Ron Hale, known for his turns as rakish Roger Coleridge in Ryan’s Hope and slipshod parent Mike Corbin at General Hospital has died. He was 78.
Rest In Peace, Ron Hale
Hale’s niece, Lori Brown, shared the news back in August on her Facebook page. She wrote: “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.”
No cause of death has been disclosed.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan native was one of the original cast members of the Claire Labine/Paul Avila Mayer created sudser Ryan’s Hope and one of three who remained throughout its 14-year run. Though his alter-ego was a ne’er-do-well of the highest order, Hale was beloved by viewers, especially once Roger was paired opposite Ilene Kristen’s equally appealing (and galling) Delia. His work ultimately netted him two consecutive Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor (1979 and 1980).
The offer to join the soap had come at a most auspicious time for Hale who’d just finished shooting his small role in a “little’ film titled All The President’s Men — a slightly fictitious account of the Watergate scandal produced by and starring Robert Redford who handpicked Hale to play “Frank Sturgis” one of the infamous burglars who the actor jokingly recalled to We Love Soaps was “20 years older…and 40 pounds heavier.”
He was apprehensive about accepting the part, but he was also a realist. “My whole thing was I had a wife and three step kids. It was a thirteen-week guarantee. I just came off working four weeks on a movie and got paid probably more money I seen in my whole life. I had some money in my pocket, and signed a contract with ABC.
“All I knew was that we were starting a new show, no one knew how it was going to go. I said, “Of course I’ll sign, I’m guaranteed a certain amount of money for 13 weeks.” And that’s why I took it. I had a family to keep a roof over their head, food on the table, shoes on their feet.”
Reflecting on Hope’s untimely demise, Hale lays the blame squarely on politics — network politics, that is — and a bit on Agnes Nixon:
“Everyone had to put in their two cents, and I saw Paul and Claire fight constantly to keep that show the simple and beautiful show that it was. Ergo, when ABC took over, holy mackrel! All of a sudden, you took this simple perfect little set-up with these families on the Upper West Side, that everyone in America could relate to, and they said, “Well, we need some gangsters and stuff.” It was a formula, that was working on other shows. That was great for the other shows. But they didn’t fit on Ryan’s Hope…
“Then ratings started going down, and you had the Loving situation. Agnes Nixon [who created the show alongside Douglas Garland], of course, had a tremendous amount of power though…
“When it came down to the end, it was basically [ABC] saying, “If one has to go it’s going to be Ryan’s Hope. This is an Agnes Nixon show and we’re going to keep it.” I’m not against her. I just remember the politics involved.”
A few guest stints on popular programs of the day — including MacGyver and Matlock — later, and Hale was back in daytime, this time as Sonny Corinthos’ (Maurice Benard) absentee father, Mike.
Recalled the actor: “Out of the clear blue sky I got a call from Mark Teschner [General Hospital’s casting director], who I hadn’t seen in years, who cast LOVING. I did not know Claire was head-writing General Hospital. Mark said, ‘I hear you’re in town. There is a role coming up around December, it’s just being written, I don’t know if you’re interested…’
“I asked what it was about? He gave me a breakdown of the character, I didn’t know who Sonny Corinthos was. He said, ‘They’re writing this character to give this kid a background. He’s kind of just there and doesn’t have a background. He’s kind of a sleazy guy who ran away from his family. His kid hates his guts, but he comes to Port Charles to try to make amends. After six months you’re going to take a bullet and die.’ After six months they figured Sonny and his father will start to get close. At that point the old man will jump in front of his son, take a bulllet, and get killed.
“Six months later Wendy Riche [GH’s then-executive-producer] called me into her office. She said, ‘You know you’re taking the bullet in a couple of weeks.’ I said, ‘Wendy, don’t remind me.’ She asked if I was enjoying it, and I said, ‘You know I am, I am loving this role. I’m working with Maurice, and Tony Geary all the time, I’m working a lot.’ She said, ‘We love you, the audience is crazy about you. We want you to take the bullet, but would you like to live?’ I said, ‘Would I ever!'”
Fifteen years later, Hale finally decided to pack in not only the role but acting as well. Well, for the most part.
Explained Hale at the time: “It’s been 45 years since I unpacked my one suitcase in New York City and went to my first class at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I have been so blessed with my career. Nobody appreciates it more than I do. But that took a lot of hard work and dedication…If someone needs something, like, ‘Ron, we’re doing this theater production in Boise, Idaho, and the guy playing the lead just got sick and we’re opening in three weeks, can you come out?’ Of course, I would do that. I’ve done it before.
“I’m not saying I’m burnt out, it’s just time to move on. The years are getting by, and I still have a tremendous amount of energy. I love to travel; I love to play golf; I’d love to get out on a small tractor and clear up half an acre of land and plant it and watch stuff grow. It’s very idyllic, but I can make it happen.
“And it’s the year 2010, I can be on a plane and be anywhere I want. It’s not like I’m going off to live in a cave and grow a long beard. But all the people who know me know that this is something I have craved all my life. It’s so funny, here I am in a business where I get on stage in front of hundreds and hundreds of strangers to make them laugh or cry. Yet, all my life all I’ve really craved is living in a cabin somewhere with a couple of dogs hunting and fishing.”
Throughout his distinguished career, Hale racked up a plethora of credits, including Search for Tomorrow, NYPD, and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing and parts in several films like A Lovely Way to Die (1968), Me, Natalie (1969), The Lord Protector: Riddle of the Chosen (1996), and The Ghost and The Whale (2017) which proved to be his final professional endeavor.
Per his obituary, Hale is survived by nieces and nephews, Brown (Janet Brabham), Max Brabham, Erin Wilson (Laurens) and, Marc Brown (Betsy).
The Soap World Pays Tribute To Ron Hale
The official General Hospital X account said in a statement: “The entire General Hospital Family is saddened to hear of Ron Hale’s passing. We would like to extend our condolences to his loved ones during this difficult time. He was an incredible actor and an unforgettable colleague. May he rest in peace.”
Billy Warlock (ex-AJ Quartermaine, GH et al.) took to his X account on Wednesday evening and penned: “It’s with a heavy heart that we’ve lost another great one. My dear friend Ron Hale has passed away. Ron was an amazing talent and an even better friend. I will miss you.”
Fellow GHer Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins; ex-Kevin Chamberlin et al.) shared Warlock’s post and added: “My deep condolences Billy. I loved the guy. He was one I could count on to show up for a High Lonesome show or some other appearance. Always supportive. My fave memory was sitting w/ him on a LA/NY flight w/ Richard Simmons in front of us. Yep, we all had a blast! R.I.P.”
Catch up with Daily Drama on Social Media!
Subscribe to the Daily Drama Podcast on YouTube!
Follow our main Daily Drama Facebook page.
Check out our Daily Drama Instagram page.
Find us on our Daily Drama Threads
Spend time with Daily Drama on TikTok
Tweet with us on our Daily Drama X account
Exclusively for GH Fans!
Like us on Facebook at General Hospital Daily.
Connect with other fans in our GH Facebook community group.
