Who is Robert Scorpio on General Hospital? A closer look at his character and storyline

General Hospital is an American daytime television soap opera written by Elizabeth Korte and Chris Van Etten and created by Frank & Doris Hursley. The show is based on made-up stories about the medical emergencies, romances, and daily lives of the employees and patients of General Hospital, a fictitious hospital in the made-up city of Port Charles, New York.

The program has been airing on the ABC network since April 1, 1963. It began as a half-hour serial and was extended from 30 to 45 minutes on July 26, 1976, and then to a full hour on January 16, 1978.

Tristan Rogers, born June 3, 1946, in Melbourne, Australia. He has won an Emmy and voiced characters on Batman Beyond and The Rescuers Down Under.

He has also starred on The Young and the Restless. Rogers first played Scorpio on General Hospital from 1980 until his character's demise in 1992.

But, in typical soap opera tradition, Scorpio reappeared alive in 2006 and appeared on the show multiple times until making a formal comeback from 2018 to 2024.

Tristan Rogers just announced his cancer diagnosis at the age of 79.

According to Anthony Turk, his spokesperson, Rogers is still optimistic and working closely with his medical team to develop a treatment plan.

He and his family have asked for privacy, although the form of cancer was not revealed. The "outpouring of support and love" from fans is something Rogers is extremely grateful for and says means more to him than ever. 

Robert Scorpio's first appearance in General Hospital

Robert Xavier Scorpio, portrayed by Tristan Rogers, is a legendary figure on General Hospital and its spinoff Night Shift. He is first introduced in December 1980 as a dapper WSB secret agent, and he and Luke and Laura soon becomes key players in Port Charles' famous "Ice Princess" plot.

Scorpio, who is well-known for his humor, charisma, and courage, has been involved in high-stakes espionage, battles with the Cassadines, viral quarantine situations, and undercover operations in the Amazon.

Scorpio has changed roles over the years, first as a spy and then as the Commissioner of the Port Charles Police (1983–1985), then as an attorney and, as of 2019, as the District Attorney.

His life story is as dramatic: he has been married twice, first to Holly Sutton in a protective duty plot, and then to Anna Devane, with whom he has a daughter named Robin Scorpio.

Scorpio was presumed dead in a spectacular boat explosion in 1992, but has made multiple victorious reappearances, sometimes in spirit form, to support his family and combat threats to Port Charles.

Robert Scorpio's return to General Hospital

After leaving leaving Port Charles to start a new life abroad on November 12, 2024, longtime fan favorite Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) makes an unexpected visit on General Hospital on July 17, 2025.

This is the same day that he makes his cancer diagnosis public. In the heartwarming sequence, Jason escorts Scorpio to his house with his daughter Sasha (Sofia Mattsson) and newborn granddaughter Daisy, marking significant character and actor milestones. 

This cameback is the culmination of Sasha's goodbye plot and Scorpio's first on-screen appearance since leaving Port Charles in November 2024.

It was a potent moment, as both cast members and fans show their sincere support for Rogers as he bravely continued to play his renowned role despite personal health issues.

This extremely moving comeback confirms Robert's and Rogers' continuing relevance in the General Hospital community, even though his future on the show is still up in the air.

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