Chris Robinson, ‘12 O’Clock High,’ ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Bold and the Beautiful’ Actor, Dies at 86

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86-year-old Chris Robinson, known for his roles as a World War II bomber pilot in the ’60s ABC drama “12 O’Clock High” and for his long runs on daytime soap operas such as “General Hospital” and “The Bold and the Beautiful,” has passed away.

I’m sad to share that I lost a dear friend and collaborator this week. MJ Allen announced on Facebook that Robinson passed away on his ranch in Sedona, Arizona. We were fortunate enough to work together on the 2022 film “Just for a Week”. This news has left me deeply saddened.

Over the course of an eight-decade acting career, Robinson collaborated with Burt Lancaster in “The Young Savages” (1961) and “Birdman of Alcatraz” (1962), both helmed by John Frankenheimer. Additionally, he teamed up with Ted Cassidy, famously known for his role in the Addams Family, in four films that were all directed by him.

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Robinson’s acting career lasted eight decades, during which time he worked with Burt Lancaster on “The Young Savages” (1961) and “Birdman of Alcatraz” (1962), both directed by John Frankenheimer. He also collaborated with Ted Cassidy, who is known for his role in the Addams Family, in four films that he himself directed.

Originally from Florida, this actor played the role of Tim Ochopee, a Vietnam veteran who was also a Seminole with a pet rattlesnake that followed his instructions for the majority of the movie. This character appeared in the horror film titled “Stanley“, produced by Crown International Pictures and set within the Everglades.

In September 1965, Robinson became part of the main cast in the second season of the TV series “12 O’Clock High,” which was produced by Quinn Martin. During this time, Paul Burke also joined as a permanent cast member, portraying Col. Joe Gallagher. Robinson continued his role through the last 46 episodes of the show until January 1967.

On ABC’s “General Hospital,” he played Dr. Rick Webber, who was married twice to Denise Alexander’s Lesley and adopted the character Genie Francis’ Laura. From 1978-86, he portrayed this role. He reappeared in 2002, but tragically his character was killed off by Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner), a past husband of Laura.

On the ABC soap opera “General Hospital,” he took on the character of Dr. Rick Webber, who was married to Denise Alexander’s Lesley twice and acted as a father figure to Genie Francis’ Laura. He played this role from 1978-86. However, in a shocking turn of events, his character was killed off by Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner), a former spouse of Laura, in 2002.

Additionally, Robinson portrayed Jack Hamilton, a character who had romantic entanglements with Stephanie Douglas (Susan Flannery) and her rival Sally Spectra (Darlene Conley), on the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. This role was held from 1992 to 2002, with a final cameo in 2005.

During his work on G.H., and after appearing in the soap opera Young Doctors in Love (1982), Robinson solidified his credentials as an endorser by starring in a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup advertisement. “I’m not a real doctor,” he pointed out, “but I portray one on television.

However, upon facing issues with income tax evasion, his position was taken over by Peter Bergman, a different television doctor on the soap opera called “All My Children.

Christopher Brown Robinson, born on November 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Florida, made an unacknowledged appearance in the movie “The Midnight Story” (1957) featuring Tony Curtis. Two years after that, he portrayed a rebellious teen in “The Diary of a High School Bride” and a spider-like creature in Gene Corman’s “Beast From Haunted Cave”. Notably, he designed the costume for the beast role himself.

After that, Robinson kept himself occupied with guest appearances in various shows like Colt. 45, Hennesey, The Donna Reed Show, Sea Hunt, Death Valley Days, Ben Casey, Gunsmoke, Wagon Train, and The Fugitive. Eventually, he found a permanent role on 12 O’Clock High.

In the film “Catch the Black Sunshine” (1974), he portrayed a fugitive albino slave, alongside his brother Anthony Scott, fleeing from a plantation owner named Cassidy. Notably, he not only acted in this movie, but also penned and directed it. He subsequently assumed multiple roles, serving as actor, writer, and director, on “Thunder County” (1974), “The Intruder” (1975) and “The Great Balloon Race” (1977).

In a 2017 conversation with Nick Thomas, Robinson discussed the movie titled “The Intruder,” which starred Mickey Rooney and Yvonne De Carlo. He mentioned that he was responsible for its casting, assembled the team, and completed filming within just six weeks.

Inquired about the fate of the movie, Robinson responded: “To be honest, I’m clueless. I wasn’t part of the editing process and didn’t get a chance to watch the completed film, as it never came out. I shifted my focus to other tasks and simply let it slip from my mind.

As a gamer, I’ve got quite the collection of action-packed films under my belt. From “Because They’re Young” in 1960 to “The Long Rope” the following year, then “Shootout at Big Sag,” “Lady in Cement,” “The Cycle Savages,” and “The Hawaiians” all through the sixties and seventies, I even dabbled in more recent productions like “Revenge Is My Destiny” from 1971. Fast forward to the eighties, I starred in “Amy” and “Savannah Smiles.” Now, in this modern era, you can catch me in “Just for a Week,” which hit the screens in 2022.

Click here for a video tribute to his career.

1985 saw Robinson admit guilt to federal income tax evasion, yet was granted the flexibility to carry on with his role in G.H., serving his sentence during nights and weekends. Between these two soaps (G.H. and The Bold and the Beautiful), he showcased his talent as Jason Frame on NBC’s Another World from 1987-89.

In the month of April 2011, he tied the knot with his fourth spouse, Jacquie. Besides Jacquie, there are other survivors such as his sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Christopher, Chris, and Taylor, along with their grandchildren Ivy, Ava, Davey, Brooks, and Knox.

Chris, his son, offered a peek into their family life by creating and managing two short documentaries: Bankrupt by Beanies (2009), chronicling his dad’s endeavor to acquire thousands of Beanie Baby plush toys in hopes of reselling them for profit, and Bastard: An Unconventional Family Story (2010), delving into the complexities of their family history, as his father had children with six different women.

In the show “Bastard,” Chris openly admitted that he was born in his father’s dressing room on the set of “General Hospital.” He also highlighted the fact that his father had almost as many romantic entanglements in his actual life as he did in his acting careers.

Regardless of how our family ties were formed, we’re all linked together,” Chris concluded in the documentary. “When our father passes away, even though some of us may not acknowledge him as our father, we can still rely on each other for love and support. It might not be conventional, but it certainly makes for a much more intriguing story.

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2025-06-11 16:25