General Hospital’s Michael Corinthos was too important of a character to be sidelined for long. When Chad Duell exited the role in January, the show chose to ship off the character of Michael to Germany to recover from burns he sustained in an explosion in Sonny’s penthouse. At the time of his departure, Duell did not rule out a return to the show he had called home since 2010.
End of an Era
The actor left GH after nearly 15 years of portraying Michael to prioritize personal growth and well-being. In a December 2024 episode of The Daily Drama Podcast, Duell revealed that he felt his life had become stagnant and that his identity was too closely tied to his role on the show. He expressed a desire to step out of his comfort zone to foster personal development.
The passing of his father also played a significant role in his decision to leave, prompting him to reassess his life and future. Additionally, as a new father, Duell wanted to focus on his family and take time for himself.
When the character was burned in a fire, it definitely paved the way for a recast to happen, using the soap trope of a new face on character when a new actor joins the show.
Welcoming Rory
Rory Gibson took over the reigns and debuted as Michael on May 23, 2025. The actor is no stranger to daytime audiences because he portrayed Noah Newman on The Young and the Restless from October 2021 to April 2023. Here are some facts about Gibson!
Birthdate and Hometown: Rory Gibson was born on November 22nd , in Long Beach, California.
Education: He attended Fullerton College in California.
Happily Ever After: Rory and Alicia Ruela got engaged in 2022. The pair are high school sweethearts and have been together since 2011. “14 years of love with the greatest person on the planet ,” the actor posted on IG in celebration of their latest anniversary.
Man’s Best Friend: The actor is a huge dog lover and is currently the dad of two pups — Cloud and Clementine.
Bitten By The Acting Bug: Rory attended Fullerton College in California. During his time there, he took a theater class that sparked his interest in acting. This experience led him to pursue a career in acting, prompting him to leave college in 2016 and move to Los Angeles to follow his passion.
Lights, Camera, Action!: The actor’s first film role was in the 2018 television film A Night to Regret, where he portrayed the character Eric Reese. He has also appeared in Grace (2019), Twisted Twin (2020), Severed Road (2020), and Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (2023).
Left It On The Field: Gibson’s father Gary played in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers.
Down To Earth: The actor will be starring as Arial, a young pilot who escapes the oppressive planet Asteron and lands on Earth with a mysterious cargo aboard his hijacked ship, in the upcoming sci-fi film Fugitive from Asteron.
Are you exited to see this talented actor’s take on the character? Sound off in the comments below!
