‘General Hospital’ soap opera star dies at 78

Retired soap opera star Ron Hale has died at 78.

Hale, who starred on “General Hospital” as Mike Corbin and “Ryan’s Hope” as Dr. Rodger Coleridge, died on Aug. 27 at his St. George, South Carolina, home, according to an online obituary. News of his death surfaced widely Wednesday night.

Hale, who was legally known as Ronald Hale Thigpen, told Soaps In Depth exclusively in 2018 that he decided to retire and had already acted during his last appearance on “GH.” He played Sonny Corinthos’ dad in fictional Port Charles from 1995 to 2010.

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Hale portrayed Roger Coleridge over 900 episodes of “Ryan’s Hope,” the ABC soap opera, in which he starred for the show’s entirety from 1975 to 1989.

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The Grand Rapids, Michigan, native also portrayed Watergate burglar Frank Sturgis in the 1976 political movie, “All the President’s Men,” about The Washington Post’s reporting on the Watergate and Richard Nixon controversy. He starred opposite the Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in the Academy Award-nominated film.

Other notable credits include roles in films such as “The Lord Protector” and guest starring roles in TV shows such as “Search For Tomorrow,” “Matlock” and “MacGyver.”

According to his obituary, the Screen Actors Guild member was born in Grand Rapids, the son of the late James Ray Thigpen Sr. and Elinor Jane Doerr Thigpen. He also appeared in several plays at the Trustus Theatre in Columbia, South Carolina, which was founded by his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Kay Thigpen.

He is survived by his nieces and nephews, Lori Brown (Janet Brabham), Max Brabham, Erin Wilson (Laurens) and Marc Brown (Betsy), according to an online obituary.

Hale’s ex-“General Hospital” co-stars made headlines shortly before his death. Kelly Monaco, who starred as Sam McCall in Port Charles on “GH” since 2003, is set to appear as her long-running character for the last time this fall, USA TODAY confirmed Tuesday.