Robinson was the first to coin the popular phrase, “I’m not a doctor, but I do play one on TV.”
WASHINGTON — “General Hospital” star Chris Robinson, who portrayed Dr. Rick Webber on the daytime soap opera, has died. He was 86.
Robinson’s friend MJ Allen confirmed his death on social media on Monday.
“My good friend Chris Robinson aka ‘Dr. Rick Webber’ has died,” Allen said in a Facebook post. “He peacefully passed in his sleep at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona at 12:30am on June 9, 2025. He had been in heart failure for some time, and is his official cause of death.”
“Chris enjoyed charging around on his atv quad (having done his own Hollywood stunts for many years), and embellishing their medieval inspired ranch complete with organic orchards,” Allen added.
Robinson’s acting career spanned eight decades, working in more than 100 TV shows and films. The veteran actor was best for his longtime role as Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital.”
According to IMDb, he starred in 1,039 episodes of the daytime soap opera. His last credit on the show was in 2013.
His last filming credit was in 2022 for “Just For a Week,” where he played Ted Hurst. Robinson worked on the film alongside Allen.
“We knew this was coming, but it always sucks. We just had lunch a few weeks ago, but he was in bad shape. I directed and acted with him in 3 of my own films. We spent a few holidays together, staying out at his ranch having buffets by the creek, and him and Jacquie coming to my house to discuss projects were always a treat. Good times,” Allen said in a separate Facebook post Monday. “RIP, good friend and legend. Respect to Jacquie and the fam.”
Robinson, born on Nov. 5, 1938 in West Palm Beach, Florida, also starred in the 1960s war drama “12 O’Clock High” and became a series regular. His credits also include “Death Valley Days,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “The Fugitive” and more.
The actor had a tendency to play doctor roles on soap operas, so much so that he appeared in a Vicks Formula 44 cough syrup commercial in the mid-1980s. Robinson was the first to coin the popular phrase “I’m not a doctor, but I do play one on TV.”
According to Deadline, Robinson didn’t last long in his Vicks doctor role after the company fired him following a tax-evasion scandal. He was replaced by Peter Bergman, who also played a TV doctor, on “All My Children.”
Robinson is survived by his wife Jacquie Shane-Robinson, who acted alongside in the actor’s last three films. The couple has been together for 14 years.