Chris Robinson, the actor who played Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital ” and also introduced America to a traditional turn of phrase in a professional for cough syrup, has died of heart failure. He was 86.
Robinson died in his sleeping just after nightfall on Monday at house in Sedona, Arizona, according to director MJ Allen, who posted the announcement on Twitter.
“Jacquie ( Chris ’ wife ) just called me a bit ago and informed me that my good friend and collaborator Hollywood legend Chris Robinson has passed away, ” the filmmaker, whose full name is Michael Jason Allen, wrote Monday afternoon. “We knew this was coming, but it always sucks. ”
Though Robinson had 100 TV and film acting funds, according to IMDb, his most renowned part may be one several persons don’t know they are referencing: He was the artist in a Vicks Formula 44 coughing sugar commercial who initially spoke the words, “I’m not a physician, but I play one on TV. ” That word from 1984 was repeated once two years later in a subsequent Vicks Formula 44 campaign featuring Peter Bergman, “The Young and the Restless ” actor who at the moment played Dr. Cliff Warner on “All My Kids. ”
The remainder was pop culture story.
Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 5, 1938, Robinson appeared in more than 1,000 “General Hospital ” episodes between 1978 and 1986, then returned for about 20 episodes in 2002 and one in April 2013. He was also in almost 250 episodes as Jack Hamilton on “The Bold and the Beautiful, ” mostly in the early 1990s but continuing into the early 2000s, and had 20 episodes as Jason Frame on “Another World ” in 1988 to 1989.
He was a standard in the sites of Soap Opera Digest and acted with John Stamos, Rick Springfield and Richard Dean Anderson when their careers were really beginning.
His episodic TV credits began in the 1960s and included “The Donna Reed Show, ” “Gunsmoke, ” “Wagon Train, ” “Perry Mason ” and “Hogan’s Heroes, ” to name a few.
Robinson starred in films alongside Mickey Rooney, Charlton Heston, Dick Clark, Bruce Dern, Ted Cassidy and Yvonne De Carlo and directed film and TV including episodes of “Baretta, ” “Cannon ” and “Barnaby Jones. ” He wrote, starred in and directed the 1977 movie “The Great Balloon Race ” with Frank Gifford, Phyllis Diller, Cab Calloway and Bert Parks.
Robinson appeared in three films directed by Allen: “ Just for a Week, ” “Barely Dreaming ” and “Yancey McCord: The Killer That Arizona Forgot About. ”
In 1985, the professional — then living in Glendale — pleaded guilty to federal income avoidance charges and could have faced two years in prison for filing false tax returns on$ 490,000 in income from 1980 to 1981. He managed to avert a sentence that would have forced him to abandon “General Hospital ” by serving his time on nights and weekends to be available for daylight recording. He was also ordered to pay all back taxes and attention.
In more recent times, Robinson enjoyed moment on his house with his artist partner of 14 years, Jacquie Shane-Robinson.
“We spent a few holidays up, staying out at his house having restaurants by the river, and him and Jacquie coming to my home to discuss assignments were usually a cure, ” Allen wrote on Facebook. “Good days. … RIP, great friend and star. Regard to Jacquie and the homie. ”
Rhonda Robinson, one of the actor’s ex-wives , posted a classic image of a 1980s Daytime TV Magazine on Monday showing Chris Robinson and their young children, writing, “Seems like a life back. When we got married I was sure it would last forever, but unfortunately it did not. But we did create the best sons. They will miss you. RIP Chris. ”
Robinson is survived by his wife Jacquie as well as sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher, Christopher Lance and Robb Walker from his numerous previous marriages. He had five grandchildren.
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