One thing’s for sure when tuning into State of Mind, hosted by General Hospital icon Maurice Benard (aka Sonny Corinthos): you never quite know where the conversation will go—but you’re guaranteed to come away seeing the world a little differently.That’s definitely true for the latest episode, featuring Galen Gering—beloved for his longtime role as Rafe Hernandez on Days of our Lives, and remembered by Passions fans as Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald.
From soap fame to family memories to a jaw-dropping story about almost getting killed on a modeling job (yes, really), this interview goes places.
The episode kicks off with Maurice’s signature charm: some thoughtful opening remarks, a few laughs, and then—he dives right in. Gering, a Los Angeles native (Northeast LA, to be exact), starts by reflecting on his mom, grandmother, and the family dynamic that shaped him. But the conversation quickly shifts into unexpected territory as Galen begins unraveling a story that sounds like a scene from a movie.
Galen Gering Gets Real on State of Mind
Back in his early days, Gering was working as a model while juggling college classes at NYU and later the University of Miami. He did everything from commercials to renovating homes, traveling the world in between semesters. According to him, he shot “at least 50 commercials,” though probably only 10 were big-time national spots. Still, he was in demand—enough to score a direct booking from a top Italian agency shortly after high school.
That gig took him to Tunisia, where things got dangerous fast. While shooting in a small village, Gering’s nationality became a sudden—and serious—problem.
A local man asked where he was from. “Los Angeles,” Gering answered.
“America?” the man asked again.
“Yeah, America.”
The man’s expression changed. He started shouting. “America—we hate! We kill Americans!”
And just like that, a crew started forming. Locals began banging pots, yelling, and chaos erupted. Gering, just 18, was frozen in disbelief until a stranger—described as a pudgy local man—grabbed him and said, “Come with me.” With no time to think, Gering followed him into a nearby carpet shop, where the man hid him under a pile of rugs.
After lying still for about 15 minutes, Gering was led out through a back alley and eventually reunited with the crew. But the job was over for him. The shoot relocated and they had to go some remote place.
Another Misadventure?
Oh—and that wasn’t even the end of his modeling misadventures. On his very first trip to London, customs flagged him at Heathrow. They suspected he was there to work (he had his modeling portfolio on him), and within 24 hours, he was deported. “They kept my passport,” he says with a laugh. “But I did get to see Anthony Hopkins on broadway though, so that was dope.”
It’s stories like these—raw, funny, and a little unbelievable—that make State of Mind so compelling. And Gering brings what it takes to make this one a must-watch.
Watch Galen Gering’s full State of Mind episode below. (Photo: JPI.)
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