Tristan Rogers, the acclaimed Australian actor best known for his role as Robert Scorpio on the daytime soap opera General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 79. His longtime manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed his death to ABC 7 Eyewitness News on Friday, August 15, following his cancer diagnosis revealed in July.
Rogers joined General Hospital in 1980, and the character of Robert Scorpio quickly became a cornerstone of the show. Soodak reflected on the significance of the role to Rogers, saying, “He loved being Scorpio and he created that role from nothing. He was supposed to work a day and ended up making it into something huge. He was just a genuinely loyal, kind human being and he loved his family.”
General Hospital’s Executive Producer Frank Valentini expressed the show’s collective sorrow in a statement released to PEOPLE. “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing,” Valentini shared. “Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years, and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). I 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.”
Born in Melbourne in 1946, Rogers left school at 18 and initially pursued a career in music before venturing into modeling and commercials, ultimately transitioning to acting despite having no formal training. He made a mark in Australian television with roles in shows like Bellbird and Number 96, and appeared in the British film Four Dimensions of Greta (1972) before moving to the United States.
Following his move, Rogers was cast as Robert Scorpio, a character initially meant to appear for only a day but who quickly grew to become a fan favorite. The character was a spy for the fictional World Security Bureau and later served as the police commissioner and district attorney of Port Charles. Notably, Rogers was part of the show’s historic wedding between Luke Spencer and Laura, which attracted 30 million viewers and remains the highest-rated soap opera episode in U.S. television history.
Reflecting on his early days with the show, Rogers once stated, “I didn’t know at the time the importance of General Hospital; it was just one more job for me. But it was really exciting… I got caught up in the General Hospital tidal wave and just got swept away by it.” Although his character was killed off in 1992, he made a triumphant return in 2006, stating, “I think this character will follow me to my grave.”
Rogers continued to make appearances on General Hospital and even starred in the spinoff General Hospital: Night Shift, where his character confronted colon cancer—addressing a storyline that diverged from typical soap opera fare. Rogers hoped that his storyline would inspire viewers to take their health seriously.
In addition to his work on General Hospital, Rogers had roles in The Young and the Restless and other television shows, along with voiceover work, including a notable part in Disney’s The Rescuers Down Under. He earned a Daytime Emmy for his performance in the series Studio City.
Tristan Rogers had two marriages; he was married to Barbra Meale from 1974 to 1984 and later married Teresa Parkerson in 1995, with whom he shared two children, Sara and Cale. He is remembered by his wife, children, and countless fans who admired his work and contribution to the world of television.
