Maurice Benard Sets The Record Straight About General Hospital Status
Fans of Maurice Benard, who plays the troubled but lovable gangster Sonny Corinthos, believed he was somehow being bullied or pushed out of General Hospital for taking some much-needed mental health time. Now, the beloved actor has spoken up about what was going on with him and exactly what he meant by off-handedly mentioning that he could have been recast.
Fans Misconstrued His Words
In a July episode of his YouTube series, State of Mind, Benard (Sonny) explained how he had been going through another dark period and took two weeks off. He and his wife Paula would talk to executive producer Frank Valentini on the phone, who he described several times as “generous” and “nothing but incredible.” He then explained that “If I had to stay away for another week, they would have had to recast,” adding if that happened, “I’d have been in really bad shape.”
Fortunately, it didn’t come to that, but that didn’t stop the rumors of his exit from spreading. Even though he explained how understanding Valentini was, some fans believed he was being browbeaten into leaving or threatened with a recast if he did not return to his role as Sonny.
Recently, he addressed the rumors with a video on Instagram, writing, “During my latest [State of Mind] I mentioned that I could be temporarily recast if I didn’t get back to work and I totally understood.” Reassuring fans that his boss wasn’t out to get him, he added, “Frank Valentini and [General Hospital] were nothing less than incredible. Frank spoke to my wife, Paula every day and spoke to me nothing but generously. 2 weeks is a long time and I was so ready to get back to work!!!”
Everything Worked Out
In Benard’s video, he supplemented his caption by clearing things up further: “During a rough period recently, I spoke about being recast and I can’t tell you how generous and great and amazing Frank Valentini was during that period,” he reiterated, continuing, “But, I guess it kind of seemed that some people thought that he was threatening me in some kind of way, to recast if I didn’t come back, and that wasn’t the case at all. It was the exact opposite.”
He once again praised Valentini’s generosity and ended his statement by saying the reassuring words, “It all worked out.”
One fan spoke for many by responding, “As a long-time fan, I was worried about what ‘Sonny’s’ current storyline was going to do to your health. I’m glad it all worked out because you are irreplaceable. ??.” (Find out how Benard always protects his castmates!)
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