“General Hospital” star Tristan Rogers, who has played Robert Scorpio on the long-running daytime soap opera since 1980, has been diagnosed with cancer, a representative for the actor announced Thursday morning.

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.