Maurice Benard addresses General Hospital exit rumors

Sonny Corinthos is juggling enough chaos on General Hospital without adding real-world panic to the mix. After weeks of speculation, the Daytime Emmy winner addressed whether or not he's going to give up being daytime drama's most well-known "coffee importer" in the near future.

General Hospital scoop

People shared a video clip from the We’re Out of Time podcast in which Benard was a guest. Asked directly whether he planned to leave General Hospital, Benard immediately set the record straight: “No, I’m not leaving.” The actor, who has played Sonny since 1993, has faced whispers about his supposed departure for years — and this isn’t the first time he’s had to say it. Soap Central reported exclusively earlier this year that the actor has three years still left on his current contract.

“There have always been a lot of people [saying that]. I think they’re saying I’m dying, too, like I have cancer or something,” he said, clearly unfazed by the chatter. Benard revealed he still has a year left on his contract and has no intention of walking away before then. “Look, I’m going to retire, but I don’t think it’s going to be before I’m 65.”

For Benard, it’s not about whether he wants to stay — it’s about how long he can give Sonny his best. Benard has been on GH for over 30 years, and almost every moment has been intense for the mobster. But maintaining that every day can be daunting, even for the best actors.

Thinking about the future (But not just yet)

Benard was candid about the emotional toll of the work he does. “People are going to get mad at me for saying this, but I’m always just going to be honest,” he explained. He further explained that acting on the show can be “mentally taxing,”

He admitted that when the time does come to step away, he’s going to have to find some structure to keep himself grounded. “When I leave, I’ll have [my podcast], State of Mind, maybe [I’ll] do that more.”

This clarity should calm the wave of speculation that’s bubbled up since summer, when a few offhand comments during another interview had fans convinced he was packing his bags. Instead, Benard made it clear this isn’t an exit — it’s just the reality of an actor who’s put decades into a role and is mindful of the road ahead.

Trending

For now, Sonny isn’t leaving Port Charles. And Benard isn’t leaving General Hospital. He’s just reminding fans that the day he does, it’ll be on his terms — not the rumor mill’s.

General Hospital can be seen weekdays on ABC and Hulu

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback