Maurice Benard

Benard was born Mauricio José Morales in Martinez, California, the son of Martha, a bank employee, and Humberto Morales, a bakery superintendent. He grew up in San Francisco, California, and is of Nicaraguan ancestry. He started his acting career as Nico on the soap opera All My Children, from 1987 to 1990. He then began appearing on General Hospital, a daytime soap opera on ABC. His role on the show was the fictional Sonny Corinthos, a manic depressive mobster King pin. His first air date on GH was August 13, 1993. Benard has been nominated for several Daytime Emmy awards for his role of Sonny Corinthos,winning Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003, 2019, and 2021, as well as winning three Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005.