According to reports by Soap Opera Digest, while actor Maurice Benard is well-known for portraying tough-as-nails mob boss Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital—having faced down countless fictional rivals and dramatic trials—his real-life role as an upcoming wedding officiant has left him deeply emotional.
On Monday, October 12, Benard took to Instagram to share the major family milestone with his followers, revealing that the wedding of his youngest daughter, Cassidy, was only days away. “Friday, my baby girl @cassidybenard is getting married, and I’m terrified!!!” the Daytime Emmy-winning actor wrote.
Anticipating an Emotional Ceremony
Despite his decades-long television career, Benard explained that his pre-wedding jitters do not stem from the logistical duties of leading the ceremony. Instead, he worries about holding it together during what promises to be an intensely emotional father-of-the-bride moment. “Only because I have to officiate and I’m thinking it’s gonna be through a lot of tears,” he confessed, concluding his post with a request for support: “Wish me luck🎁.”
A Look at the Benard Family
Cassidy is the youngest of three daughters shared by Benard and his wife of 36 years, Paula Smith Benard. The couple’s family also includes older daughters Cailey Benard, born in 1994, and Heather Benard. Heather, Paula’s sister, was adopted by the couple at age 15 following the 2008 passing of her biological mother. Additionally, Benard and Paula share a 21-year-old son, Joshua, who previously appeared on General Hospital as Adam Wright in 2022 and portrayed a younger version of his father’s character, Sonny, in 2018.
From Fairytale Engagement to the Altar
The upcoming nuptials follow a romantic engagement that Benard happily celebrated with fans in April 2025. At the time, he shared news of Cassidy’s engagement to Anthony Cammarata, writing on social media, “My baby girl Cassidy is getting married to a great man @anthony_cammarata. They went to Japan and he surprised her in Disneyland it truly is a fairytale.”
The following month, the proud father posted a video capturing the proposal, marveling at the couple’s connection. “People talk about soulmates these two are two peas in a pod,” Benard wrote, adding, “I could never see either of them with anyone else I love them both tremendously.”