Chris Robinson, Rick Webber on ‘General Hospital,’ Dies at 86

Chris Robinson, best known as Dr. Rick Webber on the ABC soap opera “General Hospital,” died in his sleep on June 9 at his home near Sedona, Ariz., actor MJ Allen announced in a Facebook post, writing, “He had been in heart failure for some time, and is his official cause of death.” Robinson was 86.

“General Hospital’s enduring legacy owes a debt of gratitude to Chris Robinson and his portrayal of Dr. Rick Webber. Our hearts go out to his family and friends as they mourn their loss. May he rest in peace,” the show posted on X.

The Florida native began his career in the late 1950s as a stunt actor in such films as “Diary of a High School Bride” from teen cult film producer/director Burt Topper and the horror crime film “Beast From Haunted Cave.” He spent the ‘60s making guest appearances on many TV series, including, “Sea Hunt,” “77 Sunset Strip,” “Hawaiian Eye,” “Combat!,” “Gunsmoke,” “Perry Mason” and “Hogan’s Heroes.” He carried that success into the ‘70s, guesting on shows like “The Streets of San Francisco,” “Barnaby Jones” and “Chips.”

But it was his casting on “General Hospital” as Dr. Rick Webber, the adoptive father of Laura (Genie Francis) — of “Luke and Laura” fame — in 1978 that kicked off a whole new chapter in his career and gave him worldwide fame. The character of Rick was the third side of daytime TV’s most popular triangle of the time, Rick/Monica/Lesley. Both Leslie Charleson (Monica) and Denise Alexander (Lesley) died earlier this year, Charleson in January and Alexander in March.

At the time, Robinson became a spokesperson for Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup where the popular phrase, “I’m not a doctor, but I do play one on TV” was coined.

After a nine-year stint “GH,” Robinson reunited with Alexander on the NBC soap “Another World” in 1987 playing Jason Frame, and then later joined the cast of “The Bold and the Beautiful,” where he planted his roots as Jack Hamilton for three years. Then 16 years after leaving “GH,” he returned to walk Laura down the aisle of her second wedding to Luke. Rick’s storyline was steeped in controversy, as it had Laura remembering that her father having an affair with nurse Theresa Carter. Freaked out, Laura hit Theresa and killed her. Rick then drugged her, so she’d forget the whole thing.

Robinson’s last acting appearance was in the comedy film “Just for a Week” in 2022. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, artist Jacquie Shane-Robinson and sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher Robinson, Christopher Lance, and Robb Walker as well as five grandchildren, Ivy, Ava, Davey, Brooks and Knox.