Tristan Rogers, legendary Robert Scorpio of General Hospital, dies at 79

Tristan Rogers, the actor who brought Robert Scorpio to life on ABC’s General Hospital, has died at the age of 79. His passing on Friday comes less than a month after he delighted fans with a surprise return to the soap opera that made him a household name

“The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing,” said executive producer Frank Valentini 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 chased the spotlight in music, playing drums in a rock band with friends in his twenties. When that didn’t pan out, he turned to commercials and modeling, before pivoting once more to acting. He also worked as a DJ before moving to Los Angeles to pursue Hollywood roles. The Australian accent initially proved a stumbling block with casting directors, but in 1980, he was handed what seemed like a throwaway role on General Hospital: a two-day gig to rough up Anthony Geary’s Luke Spencer.

“I had no idea at the point how big the show was,” Rogers told co-star Maurice Benard, as quoted by the Associated Press, in a 2022 episode of State of Mind with Maurice Benard. “I had no name. I was brought in expressly to beat up the hero, Luke, and then disappear.”

That brief stint quickly changed course. Then-executive producer Gloria Monty asked him to stick around, improvising for weeks until the writers crafted a storyline. At first, he was “CK8,” a mysterious spy with no backstory. Soon after, he became Robert Scorpio — a character who would define Rogers’ career for the next four decades.

Beyond General Hospital, Rogers showcased his range on The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young & the Restless, and the Emmy-winning digital drama Studio City, which earned him a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

(With inputs from AP)