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General Hospital recently confirmed the exit of several fans’ most loved characters, including Sam McCall (played by Kelly Monaco) and Jagger Cates (played by Adam J. Harrington). Following these developments, rumors about a potential exit are again swirling around, and this time they are about Maurice Benard.
Veteran daytime actor Maurice Benard has been a part of GH for over three decades. He is one of the longest-running actors on the show, being at the thick of things with the sharp and criminal mind of his character.
Several hints, including a tweet by Maurice and an anonymous poster that quotes Laura saying that Sonny will exit, have led to speculations and rumors of Maurice’s departure.
However, it is important to remember that neither the actor nor the makers have made any official statement regarding her departure at the time of writing.
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Maurice Benard on the ABC soap opera General Hospital plays the role of mob kingpin Sonny Corinthos. The character was first introduced on the show on August 13, 1993, and since then has been played by Maurice, except for a brief duration in 2018 when his son Joshua Benard portrayed Sonny.
General Hospital: What sparked the Maurice Benard retirement rumors?
The rumors of Maurice Benard retiring from General Hospital started when an anonymous poster on the Daytime Dish fan forum said that Laura Wright, who plays Carly Spencer, mentioned in an interview that Maurice Benard might leave the show in October. Since there is no official record of Wright’s statement, nothing can be surely stated in this regard.
The post also suggested that there could be a "Jarly" (Jason and Carly) reunion in November, but only if Sonny Corinthos was no longer part of the show. Adding ]to these rumors was Benard’s recent tweet about an event he attended in Bellmore, New Jersey on September 6.
He said:
“This might be my last one for a while—I’m not trying to get you to go, I’m just telling you the truth; let’s have some fun.”
This message made fans wonder if he was hinting at leaving General Hospital or just taking a break from public appearances for other reasons.
A recent episode of the Daily Drama podcast, released on September 6, included Wright in an interview with Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli). The conversation focused on the relationships between Sonny, Carly, and Jason, but nothing was clearly stated about Maurice Benard’s intentions or Sonny’s future in the show.
When Burton asked if Sonny and Carly might remarry, Wright said she didn't see that happening. But she did say that Jason and Carly have always been each other's "ride or die," which could suggest a change in their relationships.
While Benard has hinted that he might not be making personal appearances for a while, he has not given any indication that he plans to leave General Hospital.
Benard has often been candid with fans on social media and in interviews, so if he were planning a major career change, it is likely he would address it directly.
Fans of General Hospital can watch the new episodes of the show on ABC and Hulu.
