Chris Robinson, the actor who played Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital” and also introduced America to a classic turn of phrase in a commercial for cough syrup, has died of heart failure. He was 86.
Robinson died in his sleep just after midnight on Monday at home in Sedona, Ariz., according to filmmaker MJ Allen, who posted the news on Facebook.
“Jacquie (Chris’ wife) just called me a bit ago and informed me that my good friend and collaborator Hollywood legend Chris Robinson has passed away,” the filmmaker, whose full name is Michael Jason Allen, wrote Monday afternoon. “We knew this was coming, but it always sucks.”
Though Robinson had 100 TV and film acting credits, according to IMDb, his most famous role might be one many people don’t realize they are referencing: He was the actor in a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial who first spoke the words, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” That phrase from 1984 was uttered again two years later in a second Vicks Formula 44 ad featuring Peter Bergman, “The Young and the Restless” actor who at the time played Dr. Cliff Warner on “All My Children.”
The rest was pop-culture history.
Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Nov. 5, 1938, Robinson appeared in more than 1,000 “General Hospital” episodes between 1978 and 1986, then returned for about 20 episodes in 2002 and one in April 2013. He was also in almost 250 episodes as Jack Hamilton on “The Bold and the Beautiful,” mostly in the early 1990s but continuing into the early 2000s, and had 20 episodes as Jason Frame on “Another World” in 1988 to 1989.
He was a regular in the pages of Soap Opera Digest and acted with John Stamos, Rick Springfield and Richard Dean Anderson when their careers were just beginning.
His episodic TV credits began in the 1960s and included “The Donna Reed Show,” “Gunsmoke,” “Wagon Train,” “Perry Mason” and “Hogan’s Heroes,” to name a few.
Robinson starred in films alongside Mickey Rooney, Charlton Heston, Dick Clark, Bruce Dern, Ted Cassidy and Yvonne De Carlo and directed film and TV including episodes of “Baretta,” “Cannon” and “Barnaby Jones.” He wrote, starred in and directed the 1977 movie “The Great Balloon Race” with Frank Gifford, Phyllis Diller, Cab Calloway and Bert Parks.
Robinson appeared in three films directed by Allen: “Just for a Week,” “Barely Dreaming” and “Yancey McCord: The Killer That Arizona Forgot About.”
In 1985, the actor — then living in Glendale, Calif. — pleaded guilty to federal tax evasion charges and could have faced two years in prison for filing false tax returns on $490,000 in income from 1980 to 1981. He managed to avoid a sentence that would have forced him to leave “General Hospital” by serving his time on nights and weekends to remain available for daytime taping. He was also ordered to pay all back taxes and interest.
In more recent years, Robinson enjoyed time on his ranch with his artist wife of 14 years, Jacquie Shane-Robinson.
“We spent a few holidays together, staying out at his ranch having buffets by the creek, and him and Jacquie coming to my house to discuss projects were always a treat,” Allen wrote on Facebook. “Good times. … RIP, good friend and legend. Respect to Jacquie and the fam.”
Rhonda Robinson, one of the actor’s ex-wives, posted a vintage photo of a 1980s Daytime TV Yearbook on Monday showing Chris Robinson and their young sons, writing, “Seems like a lifetime ago. When we got married I was sure it would last forever, but unfortunately it did not. But we did create the best sons. They will miss you. RIP Chris.”
Robinson is survived by his wife Jacquie as well as sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher, Christopher Lance and Robb Walker from his numerous previous marriages. He had five grandchildren.
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