Maurice Benard Reaffirms His Future on General Hospital — Plus, the Explosive New Chapter of Michael Corinthos’ Recast and Redemption

For over three decades, Maurice Benard has reigned supreme as the heart and soul of General Hospital, captivating audiences as the formidable yet emotionally tormented mob boss Sonny Corinthos. Since his debut in 1993, Benard’s performance has transformed the soap’s very DNA, infusing it with a raw emotional charge that has made Sonny not just a character, but an institution in Port Charles. Now, as rumors swirl and a new generation of Corinthos drama emerges, Benard’s legacy — and his future — are taking center stage once again.

When Maurice Benard first stepped into the role of Sonny Corinthos, General Hospital was already rich with romantic intrigue and hospital drama. But Sonny changed everything. He brought the dark pulse of organized crime into the heart of daytime television — a mobster with a conscience, a father torn between loyalty and violence, a man whose humanity shimmered through every brutal decision.

At 62, Benard continues to deliver a performance that defies time. Sonny remains the unpredictable linchpin of Port Charles — a man as likely to offer a tender embrace as to orchestrate a takedown. His storylines, from bloody mob wars to tender family reconciliations, have spanned generations and shaped countless arcs involving Carly, Jason, and Michael.

Fans often point to Sonny’s arrival as the catalyst for General Hospital’s golden age of organized crime storytelling. Under Benard’s watch, the show evolved beyond melodrama into a meditation on loyalty, mental illness, and redemption. And as any longtime viewer knows — Port Charles without Sonny Corinthos is unimaginable.