Soap opera fans, brace yourselves: Chad Duell has left General Hospital after a jaw-dropping nearly 15-year run as Michael Corinthos. Yep, you read that rightโMichael has left the building (and the hospital), and no, it wasnโt because he tripped over a rogue IV stand.
Duell dropped the news back in November 2024, leaving fans clutching their pearls and tissues. The showโs executive producer said, โNo recastingโฆ for now.โ Translation: theyโre playing it cool but have the number of a decent Michael lookalike on speed dial.
The Podcast Confessional: Chad Tells All
Chad recently spilled the teaโor maybe just a chamomile latteโon The Daily Drama Podcast. Spoiler alert: it wasnโt just because he ran out of scrubs.
โItโs a life adjustment,โ he said, proving that even soap stars can outgrow their dramatic plotlines. And whatโs behind this mysterious โadjustment,โ you ask? Apparently, itโs not a secret love child or an evil twin. The real bombshell: his father passed away, and Chadโs been grappling with it in a way that even Michael Corinthos canโt fix with a well-timed monologue.
But wait, thereโs more! โIโve been in a comfort bubble,โ Chad confessed. Sounds cozy, right? Unfortunately, the soap star bubble isnโt filled with champagne and caviarโitโs more like reruns and existential dread. Chad admitted he needed to burst it, step into the scary unknown, and, presumably, buy some metaphorical Band-Aids for the journey.
Breaking Up with Comfort
Fifteen years is a long time to play one role. By the end of it, Chad joked (kind of), he wasnโt sure where Michael ended, and he began. โWho I wasโฆ was the show,โ he said, sounding eerily like someone describing a toxic relationship with their DVR. To fix this, heโs embarking on what sounds like a combination of a soul-searching road trip and a yoga retreat. Namaste, Chad.
And the guy isnโt stopping there. Heโs got big plans for January 2025, which may or may not include a New Yearโs resolution to avoid hospital corridors altogether. โItโs different because I have a kid now,โ he added, reminding us that parenthood is like stepping into a never-ending soap opera where youโre the sleep-deprived lead.
Whatโs Next?
In true soap fashion, Chad left us with a cryptic teaser: โI want to make sure I take care of myself.โ Does this mean weโll find him meditating on a mountaintop, auditioning for a new role, or maybe just binge-watching General Hospital in sweatpants? Only time will tell.
For now, all we can do is respect his decision, wish him well, and keep an eye out for a dramatic returnโฆ because in the soap world, nobody ever truly says goodbye.