Renowned actor Tristan Rogers, best known for his role as super spy Robert Scorpio on 'General Hospital,' passed away at the age of 79
Tristan Rogers, the beloved actor who played Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, passed away at the age of 79 on Friday.
Rogers, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, had a long and varied career in the entertainment industry before joining the cast of the popular soap opera. He appeared in numerous Australian TV shows, including Bellbird, Number 96, The Box, and The Link Men. In British films, he starred in Four Dimensions of Greta, The Flesh and Blood Show, and Sex Farm.
Rogers' breakthrough role came on General Hospital in 1980, when he was initially brought in to fight the character Luke, without even a named character. The executive producer, Gloria Monty, asked him to stay on the show, and he eventually landed the role of Robert Scorpio.
Scorpio's on-again/off-again romance with Emma Samms' character, Holly Sutton, was a favourite among fans. Samms returned to the show last fall for a stint, where it was revealed that Scorpio was the father of her adult daughter, Sasha Gilmore. Scorpio also shared a daughter, Robin, with the character Anna Devane, played by Finola Hughes.
Throughout his time on the show, Rogers' character was known as "CK8," a spy with a mysterious past. He won numerous awards for his acting, including the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series.
Before his acting career took off, Rogers played drums in a rock band with friends. After the band dissolved, he turned to commercial work and modeling to earn money. Rogers eventually moved to Los Angeles to try to break into Hollywood.
In recent years, Rogers made a number of special appearances on General Hospital, including a brief stint in July, when Sasha arrived to his home in France with her new baby. It was then revealed that Rogers had lung cancer. He made one final appearance on the show less than one month before his death.
Frank Valentini, the show's executive producer, expressed sorrow over Rogers' passing in a statement. "Tristan was a true gentleman and a consummate professional," Valentini said. "He will be deeply missed by all of us here at General Hospital."
Rogers is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, and a daughter and a son.
In the entertainment realm, Rogers' filmography extended beyond soap operas, encompassing roles in movies-and-tv shows such as Australian series Bellbird, Number 96, The Box, and The Link Men, and British films like Four Dimensions of Greta, The Flesh and Blood Show, and Sex Farm. Throughout his career, he interacted with celebrities, one notable pairing being his on-screen romance with Emma Samms on General Hospital.
