General Hospital Maurice Benard Opens Up About His Fear of Never Acting Again

General Hospital spoilers and updates reveal Maurice Benard, who plays fan favorite Sonny Corinthos, went through an experience where life imitated art.

Both the actor and the Port Charles mob boss suffer from bipolar disorder, and it would seem his was triggered by a storyline arc not too long ago.

Maurice Feared He’d Never Act Again

Maurice Benard, the Emmy-winning star of General Hospital, faced the daunting fear of never returning to acting due to his recent mental health challenges.

Known for his role as Sonny Corinthos, Benard is a passionate advocate for mental health, hosting a podcast called State of Mind that focuses on these important issues.

He shares a personal connection with his character, as he also battles bipolar disorder; in fact, it was at his urging that Sonny was diagnosed.

Maurice speaks about that in his biography, “Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital”.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, he spoke candidly with Women’s World magazine about his ongoing struggles with anxiety, which is also a factor and often accompanies bipolar disorder.

The Storyline That Put Maurice Over The Edge Last Year

Last year on the show, Sonny’s bipolar treatment was manipulated by Valentin Cassadine (James Patrick Stuart) and Ava Jerome (Maura West), plunging Sonny into a profoundly troubling time.

Tragically, this story mirrored reality as Benard faced his own daunting struggles in real life, seemingly triggered by what he was acting out in the ABC soap.

‘I took a two-week sick leave—and that’s something I’ve never done,’ Benard recounted to Women’s World. ‘I was going through a very challenging phase where sleep eluded me, and anxiety surged through me. It was all-encompassing, both physically and emotionally; I felt utterly lost, unsure if I would ever return to acting again.’

Benard’s Family Was Out Of Town, His Port Charles Family Stepped In

Unfortunately, his primary source of support, his wife Paula, who has been by his side for nearly 35 years, was away in Europe with their son. So, during his mental health crisis she couldn’t be there to assist him.

However, he was fortunate to have the unwavering support of his long-time co-stars and friends, Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Jonathan Jackson, who portrays Lucky Spencer.

He attributes his recovery to their presence, expressing, ‘It would have been extremely challenging without them. I am also deeply thankful to (GH Executive Producer) Frank Valentini for his remarkable generosity and support during this time.’

His First Day Back At Work Brought Challenges

Returning to work for the first time was challenging, especially with such a heavy storyline; ‘It was intense, and my first day back involved Sonny on a ledge, contemplating suicide,’ he shared.

‘Fortunately, Bryan Craig was by my side, as he had previously brought Morgan back-I told him, ‘I know I’ve supported you a lot, but I can’t navigate this without you, buddy!’ He was fantastic, and the wonderful aspect of GH is that I believe many actors here would step up in the same way.’

The long running soap is broadcast on weekdays on ABC, and you can also catch up on episodes anytime via Hulu. Additionally, Benard’s podcast, State of Mind, is available on YouTube, with new episodes released every Sunday.