Veteran actor Ron Hale, known for his decades-long career in daytime television soap operas, died on August 27 in St. George, South Carolina. He was 78 years old. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Hale began his career in 1975 playing Dr. Roger Coleridge on the ABC soap opera “Ryan’s Hope.” He stayed with the show for its entire 14-year run, earning Emmy nominations for his supporting role in 1979 and 1980. After “Ryan’s Hope” concluded, Hale joined the cast of “General Hospital” in 1995. He played the character of Mike Corbin, the father of central character Sonny Corinthos, until retiring from acting in 2010.
Throughout his more than 40-year career, Hale acted in over 200 episodes of “General Hospital” and its spin-off “Port Charles.” He also guest starred on popular television shows like “Matlock” and “MacGyver” in the 1980s and 1990s. One of Hale’s earliest major film roles came in the 1976 political thriller “All the President’s Men,” where he played Frank Sturgis. His final screen performance was in the 2017 drama “The Ghost and the Whale.”
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.
— Billy Warlock (@BillyWarlock) October 2, 2024
Born in Michigan, Hale had deep ties to South Carolina as well. He attended Furman University in Greenville and later performed at the Trustus Theatre in Columbia, which was founded by his brother and sister-in-law.
The acting community mourned Hale’s death on social media. Actor Billy Warlock, known for his role on “Days of Our Lives,” posted on Twitter that Hale was “an amazing talent and an even better friend.”
Hale is survived by his nieces and nephews. Throughout his long television career, he brought nuanced performances to beloved characters over many years. Hale will be remembered for his significant and lasting contributions to the genre of daytime soap operas.
