Tristan Rogers, the longtime heart of General Hospital and one of daytime TV’s most beloved stars, died Friday at the age of 79 — just weeks after making a surprise final appearance on the ABC soap. Best known for his role as the enigmatic spy Robert Scorpio, Rogers captivated generations of fans and helped shape the golden age of daytime drama.
“Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio),” said General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rogers didn’t set out to be an actor. In his early twenties, he played drums in a struggling rock band and took on commercial work and modeling to make ends meet. After the band dissolved, he turned to acting and soon landed roles in Australia before moving to Los Angeles in pursuit of bigger dreams.
He arrived in Hollywood with few connections and an accent that casting directors found hard to place. But in 1980, everything changed when he was cast in what was supposed to be a two-day stint on General Hospital — as a mysterious man sent to beat up Luke Spencer.
“I had no idea how big the show was,” Rogers said in a 2022 interview with Maurice Benard on State of Mind. “I had no name.”
Yet by the end of his first day, producer Gloria Monty asked him to stay. For weeks, he appeared in the background — “looking suspicious” — until writers created the now-legendary character: Robert Scorpio, international spy.
Scorpio quickly became a centerpiece of General Hospital‘s most iconic storylines. His spy adventures, moral complexity, and steely charm won over viewers — as did his famous romances.
His on-again, off-again love story with Holly Sutton (played by Emma Samms) became a fan favorite, alongside his deep and often fraught relationship with fellow spy Anna Devane (Finola Hughes). Together, they shared a daughter, Robin Scorpio (Kimberly McCullough), whose own storylines would shape GH for decades.
Even during the years Rogers wasn’t a regular cast member, Robert Scorpio was never far from Port Charles. The character reappeared in major storylines and milestone episodes, most recently in July 2025, when his character was revealed to be the father of Sasha Gilmore and a new grandfather.
In November 2024, Rogers and Samms exited the show together in scenes that paid tribute to the classic film Casablanca, closing the chapter on Scorpio and Holly’s love story — but not on his life. His July return marked his final on-screen moment, and it was then revealed that Rogers was battling lung cancer.
While GH was his home, Rogers’ career extended far beyond Port Charles. He appeared in The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young & the Restless, and won a Daytime Emmy Award for Studio City, where he played a retired actor dealing with regret and legacy — a role that mirrored his real-life artistry.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, a daughter, and a son.
Tristan Rogers wasn’t just a soap star — he was a symbol of enduring connection in a rapidly changing medium. He brought intelligence, charisma, and quiet intensity to a genre often dismissed, helping elevate the art of the daytime drama.
To the millions who grew up watching General Hospital, he wasn’t just Robert Scorpio — he was a hero, a rogue, a father, and a constant.
Rest in peace, Tristan Rogers. Port Charles — and television — won’t be the same without you.
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