Chad Duell and Courtney Hope reportedly split eight weeks after their wedding (2023)

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

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<p><em>General Hospital</em> star Chad Duell (Michael) and <em>Young & Restless</em> scene stealer Courtney Hope (Sally) first crossed paths at a premiere party for TV -A friend's show in 2016. When she met her pal, his <em>General Hospital</em> brother, Bryan Craig (ex-Morgan), he introduced her to them. "She actually tested [the show back then] for my love interest," Duell told <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/wp-admin/_wp_link_placeholder" target="_blank"><em >Soap Opera Digest</em></a> in 2019, "so I gave her some advice." Spoiler alert: She didn't get the part. But that coincidence wasn't the strangest thing about their first encounter. "It was a Hollywood party," Duell noted, "and we talked about real stuff. This is <em>not</em> normal!”</p>

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2/15

<p>As that fateful evening drew to a close - with Duel and Hope reluctantly escorting their crew to a club - he kept a low profile. "I wanted to hang out with her," he admitted to <a href="https://www.soapsindepth.com/posts/abc/general-hospital-chad-duell-courtney-hope-dating-romance-155878". target="_blank"><em>Soaps in Depth</em></a> in 2018, "but a part of me knew I would end up dating her. I think I was scared.” Eventually, of course, he got over his trepidation, and before either of them knew what hit them, they realized that Whoa...</p>

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<p>When Duell and Hope got together, they did it in a big way; their chatter was anything but idle. From the start, "he was someone I could talk to and just talk and talk and talk about everything from family to work to spirituality," she said <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest. com/content/icymi- chad-duell-and-courtney-hope-interview/" target="_blank"><em>Digest</em></a>, "I felt like, 'This is definitely a real one Man, and I could see it's going far.'”</p>

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4/15

<p>The fur flew when the lovebirds flocked together - the fur of their excited four-legged family members, anyway. The couple's home is a happy, happy kennel of sorts, a sanctuary where the sounds of the actors guiding lines can be interrupted at any moment by the pitter-pattern of little paws or a boisterous bark of their canine companions Stevie Nicks, Bella and Bentley. </p>

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<p>Duel and Hope have a touch of whimsy. "Chad and I are both big nerds, and we like nostalgic things that remind us of being kids," Hope told <a href="https://www.soapsindepth.com/gallery/cbs/courtney-hope -chad-duell -hope-home-170641" target="_blank"><em>Incoming</em></a>. As shelves full of retro knick knacks suggest, "None of us can be too serious."</p>

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<p>As easy as Duell to communicate with each other like Hope, it's perhaps no surprise that they're also exceptionally good for each other. Although his <em>General Hospital</em> father, Maurice Benard (Sonny), noted in an episode of his vlog that Dueling can be a bit closed off, "he's opened up more and more since we've been together," he noted to Hope adding that "I get very stressed sometimes" and he's so chilled that "<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/600055/young - restless-courtney-hope-anorexia-chad-duell-relationship/" target="_blank">we are a good balance</a>."</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

7/15

<p>On Valentine's Day 2021, the sweetheart announced that they'd made their relationship official - well, <em>more official</em> - and got engaged. "In the morning Chad gave me a dozen roses and a big teddy bear and told me he would take me to a picnic lunch and give me a gift there," she told <a href="https://people.com/ tv/young-and-the-restless-star-courtney-hope-and-general-hospital-actor-chad-duell-are-engaged/" target="_blank"><em>People</em>< /a >. "When we got to Malibu ... he read me the most beautiful poem because I love poetry, and I started gagging." But the best was yet to come. "He then told me to close my eyes and turn the other way because he had to arrange something," she continued. "He was hilariously fumbling behind me to distract me from what he was really doing - and when I turned around he was on his knees!"</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

8/15

<p>The day after Duell put an engagement ring on Hope's finger, she took to social media and reluctantly said, "Yesterday was a good day." The actress, who at the time was Sally from <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> brought to <em>The Young and the Restless</em>, added: "This man is a dream come true forever. In turn, her husband-to-be called himself "<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/592183/general-hospital-young-restless-chad-duell-courtney -hope-engaged/" target="_blank">a lucky guy</a>."</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

9/15

<p>Perhaps the real secret to the success of Duell and Hope's relationship is that they not only love each other, but like each other. "He's definitely my best friend," Hope said <a href="https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/icymi-chad-duell-and-courtney-hope-interview/" target="_blank">< em >digest</em></a>. “What stands up to anything, no matter what, is that I have a friend who can support me and be there for me and also enjoy the journey with. Plus he's cute!”</p>

Photo: Denis Guignebourg/JPI

10/15

<p>Every day, the couple took a step closer to their "I dos" and they savored every moment. Heck, Duel said <a href="https://people.com/tv/young-and-the-restless-star-courtney-hope-and-general-hospital-actor-chad-duell-are-engaged/" target="_blank"><em>Guys</em></a> that it was just "fun to say fiancé... It's a whole new step." Soon he knew he meant "her woman would call! I'm looking forward to a lot: our future children, new adventures, a new home and my best friend to grow old with.”</p>

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11/15

<p>On October 23, 2021, Duell and Hope tied the knot in what the bride called a "perfect gothic night". (Maybe you're "red" about it - and marveled at the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/the-young-and-the-restless/news/613153/young-restless-courtney-hope- chad-duell-steampunk-wedding-pictures/" target="_blank">beautiful photos from the steampunk-inspired wedding</a>.) In her Adolfo Sanchez outfit from Netflix's <em>Next in Fashion</em> , she exclaimed, "I felt like a fucking queen!" And looked like one too.</p>

Bild: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

12/15

<p>Eight weeks after tying the knot, news broke that Duell and Hope had split. "We <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/621806/chad-duell-discusses-breakup-with-courtney-hope-general-hospital-young-restless/">had don't actually sign anything</a>," he told TV dad Maurice Benard (Sonny) during a January 2022 issue of his vlog <em>State of Mind</em>. "We weren't actually married or anything." What happened? "Out of respect for her, I'm not going to dwell too much on all those things," Duel said. "It's a complicated situation and nobody thinks about it."</p>

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13/15

<p>Eleven months after the wedding, Duell returned to Benard's vlog and spoke candidly about the journey he had taken since the split. "<a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/646782/general-hospital-chad-duell-single-after-breakup-courtney-hope/" target="_blank">It hurts</a>, and it's hard to just sit by and choose to be single," he said. "It's a decision. It's hard man because everyone likes to have someone to love.” But the Emmy winner has used the time wisely to become the best man he can be.</p>

Image: Howard Wise/JPI

14/15

<p>On her first wedding anniversary with Duell, Hope had <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkEkUNxSwwW/" target="_blank">Instagram photos from her wedding</a> and thought about it "a love built by memories, patience, adventure, lessons, challenges and laughter, a love that has not stood the test of time, and a love that will forever hold a place in my heart because she changed me."</p>

Image: Howard Wise/JPI

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<p>In the same post, Hope shared a bit about "how I've spent the last year just picking myself off the ground and then going out into the world and trying to seem 'ok'". Words: "I lived the life of a phoenix last year, and it was far less majestic than I previously believed." But as painful and exasperating as it is, it was also "cathartic," she said. Now, "My relationship with myself is stronger than ever, and for the first time in my life I know that I have my complete and unwavering support."</p>