BENARD, Maurice 1963–

PERSONAL

Original name, Mauricio Jose Morales; born March 1, 1963, in San Francisco (some sources cite Martinez), CA; son of Humberto (a bakery superintendent) and Martha (a bank employee); married Paula Smith (a preschool teacher), August 11, 1990; children: Cailey Sofia, Cassidy Rose, a son. Education: Studied acting and attended college. Avocational Interests: Animals, martial arts, working out.

Career: Actor. Also worked as a model and cashier. Appeared in commercials and at personal appearances, such as General Hospital fan club luncheons. Speaker about mental health issues and affiliated with the campaign "Do You Know It?," with the National Mental Health Association.

Awards, Honors: Soap Opera Digest Award nomination, outstanding male newcomer: daytime, 1989, for All My Children; Soap Opera Digest Award nominations, hottest soap couple (with Vanessa Marcil), 1995, and favorite couple (with Sarah Brown), 2001, Soap Opera Digest awards, outstanding lead actor, 1996 and 2003, and favorite actor, 2000, Daytime Emmy Award nominations, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 1996, 1997, and 2004, ALMA Award nominations, outstanding actor in a daytime soap opera, 2000, 2001, and 2002, and Daytime Emmy Award, outstanding lead actor in a drama series, 2003, all for General Hospital; Erasing the Stigma Mental Health Leadership Award, 2002; winner of the "Most Watchable Man in America."

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Nico Kelly, All My Children, ABC, 1987–1989.

Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr., General Hospital, ABC, 1993–1997, 1998—.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Desi Arnaz, Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, CBS, 1991.

Steve, Her Wicked Ways (also known as Lethal Charm), CBS, 1991.

Jesse Molina, To Face Her Past, CBS, 1996.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Presenter, The 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, ABC, 1994.

Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr., General Hospital: Twist of Fate, ABC, 1996.

The General Hospital 35th Anniversary Show, ABC, 1998.

SOAPnet Reveals ABC Soap Secrets, ABC, c. 2004.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Curro, "Bloodsport," DEA, Fox, 1990.

Jorge Rosario, "Ladyfinger," Stat, ABC, 1991.

Kelly's gangster boyfriend, "Anniversary," Dark Justice, CBS, 1992.

Michael "Sonny" Corinthos, Jr., Port Charles (also known as Port Charles: Fate), ABC, multiple episodes in 2000.

Himself, SoapTalk, SOAPnet, 2003.

Himself, "Hudson/Benard," The View, ABC, 2004.

Himself, ... In Session with Maurice Bernard, SOAPnet, 2004.

Himself, The Oprah Winfrey Show (also known as Oprah), syndicated, 2004.

Himself, Soapography, SOAPnet, 2004.

Himself, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2004.

Appeared in episodes of other series, including AM San Francisco.

Film Appearances:

Diego, Ruby, Triumph Releasing, 1992.

Creeper, Mi vida loca (also known as My Crazy Life), Sony Pictures Classics, 1993.

Frank, Operation Splitsville (also known as Splitsville), Cineville, 1999.

Restraining Order (also known as Der Todfeind—Ein Mann raecht seine Frau), New City Releasing, 1999.

Steven, Crystal Clear (short film), 2000.

We Married Margo, KOAN, 2000.

Appeared as Father Thomas Rourke in Passions (short film).

Stage Appearances:

Appeared in plays in California and in showcases at the John Houseman Theatre, New York City.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Himself, How2 Make It in Film and Television, How 2 Entertainment, 2004.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

People Weekly, August, 2000.

Soap Opera Digest, December 18, 2001; April 29, 2003; July 8, 2003.

Soap Opera Update, July 4, 2000; August 29, 2000.

Soap Opera Weekly, March 18, 2003; February 3, 2004; August 10, 2004.

Soap Star Guide, spring, 2004.

Soaps in Depth, September 1, 1998; September 5, 2000; June 24, 2003; September 30, 2003; March 2, 2004; June 8, 2004; June 22, 2004; August 17, 2004.