Daytime Soap Star Dead at 78

The daytime TV world has been getting devasted lately in terms of big stars and fan favorites dying off.

The latest name to be added to that list is Ron Hale, an original cast member of “Ryan’s Hope.”

Hale was 78 years old.

He’s Gone

According to reports, Hale died from natural causes at his home in South Carolina.

Hale clearly made his name in daytime TV, but he was not a one-trick pony.

He entered the acting world in 1968, landing a one-episode gig on the TV show, “N.Y.P.D.”

He had several small roles before getting a taste for the soap opera life, playing Walt Driscoll on “Search for Tomorrow” in two episodes.

He had another TV gig before landing the role of Frank Sturgis in “All the President’s Men.”

At the same time, he landed a gig as one of the original cast members on “Ryan’s Hope,” playing Dr. Roger Coleridge. It was a role he would keep for the next 15 years, appearing in 909 episodes of the show.

Meanwhile, he continued to land TV and movie roles on the side to keep him busy.

In 1995 and 1997, he landed two more daytime roles, getting recurring roles on “General Hospital” and “Port Charles,” appearing in 284 episodes combined, the majority of them on “General Hospital.”

The final credit on his resume was playing Father Reinhart in “The Ghost and the Whale” in 2017.

Rest in peace, sir, and thanks for all the entertainment over the years.