Chris Robinson, the veteran actor best known for his role as Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital” and for coining the famous phrase in a Vicks cough syrup commercial, died June 9 at age 86 from heart failure at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona.
Robinson passed away peacefully in his sleep just after midnight on Monday, according to filmmaker MJ Allen, who worked with the actor on the 2022 film “Just for a Week.” Allen confirmed on Facebook that Robinson had been in heart failure for some time.
Born Christopher Brown Robinson on November 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Florida, the actor built a career spanning more than 60 years with over 100 television and film credits. His breakthrough came with his portrayal of Dr. Rick Webber on ABC’s “General Hospital” from 1978 to 1986, where he appeared in more than 1,000 episodes. Robinson briefly returned to the show in 2002 for about 20 episodes and made a final appearance in April 2013.
On “General Hospital,” Robinson’s character served as the adoptive father of Laura, played by Genie Francis, and was central to one of daytime television’s most popular storylines involving the Rick-Monica-Lesley love triangle. His character met a dramatic end when he returned to the show in 2002, being bludgeoned to death with a candlestick by Scotty Baldwin, portrayed by Kin Shriner.
Robinson achieved widespread recognition beyond soap opera audiences through his appearance in a mid-1980s Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial, where he delivered the now-iconic line: “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” This phrase became a cultural catchphrase and comedy reference point. However, Robinson lost his commercial spokesperson role following a federal income tax evasion conviction in 1985, and was replaced by Peter Bergman from “All My Children.”
The tax evasion case involved Robinson pleading guilty to filing false tax returns on $490,000 in income from 1980 to 1981. He managed to avoid a prison sentence that would have interfered with his daytime television work by serving his time on nights and weekends, allowing him to continue taping “General Hospital.” He was also ordered to pay all back taxes and interest.
Following his initial run on “General Hospital,” Robinson expanded his soap opera presence by playing Jason Frame on NBC’s “Another World” from 1987 to 1989, appearing in 20 episodes. He then joined CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” as Jack Hamilton from 1992 to 2002, with a final appearance in 2005, accumulating nearly 250 episodes in that role.
Robinson’s early career included significant film work, appearing alongside Burt Lancaster in “The Young Savages” (1961) and “Birdman of Alcatraz” (1962), both directed by John Frankenheimer. He also had a notable role on the ABC military drama “12 O’Clock High” from 1965 to 1967, playing Technical Sergeant Sandy Komansky during the show’s second and third seasons.
Throughout the 1960s and beyond, Robinson made numerous guest appearances on television series including “The Donna Reed Show,” “Gunsmoke,” “Wagon Train,” “Perry Mason,” “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Sea Hunt,” “Death Valley Days,” and “The Fugitive.” His film credits also included “Because They’re Young” (1960), “The Hawaiians” (1970), “Savannah Smiles” (1982), and his final role in “Just for a Week” (2022).
As a filmmaker, Robinson wrote, directed, and starred in several projects, including “Catch the Black Sunshine” (1974), where he played an escaped albino slave in the pre-Civil War South. He also created and directed “Thunder County” (1974), “The Intruder” (1975), and “The Great Balloon Race” (1977). Additionally, he directed episodes of television series including “Baretta,” “Cannon,” and “Barnaby Jones.”
Robinson’s death marks the end of an era for “General Hospital” fans, as he becomes the third member of the show’s famous love triangle to die in 2025. Leslie Charleson, who played Dr. Monica Quartermaine, died in January, and Denise Alexander, who portrayed Dr. Lesley Webber, passed away in March. Allen noted in his Facebook tribute, “We knew this was coming, but it always sucks.”
The official “General Hospital” account paid tribute to Robinson, stating that the show’s enduring legacy owes a debt of gratitude to his portrayal of Dr. Rick Webber. Genie Francis, who played his adoptive daughter Laura on the show, expressed her sadness on social media, noting that he would be missed.
Robinson’s personal life was complex, as documented in two films by his son Christopher: “Bankrupt by Beanies” (2009), which explored his father’s financial troubles related to collecting Beanie Babies, and “Bastard: An Illegitimate Film” (2010), which examined his complicated family structure involving nine children with six different women.
Robinson is survived by his fourth wife, artist Jacquie Shane-Robinson, whom he married in April 2011 after 14 years together. He is also survived by sons Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher, Christopher Lance, and adopted son Robb Walker, as well as five grandchildren: Ivy, Ava, Davey, Brooks, and Knox.
Robinson continued working until late in life, with his final acting credit being the 2022 independent film “Just for a Week,” directed by Allen, who described spending holidays at Robinson’s Arizona ranch as memorable experiences with the actor and his wife.
