In This Biography

Maurice Benard Bio, Career, Age, Family, Spouse, and Net Worth

Who is Maurice Benard?

Maurice Benard is a recognized American professional actor. Benard was cast as Sonny Corinthos on the ABC soap opera General Hospital in 1993.

Maurice Benard Career

Benard began his acting career as Nico on the soap opera All My Children, from 1987 to 1990. He later started appearing on General Hospital, a daytime soap opera on ABC. Benard’s role on the program was the fictional Sonny Corinthos, a manic-depressive mobster Kingpin. His first air date on General Hospital was August 13, 1993. He has been nominated for various Daytime Emmy awards for his role of Sonny, winning Outstanding Lead Actor in 2003, 2019, and 2021. Benard has also won 3 Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1996, 2003, and 2005.

Aside from guest spots on various TV series during the early 1990s, he appeared in television films such as the CBS television film Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991) playing Desi Arnaz. Benard has starred in the independent movie The Ghost and the Whale, executive produced by his wife Paula.

Health condition

At the age of 22 years, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Benard has become a spokesperson for the treatment of the disorder with Mental Health America. He made the decision to have the General Hospital writers make his character, Sonny, also have the disorder. Multiple of the struggles he faces on the program because of the disorder are the same ones he faced in his own life. Much praise has been given to the show for its realistic depiction.

How old is Maurice Benard?

Mauricio Jose Morales now known as Maurice Benard was born on March 1, 1963, in Martinez, California, U.S., and is aged 60 years. He shares his birthday with famous celebrities including Justin Bieber, Lupita Nyong’o, Don Lemon, Jensen Ackles, Ron Howard, Catherine Bach, Zack Snyder, Ana Hickman, and many more.

Maurice Benard Family

Who are Maurice’s parents?

Maurice Benard was born Mauricio Jose Morales to Martha Morales and Humberto Morales in Martinez, California. His father is a bakery superintendent, while his mother was a bank employee. He was brought up in San Francisco, California, and is of Nicaraguan descent.

Does Maurice have siblings?

Benard has not shared any information about having any siblings and is the only child known to his parents. He is the cousin to Marvin Benard, a former professional baseball player.

Maurice Benard Education

Benard has not shared much about his academic background and qualifications. However, he has shared that he attended College Park High School.

Maurice Benard Spouse

Benard is currently married to Paula Smith, an executive producer, who produced The Ghost and the Whale, an independent film he starred in. The couple married on August 11, 1990, and have four children together. They have also adopted Smith’s younger sister, Heather following their mother’s demise.

Maurice Benard Children

Benard and his loving spouse Smith have been happily married for more than 30 years. The couple has four children together in their marriage, three daughters and one son. Their children are daughters Cailey Sofia born in 1994, Cassidy Rose, born in 1999, Heather Ann, adopted in 2008 and son Joshua James, born in 2004.

Maurice Benard Measurements

Benard has a well-built, muscular, and physically fit body with a height of 1.75 m (5 ft 8 in) and weighs around 75 kg (165 lbs).

Maurice Benard’s Net Worth

American professional actor Benard has been active from 1987 to the present. He has appeared in various shows and films and has a net worth of approximately $2 million as of 2023.