Australian actor Tristan Rogers, best known as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, has died at 79. His longtime manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed his passing on August 15.
Rogers joined General Hospital in 1980 and became a beloved figure in daytime TV. In July, it was revealed he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, despite never smoking. Soodak said the role of Robert Scorpio “meant everything” to him and called him a “genuinely loyal, kind human being.”
Born in Melbourne in 1946, Rogers began his career in Australia before moving to the U.S. in the late ’70s. His portrayal of the witty spy Scorpio helped define a celebrated era of the show. He returned to the role many times, cementing Scorpio as one of soap opera’s most iconic characters.
Beyond General Hospital, Rogers appeared in Night Eyes 3, Delirious, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, and voiced characters in animated series and Mortal Kombat games.