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Maurice Benard Clarifies Two-Week ‘General Hospital’ Exit and Sonny ‘Recast’ Rumors; Gives Props to Executive Producer Frank Valentini

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: JPI

Back in July, General Hospital’s Maurice Benard opened up about his recent mental health struggle which kept him out for two weeks of taping all-new episodes on the ABC soap opera in his signature role of Sonny Corinthos.

In what was a dark time for Maurice as he described, things took a nosedive after his son, Joshua, and wife, Paula left for a trip to Europe. At the time of the taping of his special episode of State of Mind (where he just spoke to the cameras about what he had gone through), Benard revealed that if he had taken off another week of work from GH (he already been gone for two), the show would probably have had to recast.

At that time Benard shared, “If I had to stay away another week. They would have to recast. And I’ll tell you right now, if they had to recast I’d have been in really bad shape.” Now, on Tuesday, August 13th, Maurice took to his Instagram to clarify his statements and that in no way did GH’s executive producer, Frank Valentini put any pressure on him to return or threaten him with a ‘recast.’

Photo” ABC

Benard expressed: “I want to clarify something. During a rough period recently, I spoke about being recast and I can’t tell you how generous and great, and amazing Frank Valentini was during that period. I guess it kind of seemed that some people thought that he was threatening me in in some kind of way to recast if I didn’t come back, and that wasn’t the case at all. He was exact opposite. Frank is very, very generous when it comes to that, forever, since I’ve known him. So, it all worked out.”

Accompanying the video post, Maurice wrote, “During one of my State of Mind’s, I mentioned that I could be temporarily recast if I didn’t get back to work. And I totally understood Frank Valentini and General Hospital were nothing less than incredible. Frank spoke to my wife, Paula every day, and spoke to me nothing but generous. 2 weeks is a long time, and I was so ready to get back to work!!!”

Since GH usually tapes about 6 weeks ahead of air, coming up, viewers will see a Sonny-less soap opera for some episodes, before Benard came back, and as he details on State of Mind , taped 8 episodes in a week to catch back up.

Photo: JPI

Benard, who suffers from bipolar disorder, shared that he leaned on many friends and family members during this harrowing time in his July video. The three-time Daytime Emmy-winner gave special thanks to: Jonathan Jackson (Lucky), Vanessa Marcil (ex-Brenda), Shelley Curtis, (ex-producer, GH), wife, Paula, son, Joshua, and daughters,  Cassidy and Cailey, among others.

So, glad to know things all worked out and Maurice will be back in action sooner than later, and that there was no Sonny recast during his time away? Comment below.

 

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No one could ever play the part of Sonny, only Maurice Bernard.

I’m glad you are doing well

I appreciate his honesty about his mental health. Also, that he cleared up any misconceptions.

Prayers for Maurice. I admire him for his honesty and for bringing awareness to others. I’m relieved he is loved by so many people and was able to get through this rough patch with their help.

Glad Sonny is “back” and feeling better but have to say his ordeal did not affect his performance , and as far as I was. concerned, probably made his scenes more believable, just sorry he was having a hard time of it getting through all the pain and angst.Am sure all his fans appreciate how much he had to put himself through to give us continued good performances.

Seems to be confusion over what scenes were taped when and how much of a gap there might be in Sonny actually appearing on screen, due to his absence. But according to what both Maurice & Bryan Craig said on the State of Mind episode which aired this past Sunday, the episode with Sonny & Morgan on the roof was actually taped on the first day Maurice came back from his unplanned “hiatus”.

Also, Steve Burton & Bradford Anderson on their Daily Drama podcast have indicated that – because GH production was on a scheduled shutdown for the entire month of July – that the turn around from taping to airdate is a much shorter time period than usual, and that they have both taped scenes since the beginning of August which have already aired. They also said – without getting into specifics – that they had also taped some scenes that were connected to other things originally taped BEFORE the July break, which to me sounds like writing changes might have forced some scenes to be redone.

So between those two different “inside” accounts of what’s going on at GH, I’m thinking there won’t be any extended absence of Sonny on screen. And thank all that’s unholy for that!

No one could replace Banard as Sonny and do such an amazing job. He fits the part perfectly.

I too have struggled my entire adult life with mental health issues. You are my inspiration.
I believe whatever the outcome it is God’s plan for your best interest. It’s funny to love someone you’ve never met but I genuinely feel love for you as Sonny and the man who has lived so courageously. God Bess you and your family.

I don’t trust him. He is using Carly for some plot.

I hope GH just never has someone tamper with Sonny’s medication again.

I find it very hard to watch knowing Maurice suffer the same condition in his real life.

Thanks goodness , Maurice is OK and it worked out with GH. It sounds like he has a GH family there

Glad he seems to be doing better. Mental illness is a b*tch (I have bipolar also)! I’m also glad Sonny is doing better. Now if Sonny and Carly could reunite I’d be ecstatic!

General Hospital

Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

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Maura West and Kelly Sullivan

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.

The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.

Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST

Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”

Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.

A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE

Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”

Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI

KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL

Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”

You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.

So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!

 

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General Hospital

Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

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Steve Burton

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.

TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.

That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Steve Burton

Photo: ABC

STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES

GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.

Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).

Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.

GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS

Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.

Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.

So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

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Jason and Britt

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.

Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.

However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Britt

Courtesy/ABC

BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON

Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.

He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.

Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”

General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”

So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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