In December 1980, Luke and Laura were following up their ‘love on the run’ storyline with a new adventure – The Ice Princess saga. The show brought on the character of WSB Agent Robert Scorpio, a charming Australian super-spy, to help the supercouple literally save the world, played by Tristan Rogers!
Tristan Rogers: “Scorpio, The House Of Cassadine”
Luke (Anthony Geary) was hired by Alexandria Quartermaine (Renee Anderson) to locate the enigmatic Ice Princess. Scorpio was also on the trail. The story climaxed when Robert, Luke, and Laura (Genie Francis) traveled to Cassadine Island and managed to foil Mikkos Cassadine’s (John Colicos) plan to freeze the world. Robert connected with his first love interest, B-movie star Tiffany Hill (Sharon Wyatt). Next, Robert stood up for Luke at his marriage to Laura.
Intrepid Reporting
Robert and Tiff decided to be pals. He moved onto a relationship with reporter Jackie Templeton (originally, Demi Moore; now Kim Delaney). But after Luke was presumed dead, Robert gallantly and pragmatically proposed to Holly (Emma Samms), pregnant with Luke’s child. Sadly, Holly miscarried, but she and Robert fell in love, creating one of soaps’ most sophisticated, entertaining, and secure duos. (Rogers and Samms dated for a while in real life, too.)
Enter Anna Devane
The Scorpios hit two major snags in the mid-80s: Samms got a job as Fallon on Dynasty, so the show introduced Robert’s ex-wife Anna (Finola Hughes) as a romantic foil. Robert was torn between joining Holly back in Australia or staying in Port Charles with newly-discovered daughter Robin (Kimberly McCullough). After Holly was presumed dead, Robert returned to Port Charles.
Not Without My Daughter
Holly turned up alive in 1992, but there was trouble ahead. Cesar Faison (Anders Hove) had a deep obsession with Anna. He, Anna, and Robert were all presumed dead in a boat explosion. In 1995, both Robert and Anna “returned” to GH not as live beings but as figments of Robin’s imagination as she was going through the loss of Stone (Michael Sutton) and learning she was HIV-positive.
Scorpio Rising
Hope that Robert survived the boat explosion grew after All My Children viewers learned that Anna was alive. Indeed, Scorpio popped up alive in 2006 and reunited with both Anna and Robin. He also appeared on the show in 2008 and became a regular in Port Charles once more in 2012.
Modern Times
In 2020, Rogers earned his first Daytime Emmy in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series for his role as Doc on Studio City. He is keeping law and order these days on as Port Charles’ district attorney — and sometimes abroad as evidenced by his international escapade with Olivia Quartermaine (Lisa LoCicero).
Robert believes Holly is dead (viewers know she’s alive – yay!). He’s reconnected with ex-love Jackie Templeton and remains protective of ex-wife Anna, who will always be a part of his life.
Soap Hub congratulates Tristan Rogers on 40 years of playing Robert Scorpio, the suave, dry, sophisticated, and dashing leading man! General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC. Check local listings for air times.
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