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GH's Maurice Benard Opens Up In Inspiring and Emotional Interview About His Battle With Bipolar Disorder On DR OZ!

Courtesy/DROZ

Courtesy/DROZ

Thursday’s episode of Dr. Oz, featured two daytime performers who have struggled with two different conditions.  The Real’s Tamar Braxton discussed her near fatal blood clot at the top of the show, and then General Hospital’s Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) joined Mehmet Oz for a revealing and extraordinary honest interview about his battle with bipolar disorder and mental illneess.

Throughout his segment, Maurice discussed how he behaved in his 20’s, and contemplating suicide. Later,  he was joined by his wife Paula were they discussed the time when they were rehearsing scenes during the Karen the stripper storyline on GH, and Maurice thought it was truly happening.  In another dark moment from his past, Maurice and Paula shared when he threatened to kill her.   A studio audience member also addressd Maurice.  She shared that after seeing Maurice and Paula on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2004, it helped her and others because of his courage that helped shed light on mental illness.

Later, the discusssion turned to the current storyline on General Hospital, where Sonny’s son, Morgan has inherited the disorder.  Benard related:  “The thing about soap operas which is great is we have done AIDS storylines, breast cancer storylines, and you can really educate people with these storylines, especially if they are done well.  This particular storyline is me looking at through the eyes of the father, and not going through it myself.  It’s been a beautiful thing to watch this kid (Bryan Craig), who can really do it well.”

Dr. Oz had a surprise for Maurice when he played a special message from Bryan Craig:  “Hey Maurice.  I just want to say that playing your son Morgan on General Hospital had been a very meaningful role to me. Your experience with mental illness has helped me create a character to the best of my abilities that depicts the struggles for people battling bipolar disorder and depression and what they go through in real life.   I just want to say, I couldn’t have done it without you.  You’re strength and honesty is inspiring.  I think you are an amazing role model for anyone who is going through this in real life.  I love you, and I will see you back in Port Charles.”

A choked-up Benard related “I just love helping young actors, and especially when its a storyline that is so personal to me.”  Watch yesterday’s episode of Dr. Oz after the jump.  Then let us know what you thought of Maurice’s honesty and his willingness to put himself out there in order to help educate others in the same situation and more.

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I too suffer from bipoler eps. and had attempted suicide when i was much younger but i NEVER got that bad to threaten someone or harming others…this week i did get very stressed from an animal attack that bloodied my arm, and my sister’s serious illness that i have become very ill and suffering from horrible 3 day headache that doesnt seem to go away…i do get easily upset when i find someone left a mess in the kitchen.but that last about five to ten minutes then who doesnt get upset when they find a kitchen that they cleaned just hours earlier and then find it looking like a tornado struck-lol..i do have meds and i take them when i feel the ‘mood’ coming on.

Thanks for sharing and please continue to take care of yourself

You are most welcome and i’ll try…

hey Jimh..
its ok.. you’er luved.. better days are ahead 🙂

I sure hope so…thanks su…and you are luved too.

Thank you so much for sharing.

you are most welcome…

Thanks for sharing your story. It is so important to ending the stigma that still surrounds mental illness that prevents people from seeking treatment. There is help and I’m so glad you’ve found what works for you. Stay well, my friend.

Thank you very much…kind words are good medicine too.

Maurice was incredibly brave to tell his story. Undoubtably he will help many others. Thank you, Maurice!

It was inspiring to watch this incredibly raw and honest interview. My father has struggled with bi-polar for much of my life and it was helpful to me to see a different perspective of someone who has gone through it.

Love Maurice and I admire his courage and strength in giving a voice to those with none.

He’s so brave. I admire him so much. Maurice seems like a real, big-hearted, down to earth, complex man. His character needs years of tuning an re-tuning, but I have always been able to separate the character from the man. I love his interviews an this one was no different- honest, raw, deep, scary, humorous.

Maurice is a wonderful inspiration to everyone not only those who actually suffer from Bipolar. He continues to be the number one reason that I watch General Hospital every day.

Wow!!! Raw. Real. Revelatory. I hate the character of Sonny Corinthos, but I have absolutely THE highest respect for Maurice Benard as an actor, and as a man. He is providing such a needed public service with his advocacy for mental health awareness, and with his willingness to share what it means for the sufferer and the family to live with bi-polar disorder. It rang so true to me, in every detail, because several members of my family have been bi-polar and the stories are so similar.

Thank you Maurice for your openness, your courage, and your profound honesty.

That is a great post. REAL! You have the ability to separate the two. Sorry that your family members deal with this, as well.

I admire his honesty and applaud his efforts to inspire others to seek treatment. So many lives are touched by mental illness in this country; either through personal experience or those of a family member or friend. Most conditions are treatable through therapy, medication or a combination of the two. It is so important that mental illness be treated like any other medical condition. I hope anyone who is struggling will see this and be inspired to seek treatment. I’m so impressed by MB’s willingness to share in the hope of helping others. Well- done!

WOW, so very little feedback about Maurice’s, Oz appearance. I have to figure that there are a lot of Sonny haters/mob story haters BUT you really should separate the two to understand the character of Sonny better. You dont have to like him BUT you would respect him more if you tuned into the Oz episode. I’m not a huge Sonny fan. Dont mind him or the mob. Dont like his family much BUT if you separate the character from the human you would be blown away by what Maurice and his family has been through and respect him as a human!

I finally listened to Maurice’s interview on Dr. Oz. What a story. And thank God for Paula and his family. They never mentioned what might be the cause of bi-polar besides genetics. Wonder what else causes it? Also, are outbreaks like Morgan is exhibiting typical?

General Hospital

Lane Davies Joins the Cast of General Hospital Setting up a ‘Santa Barbara’ Reunion with Nancy Lee Grahn

Some very intriguing casting news out of General Hospital. The ABC daytime drama has cast former Santa Barbara favorite, Lane Davies (ex-Mason Capwell), in the role of Fergus Byrne, an attorney who crosses paths with Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn).

According to TV Insider, Davies will make debut the week of May 22nd.  As soap fans know, together with the aforementioned Grahn, they created the Santa Barbara supercouple of Mason and Julia Wainwright. Davies portrayed Mason Capwell family from 1984 through 1989.

Interestingly enough, this isn’t the first time in Port Charles for Lane. From 2002-2004 he played Dr. Cameron Lewis and also shared on-screen story with Grahn.  At that time Davies, played Xander Smith’s father.

Photo: NBC

GH fans are wondering about the last name of Davies new character, “Bryne”. If you recall, Alexis got herself involved with therapist Dr. Neil Bryne, who died when Harmony broke into Alexis‘ house and killed Neil by injecting him with opioids.

Photo:

Taking to her Instagram, Grahn shared her excitement at the upcoming on-screen reunion with Davies, “It never gets old. We do 😂…. but it doesn’t 😍. Lookin’ forward to another romp.”

So, what do you think about Lane Davies returning to GH to play an attorney in Alexis’ orbit? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Nikolas Gets an Earful from Ava About Sonny and His Meds; Nina and Drew Can’t Seem to Resist Each Other

Ava (Maura West) seems to feel she has a confidante in a jailed Nikolas (Adam Huss) on the Monday, April 29th episode of General Hospital. In story, Ava heads to Pentonville to visit her ex-husband before he is set to get transferred out of state.

When discussing her living relationship with Sonny (Maurice Benard), which Nikolas already knew about, Ava says she is happy about how her relationship with Sonny has been evolving, Nikolas ask if she’s in love with Sonny. Ava denies it, but goes on to say how great it is for her daughter, Avery to be living with both her parents, who are on the same side and not at odds.

Nikolas believes that Ava loves being in Sonny’s inner sanctum and the power that comes with it. Ava fires back that she spent years looking in from the outside and that everyone despised her. When Nikolas brings up Nina (Cynthia Watros), she says Nina never really could understand the true type of man that Sonny is.

Courtesy/ABC

Then, Ava launches in on Carly (Laura Wright), and how she would love to stick it to her, for all the times she blocked Ava from seeing her child and Carly’s attitude towards her. Then, Ava admits to Nikolas that she knows that Sonny has a watered-down version of his bipolar medication, which is making him more vulnerable and she’s capitalizing on it for her own gain. She says she needs to figure out who is responsible, but Nikolas voices concern for Ava’s plan and that if Sonny ever found out she knew about it and did nothing, he would be on the warpath against her. Ava promises she knows what she’s doing. When she says goodbye to Nikolas, he looks upset and sad, as he still seemingly cares for Ava.

Courtesy/ABC

Meanwhile in Drew’s (Cameron Mathison) office, Nina walks in complaining about Carly giving her a hard time about maintenance in her office. Nina wants payback for Jason (Steve Burton) buying Carly the hotel, but Drew is not up for playing games with her.  She says they both want revenge on Jason and Carly, which Drew denies. Next thing you know, Nina grabs Drew and kisses him. Although, it seems he might walk out the door and away from her, he locks it, and the two proceed to have round 2 of their hate-sex.

Courtesy/ABC

Elsewhere, Anna tells Jason about her shooting Charlotte and her concern about Valentin’s (James Patrick Stuart) involvement with Pikeman. Meanwhile, Valentin visits Jack Brennan (Charles Mesure) in Pentonville, where threats are laid out to make Sonny look like the guilty party in eliminating Jason, while Anna is the line of fire, if she doesn’t keep her nose out of Pikeman business, which worries Valentin, who doesn’t want Anna getting hurt in any of this.

So, what do you think about Ava’s plans? Did you like seeing Nikolas back on the canvas? Are you all for a Drew/Nina continued affair? Will Anna get caught in the crossfire only to be saved by Valentin? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Breaking News

Haley Pullos Receives 90-Day Jail Sentence Following DUI Charge And Wrong-Way Car Crash

Former General Hospital actress, Haley Pullos (ex-Molly Lansing-Davis) is going to be doing time in jail, exactly one-year after her arrest from a hit and run wrong-way car collision.

The crash resulted in bodily harm and damages to the other driver, and now Pullos who pleaded “no contest” to the charges and will serve 90 days in jail. She was taken in custody on Monday, April 29th, after the ruling.

According to Haley’s attorney, Mark Daniel Melnick, the 25-year-old actress struck a plea deal and after her three months in jail will be sentenced on July 29th. As part of that sentencing, she must serve five years probation, 200 hours of community service and pay $8,260 in restitution to Courteney Wilder, the other driver in the crash and her driver’s license is revoked for a year.

Courtesy/ABC

According to TMZ, the plea deal for Pullos has the “no contest” to one DUI, while the judge dropped the felony DUI causing bodily injury and misdemeanor hit and run charges.

Melnick said in a statement to PEOPLE, “Haley is very grateful to the court for a minimum sentence and for recognizing her remorse and the strides she has made in her sobriety.”

Pullos had played the daughter of Alexis Davis (played by Nancy Lee Grahn) on the ABC soap opera since 2009, but after her car crash and DUI she was replaced by three different actresses until the show finally settled on the current Molly, Kristen Vaganos.

Photo: Pasadena PD

Back in April 29 of 2023, and at the scene of the crash, the police found edibles and mini-bottles of tequila in Pullos’ vehicle and that she was intoxicated. As it turned out, this was to be the second hit and run in the evening for Pullos who had an earlier collision with another car.

The courts decision follows a year-long legal battle with Haley’s pleas changing throughout it, ranging from “not guilty” to “no contest”. She sought treatment for her drinking at a rehab following the crash.

Nancy Lee Grahn, who portrayed Pullos’ on-screen mom took to X on Monday night, April 29th and shared on the sentence and the specific jail, Haley will be serving time: “As Haley’s TV mom I can tell some truths about her as I’ve loved her since she was little girl. She made a HUGE mistake, knows it, owns it & has spent the last yr doing EVERYTHING imaginable to take responsibility 4 it. It’s not that I oppose jail. It’s that I oppose this jail.” The jail in question by Grahn is the L.A. county jail.

So, what do you think about Haley Pullos serving a 90-days jail sentence, and the other rulings that will be part of her sentencing? Comment below.

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