Maurice Benard

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

Early life

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.

Career

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

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. He appeared in the 2015 comedy-drama film '' Joy'' directed by David O. Russell. He starred in the 2017 independent mystery thriller film '' The Ghost and the Whale'', executive produced by his wife Paula. He guest-starred on ABC crime series ''Castle'' in 2016 and appeared opposite Jamie Luner in the Lifetime thriller ''A Lover Betrayed'' (2017). In 2018, Benard appeared in the horror anthology film, '' Nightmare Cinema'' starring in segment directed by Ryuhei Kitamura. 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).

Personal life

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.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Benard, Maurice
1963 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American people of Nicaraguan descent
American people of Salvadoran descent
Hispanic and Latino American male actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male soap opera actors
Daytime Emmy Award winners
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series winners
Male actors from San Francisco
People from Temecula, California
People with bipolar disorder
Fictional teenage parents