The secret is out that a new actor has taken over the role of Michael on General Hospital months after Chad Duell’s departure.
GH fans have been hoping that Duell will return as Michael following his sudden exit earlier this year. Duell played Sonny (Maurice Benard) and Carly’s (Laura Wright) son for over 15 years and became a fan favorite.
However, Duell isn’t coming back. As a new actor steps in and puts his own spin on Michael, fans are asking what happened to Duell.
After announcing his exit from the ABC soap last November, Duell appeared on Steve Burton and Bradford Anderson’s podcast to speak on the hot topic.
“It’s a life adjustment. A lot of stuff’s been going on in my life. There’s a few things behind it, but one thing I can say is my dad passed away, and I’m still coming to terms with that. I’m preparing myself for next chapters,” he shared with his costars.
Becoming a father to his son Dawson, 2, also impacted Duell’s decision to leave General Hospital. The actor wanted to spend more time with his only child, especially after the loss of his father.
Duell also felt it was time to spread his wings as an actor.
“I had a very strong complacency for such a long time that my identity was wrapped up in that. Who I was was the show and the characters that I’ve done for so long. It’s gonna be a process kind of unraveling and really seeing who I am,” Duell revealed to Anderson and Burton.
In March, he announced he was starring in the play Yum Yum at Annapolis. The news was announced on Instagram with a picture of Duell smiling about his new gig.
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Duell has been missed on General Hospital, and so has Michael. The latter has returned, though, with a new face just in time to put Willow (Katelyn MacMullen) and Drew (Cameron Mathison) in their place.
General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC and streams on Hulu.
What Happened to Chad Duell On ‘General Hospital’? first appeared on Parade on May 23, 2025
