The soap star, who also played Hunter Jones on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” had revealed his cancer diagnosis in July.
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.