Maurice Benard opened 2021 with a New Year’s Day selfie that showed gray roots, a gray beard and a softer version of the look many viewers link to Sonny Corinthos on General Hospital. For a performer known for staying in the same TV lane for more than 30 years, the change landed as a visible reset rather than a quick styling tweak.
“2020 was the year of highs and lows. Believe it or not I've learned so much from this year, I learned we can face anything in life as long as we keep moving forward,” Benard wrote alongside the post. He added, “2021 Will be the year of change, compassion, growth, Love and kindness. HAPPY NEW YEAR.”
Gray hair on One Instagram
The selfie did the work immediately: the dark-hair image associated with Benard gave way to very gray roots and a full gray beard. That mattered because he has long been tied to a clean-shaven Sonny Corinthos image, so the new look was not just different, it was the opposite of the familiar soap-day default.
Fans responded in the comment section with praise instead of pushback. One Instagram user wrote, “You look fabulous with the gray hair and beard like a true OG,” while another said, “Sonny needs to return to PC with gray hair and a beard,” and a third added, “Love that silver! Yes!”
Since the COVID lockdown
Since the COVID-19 lockdown gray hair reveal, Benard has had an on-again, off-again relationship with his beard, so this was not a random one-off post. It fit a pattern of letting his natural look show through, which gives fans a clearer read on how he wants to present himself outside Sonny Corinthos.
The shift also works because Benard is already a known figure on General Hospital and has been on the same TV show basically every day for more than 30 years. When a long-running soap actor steps away from the polished, fixed character image, even a selfie becomes part of the job: it updates the public picture without waiting for a scripted reveal.
Whether Benard keeps it
Whether Benard keeps the gray hair and beard or goes back to his black hair is the only real question left from the post. For now, the gray look has already done what a celebrity style change is supposed to do: it turned into a clear statement, got the comments moving, and refreshed how people see a familiar TV face.
