Chad Duell, a stalwart of "General Hospital" for nearly a decade and a half, has announced his departure from the long-running soap opera. The 37-year-old actor made the poignant revelation on Instagram on November 23rd, pensively noting, "[After] numerous, unparalleled years as part of the 'General Hospital' family, I've come to a decision to bid the show adieu."
He elaborated, "This wasn't a decision taken lightly; however, it feels serenely right for this juncture in my life. I'm deeply indebted to Executive Producer Frank Valentini, the cast, crew, and the entire behind-the-scenes team who have fostered an environment akin to a family throughout this remarkable voyage."
"To all my loyal fans," he heartfeltly concluded, "thank you from the depths of my soul for your steadfast support and for embracing Michael Corinthos as part of your lives. Your unwavering affection and encouragement have been my world." He added with a touch of optimism, "This isn't a farewell—it's a 'see you later.' Much love, Chad."
Since 2010, Duell has breathed life into the character of Michael Corinthos, the offspring of A.J. Quartermaine (played by Sean Kanan) and Carly Spencer (portrayed by Laura Wright) on ABC's iconic soap. He succeeded Drew Garrett in the role and garnered a Daytime Emmy in 2015 for his exceptional supporting performance in a drama series.
Although no successor has been publicly announced to step into Michael's shoes, actor Robert Adamson briefly took on the character in 2022 amidst Duell's scheduling conflicts, as reported by Soap Opera Digest.
In September 2023, Duell welcomed his firstborn, a son named Dawson, with his girlfriend Luana Lucci. Sharing the joyful occasion on Instagram, the new father captioned the post, "Welcome to the world, little Dawson. It's been an incredible journey... I eagerly await watching you grow into the great man you're destined to be, @luanalucci."
Duell's exit follows the recent news of Kelly Monaco's departure from "General Hospital," which PEOPLE magazine reported in August. In an October episode, her character, Sam McCall, met a tragic end, prompting Monaco to allege in a now-deleted Instagram comment on Soap Hub's page in October that her exit was a case of "retaliation."
"When Billy Miller was fired, Sam's storyline stagnated," she wrote. "Stripping Sam of every defining trait she possessed—traits I had spent decades cultivating... Slowly dismantling her into a shadow of the character both I and the audience recognized. Call it what you will, but this was retaliation at its finest. I will offer a formal statement. The truth shall set you free."
Monaco, who originated the role of Sam and appeared in over 2,300 episodes, received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2006 for Best Supporting Actress.
