A new episode of “State of Mind,” hosted by Maurice Benard, has been released. This episode features Marcus Coloma, the actor who played Nikolas Cassadine before Adam Huss took over.
At the beginning of the interview, Coloma enthusiastically appeared as “Buddy,” a character from his upcoming film, staying in character playfully at first. Soon, though, he dropped the act and began to openly discuss personal topics. The two actors eventually addressed the circumstances of Coloma’s sudden departure from the ABC soap in 2023.
Why Did Marcus Coloma Really Leave General Hospital?
Coloma explained that underlying health challenges led to his quick exit. On “State of Mind,” he talked about experiencing tachycardia—a heart condition that made his heart race and ultimately required surgery. He also described struggling with anxiety and difficulties remembering lines during his last weeks on the show, but emphasized his continued affection for the series, saying he has “nothing but love” for it.
Over time, things shifted for Him
Roughly two and a half years into his time on General Hospital, Coloma sensed his stint might be nearing its end. Around this period, he and Benard had meaningful talks that prompted him to reevaluate his approach to acting.
Benard encouraged him to trust himself and take more risks in his performances.
“So because at that point I got what I really wanted out of that journey, which was the fearlessness.”
Coloma shared that the final six months on the show were the most artistically liberating for him; he began relying on his own judgment instead of always following feedback.
“The last six months, I started to do that. I would get a note, and I would be like I’m going to do it the way I want to do it, right? And they’d give me the note again, and I would do it the way I wanted to do it. And that was very liberating.”
The Real Reason Behind Marcos Coloma’s Exit
Although fans speculated for a long time, Coloma revealed that a serious medical issue was the real reason he left. He explained that, although he never had trouble with his lines before, as his time on the show was ending, he found himself becoming unusually anxious and forgetting his lines.
“I start going up on lines, and I start getting really nervous.” When Benard asked the cause, Coloma said he was dealing with tachycardia, which kept his heart rate at roughly 110 beats per minute.
Initially, he didn’t realize what was happening and even wondered if it might be linked to long COVID. In time, doctors confirmed it was a heart condition that needed surgery.
Coloma Disappointed How he Was Written off
Coloma admitted he was disappointed by how abruptly things ended, as he wanted to complete his time on the show properly.
Still, he wanted fans to know there was no animosity. “But all of that said, um, I absolutely love General Hospital. It was such a great experience.”
He also thanked Frank Valentini for being compassionate during his illness. “I have nothing but love for General Hospital, and I appreciate it. I sent a text to Frank, and I thought he was very sweet. He understood that I was going through something physical at the time.”
Life After General Hospital
Coloma also spoke about his current personal life, mentioning that he has left social media, is not dating, and is practicing celibacy.
He shared that his natural shyness used to lead him into relationships he wasn’t fully invested in. Now, he’s more mindful and deliberate about his choices. “Now, dude, I’ve been single for a very long time, and I’m trying on celibacy.”
What do you think of Marcus’ shocking revelations, which reveal so much about his life?
Come back to the Daily News Corner for more General Hospital updates.
