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General Hospital’s Nicholas Alexander Chavez Opens Up About the Castmate Who Gives Him a ‘Master Class’ in Acting Every Time They Work Together
Sunday, November 28th, 2021
“It is easy to see why the fans love Maurice [Benard] so much,” said Spencer’s portrayer.
As soon as he was cast by General Hospital as Spencer Cassadine, Nicholas Alexander Chavez hit the ground running — and he’s only gained momentum. In part, that may due to the fact that he’s working with some of the best of the best in the biz. Among them, the one and only Maurice Benard.
“Maurice is a great actor,” Chavez told Digital Journal. “It is easy to see why the fans love Maurice so much, and it’s easy to see why he won the Best Actor Daytime Emmy Award this year” — his third for those keeping track.
“Maurice is incredible,” Chavez went on, “and he has been doing this for a long time.”
Some actors might look at working with Benard as intimidating, a daunting challenge they’d be afraid to meet. How, they might wonder, could they possibly hold their own opposite the MVP who’s played Sonny Corinthos for so long? But Chavez seizes the opportunity to push himself and makes the most of his moments with Benard. “I take notes each time that I am working with Maurice,” he said, “since I’m getting a master class with him every time that I have a scene with him.”
More: General Hospital accidentally inflames fans
You can watch the two of them in action in the insta-classic “tough love” scene below.
While you’re here, dish out some Thanksgiving leftovers with our photo gallery full of memories of soap holidays past.
Video: YouTube/General Hospital
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
1/30
<p>In 2019, <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>’s Liam (Scott Clifton) and Hope (Annika Noelle) knew just what they needed for their Thanksgiving photo with Beth: another kid! So they swiped Douglas (Henry Joseph Samiri) from Thomas. Problem solved. </p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
2/30
<p>When you’ve got all the money in the world, nothing beats a warm slice of pizza on Thanksgiving. In fact, it was always such an (unintentional) hit, it took everything <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Edward (John Ingle) had to hold the voracious Quartermaine clan back! </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
3/30
<p>Ah, yes, 2012. The unfortunate year when <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Chelsea (Melissa Claire Egan) took things a bit too far when she asked Adam (then Michael Muhney) if little Connor looked good enough to eat. With that said… Lord, he’s cute!</p>
Image: Paul Skipper/JPI
4/30
<p>We will happily toast to <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ late, great Grandpa Shawn (Frank Parker) leading the family in their 2006 Thanksgiving festivities. What we won’t toast, though, is that tiny turkey. That’s supposed to feed the entire Brady clan how, exactly?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
5/30
<p>OK, this photo of <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>’s Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood), Kelly and Thomas is adorable, but you know what would make it perfect? Another kid! Too bad Liam and Hope had already pinched him.</p>
Image: George DeSota/JPI
6/30
<p>Nancy (Helen Wagner) knew exactly how to celebrate <em>As The World Turns</em>’ last Thanksgiving in 2009 with Margo (Ellen Dolan) — with a glass of wine and a bit of shade. </p>
Image: Aaron Montgomery/JPI
7/30
<p>Holidays with <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Winters clan always warmed our hearts. From Neil (Kristoff St. John) and Dru (Victoria Rowell) making sure Devon (Bryton McClure) and Lily (Christel Khalil) never wanted for anything, to Lily’s boyfriend, Daniel (Michael Graziadei), who just wanted to get back to his porn…</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
8/30
<p>It’s not the family you’re born with but the family you choose. Right, <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Mac (John J. York)? Like your adopted daughter, Maxie (Kirsten Storms), and the boyfriend you always hated, Spinelli (Bradford Anderson). Plus, Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn), whom you briefly dated, and Diane (Carolyn Hennesy), with whom you had a one-night stand. Hence the endless wine…</p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI
9/30
<p>This <em>Guiding Light</em> Thanksgiving could have been awkward with Marina (Mandy Bruno) bringing her new beau along. But luckily Mallet (Robert Bogue) was already practically part of the Cooper family, since he was her father’s best friend and her Aunt Harley’s ex! </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
10/30
<p>This looks like a lovely Abbott family Thanksgiving on <em>Young & Restless</em>… until you stop and ask yourself: Is that Jack’s girlfriend, Emily (Stacy Haiduk), or crazy Patty having kidnapped and replaced Emily? Pretty sure that’s what Billy (then Billy Miller) is asking himself. It was a wild year, 2009.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
11/30
<p>If there’s one thing we learned from this 2013 <em>Days of Our Lives</em> pic, it’s that Abe (James Reynolds) is absolutely <em>delighted </em>by pilgrims. Hope (Kristian Alfonso), on the other hand, had already moved on to something far more interesting. We wonder what it could be…</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
12/30
<p>And there it is. Being dressed as some sort of Thanksgiving Mardi Gras pilgrim in 2013 was just the first of many, many tragedies that befell <em>Days of Our Lives</em>’ poor JJ (Casey Moss). But at least he pulled it off well.</p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI
13/30
<p>Nothing gave <em>One Life to Live’</em>s Natalie (Melissa Archer) nearly as much joy as putting up the turkey decoration. That’s right — <em>the</em>. There was only one decoration for the whole house. </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
14/30
<p>We imagine this Forrester Thanksgiving dinner went something like this<em>.</em> <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Stephanie (Susan Flannery): “And I’m thankful, as always, that the Slut from the Valley hasn’t gotten hit by a truck yet… Kidding!”</p>
Image: Jimmy Wood/JPI
15/30
<p>Was there a Thanksgiving radiation leak storyline we’re forgetting from <em>As the World Turns</em> in 2008? Tragically, after this photo was taken, that massive thing came to life and squashed them all… We’re here all day, folks. (No, really, please don’t make us go back to our families.)</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
16/30
<p>Chaos may be one word for putting <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>’s Katie (Heather Tom) and Pam (Alley Mills) together in the kitchen for Thanksgiving, but we have another one we think works a bit better: pure delight! (OK, we had another two words.) </p>
Image: Brian Lowe/JPI
17/30
<p>We don’t know why <em>Young & Restless</em>’ Gloria (Judith Chapman) looks so shocked. Michael (Christian Jules LeBlanc) needing a full bottle of wine to get through Thanksgiving with her and Jeff (Ted Shackelford) is pretty much a given.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
18/30
<p>Remember that disastrous year when the Quartermaines were nearly forced to eat a delicious feast that poor Alice (Bergen Williams) went through all the trouble to prepare? Tsk. We’re sure Michael (Chad Duell) does. Let’s hope that never happens again. </p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
19/30
<p><em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Victoria (Amelia Heinle) proved that baby Katie was just what was needed to get the conentious Newman family to put away the knives for Thanksgiving in 2014. Well, that and a few glasses of wine. </p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI
20/30
<p><em>One Life to Live</em>’s Viki (Erika Slezak) opened her heart and her home to everyone on Thanksgiving — even a mostly reformed con artist like Rex (John-Paul Lavoisier), his girlfriend Gigi (Farah Fath) and their son, Shane (Austin Williams). Of course, it helped that <span style="text-decoration: line-through">Charlie (Brian Kerwin)</span> Clint (Jerry verDorn) was Rex’s father.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
21/30
<p>With Shawn gone, <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ Caroline (Peggy McCay) took over as the head of the Brady family, leading the gang in quiet reflection on Thanksgiving. That or she just told an off-color joke that landed flat. </p>
Image: Aaron Montgomery/JPI
22/30
<p>In 2008, <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Katherine (Jeanne Cooper) celebrated the holiday by giving back to the community. Well, she might have, if she’d known who she was. Instead, she thought she was a waitress named Marge in love with Murphy the Fisherman (Michael Fairman) and had to work on Thanksgiving. </p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
23/30
<p>If there’s one thing the Spectra gang was thankful for on <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>, it was Eric (John McCook) putting their differences aside and welcoming friend and foe alike into his home for the holidays. Well, that and getting one Thanksgiving in before being booted from Los Angeles. </p>
Image: George De Sota/JPI
24/30
<p>One thing we were always grateful for on <em>As the World Turns</em> was the Snyder family Thanksgiving. Every year they gathered and… wait. Did Holden (Jon Hensley) and Lily (Martha Byrne) have more children when we weren’t looking, or are they just sitting at the kids table?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
25/30
<p>If Christmas gets Saint Nick, we see no reason why Thanksgiving can’t have <em>Young & Restless</em>‘ Pilgrim Nick (Joshua Morrow). He’s got the beard, the outfit and what looks like some funky moves. Plus, the kids love him! Or at least Faith (then Alyvia Alyn Lind) does.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
26/30
<p>The faces may change, and family members may enter or exit (or die), but <em>General Hospital</em>‘s Quartermaines always celebrate — hold on. Did Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) mix up the holidays again? The last thing we need introduced at that Thanksgiving family gathering is a baby with a bow and arrow.</p>
Image: Brian Lowe/JPI
27/30
<p><em>Passions</em>’ Tabitha (Juliet Mills) may have been a wicked witch, but we’ll be damned if she didn’t know how to get into the Thanksgiving spirit. Wait, what’s that on her cheek? Um, you might want to back slowly away, Mr. Turkey.</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
28/30
<p>… probably doesn’t stay together. Sorry. Back in 2019, <em>Young & Restless’ </em>Rey (Jordi Vilasuso) and Sharon (Sharon Case) served up a heaping plate of Thanksgiving cheer. Nowadays, though, she seems more interested in dishing out food with Adam’s ladle.</p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection
29/30
<p>It doesn’t get much more wholesome than a 1955 Thanksgiving with <em>Search for Tomorrow</em>’s Jo (Mary Stuart), Arthur (Karl Tate) and Patti (Lynn Loring). Though that bird looks a little… off. </p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
30/30
