"GH’s Maurice Benard Opens Up With Retired LAPD Officer"

General Hospital (GH) star Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) welcomed an unexpected guest on his State of Mind podcast this week. While not an actor, Manny Santoyo shared some deeply raw and personal stories. Read on for more details.

Conversation With a Former Cop

On the YouTube podcast, Maurice and Manny, a retired LAPD officer, discussed trauma, faith, family, and the emotional weight carried by those who serve and protect.

Manny Santoyo spent decades in law enforcement, working patrol, homicide, gang units, and more. During his conversation with Maurice Benard—who has a knack for helping people open up—Santoyo explained that he’s naturally a man of few words, a habit reinforced by his training. Court testimony demands short, precise answers, and the habit stayed with him.

Riots, Being Shot & Law Enforcement

The discussion included stories from his time on the force, including being shot at during the 1990s LA riots—the only time he ever called for backup from fellow officers.

They also talked about how helicopter units support ground officers, how quickly routine calls can escalate, and the O.J. Simpson trial. The conversation explored jury dynamics, racial tensions of the era, and how verdicts don’t always reflect the truth.

Emotional Moments on the Podcast

Fans needn’t worry that mental health was overlooked. The pair also discussed family and emotional challenges. Maurice eventually drew Manny into sharing about his daughter Bella, who is autistic and mostly non-verbal.

Manny described her early seizures, developmental regression, and the journey to understanding her communication methods. Initially skeptical of letter-board spelling, he was amazed when Bella began spelling out her thoughts and emotions.

Death & Fear for Bella

While Santoyo admitted he isn’t particularly afraid of death, he worries deeply about Bella’s future if anything happens to him. They also discussed the lack of support for autistic adults and how promised independence is often not delivered.

Meanwhile, Maurice shared his reflections on mental health, aging, and the fear of death. Manny also opened up about losing his mother after heart surgery and his father’s battle with dementia—topics that many General Hospital fans could relate to.

Very Well Received

In the comments, it was clear that ABC fans felt this was one of Maurice Benard’s best podcast episodes yet. One viewer wrote, “This was a really good interview. I would have liked to hear more about Manny’s daughter. He sounds like such an amazing man.”

Other fan responses included:

“This episode hits home for me in many ways. I was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome but I’m on the high-functioning side, and then add anxiety, depression, and ADHD—you have a mess.”
“Great interview, Maurice, and thanks for having Manny on State of Mind. Very interesting. We need more men like him here in NY.”
“One of your best shows! It was 100% like a documentary. He’s an incredible human being. You should do more interviews like this with everyday people who have incredible stories.”
“My heart goes out to him and his family on the journey of raising their autistic daughter, Bella. Having two neurodivergent children myself, albeit quite verbal, his story really struck a chord with me.”

What are your thoughts on Maurice and his unusual but fascinating guest? Share your comments below, and keep checking back for the latest General Hospital cast news and updates.