Tristan Rogers

In 1980, Australian actor Tristan Rogers landed a small role on what was then the most popular soap opera in the world, "General Hospital," (ABC, 1963- ), having no idea he would become the first of many hunky Australian exports to set American hearts aflutter. Playing Robert Scorpio, a sophisticated and savvy operative for the World Security Bureau, Rogers was teamed up with the most famous couple in the world at that time -"GH" lovers Luke and Laura - to help save the world from being frozen solid. He went on to become one of the soap world's most iconic actors, even long after he had left the show and moved on to other endeavors.

Born June 3, 1946 in Melbourne, Australia, the young Rogers never seriously considered acting as a career. After starting a rock group with some friends in 1964, he learned to love the good life so much that a regular desk job was not for him. His music career evolved into acting, more out of laziness than ambition. After landing acting gigs on Australian television series such as "Bellbird" (1967-1977) and "The Link Men" (1970), Rogers made the big leap across the pond to Hollywood. Back in the pre-Aussie invasion days, actors from down under were told to lose their accent or never work. Rogers promptly worked on losing the accent. When he booked "GH," however, he was told to keep it, making him the first foreigner to hit it big on a U.S. soap using his native accent.

Few actors met with immediate success the way Rogers did when he joined "GH" as agent Robert Scorpio. His participation, along with Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis), in possibly the show's most famous storyline - the Ice Princess caper - sealed the deal with fans who were not used to such a unique accent nor such take-charge masculinity in their soap idols. Rogers became so popular, that when couple du jour Geary and Francis left the show in 1983, the Aussie assumed the full mantel of the show's premiere leading man. First, he romanced Luke's left-behind love, Holly Sutton (Emma Samms) to the delight of fans. Even more popular was his teaming with ex-wife Anna Devane (Finola Hughes). The two actors remained in the forefront of the show's storytelling canvas until 1992 when Scorpio and Anna were presumed killed in a boat explosion. In 1995, Rogers briefly reprised Scorpio in a series of dream sequences experienced by the character's daughter Robin and his old pal Luke. But as far as Rogers was concerned, his days of Robert Scorpio were behind him forever. Free from the daily grind and stifling fame of "GH," Rogers worked steadily in prime time television. He made appearances on the series "Walker, Texas Ranger" in 1993, "Babylon 5" in 1994 and "V.I.P." in 1999. Rogers lent his distinctive accent for the animated TV series "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" in 1996 and "Batman Beyond" in 2000. He had also performed voice over for the feature film, "The Rescuers Down Under" (1990).

In 1997, Rogers appeared in and produced the Showtime series "Fast Track," which delved into the world of race car drivers. Rogers enjoyed producing, but continued to act, too, appearing on "The Quality of Mercy," and "Family Law." "GH" was not the star's only soap opera - he was cast as private eye Hunter Jones on "The Bold and the Beautiful" in 1997.

In January 2006, the star created headlines for the first time in years when ABC announced that he would be reprising his role as Scorpio for a six-week sweeps arc on "General Hospital." Viewers learned that Scorpio indeed had survived the boat explosion and was recruited by former employer, the WSB, to become a hired assassin. Rogers was reunited with Geary and Samms during his brief return. It was so successful that ABC announced the Australian actor would return for more episodes in May, as would Hughes and Samms, so as to mix it up love-triangle style.