All About the *Other* Character at the Heart of General Hospital’s Sonny/Cates Feud

If recent General Hospital references to John’s brother Stone Cates have left you feeling like you have rocks in your head, allow us to illuminate you on the subject of Sonny’s former ward.

The character was only on the show from 1993-95, but man, what an impact he had. Played by Michael Sutton, Stone was left orphaned after the death of his and his siblings’ parents. Brother John, just a kid himself, tried to raise them but soon had to give them up. So when we met Stone, whose real name was Michael, he was already under the wing of upwardly mobile mobster Sonny.

Stone unwittingly lent a hand to John’s high-school sweetheart Karen Wexler when he spotted someone slipping X into her drink at a party. She would become embroiled in Sonny’s drama as well, both stripping at his club (despite being underage) and sleeping with the wannabe godfather.

For his part, Stone, who lived with Sonny, saw the future Teflon don as a father figure. Even upon being reunited with his brother, he didn’t turn his back on the career criminal.

The great love of Stone’s life was Robin Scorpio. After assuring her that he had tested negative for HIV, the couple had sex, only to learn later that he was, in fact, positive (owing to an ex who had been a drug addict). Ultimately, Robin tested positive as well.

As Stone’s condition worsened, he even lost his eyesight. But miraculously, on the day that he passed away, he was able to see Robin one last time.

Now, Sonny never misses an opportunity to remind John that he was there for Stone when he needed family, not his brother. And John will never forgive Sonny for turning Karen into Carrie the Schoolgirl on stage and taking advantage of her.