Maurice Benard is an absolute icon when it comes to the soap opera world. After all, he has spent the last 33 years playing Sonny Corinthos, a character that has become a household name worldwide. The General Hospital legend recently sat down with Ty Butler on The Ty Butler Show for a candid conversation spanning his three decades as Port Charles kingpin, his future on the soap, and his mental health advocacy.
Key Takeaways
- Maurice Benard says Sonny can remain powerful without being involved in the mob.
- Benard revealed his current GH contract runs into February or March.
- The actor says he has no plans to retire anytime soon.
- He teased a storyline coming before his contract ends that he is very happy with.
- Benard has a very dark idea for Sonny’s eventual exit from GH.
Life After the Mob: Retaining Power Without the Violence
Benard and the host addressed some of the recent story turning points on the ABC daytime drama. With Sonny stepping away from the mob alongside long-time enforcer Jason Morgan, fans have been wondering what a legitimized Sonny Corinthos actually looks like. Benard made it clear that leaving organized crime does not mean losing his trademark edge.
“The most important thing, and I’ve said it, there’s been a lot of quotes, is I don’t care what I’m doing as long as I maintain power. That power doesn’t mean killing people or being a gangster. That power just means power, right? You can be powerful in business, you can be powerful over here, and I think they’re doing that.”
Contract Status and Teasing a Massive New Storyline
Things soon moved to contract talks and big storylines. Benard dropped an intriguing update about his status with the show, revealing his timeline while teasing a major story on the horizon.
“My contract’s up in February or March, so up until then, there’s this story that’s just going to be… I get caught up in wanting to say it, and then I get myself in trouble, but I won’t say it. I’ll just tell you guys that I’m very happy with it,” he teased.
Naturally, talking contracts raised the question of retirement. Having played the iconic role since 1993, is Benard planning to walk away from daytime TV anytime soon? The actor shut down those rumors fast!
“I’m not going to retire soon, but I’m at a certain point where I can retire if I wanted, but I don’t want to. As long as I’m happy at GH, and I’ve been happy at GH for a while, so they’re going to have to kick me out,” Benard shared.
For General Hospital fans who were worried Sonny’s post-mob era might mean the end of Benard’s run, it sounds like he is not going anywhere—and whatever the writers have planned leading into early 2027 is set to be massive!
Pitching a Dark Ending for Sonny Corinthos
Every soap opera fan wonders how their favorite character’s story will eventually end. But when it comes to Sonny Corinthos, the actor playing him already has a pitch in mind—even if he knows it will make General Hospital viewers furious!
When asked how he envisions Sonny’s ultimate exit from the canvas whenever that day comes, Benard shared a dramatic pitch he often gives at fan events:
“Something happens to one of his children, and it’s his fault. He can’t take it. He goes home, he takes a shot of whiskey, he goes upstairs, and all you hear is boom, and it goes to black. Now, I know you hate it. Now, if it were a movie, it would work, but let me tell you something: It’s a soap opera. You don’t know if he did it… You don’t know if somebody else did it, so there’s a big story there.”
Podcast Success and Dream Returns
Benard also spoke about his popular YouTube podcast State of Mind, where he interviews various celebrities and discusses mental health. He sang the praises of his co-stars, and when the host asked if he could bring back former cast members, Benard couldn’t limit himself to just one answer.
In fact, he named three: Bryan Craig as Morgan Corinthos, Vanessa Marcil as Brenda Barrett, and the late Anthony Geary’s iconic character, Luke Spencer.
What do you think of Maurice Benard’s dark pitch for Sonny’s eventual exit, and what do you hope to see in his upcoming contract storyline? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
Photo Credit: ABC/Disney.
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