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Maurice Benard Biography

Birth Name:Mauricio Jose Morales

Birth Place:Martinez, California, United States

Profession Actor, Soundtrack

Fast Facts

Beginning with "All My Children," his onscreen performances led to a key role on "General Hospital," which would result in multiple awards such as Soap Opera Digest Awards for Favorite Actor in 2000
After graduating high school he took up modeling, and later started acting in multiple productions at local theaters in the San Francisco area
Quote: "When I first started acting, I was told not to talk about about being manic depressive, because producers wouldn't hire me because they would think I would go crazy on the set․․․What's more important? Trying to get a job and not getting hired by producers who were ignorant enough not to hire me? Or helping people who have manic depression or may not even know they have manic depression․ I chose to help people․"
Between his roles on "All My Children" and "General Hospital," he appeared as the lead on the CBS TV movie "Lucy and Desi: Before the Laughter․"
Has appeared on multiple talk shows to discuss his battle with manic depression, including programs such as "The View" and "Oprah․"
Other than acting he enjoys martial arts, boxing, and tending to the 30 plus pets he houses, which include two cats, snakes, birds, a bulldog, and an aquarium of exotic fish
Spokesperson for the National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association, advocating for the disease he has suffered from since he was 22

Awards

1989Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Male Newcomer: Daytime: nominated
1995Soap Opera Digest Award-Hottest Soap Couple: nominated
1996Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
1996Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: winner
1997Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2000ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Soap Opera: nominated
2000Soap Opera Digest Award-Favorite Actor: winner
2001ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama: nominated
2001Soap Opera Digest Award-Favorite Couple: nominated
2002ALMA Award-Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama: nominated
2003Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Daytime Serial: nominated
2003Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: winner
2004Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2005Soap Opera Digest Award-Outstanding Lead Actor: winner
2006Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2008ALMA Award-Outstanding Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: nominated
2010Gold Derby TV Award-Lead Actor - Daytime Drama: nominated
2011Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2012Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
2019Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
20201st Annual Soap Hub Award-Favorite General Hospital Actor: nominated
2021Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Drama Series: winner
20212nd Annual Soap Hub Award-Favorite General Hospital Actor: nominated
2023Daytime Emmy-Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series: nominated