Overview:
Darkly handsome, sexy and magnetic, Maurice Benard infuses the character of Sonny Corinthos with amazing depth, contradiction and humor. Benard joined General Hospital as Sonny in 1993, and he has left an indelible impression upon viewers.
On General Hospital:
August 13th, 1993 to September 24th, 1997;
December 18th, 1998 to Present
Background:
Benard was born Mauricio Morales in San Francisco, California on March 1, 1963. He is of both Nicaraguan and San Salvadoran descent. He first began his career first as a model and later appeared in theater in and around San Francisco.
In 1987, Benard was cast on All My Children as Nico Kelly. After two years with the show, Benard left for Los Angeles and was cast as Desi Arnaz in the TV movie, Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter. Before joining General Hospital in August 1993, Benard appeared in film and in other television roles.
Bipolar Disease
Besides his work on General Hospital Bernard has been outspoken about his battle with bipolar disease, with which he was diagnosed at the age of twenty-two. Thanks to Sonny Corinthos, the illness has been discussed and featured on the show as Sonny himself dealt with the disease.
Benard has appeared on many talk shows, including The View, Entertainment Tonight and Oprah as well as other media talking about bipolar disorder. In this capacity, he has served as a beacon of hope for many who have suffered from this disease without even realizing it. He worked with the National Mental Health Association on a campaign, "Bipolar Disorder: Do You Know It?" to aid people in spotting the signs and symptoms of bipolar disease.
Private Life
In 1990, Benard married his wife, Paula, and today, they have two daughters and one son, not to mention a large family of animals.
Maurice Benard: Just The Facts:
Real Name: Mauricio Morales
Place of Birth: San Francisco, California
Date of Birth: March 1, 1963
