Birthday Spotlight: Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH)

Maurice Benard was born on March 1 in Martinez, CA.

Benard won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2003 and has won three Soap Opera Digest Awards.

Benard, who has been open about his own struggle with bipolar disorder, is a spokesperson for Mental Health America.

He has four children with wife Paula: Heather Ann, Cailey Sofia, Cassidy Rose and Joshua James.

In August, Benard will mark the 25th anniversary of his first GH appearance as Sonny. Prior to arriving in Port Charles, he played Nico Kelly on ALL MY CHILDREN.