The newest episode of State of Mind, hosted by Maurice Benard, better known to soap fans as Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital, has dropped. This time, the guest is none other than Marcus Coloma, who previously played Nikolas Cassadine before Adam Huss stepped into the role.
Right from the start, Coloma came in fully committed to a new character he’s playing in an upcoming movie. He jokingly stayed in character as “Buddy” for a bit before the conversation shifted into a much more candid territory. Eventually, the former GH co-stars got into the real story behind Coloma’s abrupt exit from the ABC soap that happened back in 2023.
Why Did Marcus Coloma Leave General Hospital?
Marcus Coloma revealed that health issues played a major role in his abrupt exit from General Hospital in 2023. During his appearance on State of Mind, Coloma shared that he was dealing with tachycardia, a condition that caused his heart to race constantly and eventually required heart surgery. He also admitted the final weeks on set became difficult due to anxiety and memory struggles, but stressed that he still has “nothing but love” for the show.
Need to Know
- Marcus Coloma played Nikolas Cassadine on General Hospital.
- He opened up about his exit on State of Mind.
- Coloma revealed he was diagnosed with tachycardia and later underwent heart surgery.
- The actor praised executive producer Frank Valentini for being supportive during that time.
Marcus Coloma Opens Up About His Time on General Hospital
It was clear how much appreciation Coloma still has for the show. There was no bitterness in his tone at all. Instead, he reflected on his struggles as an actor and how General Hospital actually helped him grow creatively.
Coloma explained:
“So, General Hospital for me, it started out with… I got very nervous on sets. I’d been acting for 20-something years. Every single set. And I would be so bummed out because I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do, because I would chicken out.”
He admitted that even after years of acting classes, nothing really prepares you for standing on a busy set with dozens of people watching while cameras roll.
According to Coloma, he often found himself torn between following his instincts or taking direction he didn’t fully agree with creatively. Most of the time, he chose the safer route.
Things eventually changed.
Coloma revealed that about two and a half years into his run on the soap, he started getting the feeling that his time on the show might be ending, even though nobody officially told him. Around that same time, he and Maurice Benard began having conversations that helped shift his perspective as an actor.
He shared that Benard encouraged him to fully own his performances instead of second-guessing himself.
“So because at that point I got what I really wanted out of that journey, which was the fearlessness.”
Coloma said the last six months on the show became the most creatively freeing period of his career. Instead of constantly adjusting to notes, he started trusting himself more.
“The last six months, I started to do that. I would get a note, and I would be like I’m going to do it the way I want to do it, right? And they’d give me the note again, and I would do it the way I wanted to do it. And that was very liberating.”
The Health Battle Behind Marcus Coloma’s Exit
While fans speculated for years about what really happened behind the scenes, Coloma revealed there was a serious health issue happening at the same time.
He explained that after never struggling with lines during his entire run, things suddenly changed near the end of his time on the show.
“I start going up on lines, and I start getting really nervous.”
When Maurice asked why, Coloma revealed he had tachycardia, a condition that caused his heart to constantly race at around 110 beats per minute.
At the time, he didn’t know exactly what was happening physically. He even wondered if it could have been related to long COVID. Eventually, he learned he needed heart surgery.
Coloma admitted the way things ended still bothers him because he had worked so hard during his time on General Hospital and hated not being able to finish properly.
Still, he made it clear there are no hard feelings.
“But all of that said, um, I absolutely love General Hospital. It was such a great experience.”
He also praised executive producer Frank Valentini for being understanding while he was dealing with health issues.
“I have nothing but love for General Hospital, and I appreciate it. I sent a text to Frank, and I thought he was very sweet. He understood that I was going through something physical at the time.”
Marcus Coloma Reflects on Life Today
The interview also touched on Coloma’s personal life these days, including stepping away from social media, taking a break from dating, and embracing celibacy.
He admitted that in the past, his shyness often pushed him into relationships he may not have fully wanted. Now, he says he’s become much more intentional about his life and relationships.
“Now, dude, I’ve been single for a very long time, and I’m trying on celibacy.”
You can watch the full interview below as Maurice Benard sits down with Marcus Coloma for a candid and emotional conversation.
Photo Credit: ABC/Disney.
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