Maurice Benard Bio | Wiki
Maurice Benard is an American actor. In 1993, he joined the cast of the ABC soap opera General Hospital as Sonny Corinthos. Moreover, Benard briefly left the show for a year in December 1998.
He received the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003 and became nominated in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2006, and 2011.
Maurice Benard Age
Benard was born on March 1, 1963, in San Francisco, California, United States. He is 59 years old.
Maurice Benard Height
He is a man of average stature and stands at a height of 5 ft 9 in (Approx. 1.75 m).
Maurice Benard Family
He was born Mauricio Jose Morales in Martinez, California to his parents Martha and Humberto Morales. Benard’s mother served as a bank employee while his father was a bakery superintendent. Additionally, he grew up in San Francisco, California and holds an American nationality and is of Salvadorian and Nicaraguan ethnicity. Marvin Benard, a former professional baseball player is his cousin.
Maurice Benard Wife
Benard is married to his beautiful wife Paula Smith. The couple held their wedding on August 11, 1990. Together, they share three children Cailey Sofia, Cassidy Rose, and Joshua James. Benard adopted Paula’s sister’s daughter, Heather Rose, after her mother’s death. The family lives in Temecula, California along with their many pets.
Maurice Benard General Hospital
On August 13, 1993, Benard started appearing on General Hospital, a daytime soap opera on ABC. He played the fictionalized Sonny Corinthos, a manic depressive mobster Kingpin. Benard made the decision to have the General Hospital writers make his character, Sonny Corinthos because in real life he also suffers from bipolar disorder.
Additionally, he has received many nominations for several Daytime Emmy awards for his role as Sonny Corinthos. He won the Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003, 2019, and 2021, as well as three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005.
Maurice Benard Daughter Wedding
Benard’s daughter Cailey Sofia held her wedding with her husband Carlos during the Pandemic in June 2020. The couple celebrated their wedding once again on June 5, 2021. Moreover, the ceremony was attended by their families and friends. Benard had a nervous breakdown during Carlos’ first proposal to Cailey at Disney World.
Maurice Benard Illness
At the age of 22, Benard became diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He became a spokesperson for the treatment of the disorder with Mental Health America. Benard made the decision to have the General Hospital writers make his character, Sonny Corinthos, who also has the disorder. Moreover, 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 its realistic depiction.
Maurice Benard Net Worth
He earns his wealth through his career. Therefore, he has amassed a fortune over the years. Benard’s estimated net worth is $2 million.
How Old Is Maurice Benard
Benard was born on March 1, 1963, thus, he is 59 years old.
Who Is Maurice Benard Wife
Benard married his beautiful wife Paula Smith on August 11, 1990. Together, they share four children Cailey Sofia, Cassidy Rose, Heather Rose, and Joshua James. Benard and Paula adopted Paula’s sister’s daughter, Heather Rose, after her mother’s death in 2008.
Is Maurice Benard Leaving GH
No. There were rumors that Benard was retiring from General Hospital. In his response Benard replied:
“I think about retiring all the time, but I always honor my contract. General Hospital is my second family, I’m having a great time right now.”