On August 15th, the soap opera and daytime community mourns the loss of Tristan Rogers. He was 79 and he passed away from lung cancer. His colleagues, friends and fellow Emmy winners remembered him as the legend and icon that he was.
Rogers was known for his roles as Robert Scorpio in “General Hospital,” Commissioner Lex Martin in “The Bay,” Colin Atkinson in “The Young and The Restless,” and Doc in “Studio City,” the latter of which won him an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series.”
Gregori J. Martin of ‘The Bay’
“The Bay” creator Gregori J. Martin remarked, “Today, we share in the profound loss of a beloved member of our cast, Mr. Tristan Rogers (aka Commissioner Lex Martin). Tristan was a cast member of The Bay since its inception and release on Sept 15th 2010. He inspired the creation of the series and his immense talents and spirit touched us all and he will be deeply missed. His legacy lives on through his incredible work.”
“Blessings to Tristan’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Let us honor his memory and the joy he brought to all of our lives. You will be missed legend. Thank you for everything. I love you pal. Godspeed,” Martin added.
Kristos Andrews of ‘The Bay’
11-time Emmy winner Kristos Andrews stated, “Tristan Rogers, it was such an honor to have worked with you over the years and gotten as close as we did. What a joy to vibe with your authenticity. Thankful our life paths crossed as they did. God bless you. See you on the other side.”
Precious Mayes of ‘The Bay’
Emmy award-winning executive producer Precious Mayes expressed, “Tristan Rodgers, you will be missed. “Your work was inspiring, riveting, and heartfelt. I am humbled to have worked with you on ‘The Bay.’ I will always remember our breakfast conversations we shared on set during the pandemic. We dissected every area of healthcare. You will reign as a legend in your craft. Rest in peace, you will never be forgotten.”
A Martinez of ‘The Bay’
In a post on social media, Emmy winner A Martinez remarked, “One of the blessings of the show has been getting to work with Tristan after so many years of admiring him from afar. A fine actor and a totally stand up dude.”
Eric Nelsen of ‘The Bay’
Emmy winner Eric Nelsen of “The Bay” remarked, “I had the privilege and honor of working with Tristan for many years on ‘The Bay.’ He was always a light on set. He was always so passionate, humble, and kind and I will forever cherish the moment we got to spend together. He was an absolutely phenomenal actor, but an even more incredible human being. May he rest in peace. Tristan, I love you.”
Mike Manning of ‘The Bay’
Emmy winner Mike Manning expressed, “Tristan was a kind, talented, and magnetic man and he will undoubtedly be missed by many.”
Ironically enough, Eric Nelsen and Mike Manning were nominated for the 2021 Daytime Emmy Award for “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Fiction Program” for their work in “The Bay” in the same category when Tristan Rogers scored his second consecutive Emmy nomination for “Studio City.”
“The Bay” posted a moving highlight reel of his work, which may be seen by clicking here.
Sean Kanan of ‘Studio City’
Emmy winner Sean Kanan and star of “Studio City,” stated, “Years ago Tristan and I worked together on Sam Shepherd’s play, True West, which I produced with @michele.kanan. Tristan had never done theater before and had reservations. He trusted me and I cast him because I always knew he was a very special actor. Years later when I was creating @studiocity.show I knew I wanted Tris to be a part of the project. It wasn’t easy to convince him.”
“I looked him in the eyes and promised him that if he trusted me again, I would write a role for him that would show the world his true capabilities. I also told him point blank that he would win an Emmy. In retrospect that must have sounded pretty arrogant. That wasn’t my intention. I simply had that much faith in Tris. He did in fact win the Emmy for Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor. If you haven’t seen Studio City please watch it. This is not about me or even about the show but rather watching Tristan’s incredibly nuanced performance,” Kanan elaborated.
“He combined world weary wisdom and self awareness with heartbreaking strength in the face of his character’s life threatening challenges. Please watch his incredible work. You can find Studio City on Prime, Roku, Tubi and other platforms. I rewatched his scenes last night as I wrestled with the cutting pain of his passing. It brought me to tears. I will forever treasure our friendship and the opportunity I had to work with such a gifted performer,” Kanan added.
Michele Kanan of ‘Studio City’
Writer and executive producer Michele Kanan of “Studio City” stated, “My heart is broken by the loss of my dear friend Tris, who never said ‘no’ to me, no matter how crazy the ask. You inspired me to trust my gut and indulge my creativity. May you rest amongst the brightest stars.”
Timothy Woodward Jr. of ‘Studio City’
Emmy award-winning “Studio City” showrunner Timothy Woodward Jr. expressed, “Tristan was an actor of extraordinary talent who lit any room he walked in. He will be missed greatly.”
“Studio City” posted a highlight reel of Tristan Rogers’ work, which may be seen by clicking here.
‘General Hospital’ remembers Tristan Rogers
In a post on the official “General Hospital” Instagram page, the show posted, “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers’ passing. Tristan has captivated our fans for more than 50 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio). I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and friends during this difficult time. Tristan was a one-of-a-kind talent and will be greatly missed. May he rest in peace.”
John J. York of ‘General Hospital’
John J. York plays Mac Scorprio, his onscreen brother on “General Hospital.” In a post on X, York described Rogers as “frozen, timeless, legend, privileged, father and grandfather. “We will all see you again,” he said.
Kate Linder of ‘The Young and The Restless’
Actress Kate Linder remarked, “My heart goes out to the family and friends of Tristan Rogers. I had the good fortune to have worked with Tristan. I so enjoyed spending time with you. You were so talented, so kind, and you will sorely be missed.”
