Max Giambetti and Diane Miller

Derk Cheetwood and Carolyn Hennesy as Max Giambetti and Diane Miller

**Maximus "Max" Giambetti, Jr.** and **Diane Miller** are fictional characters and a popular couple on the ABC soap opera *General Hospital.*

## Casting

Max has been portrayed by actor Derk Cheetwood since 2002.

Max's younger brother, Milo is portrayed by Cheetwood's real life younger brother, Drew Cheetwood. He is also the real life cousin of Tyler Christopher, who portrayed Nikolas Cassadine. On March 25, 2019 it was announced Derk will return to GH as Max, along with his brother Drew who portrays Milo.

Carolyn Hennesy, who had previously played lawyers in other roles, was hired by casting director at the time Mark Teschner for a three-day job.

In a 2009 interview, Teschner described Hennesy's success, explaining, "I knew it needed somebody special who had a certain charisma and presence and here it is, a couple years later, and she's one of the most major, non-contract players we've ever had, and an Emmy pre-nom two years in a row."

Logan wrote, "Her category is inevitably hogged by leading ladies afraid to compete as best actress. But make no mistake: This is the supporting performance of the year."

In September 2012, after the character had been off-screen for several months, Hennesy announced she would be reprising the role.

In 2015, it was revealed that Hennesy is on her way back to *PC* and will have scenes with her frequent scene partner, Bradford Anderson, who plays Damian Spinelli.

## Background

Max starts working as a bodyguard and driver for mobsters Sonny Corinthos and Jason Morgan in 2002. He is shown to be particularly good with Sonny's children Michael and Morgan Corinthos as they grow up. Max has been a faithful employee of Sonny's for years and often goes above and beyond what he is required to do.

Speaking of his characterization, Cheetwood describes to *Soap Opera Digest*:

"The thing about Max that people always say they like is the humor that I bring to him. I think the mob is dark, so I try to bring a vulnerability to Max and make him funny and kind of oafish."
In January 2007, mobster Sonny Corinthos hired Diane to represent him based on her reputation as a brilliant attorney with a dry wit, acerbic observations, blunt manner, and nearly perfect courtroom record. Her top-notch trial skills worked and, with Diane's help, Sonny once again escaped the long arm of the law.

She has remained on the Corinthos mob family retainer for years, always getting them out of trouble with her brilliant legal maneuvers. Over the years, Diane has remained loyal to the Corinthos family becoming more than just an attorney. She is now seen as a close and valued friend to the family.

## Storylines

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After Sonny's son, Michael, was shot in an attempt on Sonny's life, Diane and Alexis had drinks at Jake's. Alexis worried about her daughters, as she knew Sonny's life endangered their safety too. Diane, having had a bit too much to drink, retreated to Sonny's house and encountered a drunken Max. He was devastated that Michael was in a coma and felt guilty that he hadn't been at the warehouse to protect Michael and Sonny. To comfort Max, Diane kissed him. Later, Alexis walked in, shocked to find Diane and Max in the throes of passion on the couch.

Sonny was furious after he found out about their relationship and ordered them to end it, even going so far as to threaten to end Max's job. After Diane failed to keep Anthony Zacchara in prison, Sonny vowed to send Max to Puerto Rico because his relationship with Diane was throwing her off her game. Max stood up to Sonny and forcefully told him to back off, which Sonny seemed to respect.

To keep the Corinthos mob family safe from the Zacchara family, Sonny and Jason cooked up a plan to have Jason take the helm of the business, effectively allowing Sonny to retire. Once running the "Morgan Organization," Jason made it clear to Diane and Max that he had no problem with their relationship as long as it did not interfere with business.

Max showed Diane the engagement ring Sonny bought for Kate Howard, and Diane mistakenly believed that Max had asked for her hand in marriage. Caught off-guard, she agreed. She quickly called Alexis and admitted she wasn't ready to marry—anyone. Max confided in Sonny that he'd jumped the gun and wanted to back out. Unbeknownst to either pair, Alexis had pushed Diane to give the ring back as Sonny advised Max to ask for it back. Once face-to-face, Diane and Max blurted at the same time that they were not ready for marriage.

Upon discovering that Sonny, though engaged to Kate, had engaged in a one-night stand with his ex-wife, Carly, Diane pushed Sonny to be honest with Kate. When the truth was revealed, Kate forgave Sonny, but Carly and her husband, Jasper "Jax" Jacks, broke up. Max told Diane that it was her fault that Carly and Jax's marriage was on the rocks. Max agreed that it wasn't really cheating, since Sonny and Kate had not yet been married.

Diane asked, based on Max's definition of faithfulness, if he'd ever cheated on her. He answered indirectly, asking how he could have cheated, as they'd only had a casual relationship. Diane angrily broke up with him. Later, she broke down in Jason's arms. The following day, Max showed up with a boom box blasting Al Green's song "Let's Stay Together."

When Diane found out that Max's father, Maximus Giambetti, was headed to town, she also learned that Milo, Max's brother who their father called "Mario," was Max's half-brother. Their father had been deported to Sicily because of his mob activity. Diane, Milo, and Jason agreed to help Max pretend to be the head of the organization.

As Max, Milo, and Diane showed Maximus the office, Jason arrived, dressed casually. Diane introduced him as Max's bodyguard. Over the next few days, others were inadvertently drawn into the ruse, including Carly and Claudia Zacchara, who both pretended to be amorously linked to Max—which infuriated Diane.

On August 25, 2011, Max and Diane ended their four year relationship and decided to go their separate ways. They parted amicably as friends.

Diane’s worst fear came true after Max was accidentally shot in the chest by Morgan. Despite the separation, she flew right to his side and remained there while he fought for his life. Max made a full recovery and not long after, it became official that they were back together.

Nowadays, they live together and are going strong and steady.

Max’s brush with death made them both see life is too short. So, they grabbed it with both hands. These days, Diane stays busy helping the citizens of Port Charles with their legal battles while Max remains a valuable asset to Sonny’s organization.