Tristan Rogers, who became a fixture of daytime television by playing a mysterious spy-turned-police commissioner on the soap opera “General Hospital,” died on Friday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 79.
Meryl Soodak, his manager, confirmed his death and said the cause was lung cancer.
Mr. Rogers joined the cast of “General Hospital” in 1980 as Robert Scorpio, a seasoned international spy whose charisma quickly made him a fan favorite.
He was a heartthrob mainstay of the show during its ratings peak in the 1980s.
Mr. Rogers appeared in more than 1,400 episodes of “General Hospital,” which has been part of ABC’s daytime lineup for more than 60 years and follows characters who live in the fictional town of Port Charles, N.Y.
Tristan Rogers was born on June 3, 1946, in Melbourne, Australia. He had several television roles in Australia, including in the police drama series “The Link Men” in 1970 and the mini-series “Power Without Glory” in 1976.
Mr. Rogers is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, two children and a grandson, Ms. Soodak said.
In 2020, he won an Emmy Award for a supporting actor in a digital drama series for his role in “Studio City,” which follows an aging soap opera star who must navigate drama on-set and in his personal life.
On the show’s two seasons, Mr. Rogers played Doc, the protagonist’s flawed stepfather who is coming to terms with his mortality.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post Tristan Rogers, ‘General Hospital’ Actor, Dies at 79 appeared first on New York Times.
