Two legends, one farewell: The lives and legacies of two stars who shone their brightest on TV and on the silver screen
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The film and television worlds are mourning the loss of two beloved actors from opposite sides of the globe.
Their storied careers and unforgettable performances left a lasting mark on generations of viewers.
Do you remember them?
Tristan Rogers, the Australian actor best known for his iconic role as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, died on Friday at the age of 79.
His passing comes less than a month after his final appearance on the long-running ABC soap, a fitting farewell to the character that defined much of his career.
'The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers' passing,' said executive producer Frank Valentini. 'Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio).'
Born in Melbourne, Rogers’ path to acting began in a rock band, where he played the drums in his twenties. When the band dissolved, he turned to commercial work and modeling before eventually pursuing acting more seriously.
After roles in Australia and a stint as a DJ, he made his way to Los Angeles to try his luck in Hollywood. His distinctive accent was initially seen as a hurdle, but in 1980 he was cast for a two-day part on General Hospital—a role that would change everything.
‘I had no idea at the point how big the show was,’ Rogers recalled in a 2022 interview with Maurice Benard on State of Mind.
‘I had no name. I was brought in expressly to beat up the hero, Luke, and then disappear.’
Instead, then-executive producer Gloria Monty saw something more. With no character yet written, she asked Rogers to simply appear on screen ‘looking furtive, looking suspicious’ until the writers came up with a direction.
Source: ABC7 / Youtube.
That character became Robert Scorpio—an international spy with a heart—who would go on to become one of the show’s most enduring and beloved figures.
Scorpio’s tangled romantic storylines with Holly Sutton (played by Emma Samms) and fellow spy Anna Devane (Finola Hughes), and his bond with his on-screen daughter Robin (Kimberly McCullough), made him a central figure in Port Charles lore.
In 2024, Rogers and Samms exited the show in scenes inspired by Casablanca, only for Rogers to return once more in July for a single touching episode set in France. It was then revealed to fans that the actor had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Outside General Hospital, Rogers also appeared in The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young & the Restless, and Studio City, the latter earning him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, and his two children—a son and a daughter.
Just days after Rogers’ passing, the film world bid goodbye to another screen icon: Terence Stamp, the revered English actor who rose to fame in the 1960s and went on to redefine himself as a powerful character actor in the decades that followed.
He died on Sunday morning at the age of 87.
In a statement, his family said: ‘He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer, that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.’
Director Stephen Frears, who worked with Stamp on The Hit (1984), remembered him warmly: ‘He was a fine man and a fine actor. It was an honour to have directed him.’
Born in Stepney, East London, Stamp was the son of a tugboat sailor and grew up in nearby Plaistow. He won a scholarship to drama school and began his career on stage, sharing a flat in his early days with fellow actor Michael Caine, whom he called his ‘guru.’
Stamp’s breakthrough came in 1962 with his role in Billy Budd, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He quickly became one of the defining faces of the British New Wave, appearing in Peter Ustinov’s Billy Budd, William Wyler’s The Collector, and Joseph Losey’s Modesty Blaise. His romance with model Jean Shrimpton ensured he remained a fixture of the 1960s cultural landscape, regularly gracing magazine covers and front pages.
Despite early success, his career slowed at the end of the decade. ‘It was a mystery to me. I was in my prime. When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it,’ he once said. ‘I remember my agent telling me: “They are all looking for a young Terence Stamp” … I couldn’t believe it.’
Source: E! News / Youtube.
Stamp retreated to India, spending time in an ashram, before Hollywood called him back in the late 1970s. He made a triumphant return playing the menacing General Zod in Superman and Superman II—roles that introduced him to a new generation of fans.
‘What had happened inside of me enabled me to take the role, and not feel embarrassed or depressed about playing the villain,’ he said. ‘I just decided I was a character actor now.’
That reinvention led to a celebrated second act, with notable roles in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), for which he earned BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, and The Limey (1999), a critically acclaimed Steven Soderbergh film in which he played a father seeking revenge.
Stamp’s later work included appearances in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace, The Adjustment Bureau, Song for Marion, and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. His final film credit was in Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright’s 2021 psychological thriller.
Though famously linked to women like Julie Christie and Shrimpton, Stamp married only once—to Elizabeth O’Rourke in 2002. The marriage ended in divorce in 2008.
Read more: ‘Rest in peace to an absolute legend’: Farewell to the actor who made us laugh and the jazz pioneer who inspired a nation
Which of Tristan Rogers' or Terence Stamp's roles left the biggest impact on you? How do you remember their contributions to film and television over the years? Share your thoughts and tributes in the comments below!
Their storied careers and unforgettable performances left a lasting mark on generations of viewers.
Do you remember them?
Tristan Rogers, the Australian actor best known for his iconic role as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, died on Friday at the age of 79.
His passing comes less than a month after his final appearance on the long-running ABC soap, a fitting farewell to the character that defined much of his career.
'The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Tristan Rogers' passing,' said executive producer Frank Valentini. 'Tristan has captivated our fans for 45 years and Port Charles will not be the same without him (or Robert Scorpio).'
Born in Melbourne, Rogers’ path to acting began in a rock band, where he played the drums in his twenties. When the band dissolved, he turned to commercial work and modeling before eventually pursuing acting more seriously.
Australian actor Tristan Rogers, beloved for his decades-long role as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital, died at 79 just weeks after his final appearance on the show. Image source: E! News / Youtube.
After roles in Australia and a stint as a DJ, he made his way to Los Angeles to try his luck in Hollywood. His distinctive accent was initially seen as a hurdle, but in 1980 he was cast for a two-day part on General Hospital—a role that would change everything.
‘I had no idea at the point how big the show was,’ Rogers recalled in a 2022 interview with Maurice Benard on State of Mind.
‘I had no name. I was brought in expressly to beat up the hero, Luke, and then disappear.’
Instead, then-executive producer Gloria Monty saw something more. With no character yet written, she asked Rogers to simply appear on screen ‘looking furtive, looking suspicious’ until the writers came up with a direction.
Source: ABC7 / Youtube.
That character became Robert Scorpio—an international spy with a heart—who would go on to become one of the show’s most enduring and beloved figures.
Scorpio’s tangled romantic storylines with Holly Sutton (played by Emma Samms) and fellow spy Anna Devane (Finola Hughes), and his bond with his on-screen daughter Robin (Kimberly McCullough), made him a central figure in Port Charles lore.
In 2024, Rogers and Samms exited the show in scenes inspired by Casablanca, only for Rogers to return once more in July for a single touching episode set in France. It was then revealed to fans that the actor had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Outside General Hospital, Rogers also appeared in The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young & the Restless, and Studio City, the latter earning him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Digital Drama Series.
He is survived by his wife, Teresa Parkerson, and his two children—a son and a daughter.
British screen icon Terence Stamp, known for The Collector, Superman, and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, passed away at 87 after a remarkable six-decade career. Image source: E! News / Youtube.
Just days after Rogers’ passing, the film world bid goodbye to another screen icon: Terence Stamp, the revered English actor who rose to fame in the 1960s and went on to redefine himself as a powerful character actor in the decades that followed.
He died on Sunday morning at the age of 87.
In a statement, his family said: ‘He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer, that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come. We ask for privacy at this sad time.’
Director Stephen Frears, who worked with Stamp on The Hit (1984), remembered him warmly: ‘He was a fine man and a fine actor. It was an honour to have directed him.’
Born in Stepney, East London, Stamp was the son of a tugboat sailor and grew up in nearby Plaistow. He won a scholarship to drama school and began his career on stage, sharing a flat in his early days with fellow actor Michael Caine, whom he called his ‘guru.’
Stamp’s breakthrough came in 1962 with his role in Billy Budd, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
He quickly became one of the defining faces of the British New Wave, appearing in Peter Ustinov’s Billy Budd, William Wyler’s The Collector, and Joseph Losey’s Modesty Blaise. His romance with model Jean Shrimpton ensured he remained a fixture of the 1960s cultural landscape, regularly gracing magazine covers and front pages.
Despite early success, his career slowed at the end of the decade. ‘It was a mystery to me. I was in my prime. When the 1960s ended, I just ended with it,’ he once said. ‘I remember my agent telling me: “They are all looking for a young Terence Stamp” … I couldn’t believe it.’
Source: E! News / Youtube.
Stamp retreated to India, spending time in an ashram, before Hollywood called him back in the late 1970s. He made a triumphant return playing the menacing General Zod in Superman and Superman II—roles that introduced him to a new generation of fans.
‘What had happened inside of me enabled me to take the role, and not feel embarrassed or depressed about playing the villain,’ he said. ‘I just decided I was a character actor now.’
That reinvention led to a celebrated second act, with notable roles in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), for which he earned BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations, and The Limey (1999), a critically acclaimed Steven Soderbergh film in which he played a father seeking revenge.
Stamp’s later work included appearances in Star Wars Episode I – The Phantom Menace, The Adjustment Bureau, Song for Marion, and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. His final film credit was in Last Night in Soho, Edgar Wright’s 2021 psychological thriller.
Though famously linked to women like Julie Christie and Shrimpton, Stamp married only once—to Elizabeth O’Rourke in 2002. The marriage ended in divorce in 2008.
Read more: ‘Rest in peace to an absolute legend’: Farewell to the actor who made us laugh and the jazz pioneer who inspired a nation
Which of Tristan Rogers' or Terence Stamp's roles left the biggest impact on you? How do you remember their contributions to film and television over the years? Share your thoughts and tributes in the comments below!
