Few actors have stayed on at ABC’s hit daytime drama General Hospital quite as long as Maurice Benard.

Joining the series as a regular cast member in 1993, the 62-year-old Benard has long since become something of a permanent fixture on General Hospital.

Portraying the role of manic depressive gangster Sonny Corinthos, Benard has continued to earn avid acclaim for his lead role on the series.

While some might wonder about the possibility of Benard’s retirement following three decades on General Hospital, the actor himself has openly addressed his future in the show in a new podcast interview.

According to People magazine, Benard is scheduled to appear on an October 28 episode of Richard Taite’s We’re Out of Time. During his podcast appearance, Benard was pointedly asked whether he had any plans to leave General Hospital, which lead to him denying any rumors about his apparent retirement.

“No, I’m not leaving,” Benard outright said.

“There have always been a lot of people [saying that I’m leaving],” the actor continued. “I think they’re saying I’m dying, too, like I have cancer or something,” he said.

Most of the gossip surrounding Benard’s rumor exit from General Hospital largely comes out of the fact that the actor has a “year left” in his contract. In spite of that fact, the former All My Children actor said he has no plans to leave the series in the foreseeable future.

“Look, I’m going to retire, but I don’t think it’s going to be before I’m 65,” Benard said.

With the clock ticking on Benard’s tenure on General Hospital, the actor continued on by hinting at what other endeavors he might pursue once he’s officially said goodbye to his Port Charles criminal alter ego.

“When I leave, I’ll have [my podcast], State of Mind, maybe [I’ll] do that more,” he said. “Financially, I’m pretty good, but you’re right — I already know what happens to my mind when I’m living in it alone.”