Chris Robinson, best known for his roles as Dr. Rick Webber on General Hospital and Jack Hamilton on The Bold and the Beautiful, has died at 86. His death was confirmed by director MJ Allen, who said Robinson passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 9, 2025, at his ranch near Sedona, Arizona. The cause was heart failure.
Born November 5, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Robinson’s career took off in 1965 with a role in the WWII series 12 O’Clock High. He gained widespread fame in 1978 when he joined General Hospital as Dr. Rick Webber, a central figure in the soap’s storyline and the adoptive father of Laura Spencer (Genie Francis). He left the show in 1986.
Robinson later portrayed Jack Hamilton on The Bold and the Beautiful from 1992 to 2002, with a final appearance in 2005. He became a pop culture fixture in 1984 with his iconic Vicks Formula 44 commercial, declaring, “I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV.”
Despite a 1985 conviction for tax evasion, Robinson continued working, serving his sentence on nights and weekends while remaining on General Hospital. Over his decades-long career, he appeared in over 100 film and television roles, with his final performance in the 2022 film Just for a Week.
Robinson is survived by his wife, Jacquie Shane-Robinson, six sons – Shane, Coby, Christian, Taylor, Christopher Robinson, and Christopher Lance – and five grandchildren.
His former General Hospital co-stars and fans mourn his loss, with the show’s official account stating, “Our hearts go out to his family and friends… May he rest in peace.”