General Hospital star Ron Hale dies at age 78

General Hospital alum passes away

Ron Hale Thigpen, beloved to ABC soap fans for his roles on Ryan’s Hope, General Hospital, and Port Charles, passed away on August 27 at the age of 78.

Former General Hospital (A.J. Quartermaine) and Days of our Lives (Frankie Brady) star Billy Warlock posted the news on X (formerly Twitter) on the evening of October 2.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve lost another great one,” Warlock wrote. “My dear friend Ron Hale has passed away. Ron was an amazing talent and an even better friend. I will miss you.”

Hale’s niece, Lori Brown, announced the news on Facebook on August 28, writing, “It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of my uncle Ron Hale Thigpen. He died unexpectedly at his home in St George, SC, on August 27. He was a wonderful human and he will be missed dearly. May he rest in peace.”

Hale was born on January 2, 1946, in Grand Rapids, MI, according to his official obituary. A graduate of Furman University, he began his television career in 1968 on the series N.Y.P.D. In 1976, Hale appeared in the acclaimed film All the President’s Men, but he also made an acting home on soap operas.

Hale made brief appearances on Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing and Search for Tomorrow before landing the role of Dr. Roger Coleridge on Ryan’s Hope, a part he played from 1975 to 1989, per IMDb.

After doing some episodic television on shows like Matlock and MacGyver, Hale returned to daytime in 1995, when he originated the role of Mike Corbin on General Hospital. As Sonny Corinthos’ father, Hale was an instant hit with fans and brought the character to the soap’s spinoff, Port Charles, from 1997 to 2000.

In 2010, Hale departed GH. His last screen credit was 2017’s The Ghost and the Whale, which also starred former GH co-star Maurice Benard.

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