Jonathan Bennett & Maurice Benard: A Collab Is Coming?
The new General Hospital star has spent years advocating for mental health and LGBTQ+ youth, making a future State of Mind appearance feel like a natural fit.
Jonathan Bennett is back on daytime TV on General Hospital (GH) as Joe Fitzpatrick. The Mean Girls star only recently joined the ABC show, and fans already love watching him on screen.
But his real passion? That’s advocacy. And it could lead to a major collaboration with co-star Maurice Benard.
The Early Years
Bennett grew up in Rossford, Ohio. High school was brutal. He faced severe anti-LGBTQ+ bullying. It made him physically sick.
According to PinkNews, the actor developed stress-related stomach problems and ulcers due to bullying.
Theater seemed like a lifesaver for him. Jonathan found a safe place there.
Having studied at Otterbein University, the aspiring theater star got very lucky. An agent spotted him on a train in New York City.
2001 rolled in and fans saw Jonathan Bennett play the role of J.R. Chandler on All My Children for a year. It set the stage for everything that followed.
Then came 2004. Aaron Samuels. Mean Girls. Pop culture changed forever. He also hosted Cake Wars on Food Network.
Later, he helped pioneer queer representation in Hallmark movies. Funny thing: baking competitions and high school royalty apparently use the exact same stress management skills.
Joining Port Charles
General Hospital fans first saw Bennett debut as Detective Joe Fitzpatrick in mid-May. Already, ABC viewers see a play-by-the-book officer.
His character has already arrested Curtis Ashford. He investigated a murder at Wyndemere Castle.
Right now, Joe is in serious trouble. He’s held at gunpoint by Cassius Faison and Jenz Sidwell.
Deadline reported the casting news earlier this year. The actor was locked in for a major role.
Celeb Dirty Laundry tracked his character quickly. In April 2026, they reported a “casting shocker.” It got fans ready for May sweeps.
By May 12, they dropped a spoiler. The headline read, “Jonathan Bennett Debuts as Shady Joe Fitzpatrick.”
They suggested his clean-cut cop persona might hide something. Maybe he’s also an informant.
Is He Staying Long?
Yes. The closing credits on May 22 confirmed his contract status. This isn’t a brief guest spot. By the look of things on GH, he’s sticking around for a while.
People magazine shared an exclusive interview and Bennett told the outlet “I am so excited to be joining the cast of General Hospital.”
He talked about loving daytime TV’s fast pace.
A Shared Mission
Jonathan Bennett didn’t return to soaps just for drama. He wants to use his platform for good. That connects him to Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) in an interesting way.
While Benard plays Sonny Corinthos, he’s open about his bipolar disorder.
Most ABC fans know that he also hosts a podcast called State of Mind. The show focuses on mental health.
Bennett has his own advocacy work. He partners with GLAAD. He champions Spirit Day to fight LGBTQ+ youth bullying. In the PinkNews piece, Bennett said he wanted to “be the person I needed when I was younger.”
A Matter Of Time?
As of July this year, Bennett hasn’t appeared on Maurice Benard’s podcast. He’s done other shows. But these two advocates haven’t shared a microphone yet.
A joint episode makes perfect sense. Both men have spoken about using their platforms to help others. Both use fame to fight mental illness stigma.
A future sit-down certainly feels possible. Benard often invites castmates to discuss their real battles.
A conversation between them would connect Bennett’s focus on youth trauma with Benard’s work on mood disorders. It would showcase the deep community support inside the show’s cast.
More Than Just a Cop
Detective Fitzpatrick keeps Port Charles hopping. Off-screen, Bennett keeps helping others heal.
His new daytime role gives him a bigger voice. A podcast meeting with Maurice Benard hasn’t happened. But their shared goals suggest it’s just a matter of time.
These two actors prove daytime television can change lives. Not just on screen. Beyond it too.
Your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your General Hospital cast news and updates.