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General Hospital<\/em> has lost one of its most beloved stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tristan Rogers, the Australian actor best known for his iconic role as Robert Scorpio, has passed away. He was 79.<\/p>\n Rogers\u2019 longtime manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed his death to ABC 7 Eyewitness News<\/a> on Friday (Aug. 15).<\/p>\n \u201cHis General Hospital<\/em> role meant everything to him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>See Inside Jeannie Seely\u2019s All-Star Memorial at the Grand Ole Opry [Pictures]<\/a><\/p>\n Sodak continued, \u201cHe loved being Scorpio, and he created that role from nothing. He was supposed to work a day, and he ended up making it into something huge<\/a>. He was just a genuinely loyal, kind human bein,g and he loved his family.\u201d<\/p>\n The actor had revealed last month that he\u2019d been diagnosed with cancer.<\/p>\n General Hospita<\/em>l executive producer Frank Valentini also paid tribute to Rogers in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe entire General Hospital<\/em> family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers\u2019 passing. Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio),\u201d Valentini said.<\/p>\n He added, \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Born in Melbourne in 1946, Rogers left school in 1964 and briefly fronted a rock band with friends before turning to modeling and commercials at 21.<\/p>\n With no formal training, he decided to take a chance<\/a> on acting. \u201cAs far as I was concerned, it was a way to make a bit of money. That\u2019s all,\u201d he told Soap.com<\/em> in 2022.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Loni Anderson, Star of \u2018WKRP in Cincinnati,\u2019 Dies at 79<\/a><\/p>\n His early credits included appearances on Australian television staples like Bellbird,<\/em> Number 96<\/em> (1974), and The Box<\/em> (1975).<\/p>\n In 1980, Rogers moved to the U.S., where his life \u2014 and daytime television<\/a> \u2014 would change forever.<\/p>\n Cast as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital<\/em>, he played the charming spy-turned-police commissioner who quickly became a fan favorite and one of the soap\u2019s most enduring figures.<\/p>\n Over more than four decades, Rogers\u2019 on-and-off appearances in Port Charles made him a cornerstone of General Hospital<\/em>.<\/p>\n Read More:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Carly Pearce Was Heartbroken to Miss Dear Friend Jeannie Seely\u2019s Funeral \u2014 Then She Got a Sign<\/a><\/p>\n Fans adored his wit, charisma, and commanding screen presence, and his colleagues admired his kindness and loyalty.<\/p>\nRemembering a Soap Opera Legend<\/h3>\n
From Melbourne to Port Charles<\/h3>\n
A Lasting Legacy<\/h3>\n