Tristan Rogers, who played super spy Robert Scorpio on ‘General Hospital,' has died at 79
'The entire 'General Hospital' family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers' passing,' said Frank Valentini, the show's executive producer, in a statement. 'Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio).'
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rogers' first foray into performing was in his early twenties and playing drums in a rock band with a group of friends. They weren't successful so Rogers turned to commercial work and modeling to earn some money. When the band dissolved, Rogers decided to give acting a try. After various roles in Australia, he also worked as a DJ and eventually moved to Los Angeles to try to break into Hollywood. He said casting directors were initially turned off by his accent but he eventually landed a two-day role on 'General Hospital' in 1980.
'I had no idea at the point how big the show was,' Rogers told fellow 'General Hospital' actor Maurice Benard on the YouTube show, 'State of Mind with Maurice Benard' in 2022.
'I had no name. I was brought in expressly to beat up the hero, Luke, (played by Anthony Geary), and then disappear,' Rogers said. His first day was half-over when then-executive producer Gloria Monty asked if he would like to stay on. They had no character written for him so for three weeks Monty asked him to just appear in scenes 'looking furtive, looking suspicious' until they came up with a storyline. It was decided he would play a spy known as 'CK8' and eventually he was given the name Robert Scorpio. The character would remain a fixture in Port Charles for the rest of Rogers' life, even when he wasn't a current cast member.
Scorpio's on again/off again romance with Emma Samms' character, Holly Sutton, remained a favorite among fans. Scorpio also had a romance, and many storylines with another spy, Anna Devane, played by Finola Hughes. Scorpio and Devane shared a daughter, Robin, played by Kimberly McCullough. Samms returned to the show for a stint last fall where it was revealed that Scorpio was the father of her adult daughter, Sasha Gilmore (played by Sofia Mattson.)
Rogers and Samms left the show together in November 2024 in scenes taped with a nod to 'Casablanca.' He returned to the show in July for one episode when Sasha arrived to his home in France with her new baby. It was then revealed that Rogers had lung cancer.
Rogers' other acting credits include 'The Bold and the Beautiful,' 'The Young & the Restless' and 'Studio City,' which won him outstanding supporting actor in a digital drama series at the Daytime Emmy Awards. He is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, and a daughter and a son.
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USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
Tristan Rogers, who played Robert Scorpio on 'General Hospital,' dies at 79
The soap star, who also played Hunter Jones on "The Bold and the Beautiful," had revealed his cancer diagnosis in July. Tristan Rogers, best known for his longtime role as Robert Scorpio on "General Hospital," has died. He was 79. Rogers' longtime manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed the soap star's "unfortunate passing" to USA TODAY on Aug. 15. Soodak also told Los Angeles' ABC7 that Rogers was battling lung cancer at the time of his death. Playing Scorpio "meant everything to him," Soodak told ABC7. In a statement shared with USA TODAY, the ABC show's executive producer, Frank Valentini, said that "the entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers' passing." "Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio)," Valentini continued. "I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace." Rogers' 55-year career on screen also included roles as Colin Atkinson on "The Young and the Restless," Hunter Jones on "The Bold and the Beautiful" and Lex Martin on "The Bay." "The Bay," which streams on Amazon Prime and Tubi, shared a statement acknowledging "the profound loss of a beloved member of our cast, Mr. Tristan Rogers (aka Commissioner Lex Martin)." "His immense talents and spirit touched us all and he will be deeply missed," the tribute said. "His legacy lives on through his incredible work. Blessings to Tristan's family and loved ones during this difficult time. Let us honor his memory and the joy he brought to all of our lives." Cancer diagnosis was 'a challenging time' for Tristan Rogers and his family The news comes a month after the soap star shared with fans in a July 17 news release that he had been diagnosed with cancer. "While he remains hopeful and is working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan, this is a challenging time for Tristan and his family," the release said. "As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding." The release said that Rogers "sends love to his fans" and that their support "means more to him now than ever." Rogers is survived by his wife of 30 years, Teresa Parkerson, and their two adult children, daughter Sara and son Cale. Rogers' path to becoming a daytime staple Rogers, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, cut his teeth as a soap actor in the 1970s with roles on the Australian TV series "Number 96," "The Box" and "Bellbird." The budding actor traded the Down Under for the fictional town of Port Charles, New York, when he joined the cast of "General Hospital" in December 1980, playing super spy Scorpio. Rogers went on to enjoy a 12-year stint on the long-running drama before departing the series in 1992. He was nominated for two Soap Opera Digest Awards during his initial "GH" tenure, including a 1986 nod for outstanding daytime actor in a leading role. After a nearly 15-year hiatus, Rogers returned to the show in 2006 for a series of recurring appearances, followed by additional guest performances in 2008, 2012-2016 and 2018-2024. In total, the fan-favorite actor has appeared on over 1,400 episodes of "General Hospital," according to Rogers' IMDb page. Rogers also appeared on several episodes of the "General Hospital" spinoff "General Hospital: Night Shift" in 2008.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Soap Stars Remember Daytime Legend Tristan Rogers After His Death
Tristan Rogers has died at the age of 79 from lung cancer. He portrayed Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless, Lex Martin on The Bay, and Doc on Studio City. He was beloved by soap fans around the world and his colleagues in the world of daytime. Many of Rogers' co-stars, former co-stars, and crew have taken to social media in the hours after his death to honor his memory and the incredible daytime legacy he left behind. Daytime Remembers Tristan Rogers Genie Francis (Laura) shared, 'My heart is heavy. Goodbye my spectacular friend. My deepest condolences to his wife Teresa and their children. Tristan Rogers was a very bright light, as an actor and a person. I was so lucky to have known him.' Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins, Ryan Chamberlain) shared his feelings about Rogers on X. 'I know the sadness I feel at this news is shared by so many of you. #TristanRogers was one of the coolest, funniest people I ever met. Whenever we were together, which wasn't nearly often enough, we never missed a chance to try to crack the other one up. I wish I'd had more of those chances. R.I.P. #FlightOfAngels #Scorpio' 'We fly the #WSB flags at half mast today. The great [Tristan Rogers] aka Robert Scorpio has passed on. All my love to Tristan's family and loved ones. He will be missed and never forgotten. #GH #RIP TristanRogers' wrote Chris McKenna (Jack Brennan) on X. Emma Samms (Holly) shared her thoughts on X. ' Frank Valentini wrote, 'The entire [General Hospital] family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers' passing. Tristan has captivated our fans for more than 50 years, and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). (1/2) #GH. I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace. (2/2)' 'Heartbroken to hear of the passing of Tristan Rogers. On The Bay, I had the privilege of playing opposite him — and what a gift that was. Tristan brought such charm, wit, and depth to every scene, and it was an honor to share that screen time with him. Sending love and condolences to his family, friends, and so many fans who adored him. He will be deeply missed. 🤍' shared Mary Beth Evans (Kayla, Days of our Lives; Sara, The Bay; Katherine Bell, who got married to Rogers' Lex, GH) on Instagram Y&R shared its heartfelt thoughts on losing Rogers, who had been a large part of the soap for several years. His character, Colin, was mentioned this summer, with Cane (Billy Flynn) noting he had passed away off-screen. 'Our deepest condolences to the family and fans of Tristan Rogers, who graced Y&R with his talents for many years as the lovable Colin Atkinson. Tristan was a beloved member of the Y&R family who will be greatly missed. ❤️🕊️' Condolences Pour In So many more of Rogers' co-stars and friends from the daytime community shared their heartfelt condolences, and you can see them below.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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General Hospital Recap: Michael Punches Drew
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