Tristan Rogers, the Australian actor who made Robert Scorpio one of soap’s most iconic heroes, has died at the age of 79. His longtime manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed his passing to ABC 7 Eyewitness News on Friday, Aug. 15. Rogers had revealed in July that he’d been diagnosed with cancer.

Soap star Tristan Rogers, who has played Robert Scorpio since 1980, died from lung cancer, his longtime manager told multiple news outlets.

Longtime “General Hospital” star Tristan Rogers has died at the age of 79 after a battle with lung cancer. Rogers died Friday morning, his manager, Meryl Soodak, confirmed in a statement obtained by ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Soodak noted Rogers had never been a smoker.