producers offered him two separate roles, that of mobster Damian Smith, with a two-year contract, and that of Sonny.

Benard revealed that just two weeks after starting work, he suffered a manic depressive breakdown.

At one point he had stopped coming in to work but expressed his gratitude to the network for keeping faith in him instead of firing him immediately.

1996

He reprised his role in the 1996 prime time special General Hospital: Twist of Fate, daytime spin-off Port Charles in 2000, and in an episode of prime time spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift in 2007.

2003

Benard has been nominated for ten Daytime Emmy Awards for his role of Sonny Corinthos, winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2003, 2019, and 2021, as well as winning three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005.

In addition for his daytime television career, Benard also starred in a number of feature and made-for-television movies.

2015

He appeared in the 2015 comedy-drama film Joy directed by David O. Russell.

2016

He guest-starred on ABC crime series Castle in 2016 and appeared opposite Jamie Luner in the Lifetime thriller A Lover Betrayed (2017).

2017

He starred in the 2017 independent mystery thriller film The Ghost and the Whale, executive produced by his wife Paula.

2018

In 2018, Benard appeared in the horror anthology film, Nightmare Cinema starring in segment directed by Ryuhei Kitamura.

2019

In 2019 he played John Gotti in the Lifetime crime film Victoria Gotti: My Father's Daughter.

He later starred in films Hold On (2019), and Equal Standard (2020).