General Hospital’s Maurice Benard Reveals How Olivia Came To Be

Soaps are filled with great casting stories. Actors go into a show to read for one role only to be cast in another. According to Maurice Benard, that’s what happened with fan-favorite Lisa LoCicero when she auditioned for General Hospital.

Maurice Benard Book Tidbits

LoCicero landed the part of Olivia Falconeri, mother of Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) son Dante (Dominic Zamprogna) after she had tried out for the role of Olivia’s cousin, Connie, reveals Benard in his upcoming memoir Nothing General About it.

“When @locicero_lisa came in and auditioned 4 kate she blew everyone away. They created Olivia 4 her, The mother of Sonny’s child,” Benard posted on Instagram.

As viewers know, Megan Ward won the part of Kate Howard (AKA Connie Falconeri). She played the part from 2007 to 2010. Then, the show recast the role with Kelly Sullivan, who played the part from 2011 to 2013, and again the following February.

Sadly, Connie met her end after being shot to death by Ava Jerome (Maura West), a crime she ended up getting away with. Olivia kept secret that Dante was Sonny’s son, revealing the truth to him after she came upon her son’s nearly lifeless body after Sonny shot him — unaware that he was pumping lead into his own biological child.

Benard’s not the only soap star to take pen to paper in order to write his life story. Susan Lucci (ex-Erica, All My Children) authored All My Life: A Memoir by Susan Lucci; Eric Braeden (Victor, The Young and the Restless) wrote his life story in I’ll Be Damned: How My Young and Restless Life Led Me to America’s #1 Daytime Drama; and the late Jeanne Cooper (ex-Katherine, YR) wrote Not Young, Still Restless.

To pre-order Benard’s memoir, click here. Nothing General About It hits bookstores in April. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings for air times.