{"id":243164,"date":"2025-10-22T09:16:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/243164\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T09:16:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T09:16:07","slug":"chad-duell-reveals-whats-next-for-him-exclusive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/243164\/","title":{"rendered":"Chad Duell Reveals What\u2019s Next for Him (EXCLUSIVE)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chad Duell is no stranger to daytime television. With more than 1,500 episodes as Michael Corinthos on General Hospital<\/a>, a Daytime Emmy Award, and decades of acting experience, his journey has been one of growth\u2014both on and off screen. Soap Opera News had the absolute pleasure of catching up with Chad for a post-GH interview, where he opened up about fatherhood, his passion for acting, what\u2019s next in his career, whether he\u2019d return to daytime soaps, and how one lightning-bolt moment changed everything.<\/p>\n

Chad Duell Talks Fatherhood<\/p>\n

For our first subject of the chat, it was Duell\u2019s most important role of all: DAD. Duell recently celebrated a big milestone: his son, Dawson, just turned two. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, he just turned two\u2026 It\u2019s been quite a whirlwind,\u201d Duell said. \u201cYou grow into that role, and you\u2019re seeing him grow as well, especially when he\u2019s two years old. It\u2019s like, ah, this is what it\u2019s all about right now, because the personality\u2019s coming through. He\u2019s not just kind of a lump of meat that you\u2019re like, you just got to keep alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

To celebrate Dawson\u2019s birthday, Duell took him to Disneyland for the first time, which was just as magical for the dad as it was for the toddler. \u201cSeeing it through his eyes for the first time was kind of like a little, like, you know, vicariously through him in a way,\u201d he explained. \u201cHe\u2019s very funny and energetic, and he\u2019s got it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about the possibility of having more children, Duell acknowledged that while it isn\u2019t off the table, his current focus is elsewhere. \u201cYou know, the only reason I would ever want to do that is because it gives him someone to grow up with. But besides that, it can be a lot\u2026 I\u2019m also focused right now on the next chapters.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Lightning Bolt Moment<\/p>\n

Duell\u2019s journey to acting wasn\u2019t always the plan. \u201cFirst of all, I was going to be a football player,\u201d he revealed. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was a natural athlete, and things came easy. Every single athletic thing I did came easy to me.\u201d <\/p>\n

But ADHD made school and sports tough, leading him to a turning point that would change his life forever. <\/p>\n

\u201cI watched this one movie\u2014I think it was Vanilla Sky\u2014and all of a sudden something came over my body. Like, it was like God going like, \u2018Oh, you found your calling. Congratulations\u2014right in this moment.\u2019 It was like a lightning bolt hit me.\u201d<\/p>\n

From that point on, he left football behind and threw himself into theater. \u201cThe first time I did a scene, I was like, \u2018Oh\u2014I love this.\u2019 It\u2019s just exhilarating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning to the Stage<\/p>\n

While Duell has primarily worked in television, his love for theater has never faded. \u201cI started doing improv shows at my high school, and sketch shows and stuff\u2014and it was just fun,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what is at the core of it all. Which you can easily lose sight of when you get too much into the industry or the business.\u201d <\/p>\n

When asked if he\u2019d return to the stage, he answered without hesitation: \u201cI need to get back\u2026 I\u2019m going to be getting back into doing some more theater again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before GH: Disney Days<\/p>\n

Duell got his early TV break on Disney Channel\u2019s The Suite Life on Deck, followed by a memorable guest spot on Wizards of Waverly Place. \u201cThat was so much\u2014talk about fun,\u201d he recalled. \u201cEspecially Wizards\u2014just playing this crazy wizard\u2026 like a jerk, but also just\u2014I don\u2019t know. I loved that role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Landing the role of Michael Corinthos on General Hospital wasn\u2019t what he initially auditioned for, and stepping into a legacy role came with pressure. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was so nervous. Very unlike the person who took over for me. It was like, \u2018The role of Michael Corinthos is now being played by\u2026\u2019 They used to do that every single time. It\u2019s like such a spotlight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Overcoming the Pressure<\/p>\n

Despite the nerves, Duell found his footing. \u201cI was actually just trying to survive in the beginning,\u201d he admitted. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt first I thought, okay, so I get fired tomorrow, at least I have this. I was struggling so hard.\u201d <\/p>\n

Then came a scene that changed everything. \u201cIt just took that one scene\u2026 and everyone was like, \u2018Oh yeah, alright, he\u2019s on track.\u2019 And then I kind of started to go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t try to replicate what previous actors had done with the character. \u201cNothing really, to be honest,\u201d he said about preparing for the role. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just needed to know the story\u2026 why would I try to be the person I was replacing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, he worked to show a more emotional side. \u201cI was trying to control his rage attacks, but also be more sympathetic\u2026 where you can see more of his heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daytime drama also taught Duell a lot about the pace of production. \u201cI would say being able to handle pressure pretty well. You\u2019re doing scenes quickly\u2026 you\u2019re just rolling. The memorization\u2014yes\u2014but you also know the character so well. You know how he speaks.\u201d <\/p>\n

He added, \u201cYou can kind of change a little bit of the wording sometimes, and get away with it, while on primetime, you\u2019ve got to stick to the script.\u201d<\/p>\n

What Other GH Role Would He Have Played?<\/p>\n

Though forever linked to Michael Corinthos, Duell said there were a few other GH characters he would\u2019ve liked to tackle when we asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt this point, it\u2019d be pretty cool. I would say\u2026 Jason Thompson, when he played the doctor. But the medical jargon would have been kind of rough.\u201d <\/p>\n

He also admitted, \u201cI\u2019d just do a different spin on that hitman type of\u2026 you know, with my father. That would be Jason. Jason\u2019s like, he\u2019s friends with Sonny. But I\u2019d probably say Jason\u2019s character. It\u2019d be fun to play a hitman and beat people up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chad Duell Honors Leslie Charleson<\/p>\n

Duell had fond memories of working with Leslie Charleson, who passed away in January. \u201cShe\u2019s very funny. She cracked this kind of\u2014she never tried to be funny. She would just say these, I guess, just funny things that made me laugh.\u201d <\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cIt was so much fun working with her and all the other veteran cast members. She was a very sweet woman. Always came in with good energy. We\u2019ve lost\u2014it\u2019s crazy how many we\u2019ve lost on that show over the last 15 years. But she left a legacy. She was a really pleasant person to be around. She\u2019ll be missed. I\u2019m glad I got the chance to work with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Working with Laura Wright<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his time acting opposite Laura Wright as Carly, Duell pointed to some of his favorite moments. \u201cI loved when I was getting on her a lot\u2014when I was almost enemies with her briefly,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One scene stood out: \u201cMy favorite scenes I ever did were after she told me that Jax was\u2014this is like 13 years ago\u2014I think Jax was dead, but he wasn\u2019t. He came back, and I had this toast I did at the Metro Court, New Year\u2019s Eve. That was one of those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

He especially loved their conflict. \u201cI liked when we had conflict because she had such a passionate love and motherly energy. When I had those scenes, you could see how much it was hurting to have her own son feel that way toward her\u2014I fed off that. It was really a kind of beautiful time.\u201d <\/p>\n

He recalled how Carly initially didn\u2019t approve of Abby, Michael\u2019s love interest, and how the dynamic evolved over time. <\/p>\n

\u201cLater on, she treated me more like a man. Early on, it was more like her son. And there was that turmoil, that conflict\u2014it was really juicy, if you will. But also really passionate and fun to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping In Touch with the GH Family<\/p>\n

Though no longer on the show, Duell still keeps in touch with his GH co-stars. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaurice is telling me I gotta come up and visit him up there. And Josh was telling me too,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s tough, though. In this industry, it\u2019s kind of like\u2014it\u2019s different sometimes. Some people just get in their own world. We don\u2019t always keep that connection, and it\u2019s a shame. But it\u2019s two ways. I know I can do better myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cI\u2019ve just been doing a lot of transition on my end, too. But I was just texting with Josh earlier. I gotta go visit Maurice at some point\u2014up in his little farm he\u2019s got going on out there.\u201d <\/p>\n

As for Maurice\u2019s farm life. \u201cCrazy. I don\u2019t know. He has the weirdest life,\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n

Returning to Daytime?<\/p>\n

Duell said he\u2019s open to returning to soaps under the right circumstances. \u201cYeah, I would entertain doing another daytime soap. It just depends on the role, how it is there, how they see my body of work, and whether the team is excited for me. If they have a good storyline and good character, then I\u2019m all on board.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Film Projects and What\u2019s Next for Chad Duell<\/p>\n

Duell has two major film projects in the works, though he\u2019s keeping things under wraps for now. \u201cI have a couple films I\u2019m working on coming up. I talked to the director about what I can actually talk about, and I can just give a brief synopsis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

One of the projects involves a man imprisoned for assisting his terminally ill father with suicide. \u201cThat\u2019s going to be a new experience,\u201d Duell said. <\/p>\n

The second film is about a blind man who must carry his injured friend through the wilderness. \u201cI have to carry him, but I can\u2019t see anything. His leg\u2019s destroyed, so he has to guide me. It\u2019s going to be a whole experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stepping away from GH gave Duell a much-needed personal and creative reset. \u201cWhen I left the show, I knew I was leaving on a tear. The industry was completely dead. It was the holiday season. But it was a perfect opportunity for me to reset,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf I had jumped right into another soap, I wouldn\u2019t have taken the time to rebuild and come back stronger. This month is when I\u2019ve really felt like I\u2019m filling myself back up again.\u201d<\/p>\n

He concluded, \u201cWhen you\u2019re on the same show year after year, you kind of lose your momentum or passion. You\u2019ve got to reset. I\u2019m in a really good place now, and it\u2019s only getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also revealed a dream role: playing Tom Cruise\u2019s son someday, somehow! And being directed by Mel Gibson! Dreams do come alive!<\/p>\n

A Message for the Fans<\/p>\n

Duell couldn\u2019t leave without a message for his fans and supporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been almost a year [since leaving GH], but I\u2019ll just say thank you for your love and support over the years. Regardless of me feeling burnt out or needing a recharge, it still was a blessing to play Michael \u2014 not only for myself but for you all. I hope that me playing Michael made you have a good experience or a good escape \u2014 in seeing these storylines through my eyes. I am forever grateful for the support and the love, and that I got to be Michael for as long as I have. So, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Gilbert Flores\/Variety via Getty Images.<\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/p>\n

Chad Duell, known for his role as Michael Corinthos on General Hospital, discusses his personal and professional growth during a recent interview.<\/p>\n

He embraces fatherhood and shares insights about his son\u2019s recent birthday celebration at Disneyland.<\/p>\n

Duell highlights a transformative moment in his life when he decided to pursue acting after feeling a calling from a movie.<\/p>\n

While focusing on new film projects, Duell remains open to returning to daytime soaps if the opportunity is right.<\/p>\n

He expresses gratitude to his fans for their support during his time on GH and reflects on the importance of taking time for personal renewal.<\/p>\n

Follow Soap Opera News on\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0to stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.<\/p>\n

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