Guide Note

Actor Maurice Benard plays the role of mob boss Sonny Corinthos on the daytime soap General Hospital. Benard first portrayed Sonny on August 13, 1993. He took a year long break from 1998-99 then returned to the role, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award in 2003. He is also a strong advocate for bipolar disorder treatment, as he has suffered from the disease most of his life. He was diagnosed when he was 22, and uses his public role to educate people about the disease.

Fast Facts

1. Birth Name: Mauricio Jose Morales
2. Born: March 1, 1963
3. Birthplace: Martinez, California
4. September 24, 2007: Appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
5. Married to Paula Smith since 1990
6. Two daughters, one son
7. Height: 5 feet 9 inches
8. Grew up in San Fransisco

Benard is a cornerstone of General Hospital as Sonny Corinthos, but it was not the first soap opera role he has played. He was on the soap All My Children as Nico Kelly from 1987-1989. He also played Desi Arnaz in a 1991 television movie called Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter.