"General Hospital" veteran Tristan Rogers, best known for his role as Robert Scorpio, has been diagnosed with cancer.

General Hospital actor Tristan Rogers‘ recent cancer diagnosis seems to have shocked fans of the series. The 79-year-old Australian is best known for playing Robert Scorpio in the ABC soap opera. The character debuted in the show in 1980 and has frequently exited and re-entered it multiple times over the years.

“General Hospital” star Tristan Rogers revealed that he’s been diagnosed with cancer. Rogers’ friend and publicist, Anthony Turk, shared the news via a statement to Soap Opera Digest on Thursday, July 17.