Fans of General Hospital have been thrilled by Rory Gibson’s portrayal of Michael Corinthos. After a long hiatus from the screen, it’s like Gibson has always been in the role. But his journey to this point hasn’t been all glitz and glam. In fact, it’s been filled with serious struggles, including a period when Gibson and his fiancée faced homelessness.
A Rollercoaster Ride After Leaving “The Young and the Restless”
When Gibson’s time as Noah Newman on The Young and the Restless came to an end, it marked a significant turning point in his career. While he initially felt optimistic about his future in Hollywood—having recently booked a role in Zack Snyder’s movie Rebel Moon and auditioning for other big projects—everything took a nosedive when the writers’ and actors’ strikes hit.
In a revealing interview with his TV dad, Maurice Benard, on the State of Mind Podcast, Gibson opened up about the hardships that followed. The strikes brought the industry to a halt, and Gibson’s momentum came to a grinding stop. The calls he once received from CBS vanished. What followed was a period of uncertainty: no work, no auditions, and no income.
A Struggle for Survival: Couch-Surfing for a Year
Gibson’s situation worsened when both he and his fiancée found themselves unable to pay rent. With both of them out of work, they had to rely on friends for a place to stay. For nearly a year, they couch-surfed, bouncing from one person’s place to the next, a humbling experience that rattled him to the core.
“It got to a point where neither of us were making any money, and we couldn’t afford to pay rent… we had to bounce out. So we were like couch surfing for almost a year,” Gibson shared, detailing a period of his life that many wouldn’t expect from someone in the entertainment industry. 
Climbing Back: General Hospital’s Big Opportunity
Despite the crushing setback, Gibson didn’t let his circumstances define him. As the industry slowly started to recover from the strikes, Gibson found himself back in the auditioning game. Soon after, General Hospital came calling, offering him the chance to step into the iconic role of Michael Corinthos.
Taking over from Chad Duell was no small feat, but Gibson rose to the challenge. Though GH operates at a faster pace than Y&R, he quickly found that he thrived in that environment. The quick turnaround and energy on set suited him, and it kept him sharp.
“It was kind of shocking, but I liked the pace. It prepared the cast to come in fully prepared, keeping the energy up,” Gibson remarked, reflecting on his transition to the fast-paced world of General Hospital.
A Bright Future Ahead 
After the turbulent years that followed his exit from The Young and the Restless, Rory Gibson is now back on screen and thriving. His role on General Hospital has proven to be a fresh start, and fans are thrilled to see him return to daytime television. His story of perseverance and resilience—overcoming homelessness and setbacks—proves that even the most difficult challenges can be overcome with determination.
Looking Ahead
As Gibson continues to shine as Michael Corinthos, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible resilience he has shown. From couch-surfing to landing one of the most coveted roles in daytime TV, his journey reminds us all that success isn’t always linear, but with grit and passion, dreams can still be realized.
And as for The Young and the Restless, it’s their loss, but our gain. We’re thrilled to have Rory Gibson back in the spotlight, and we can’t wait to see where his career goes from here.