Soap star Chad Duell has gotten brutally honest about his break from “General Hospital,” which he announced in November 2024, and his shock at the ABC soap recasting the role of Michael Corinthos. Duell played the character for 15 years before he stepped back from “General Hospital” for personal reasons.
Chad Duell Planned to Return to ‘General Hospital’
In an interview with Michael Fairman to promote his new music, Duell revealed he never intended for his break from “General Hospital” to be permanent. At the time, Duell needed time away to focus on being a first-time father; his son Dawson was born in September 2023, and grieve the loss of his own father.
Duell explained he viewed his break as”taking a step back and refueling the tank,” not a permanent exit. The actor gave executive producer Frank Valentini plenty of notice so a proper storyline for Michael’s exit could be crafted. Valentini revealed at the time of Duell’s exit news that Michael would not be recast.
“They didn’t burn my face because I told Frank Valentini I’m willing to come back. It was just a little bit of a break. So, I assumed that if they would have burned my face, they could have brought somebody back looking different than me. If that’s what their plan was,” he shared.
Duell is referring to Michael getting severely burned when a bomb went off in Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) apartment. Michael was sent off to Germany for treatment in January 2025. In May 2025, “The Young and the Restless” alum Rory Gibson debuted as Michael, with the character being written darker than when Duell was in the role.
“Obviously, they decided to go in a different direction with Michael when I was gone. I didn’t think they were going to bring somebody back in my place. But you know, it’s the business. You never know what can happen,” Duell expressed.
Chad Duell’s Ready for a Soap Return
During his time away, Duell shifted gears into music. Duell has dropped two singles: “If You Need Me” and “Static in the Quiet Room” but that doesn’t mean he’s putting acting in the rearview. In fact, he admitted he is ready to return to daytime and has let other soaps know he is available.
“I’m in a place now mentally, where I’m ready to sink my teeth into it again. I know people over at “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “The Young and the Restless.” They know that if they’re interested, I would love to come in for a screen test or something, and they can see what I’m doing,” he spilled.
Duell admitted he has nothing but love for his time on “General Hospital” as well as the cast and crew. The actor even shared he misses it there, which is not a surprise since he spent 15 years on the ABC soap.
While he waits to see if any other soap bites, Duell has been enjoying putting out music. It’s a dream come true for the actor, who has long wanted to make music. Duell has been working on various types of music, including his latest, “Static in the Quiet Room,” which he admitted has been one of his favorite things to work on in his career.
