Latest news with #12O'ClockHigh
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chris Robinson, ‘12 O'Clock High,' ‘General Hospital' and ‘Bold and the Beautiful' Actor, Dies at 86
Chris Robinson, who starred as a World War II bomber pilot on the 1960s ABC drama 12 O'Clock High and had lengthy stints on the daytime soap operas General Hospital and The Bold and the Beautiful, has died. He was 86. Robinson died Monday on his ranch near Sedona, Arizona, actor and musician MJ Allen announced on Facebook. They worked together on the 2022 film Just for a Week. More from The Hollywood Reporter Jonathan Mayers, Concert Promoter and Bonnaroo Co-Founder, Dies at 51 Sly Stone, Funk-Rock Pioneer, Dies at 82 Frederick Forsyth, Author of 'The Day of the Jackal,' Dies at 86 During an acting career that spanned eight decades, Robinson worked alongside Burt Lancaster in The Young Savages (1961) and Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), both directed by John Frankenheimer, and with Addams Family icon Ted Cassidy in four films, all of which he directed. The Florida native also starred as Vietnam vet Tim Ochopee, a Seminole with a pet rattlesnake who obeys his commands (for most of the movie, anyway), in the Everglades-set horror film Stanley (1972), from Crown International Pictures. Robinson joined the cast of the Quinn Martin-produced 12 O'Clock High as Technical Sgt. Sandy Komansky for its second season in September 1965. (Also coming on board as a full-time castmember that year: Paul Burke as Col. Joe Gallagher.) He appeared on the final 46 episodes of the show through January 1967. On ABC's General Hospital, he portrayed Dr. Rick Webber (two-time husband of Denise Alexander's Lesley and adoptive father of Genie Francis' Laura) from 1978-86. He came back in 2002, only to have his character bludgeoned to death with a candlestick by Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner), Laura's former husband. Robinson also played Jack Hamilton, who enjoyed romances with Stephanie Douglas (Susan Flannery) and her rival Sally Spectra (Darlene Conley), on CBS' The Bold and the Beautiful from 1992-2002, with a final appearance in 2005. While he was working on G.H. — and after showing up in Garry Marshall's soapy Young Doctors in Love (1982) — Robinson established his bona fides as a pitchman in a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial. 'I'm not a doctor,' he noted, 'but I do play one on TV.' But when he encountered legal trouble related to income tax evasion, he was replaced by Peter Bergman, another TV doctor on another soap (All My Children). Born on Nov. 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Christopher Brown Robinson appeared uncredited in the Tony Curtis-starring The Midnight Story (1957). Two years later, he played a teenage thug in The Diary of a High School Bride and the spider-like monster in Gene Corman's Beast From Haunted Cave, wearing a costume he had designed. Robinson stayed busy after that, guest-starring on such series as Colt. 45, Hennesey, The Donna Reed Show, Sea Hunt, Death Valley Days, Ben Casey, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train and The Fugitive before landing on 12 O'Clock High. He starred as an albino slave who is on the run with his brother (Anthony Scott) from a plantation owner (Cassidy) in Catch the Black Sunshine (1974), which he also wrote and directed, then did similar triple duty on Thunder County (1974), The Intruder (1975) and The Great Balloon Race (1977). Talking about The Intruder — which also featured Mickey Rooney and Yvonne De Carlo — in a 2017 interview with Nick Thomas, Robinson said he cast it, put the crew together and shot it in a mere six weeks. Asked what became of the movie, Robinson replied: 'I have no idea. I wasn't involved in the editing and didn't even see the finished film, which was never released. I moved on to other projects and just forgot about it.' Robinson's big-screen résumé also included Because They're Young (1960), The Long Rope (1961), Shootout at Big Sag (1962), Lady in Cement (1968), The Cycle Savages (1969), The Hawaiians (1970), Revenge Is My Destiny (1971), Amy (1981), Savannah Smiles (1982) and Just for a Week (2022). Click here for a video tribute to his career. In 1985, Robinson pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion but was allowed to continue on G.H. by serving his sentence on nights and weekends. In between that soap and The Bold and the Beautiful, he portrayed Jason Frame on NBC's Another World from 1987-89. He married his fourth wife, Jacquie, in April 2011. Survivors also include his children, Shane, Coby, Christian, Christopher, Chris and Taylor, and grandchildren Ivy, Ava, Davey, Brooks and Knox. His son Chris opened a window into the family by producing and directing two documentary shorts: Bankrupt by Beanies (2009), about his dad buying many thousands of Beanie Baby plush toys with the goal of reselling them at a profit, and Bastard: An Illegitimate Film (2010), which explored his 'complicated' family tree (his father had his nine kids with six women). Chris revealed in Bastard that he was 'conceived in [his dad's] dressing room in General Hospital' and pointed out that his father 'practically had as many relationships in his real life as he's had in the movies.' 'No matter how we came to be, all of us are connected,' Chris, talking about his siblings and half-siblings, said in closing the documentary. 'And when our father is gone, even as some of us don't even consider him to be their father, we'll still have each other to look to for love and support. It might not be normal, but it's certainly a hell of a lot more interesting.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ananda Lewis, Former MTV VJ and TV Show Host, Dies at 52
Ananda Lewis, a former MTV VJ, has died after a battle with stage 4 breast cancer. She was 52. Lewis' sister, Lakshmi, shared the news of her death on Facebook, writing, 'She's free, and in His heavenly arms. Lord, rest her soul.' Lakshmi also told TMZ that Lewis died Wednesday morning at her home in Los Angeles after battling cancer for six years. More from The Hollywood Reporter Brian Wilson, Heart and Soul of The Beach Boys, Dies at 82 Chris Robinson, '12 O'Clock High,' 'General Hospital' and 'Bold and the Beautiful' Actor, Dies at 86 Jonathan Mayers, Concert Promoter and Bonnaroo Co-Founder, Dies at 51 Born on March 21, 1973, in San Diego, Lewis later graduated from Howard University in 1995. She went on to pursue a career in entertainment, landing a job as the host of BET's Teen Summit. She was later hired to be one of MTV's VJs in 1997. She hosted shows, including Total Request Live and Hot Zone, before leaving the network in 2001 to host her own talk show, The Ananda Lewis Show. In 1999, The New York Times called her 'hip-hop generation's reigning It Girl, meaning she is not just an MTV personality but a woman whose looks and attitude have made her perpetually in demand at clubs and parties.' Alongside her famous friends, including the late singer Aaliyah, Lewis was also a fashion trailblazer in the '90s. Throughout her career, she also hosted several other shows, such as Unexpected, While You Were Out, America's Next Producer and High School Reunion. Lewis also worked as a correspondent for The Insider from 2004 to 2005. In 2020, she revealed in an Instagram video that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, noting at the time that she had not been getting mammograms done regularly due to radiation fears. 'This is tough for me, but if just ONE woman decides to get her mammogram after watching this, what I'm going through will be worth it,' she wrote in the caption. 'PRACTICE EARLY DETECTION.' Several years later, she shared during a discussion with CNN's Stephanie Elam and Sara Sidner in 2024 that she went against medical advice and didn't undergo a double mastectomy following her breast cancer diagnosis. Her tumor then metastasized and her cancer progressed to stage 4. In addition to her sister, Lewis is survived by her son. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
The most iconic TV doctor, Chris Robinson of General Hospital, dies at 86
Chris Robinson, an actor best known for his portrayal of Dr. Rick Webber on General Hospital, passed away on June 9 at the age of 86. He died of heart failure in his sleep at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona. The news was shared on social media by his friend and colleague, MJ Allen. Robinson's career spanned over six decades and included more than 100 roles in television and film. His most iconic role was that of Dr. Rick Webber on General Hospital, where he became a fixture from 1978 to 1986. The character of Dr. Webber, an adoptive father to Laura (played by Genie Francis), was woven into pop culture, particularly during the 1980s when the Luke and Laura storyline captivated viewers. Robinson's character met a violent end on the show in 2002 when he was killed by a candlestick-wielding Scotty Baldwin. Before his soap opera fame, Robinson appeared in various television series, including 12 O'Clock High, Birdman of Alcatraz, The Bold and the Beautiful, Ben Casey, and Gunsmoke. Despite the broad range of roles, it was his iconic TV doctor roles that helped Robinson carve out a distinctive place in pop culture. In the mid-1980s, Robinson became the face of a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial, where he famously quipped, 'I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV,' turning the line into a widely recognized catchphrase. However, Robinson's association with the commercial ended after a tax-evasion scandal led to his dismissal, with All My Children actor Peter Bergman later taking over the role. Born Christopher Brown Robinson on November 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Florida, he began acting at a young age, first making a name for himself in The Diary of a High School Bride and Beast from Haunted Cave. Robinson's diverse TV career also included roles in Perry Mason, Murder, She Wrote, and Fantasy Island. His most recent film credit was in the 2022 feature Just for a Week. Robinson is survived by his wife of 14 years, Jacquie Shane-Robinson, their children, and five grandchildren. He is also remembered for his personal struggles, which were captured in documentaries about his family's financial challenges and his personal life.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Chris Robinson, ‘General Hospital' and ‘Bold and the Beautiful' star, dead at 86
Chris Robinson, the soap opera star best known for his roles as Dr. Rick Webber in 'General Hospital' and Jack Hamilton in 'The Bold and the Beautiful,' has died. He was 86. Robinson's death was announced by his friend and colleague MJ Allen. The pair worked together on the 2022 film 'Just for a Week.' 'Prolific Hollywood actor Chris Robinson has passed away at the age of 86,' Allen, a writer and director, announced on Facebook Monday. Advertisement 5 Soap opera star Chris Robinson passed away early Monday morning at the age of 86. WireImage 'He peacefully passed in his sleep at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona at 12:30am on June 9, 2025,' the director added. According to Allen, the actor died of heart failure. Advertisement 'He had been in heart failure for some time,' the director claimed, 'and [that] is his official cause of death.' 5 Robinson starred as Dr. Rick Webber on 'General Hospital' from 1978 to 1986. Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images The official 'General Hospital' X account paid tribute to the late star. 'General Hospital's enduring legacy owes a debt of gratitude to Chris Robinson and his portrayal of Dr. Rick Webber,' the statement read. 'Our hearts go out to his family and friends as they mourn their loss. May he rest in peace.' Advertisement Born on November 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Fla., Robinson first gained recognition in 1965 when he starred as Technical Sgt. Sandy Komansky in the second season of the World War II series '12 O'Clock High.' 5 The soap opera actor also starred in 'The Bold and the Beautiful' from 1992 to 2002. ©CBS/Courtesy Everett Collection He later gained mainstream popularity in 1978 when he joined the ABC soap opera 'General Hospital' as Dr. Rick Webber, the two-time husband of Dr. Lesley Webber (Denise Alexander) and the adoptive father of Laura Spencer (Genie Francis). Alexander passed away on May 11, 2025. She was 85. Advertisement Robinson left 'General Hospital' in 1986 and went on to star as Jack Hamilton in 'The Bold and the Beautiful' from 1992 to 2002. His final final appearance was in 2005. 5 Robinson with his 'General Hospital' co-stars Jacklyn Zeman and Leslie Charleson. WireImage But it was his role as a spokesman for Vicks, and a commercial he did for Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup in 1984, that established him as a household name. 'I'm not a doctor,' he said in the famous advertisement, 'but I do play one on TV.' Although Robinson pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion in 1985, he remained on 'General Hospital' by serving his four-month sentence under a prison work-release provision on nights and weekends. 5 Robinson starred in more than 100 shows and movies during his decades-long acting career. ©ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection Robinson also starred in more than 100 roles on the small and big screen during his decades-long acting career from 1957 to 2022. Advertisement His final acting role was in August 2022. He starred as the main character, Ted Hurst, in Miller's 'Just for a Week.' Robinson is survived by his fourth wife, Jacquie Shane-Robinson, as well as sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher Robinson and Christopher Lance, and five grandchildren.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Kim Kardashian speaks up against ‘inhumane' ICE raids in Los Angeles: There has to be a better way
Veteran actor Chris Robinson, known for roles in 12 O'Clock High, General Hospital, and The Bold and the Beautiful, died at 86 near Sedona, Arizona. With a career spanning eight decades, he was survived by his wife, six children, and five grandchildren.
