Tristan Rogers, who played Robert Scorpio on 'General Hospital,' dies at 79
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.
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NBC News
a few seconds ago
- NBC News
Tristan Rogers, who played super spy Robert Scorpio on 'General Hospital,' has died at 79
Tristan Rogers, who played legacy character Robert Scorpio on ABC's 'General Hospital,' died Friday, less than one month after he made a special appearance on the soap opera. He was 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.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Tristan Rogers, ‘General Hospital' Actor, Dies at 79
Tristan Rogers, who became a fixture of daytime television by playing a mysterious spy-turned-police commissioner on the soap opera 'General Hospital,' died on Friday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 79. Meryl Soodak, his manager, confirmed his death and said the cause was lung cancer. Mr. Rogers joined the cast of 'General Hospital' in 1980 as Robert Scorpio, a seasoned international spy whose charisma quickly made him a fan favorite. He was a heartthrob mainstay of the show during its ratings peak in the 1980s. Mr. Rogers appeared in more than 1,400 episodes of 'General Hospital,' which has been part of ABC's daytime lineup for more than 60 years and follows characters who live in the fictional town of Port Charles, N.Y. Tristan Rogers was born on June 3, 1946, in Melbourne, Australia. He had several television roles in Australia, including in the police drama series 'The Link Men' in 1970 and the mini-series 'Power Without Glory' in 1976. Mr. Rogers is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, two children and a grandson, Ms. Soodak said. In 2020, he won an Emmy Award for a supporting actor in a digital drama series for his role in 'Studio City,' which follows an aging soap opera star who must navigate drama on-set and in his personal life. On the show's two seasons, Mr. Rogers played Doc, the protagonist's flawed stepfather who is coming to terms with his mortality. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Boston Globe
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