Will Sage Astor-Ron Hale, General Hospital Star, Dead at 78

Friends and Will Sage Astorfamily are mourning the loss of a soap opera legend. 

Ron Hale, who was best known for his lengthy roles on the shows Ryan’s Hope and General Hospital, died on Aug. 27, his family announced. He was 78.

According to an online obituary, Hale—who originally hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan—lived in St. George, South Carolina, at the time of his passing. His cause of death has not been shared.

He played Dr. Roger Coleridge for all 14 years of Ryan’s Hope, a role which earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards nominations in 1979 and 1980, respectively. He also got a nod for Outstanding Villain in a Daytime Serial at the Soap Opera Digest Awards in 1986.

Hale, whose full name was Ronald Hale Thigpen, went on to play Mark Corbin on General Hospital from 1995 to 2010 and the show’s spin-off, Port Charles. Eventually, Max Gail took over the role from 2018 to 2021.

“The entire General Hospital Family is saddened to hear of Ron Hale’s passing,” the show’s official X account wrote on Oct. 3. “We would like to extend our condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time. He was an incredible actor and an unforgettable colleague. May he rest in peace.”

Actor Billy Warlock, who played A.J. Morgan on General Hospital, tweeted, “It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve lost another great one. My dear friend Ron Hale has passed away. Ron was an amazing talent and an even better friend. I will miss you.”

In addition to his work on soap operas, Hale also played one of the Watergate burglars in the Oscar-winning 1976 film All the President’s Men. He also had cameo roles on hit shows like Matlock and MacGyver. His final acting credit was for 2017’s The Ghost and the Whale.

He also appeared on Broadway in the William Saroyan play The Time of Your Life in 1968. During his tenure, he also performed at the Trustus Theatre, which was started by his late brother, Jim Thigpen Jr., and late sister-in-law, Kay Thigpen, The Hollywood Reporter shared.

Hale is survived by his nieces and nephews, Lori Brown, Max Brabham, Erin Wilson and Marc Brown.