Ron Hale, ‘Ryan’s Hope’ Actor, Dies at 78

As a movie buff with a penchant for daytime soaps, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia at the news of Ron Hale‘s passing. His long and prolific career spanned both the small and silver screens, leaving an indelible mark on generations of viewers.


I, a dedicated cinephile, mourn the loss of Ron Hale, whose unforgettable portrayal of Dr. Roger Coleridge in the ABC daytime drama “Ryan’s Hope” left an indelible mark on me. This exceptional actor took his final bow at the age of 78.

In St. George, South Carolina, Hale passed away on August 27th, as confirmed by his family. The reason for his passing has not been revealed.

Hale starred as Roger Coleridge in over 900 episodes of “Ryan’s Hope” from 1975 to 1989. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in both 1979 and 1980 for his portrayal of the fictional doctor on this television series.

From 1995 to 2010, I graced the screens of “General Hospital” as Mike Corbin, then continued my stint on the spinoff series, “Port Charles,” from 1997 to 2000. In between, I popped up in various TV shows such as “N.Y.P.D.”, “Search for Tomorrow”, “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing”, “Matlock”, “MacGyver”, “Rodney”, and “Easy”.

In the world of cinema, Hale played the role of Frank Sturgis, a Watergate burglar, in the 1976 biographical political thriller “All the President’s Men,” alongside Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman. His other movie appearances encompass roles in “Me, Natalie” (1969), “Trial by Jury” (1994), “The Lord Protector” (1996), “Sunstorm” (2001), and “The Ghost and the Whale” (2017).

Ronald Hale Thigpen came into the world on January 2, 1946, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His parents were James Ray Thigpen, Sr. and Elinor Jane Doerr Thigpen. He pursued his education at Furman University and performed in plays alongside Columbia’s Trustus Theatre, which was established by his brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Kay Thigpen.

Hale is mourned by his relatives, which include Lori Brown (formerly Janet Brabham), Max Brabham, Erin Wilson (married to Laurens), and Marc Brown (with Betsy).

Read More

2024-10-03 07:46