Beloved actor Tristan Rogers has passed away at age 79 after fighting lung cancer. His manager confirmed the sad news, adding that Rogers was never a smoker.

Since 1980, Rogers played Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, a role he once said “meant everything” to him. Over four decades, he appeared in more than 1,400 episodes, becoming one of the soap’s most iconic stars. “He loved being Scorpio and created that role from nothing,” his manager shared.

Rogers is survived by his wife Teresa, their two children, and a grandchild. His diagnosis was revealed only weeks before his death, with his publicist calling it “a challenging time for Tristan and his family.” Tributes quickly poured in, with co-stars remembering him as “one of the coolest, funniest people” they ever knew.

From General Hospital to The Young and the Restless and voice roles in Disney classics, Rogers left an unforgettable mark on television. As one fan wrote, “Port Charles will never be the same without Robert Scorpio.”

His passing reminds us how deeply a single character can touch millions of lives.