Despite Internet rumblings to the contrary, long-time General Hospital fixture Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) will be sticking around Port Charles for at least the foreseeable future. The actor announced via Twitter that he has signed a new contract.

"I just signed my contract for General Hospital," Benard wrote. "It makes me feel good that I'm not leaving my family."

Over the past year, as uncertainty surrounded General Hospital's future, there had been anonymous Internet claims that Benard was contemplating an exit from ABC's sole-remaining soap. Benard, however, has been vocal of his admiration for new executive producer Frank Valentini and praised the new energy on set.

Benard first joined General Hospital in 1993. Since that time, he has amassed six Daytime Emmys nominations -- five for Lead Actor and one as Supporting Actor. One of those nominations, in 2003, resulted in Benard's first Daytime Emmy win.

Prior to joining General Hospital, Benard was known to soap fans for a 1987 to 1989 run as Nico Kelly on All My Children.