General Hospital star Maurice Benard got emotional after reuniting with his daughter Heather Andresen during an appearance on the Tamron Hall show.
The 60-year-old soap opera star has not seen Heather, who is in the Air Force, since October 2022.
She is half sister of his wife Paula; Heather’s mother died unexpectedly, so he legally adopted her with her wife when she was 15 years old.
During his appearance, the actor teared up when Tamron mentioned her, adding that he hadn’t seen her in months or in her military uniform before.
Heather came out and surprised him, which brought Maurice to tears at the emotional moment.
Emotions: General Hospital star Maurice Benard got emotional after reuniting with daughter Heather Andresen during an appearance on the Tamron Hall show
Surprise! The soap opera star, 60, has not seen Heather, who is in the Air Force, since October 2022
Together! She is the half-sister of his wife Paula’s; Heather’s mother died unexpectedly, so he legally adopted her with her wife when she was 15 years old.
The star was on the show chatting about her career and life when Tamron raised her children.
He had a picture of Heather on the screen behind him, which made him excited.
Tamron said: ‘This is her. You haven’t seen her in…
He told Tamron, ‘Oh don’t do that’ and then started a story about her before Tamron interrupted him in surprise.
You haven’t seen her in a long time. You’ve never seen her in uniform,” Tamron said.
‘You’re not the only one who took a special trip today. She wanted to be here, because I know it was hard to get on that plane and come here. Her daughter, Airman 1st Class Heather Andresen,” Tamron said.
Maurice and Heather hugged with the actor emotionally breaking down in tears.
He added that “surprises kill me.”
‘I’m very proud of her. I can’t talk, can I go?’ Mauricio said jokingly.
Tamron then told Heather, “You were adopted by your half-sister, Maurice’s beautiful wife, and it changed the trajectory of your lives…”
‘The most beautiful thing that I shouldn’t say, because I won’t be able to talk… When we adopted her, we were talking in the room, and Paula, my wife and she were talking about how happy we were, and at one point [Heather] He said, “Can I call you mom?” Mauricio said.
Tears: During his appearance, the actor became tearful when Tamron mentioned her, adding that he hadn’t seen her in months or in her military uniform before
Shock: Heather came out and surprised him, bringing Maurice to tears at the emotional moment
Happy tears: The star was on the show talking about her career and life when Tamron raised her children
Sincere: ‘I’m very proud of her. I can’t talk, can I go?’ Mauricio jokingly said
Husband and wife: Also has children Cailey, 28, Cassidy, 23, and Joshua, 18; Maurice and Paula have been married since 1990; seen in 2005
In 2008, when Heather was 15, Maurice and Paula legally adopted Heather, who is Paula’s half-sister, after their mother (and mother-in-law) passed away.
At the time, Maurice said they made the decision to adopt so that he and Paula could ‘now give [Heather] everything that I couldn’t have before,’ he said in an interview with ABC Soaps In-Depth via People.
He also has children Cailey, 28, Cassidy, 23, and Joshua, 18, with Paula; Maurice and Paula have been married since 1990.
He has starred in General Hospital since 1993; he plays Sonny Corinthos on the soap opera.