Every Cover Tells a Story: Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH)
Since
Maurice Benard debuted on GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1993 as Sonny Corinthos, he’s slayed viewers with his soulful eyes and passionate heart. Though his day job as a mobster provides much intrigue, it’s Sonny’s role as a lover, not a fighter, that has made him one of daytime’s most popular characters — and one of Weekly‘s most popular cover guys.
April 5, 1994: The Mating Game
Actors on cover: Lynn Herring (Lucy), Jon Robert Lindstrom (Kevin), Wally Kurth (Ned), Rena Sofer (Lois), Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), Maurice Benard (Sonny)
When Benard landed on his first cover with Marcil as one of “GH’s newest twosomes,” he probably had little idea how big of a supercouple Sonny and Brenda would become. But then-GH head writer Claire Labine proclaimed the duo had chemistry from their first casual on-screen encounter, which prompted an official pairing, pronto.
May 23, 1995: Bad Company
Actors on cover: Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), Maurice Benard (Sonny)
After the Spencer house and Luke’s club is sprayed with bullets, Brenda demands to know what Sonny’s involvement is. She slaps him with an ultimatum: either he tell her the truth about his lifestyle or she’ll say hasta la vista. Sonny fears that if he does tell her, she’ll leave anyway.
Sept. 19, 1995: Musical Beds
Actors on cover: Lilly Melgar (Lily), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Ricky Martin (Miguel), Vanessa Marcil (Brenda)
Sonny and Lily sleep together, right on the heels of Sonny’s breakup with Brenda (and Lily’s breakup with Miguel). Sonny takes Lily back to his apartment after the taping of Miguel and Brenda’s music video and they make love. Though Sonny cares for Lily, he is still not over Brenda.
Feb. 6, 1996: Married to the Mob
Actors on cover: Lilly Melgar (Lily), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Vanessa Marcil (Brenda)
Sonny prepares to marry Lily, daughter of mob boss Rivera, as part of a deal that got the grand jury to acquit him of racketeering charges. Though Sonny still loves Brenda, he’s determined to go through with the wedding. A devastated Brenda shows up at the ceremony, prepared to do whatever it takes to stop it.
March 11, 1997: Brenda and Sonny Make Love
Actors on cover: Vanessa Marcil (Brenda), Maurice Benard (Sonny)
Sonny and Brenda are trapped in the catacombs, thanks to Harry’s plan to punish Sonny for Lily’s death. Fearing they will die, they admit their deepest feelings for each other and make love. After being rescued, Brenda begs Sonny to keep it a secret, because she is still committed to Jax.
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