On the latest episode of State of Mind, host Maurice Benard (Sonny, General Hospital) had an impactful reunion with his former onscreen enforcer, Sean Blakemore (ex-Shawn Butler). Throughout the episode, Blakemore candidly discussed his upbringing. He also reflected on his past struggles with poverty, shared invaluable life lessons and expressed his deep love for his children.
Opening up about his past, Blakemore quipped, [I] grew up in St. Louis; you know, my mom was married and got divorced, and so she was a single mom raising seven kids. We’re all a year apart—it was five girls, two boys, two sets of twins, and I’m in between the twins.” He adds, “So I grew up in St. Louis and kind of all over the place.”
Blakemore highlighted that growing up as a kid was tough, “I grew up in extreme poverty, and it was tough, you know. I mean, listen, by the time I was a freshman in high school, that was my 10th school, and so moving around a lot, having to adapt a lot, and just constantly.
With all the constant moving around, he noted, “You never felt grounded, and you always feel like, okay, if you feel like you’re going to tap in, you’re about to tap out because you’re going to have to move again. So it’s tough for a kid, but also, I think, in a fortunate way, it helps build resilience. It helps you be more observant, asservant, and confident. You had to choose confidence because your lifestyle, your trials and tribulations could break you, and so you have to make these tough choices as a kid. You know, it’s not always easy, but you have to. So sometimes you would be in school and you’d have best friends and great people you’re very close to, and then it’s like…”
Sean Blakmore emphasized that he learned about survival quickly and efficiently. He mastered essential skills like cooking, ironing, and navigating his way independently. “Then just to do without, you know. I mean to have the luxury of what most people had, like a phone, eating, a bed—I didn’t sleep in a bed until I was a junior in high school; I slept on the floor.” He added, “I would never want that for my kids, but I’ve learned a lot in that process.”
Watch the full episode below!
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