Beloved Australian-born actor Tristan Rogers has been diagnosed with cancer, just eight months after making his final appearance on General Hospital, the soap that made him a household name.
The 79-year-old is currently undergoing treatment in hospital, with his family and medical team by his side. The sad news was confirmed by his longtime representative Anthony Turk, who said the actor is “working closely with his medical team on a treatment plan” and that this is “a challenging time for Tristan and his family”.
“As they face both the emotional and physical burdens that come with this diagnosis, the family kindly asks for privacy and understanding,” Turk said in a statement. “They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and love from their friends and family.”
Rogers, who played the charming and quick-witted Robert Scorpio on General Hospital for over four decades, has expressed gratitude to his loyal fan base.
“Tristan sends his love to his fans and wants them to know how much he appreciates their loyalty and encouragement over the years,” the statement read. “This support means more to him now than ever.”
Rogers first stepped into the role of Scorpio in 1980, becoming a mainstay of the daytime drama for 17 years before his character was written off – only to return, soap-style, from the dead in 2006. His final scenes aired on November 12, 2024, during the show’s 62nd season, when Scorpio departed Port Charles with his ex-wife, Holly Sutton.
Throughout his storied career, Rogers also featured in The Bay, Studio City, The Young and the Restless, and The Love Boat. His performance in Studio City earned him a Daytime Emmy Award in 2020, a career high point he later called “numbing” and “exciting”.
Born in Melbourne, Rogers got his start in Australian TV staples like Bellbird, Number 96, The Box and Division 4, before relocating to the United States, where he found international fame.
He has been married to Teresa Parkerson since 1995, and the couple share two children: daughter Sara Jane, 32, and son Cale, 28.
Images: Instagram
