General Hospital star Maurice Benard got emotional after reuniting with his daughter Heather Andresen during an appearance on the Tamron Hall show.

The soap opera star, 60, has not seen Heather, who is in the Air Force, since October 2022.

She is the half-sister of his wife Paula; Heather’s mother unexpectedly died so he legally adopted her with his wife when she was 15 years old.

During his appearance, the actor got teary eyed when Tamron brought her up, adding that he hasn’t seen her in months or in her military uniform before.

Heather walked out and surprised him, which led Maurice to tears in the emotional moment.

Emotions: General Hospital star Maurice Benard got emotional after reuniting with his daughter Heather Andresen during an appearance on the Tamron Hall show

Surprise! The soap opera star, 60, has not seen Heather, who is in the Air Force, since October 2022

Reunited! She is the half-sister of his wife Paula; Heather’s mother unexpectedly died so he legally adopted her with his wife when she was 15 years old

The star was on the show chatting about his career and life when Tamron brought up his children.

She had an image of Heather on the screen behind him, which made him emotional.

Tamron said: ‘This is her. You haven’t seen her in…’ 

He told Tamron, ‘Oh don’t do that’ and then he started a story about her before Tamron cut him off for his surprise.

‘You haven’t seen her in a long time. You’ve never seen her in uniform,’ Tamron said.

‘You’re not the only one who made a special trip today. She wanted to be here – because I know it was rough getting on that plane and coming here. Your daughter, Airman First Class Heather Andresen,’ Tamron said. 

Maurice and Heather hugged with the actor getting emotional, breaking down in tears.

He added that ‘surprises kill me.’

‘I’m so proud of her. I can’t talk, so can I leave?’ Maurice said jokingly.

Tamron then said to Heather: ‘You were adopted by your half-sister, Maurice’s beautiful wife, and that changed the trajectory of your lives…’

‘The most beautiful thing that I shouldn’t say, because I’m not going to be able to talk… When we adopted her, we were talking in the room, and Paula, my wife, and her were talking about how happy we were, and at one point [Heather] said, “Can I call you mom?’ Maurice said.

Tears: During his appearance, the actor got teary eyed when Tamron brought her up, adding that he hasn’t seen her in months or in her military uniform before

Shock: Heather walked out and surprised him, which led Maurice to tears in the emotional moment

Happy tears: The star was on the show chatting about his career and life when Tamron brought up his children

Candid: ‘I’m so proud of her. I can’t talk, so can I leave?’ Maurice said jokingly

Husband and wife: He also has kids Cailey, 28, Cassidy, 23, and Joshua, 18; Maurice and Paula have been married since 1990; seen in 2005

In 2008, when Heather was 15, Maurice and Paula legally adopted Heather, who is Paula’s half-sister, after her mom (and his mother-in-law passed away).

At the time, Maurice said they made the decision to adopt so the he and Paula could ‘now give [Heather] everything that she couldn’t have before,’ he said in an interview with ABC Soaps In-Depth via People.

He also has kids Cailey, 28, Cassidy, 23, and Joshua, 18, with Paula; Maurice and Paula have been married since 1990.

He has starred on General Hospital since 1993; he plays Sonny Corinthos on the soap opera.