General Hospital
GH's Maurice Benard Opens Up In Inspiring and Emotional Interview About His Battle With Bipolar Disorder On DR OZ!
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.
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) revealed on Thursday, the lineup of presenters for 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards taking place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.
The ceremony will stream live on the NATAS YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@theemmys and watch.TheEmmys.tv.
Scheduled to present from the current soaps are: Katelyn MacMullen (Willow, General Hospital), Delon de Metz (Zende, The Bold and the Beautiful), James Preston (Nick, The Bay), Paul Telfer (Xander, Days of our Lives), Tamara Tunie (Anita, Beyond the Gates) and Susan Walters (Diane, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: NATAS
In addition soap alums, Crystal Chappell, Lesli Kay, Joe Lando, Eva LaRue, who is also a nominee this year, A Martinez, Juliet Mills, and Alicia Leigh Willis, will also be on hand to present.
The ceremony which celebrates nominated lifestyle programs and dramas will also include presenters: Eva zu Beck (Superskilled with Eva zu Beck), Danielle Chang (Lucky Chow), Sunny Hostin (The View), Derek Hough (Extra), Pati Jinich (Pati’s Mexican Table), Star Jones (Divorce Court), Michael Jr. (Stand Up and Do Something), Judge Greg Mathis (Mathis Court with Judge Mathis), Keke Palmer (Glam Through the Ages), Nischelle Turner (Entertainment Tonight), and Andrew Zimmern (Andrew Zimmern’s Wild Game Kitchen).
The 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards will bring together an exciting mix of presenters representing the full spectrum of daytime television,” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO of NATAS. “From familiar faces in daytime drama to the personalities and creative voices behind talk shows and lifestyle programming, this year’s lineup reflects the breadth of talent that makes daytime so special. We look forward to celebrating the people who continue to shape the genre.”
Matthew Hoffman (Love Island USA, Cheap A$$ Beach Houses) will serve as the ceremony’s Voice of God, bringing his signature comedic narration to the evening’s celebrations. As previously announced, Lifetime Achievement honoree Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) will be presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband, Jonathan Frakes.
So, what do you think about the list of presenters for the 2026 Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know who you are looking forward to seeing via the comment section below.
General Hospital fans took to social media following the airing of the Wednesday, October 21 episode of the ABC daytime drama series. In story, Molly (Kristen Vaganos) reveals to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn) that she has received an offer to join the top law firm in Chicago that practices civil law. She says it’s her dream job.
The problem Molly says is relocating from Port Charles and uprooting her life and being away from her mother, Scout and boyfriend Cody Bell (Josh Kelly). Wistful that she may lose another daughter to a long-distance situation (Kristina left a few months back to go to medical school in California), Alexis urged Molly to get Cody to go with her.
Molly still seemed concerned and has trouble committing to the idea. Alexis tells her to talk it over with Cody. Meanwhile, Cody asked Tracy (Jane Elliot) is he can have Thanksgiving off because he and Molly planned to spend Thanksgiving together with their families. After initially balking, Tracy agrees.
Courtesy/ABC
WILL MOLLY AND CODY HEAD TO CHI-TOWN?
Later, Cody shows up at Miller & Davis and the conversation turned to Thanksgiving dinner that Alexis is hosting. Molly and Cody asked her not to cook anything. Cody hugged Molly reassuring Alexis that he and Molly would take care of whatever was needed on Turkey Day.
So, this raises the question, why out of nowhere are we learning that Molly received an amazing law offer in Chicago, if the character was not being written out? If Molly leaves the canvas, would the character of Cody make his exit too?
Kristen Vaganos joined GH as a recast Molly Lansing-Davis back in September of 2023 and went on contract in August of 2024. Josh Kelly began playing Cody Bell back in June of 2022. Initial reports were that Kelly joined the show on contract and then as of June 2025 went on recurring status with the show per his choice.
Do you see a world where GH is writing out Molly and Cody? Would you be sad to see Kristen and Josh exit the soap opera? If this is not what is going on, is this just a plot point for some other story that is upcoming? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
It’s been over two-years since his last appearance on General Hospital, now fan favorite Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin) has taken to social media to share his thoughts on the casting of his grown-up TV daughter, Serena Baldwin now played by Kelly Kruger.
Kelly took over the role of Serena on-screen starting with the July 30, 2026 episode and has been ensconced in the storyline with her mother, Lucy Coe (Lynn Herring), in trying to win back full creative control of Deception for her.
In fact on the Monday, October 19 episode of the ABC soap opera, Serena tried to dupe Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) into signing over Michael’s (Rory Gibson) shares of the company. Jason caught on and wondered why she was doing this. She claimed she just wanted to help her mom gain creative control from Tracy (Jane Elliot) rather than full ownership, and begged Jason to keep quiet about it, which he agreed to for now.
Courtesy/ABC
WHERE IS SCOTT?
On Monday, Shriner also took to X and said, “I think Kelly Kruger is doing a great job on General Hospital, and she and Lynn Herring work well together.” That was followed by comments in his thread about the show needing to bring back Scott too.
In fact, back on August 25, Shriner also took to X with a reminder that Scott is still around and ready to come back to Port Charles, sharing, “Scotty Baldwin always fits in he just needs the right sport coat !!!!”
The last time Serena mentioned her father Scott was when Kruger made her debut and informed Lucy that her father was, “living his best life in Key West.” Meanwhile, Shriner posts on his X account continually and shared back on August 2, that it has been 49 years since he made his on-screen debut as then teenaged, Scotty Baldwin and thanked the fans for al the love and support.
So, now let us know, are you enjoying Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin? Do you want to see GH bring back Scott Baldwin into the story, so Serena has both her parents in Port Charles? Do you like the potential of Jason and Serena pairing? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
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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?