Tristan Rogers to return on 'General Hospital'

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Tristan Rogers will return as Robert Scorpio on General Hospital.

The 69-year-old Australian-American actor first played the character in 1980, and will return to the ABC soap opera in December. Executive producer Frank Valentini tweeted the "exciting" news Wednesday.

"Scorpio is such a beloved legacy character who evokes a sense of nostalgia and I know the fans have been patiently waiting for Tristan's return," he said in a statement. "I share their sentiments and enthusiasm and that of our entire GH team in welcoming him home."

"I am delighted to be visiting my friends in [Port Charles]," Rogers wrote on Twitter. "Stand by for some fun stuff. Looking forward to seeing old faces. Lets have some good times."

The actor portrayed Robert from 1980 to 1992, and has returned to the series intermittently since. He last appeared on-screen in January 2014, just three months before the show's 52nd anniversary. General Hospital is the longest-running American soap opera currently in production.

News of Rogers' return follows word Kimberly McCullough will reprise Robert's daughter, Robin Scorpio, in November. Rogers is also known for playing Hunter Jones on The Bold and the Beautiful, Lex Martin on The Bay and Colin Atkinson on The Young and the Restless.