Who is Maurice Benard?
Maurice Benard is an American performer who starred as Nico Kelly on the ABC soap opera All My Children from 1987 to 1990. Additionally, he took on the role of Desi Arnaz in the biographical TV movie Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter in 1991.
On March 1, 1963, in Martinez, California, Maurice Benard was born to Martha and Humberto Morales. He is of Nicaraguan and Salvadoran descent. His mother worked at a bank and his father was a superintendent at a bakery.
Raised in San Francisco, California, he discovered his passion for the entertainment industry after graduating from high school. In the 1980s, he kicked off his professional journey as a model before transitioning into acting.
Career
Maurice Benard’s first television appearance was in 1987 when he played the character of Nico Kelly on “All My Children” on ABC. He remained on the show until 1990 and was nominated for a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime in 1989.
In 1990, he made a guest appearance as Curro on “DEA” and the next year, he appeared as Jorge Rosario on “Stat.” In 1992, he appeared in an episode of “Dark Justice.”
In 1993, Benard’s most notable TV show role was when he was chosen to play Sonny Corinthos on the popular ABC soap opera “General Hospital.” Sonny is portrayed as a bipolar criminal boss.
At first, the plan was for his character to only stay for six months as Maurice Benard had no intention of staying on the show for longer than a year.
Following his stint on “All My Children,” he expressed his lack of interest in joining the cast of another soap opera. However, due to financial reasons, he ended up joining “General Hospital.”
Shortly after his debut on the show, he experienced a manic depressive episode and stopped showing up for work. Thankfully, with the cooperation of ABC and the show’s writers, Benard was able to continue working instead of being let go.
Maurice Benard was pleasantly surprised to discover that he was enjoying his role more than he initially expected. This was largely due to the show’s writers incorporating mental health struggles into his character, Corinthos, which mirrored Benard’s own experiences. Since 1993, Benard has continued to be a part of the “General Hospital” cast.
He has been recognized for his work on “General Hospital” with ten Daytime Emmy Award nominations. In 2003, 2019, and 2021, he was honored with the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Award. He has also received three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005. Furthermore,
Benard has reprised his portrayal of Sonny Corinthos in numerous projects, such as the 1996 television event “General Hospital: Twist of Fate,” the 2000 spin-off series “Port Charles,” and the 2007 show “General Hospital: Night Shift.”
Personal Life
Maurice Benard and Paula Smith tied the knot on August 11, 1990. They have four children, including three daughters and one son. In addition, they also welcomed Paula’s younger sister, Heather, into their family after her mother passed away.
At the age of 22, Benard received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Shortly after starting his role as Sonny Corinthos on “General Hospital,” he experienced a manic episode. To reflect on his own experience, Benard suggested that the show’s writers incorporate bipolar disorder into his character’s storyline.
The challenges he experiences on the show as a result of his disorder closely mirror those he has encountered in his personal life. The show has been highly acclaimed for its accurate portrayal of the disorder. Additionally, Benard has taken on the role of advocating for the treatment of this disorder with Mental Health America.
Assets & Net Worth
Maurie and Paula bought a Hollywood Hills residence for $1.25 million in 2007 and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in remodeling it.
In September 2010, they put the house on the market for $1.55 million and eventually sold it for $1.386 million in February 2011. The American actor has an estimated wealth of $2 million.
