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Line 36: In September 2001, ''General Hospital'' released a casting call for Courtney, described to be in her early 20s and "sexy, vibrant and dynamic."<ref name="casting call">{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Dan J.|title=Sonny's family coming to town?|url=http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2001/1001-benard_family.php|work=[[Soapcentral]]|accessdate=March 11, 2013|date=September 30, 2001}}</ref> The character was speculated to be the sister of [[Sonny Corinthos]], played by [[Maurice Benard]]. Benard had hinted at a recent fan club event that Sonny's sister would be brought on canvas.<ref name="casting call" /> [[Alicia Leigh Willis]] was cast in the role of Courtney in December 2001. Casting director [[Mark Teschner]] fought for her to be hired in the role, and coached her before her callback with the show's executive producer at the time [[Jill Farren Phelps]].<ref name=Teschner>{{cite web|title=Five Minutes With … Mark Teschner |url=http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/five-minutes-%E2%80%A6-mark-teschner-0 |work=Soap Opera Digest |publisher=soapoperadigest.com |accessdate=October 8, 2012 |date=2009-05-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220100/http://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/five-minutes-%E2%80%A6-mark-teschner-0 |archivedate=April 8, 2014 |df= }}</ref> Years later, Teschner spoke highly of his experience with Willis, "She nailed it and she got the role and four years later, she was one of the most successful additions on the show. That's also very gratifying when you fight for somebody and they do you right by doing a great job with the role."<ref name="Teschner" /> In 2006, Willis chose not to renew her contract. She was written off the show, but at her goodbye party on set, Jill Farren Phelps asked if she would stay on and wrap up her character's pregnancy storyline, to which Willis agreed.<ref name="Willis Extends">{{cite web|title=Viewers of yesterday's episode...|url=http://www.tvguide.com/soaps/Viewers-yesterdays-episode-56833.aspx|work=TV Guide|publisher=tvguide.com|accessdate=October 8, 2012|author=TV Guide News|date=2006-01-25}}</ref> As the story played out, Willis voiced her opinion on ''[[Soap Talk]]'' on her character's future, "I love playing Courtney and to see someone else come in, it's like, 'It's ''my'' character!' I don't want to see someone else come in, but if they do, I wish them all the luck."<ref name="Willis Extends" /> Although the network had initially announced recasting the role,<ref name=Recast>{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Dan J.|title=Alicia Leigh Willis Confirms She's Leaving GH|url=http://soapcentral.com/gh/news/2005/1107-willis.php|work=Soap Central|accessdate=October 8, 2012|date=2005-11-04}}</ref> it was later confirmed that the character would in fact be [[killed off]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Last month on SoapNet's Soap Talk,...|url=http://www.tvguide.com/soaps/month-SoapNets-Soap-57241.aspx|work=TV Guide|publisher=tvguide.com|accessdate=October 8, 2012|author=TV Guide News|date=2006-02-15}}</ref> Willis last appeared on February 21, 2006. Willis returned on September 17, 2020 to ==Storylines== | |||