Mauricio Jose Morales, born on the 1st of March, 1963, is an American actor known Maurice Benard and popular for his roles in the television shows “All My Children” and “General Hospital”.
So how much is Benard’s net worth? As of early 2016, it is reported to be $2 million, gained mostly from his long career in acting from television to movies.
Maurice Benard Net Worth $2 Million
Born in Martinez, California, of Nicaraguan and Salvadorian ancestry, Benard is the son of Humberto and Martha. Benard was known as a troublemaker back in high school and education did not really interest him. Soon after matriculation he decided not to pursue further education, but worked as a model and performed in local theatres in the Bay Area. His career in television started in 1987, when he was cast to be a part of the television show “All My Children”.
Benard’s character as Nico Kelly in “All My Children” became a platform for his acting career, opening several opportunities and helping his net worth. After two years, he left the show and ventured into movies. In 1991, Benard starred in the television movie “Her Wicked Ways” and “Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter”. He also starred in “Ruby” in 1992 and “Mi Vida Loca” in 1993.
After several guest appearances in television shows including “DEA”, “Stat” and “Dark Justice”, Benard landed another television drama series “General Hospital”, in which he played one of the main characters, Sonny Corinthos, who’s a mobster with a bipolar disorder. The character and the show both became a hit, propelling his career to further success and helping his wealth as well. His performance on the show gained him multiple nominations from Emmy, Soap Opera Digest and ALMA Awards and he eventually won some, particularly for General Hospital” of which he is still a part.
Though Benard is famously known in “General Hospital”, he has also worked in other projects including “Operation Splitsville”, “Crystal Clear”, “The Penny” and most recently in the movie “Joy” with Jennifer Lawrence. All of these endeavours helped in his career and net worth.
In terms of his personal life, Benard married wife Paula in 1990 and has four children, plus he adopted his sister-in-law Heather Ann, when his mother-in-law unexpectedly passed away. Benard is also known as an advocate for people who have bipolar disease: he himself was diagnosed with the same condition during his early twenties. He is working with National Mental Health America as a spokesperson to educate people how to recognize those with bipolar disorder and how to help them, and also sharing his own battle with the disease. He speaks in different conventions and even television shows including “Oprah”, “Entertainment Tonight” and “The View”. Today, Benard is still active with his cause for people with bipolar disease.
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Nominations
Emmy, Soap Opera Digest and ALMA Awards
Movies
Her Wicked Ways, Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991), Ruby (1992), Mi Vida Loca (1993)
TV Shows
All My Children, General Hospital, DEA, Stat, Dark Justice, Oprah, Entertainment Tonight, The View
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Quote
1
"I was told directors wouldn't hire me. They'd think I'd go crazy on the set. What's more important - directors or producers who might not cast me becuase they're ignorant, or helping people? So that's what I've been doing." - speaking publicly about his bipolar disorder.
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Fact
1
Recently signed on for 4 more years with General Hospital, so he will be there at least till 2008 [November 2004]
2
wife Paula is due to give birth to the couples 3rd child and first son at the end of this year [November 2004]
3
His idol and favorite actor is Al Pacino.
4
Third child, Joshua James, with wife Paula, born 5 December 2004.
5
He and his wife are major animal lovers with a menagerie of over 30 pets that includes a bulldog named Corleone, 2 cats, snakes, birds, and an aquarium full of exotic fish.
6
Enjoys Martial Arts and Boxing.
7
Is the Spokesperson for the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association. Treats his own manic depression with lithium.
8
Has three daughters with wife Paula: Cailey Sophia (b. 18 September 1994), Cassidy Rose (b. 8 April 1999), and Heather, who was adopted in 2008.
9
Was diagnosed with Manic Depression when he was 22 years old and to this day is an advocate for the disease.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dark Justice
1992
TV Series
Kelly's Mob Boyfriend
Ruby
1992
Diego
Stat
1991
TV Series
Jorge Rosario
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter
1991
TV Movie
Desi Arnaz
Her Wicked Ways
1991
TV Movie
Steve
DEA
1990
TV Series
Curro
All My Children
1987-1990
TV Series
Nico Kelly / Nico
Hold On
2017/I
completed
Peter Duran
General Hospital
1993-2016
TV Series
Sonny Corinthos / Michael 'Sonny' Corinthos, Jr. / Sonny Cornthos
The Ghost and The Whale
2016
Joseph Hawthorne
Castle
2016
TV Series
Horatio Spate
Joy
2015/I
Ridge
Duke
2013
Winky
Confession
2010/I
Mitch
General Hospital: Night Shift
2007
TV Series
Sonny Corinthos
Crystal Clear
2000
Short
Steven
Port Charles
2000
TV Series
Sonny Corinthos
Restraining Order
1999
Sicko
Operation Splitsville
1999
Frank
To Face Her Past
1996
TV Movie
Jesse Molina
Mi vida loca
1993
Creeper
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
General Hospital
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Dr. Oz Show
2016
TV Series
Himself
Oprah: Where Are They Now?
2014
TV Series
Himself
SoapBox with Lilly and Martha
2013
TV Series
Guest
Katie
2013
TV Series
Himself
The 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
2012
TV Special
Himself
Profiles of Hope
2011
TV Movie documentary
Himself
OC87: The Obsessive Compulsive, Major Depression, Bipolar, Asperger's Movie
2010
Documentary
Himself
The View
2004-2009
TV Series
Himself
11th Annual Prism Awards
2007
TV Special
Himself - Winner
The 33rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
2006
TV Special
Himself
The Oprah Winfrey Show
2004
TV Series
Himself
SOAPnet Reveals ABC Soap Secrets
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Soapography
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
The Wayne Brady Show
2004
TV Series
Himself
How2 Make It in Film and Television
2004
Video documentary
Himself
Intimate Portrait
2003
TV Series documentary
Himself
The 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
2003
TV Special
Himself
18th Annual Soap Opera Digest Awards
2003
TV Special
Himself
SoapTalk
2003
TV Series
Himself
We Married Margo
2000
Himself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1999
TV Series
Himself
The 21st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
1994
TV Special
Himself
Live with Kelly and Michael
1989
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
General Hospital
2011
TV Series
Sonny Corinthos
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2005
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor
General Hospital (1963)
2003
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2003
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor
General Hospital (1963)
2000
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Favorite Actor
General Hospital (1963)
1996
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor
General Hospital (1963)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
2012
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2011
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2010
Gold Derby TV Award
Gold Derby Awards
Lead Actor - Daytime Drama
General Hospital (1963)
2008
ALMA Award
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2006
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2004
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
2003
OFTA Television Award
Online Film & Television Association
Best Actor in a Daytime Serial
General Hospital (1963)
2002
ALMA Award
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama
General Hospital (1963)
2001
ALMA Award
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama
General Hospital (1963)
2001
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Favorite Couple
General Hospital (1963)
2000
ALMA Award
ALMA Awards
Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera
General Hospital (1963)
1997
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
1996
Daytime Emmy
Daytime Emmy Awards
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
General Hospital (1963)
1995
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Hottest Soap Couple
General Hospital (1963)
1989
Soap Opera Digest Award
Soap Opera Digest Awards
Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime
All My Children (1970)
Known for movies
General Hospital (1993-2016) as Sonny Corinthos / Michael 'Sonny' Corinthos, Jr. /
Joy (2015) as Ridge
Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter (1991) as Desi Arnaz