General Hospital alum Jeffrey Vincent Parise—who played the passionate and unpredictable Carlos Rivera—recently joined GH co-star Maurice Benard (Sonny) on State of Mind for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation. The actor opened up about his mental health journey, his creative evolution through Supernatural and music, and the life-changing experience that shaped his work on GH.
Key Takeaways
- Jeffrey Vincent Parise shared his struggles and healing journey with Maurice Benard.
- He credited yoga with helping him navigate personal and professional storms.
- His Supernatural role led to music opportunities and a record deal.
- Parise immersed himself in Puerto Rican culture to bring authenticity to Carlos Rivera.
- GH originally wrote the role of Carlos specifically for him after another part fell through.
Finding Light Through the Storm
Benard teased the episode on his Instagram page, “I have had over 500 guests and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed more than with [Jeffrey Vincent Parise]. Believe it or not, we not only laughed. We talked a lot of mental health. Jeff is an actor, painter, musician, he’s a real true artist I really truly enjoy this [State of Mind] it is insightful and fun.”
During the interview, Parise revealed that he once hit a breaking point when several major parts of his life seemed to collapse at once. “A couple years ago, I sank to a point where I felt like I could not get out of it,” he shared.
After a painful breakup and the cancellation of a series he loved, Parise leaned on a lifelong practice that helped him find his way out—yoga. “It’s the mast that I tie myself to in the storm,” he explained. With nearly 30 years of practice, he credits yoga for keeping both his body and mind strong. “It’s not only physical—it’s mental,” Parise said. “You challenge yourself, breathe through the stress, and everything becomes clear.”
Supernatural Journey Hits the Right Note
While fans best remember him from daytime television, Parise’s creativity doesn’t stop at acting. His five-episode stint as villain Asmodeus on Supernatural opened doors to an entirely new world.
“I’ve been all over the world because of Supernatural. It’s a dream job,” he said. During a convention in Rome, Parise joined the event’s live band—led by Rob Benedict, who played God on the show—for a surprise performance of “Ode to a Roach.” The crowd’s reaction was explosive, and that one performance led to a record deal.
“I’ve been doing music for over 20 years,” he shared. “This project brings together all my passions—music, poetry, painting, storytelling—it’s all me.” Parise even painted the album cover for his five-track vinyl release.
How Puerto Rico Inspired Carlos Rivera
Parise also took fans behind the scenes of his GH debut. After his first two episodes as Carlos Rivera, the actor decided to fully immerse himself in the character’s Puerto Rican roots. “I took that money and went to Puerto Rico,” he said. “I wanted to taste the food, hear the accents, and bring authenticity to Carlos.” He even worked with a local to fine-tune his speech, weaving those nuances into his passionate scenes—especially with Sabrina. Interestingly, Parise wasn’t originally cast as Carlos. “I had gone in to read for a contract role that didn’t go my way,” he revealed. “GH ended up writing the part of Carlos for me—and I liked him better than the role I tested for.”
Parise was on GH from September 2013 to July 2016 as Carlos, then appeared briefly in 2016 as Carlos’ estranged twin brother, Joe. To purchase the album, please visit the actor’s official website. You can watch the full episode below.
