Sonny Corinthos is having open heart surgery this week on General Hospital. Fans wonder if the show plans to kill the mob boss off amid rumors that portrayer Maurice Benard is retiring after decades in the industry.
Is General Hospital Preparing For Sonny’s Demise?
Maurice Benard joined General Hospital as mob boss Sonny Corinthos in 1993. He previously played Nino Kelly on All My Children from 1987 until 1990. Throughout the 1990s, the mob storylines involving Sonny were front and center on the soap opera.
He survived several shootouts and other near-death experiences over the years. In a 2006 storyline, Sonny was diagnosed as bipolar, which mirrored Maurice Benard’s real-life struggle with the disorder. Sonny is still in the mob but his mental health struggles are often the focus of the storyline and not mob activity.
However, Sonny recently began to experience heart problems. He suffered a heart attack earlier this year. Now the character is about to undergo open heart surgery. One fan posted on Twitter that it’s time to let Sonny die on the operating table.
Is Maurice Benard leaving General Hospital after over 30 years?
Maurice Benard Posts Heartfelt Message, Speaks About Sonny In The Past Tense
Rumors have swirled a lot over the last few years that Maurice Benard is ready to retire from acting. He advocates for mental health on the State Of Mind YouTube vlog. The series often features soap actors who share their experiences with mental health struggles.
In the past, the actor shut down any rumors about his plans to retire. But a new video on Instagram seemed to hint that this time is different. In an emotional video, the actor expressed gratitude for General Hospital fans for their love for the last 30+ years.
“As I was figuring out what to write all I can say is. When you’ve played a character for over 32 years which is more than half my life. all I can think of is the generosity love and always my home away from home,” he captioned the heartfelt post.
One fan wrote in the comments that the video message felt like a goodbye. Maurice Benard responded with a series of emojis (🙌❤️🙌) but didn’t confirm or deny if he’s leaving the show to retire.
How To See Maurice Benard On Tour This Summer
If the rumors are true that Maurice Benard is leaving General Hospital, fans will still have the opportunity to see him in person. He will be on tour for select dates this summer. The actor partnered with Coastal Entertainment for “an evening of inspiration and reflection.” According to the tour company, Maurice Benard will also answer questions about his time on the ABC soap opera.
The tour kicks off in Texas on July 8 and wraps up in Virginia a few weeks later. Click here to see if he’s coming to a city near you.
With Sonny undergoing surgery this week and Maurice Benard’s emotional post, do you think General Hospital is finally killing off Sonny Corinthos? Sound off in the comments.
