What role did Ron Hale play on General Hospital? Character role explored as the actor passed away at 78

General Hospital actor Ron Hale, who played Mike Corbin on the show, has been reported dead. Hale, a native of Michigan but with very strong links to South Carolina, passed away on August 27 at the age of 78. His family did not tell him the cause of his death.

His career spanned over four decades, but two long-running roles in Ryan's Hope and General Hospital probably remain to be the most memorable. Mike Corbin, one of his most memorable characters, is actually the estranged father of Sonny Corinthos.

---

Who was Mike Corbin on General Hospital?

Ron Hale as Mike Corbin (Image via YouTube/@General Hospital)

In 1995, Ron Hale joined the show as Mike Corbin, the enigmatic absentee father of mob boss Sonny Corinthos, played by Maurice Benard. Even Sonny's heavy plot had taken on a new layer with the introduction of Mike.

Mike, who had abandoned Sonny and his mother, returned seeking redemption, causing turmoil but eventually forming an emotional father-son bond. Hale's portrayal of Mike, a man driven by guilt, addiction, and a desire to make amends, highlighted the impact of Sonny's dangerous lifestyle. His emotional performance, along with his strong chemistry with Benard, made their father-son relationship a memorable part of the show.

---

What made Ron Hale’s portrayal of Mike Corbin memorable?

Ron Hale as Mike Corbin (Image via YouTube/@General Hospital)

Ron Hale's portrayal of Mike Corbin stands the test of time, is due to the richness and emotional complexity that the actor was able to infuse into the character. The entire span of Mike's life is a story of movement from being a man of mistakes to one capable of redemption, which made him profoundly appealing to the public.

Early tensions and controversies are pegged against Mike, particularly with his son Sonny Corinthos, whose dark past was chiefly caused by his father's desertion. But the show charted Mike's remorse, revealing a man who was truly sorry for his mistakes but could not find the strength to make good properly.

As the movie progressed in time, Mike's story became one of redemption, healing, and reconnecting. His relationship with Sonny became more healthy because he finally found interest in his son's life. With Hale's incredible acting, audiences were given a father torn between bad habits and good ones.

Indeed, it was the diagnosis of Alzheimer's in the last years that added another strong layer to the character and allowed Hale to play Mike's vulnerability as he struggled with the devastating disease. It was, therefore, one of the heart-wrenching exits for Mike in the show when in 2010, Hale was finally retiring from acting.

---

How did Ron Hale impact the soap opera genre?

Ron Hale as Mike Corbin (Image via YouTube/@General Hospital)

For over 40 years, the presence of Ron Hale has made a bold mark for years within the soap opera genre on the scenes in Ryan's Hope and General Hospital with powerful performances taking the lead for daytime television. He began his career in 1975 as the new cast member, Dr. Roger Coleridge on Ryan's Hope when he took up the role for the show's entire 14-year run.

As a patriarchal figure in the show, Hale played his part to help stabilize the show. He got Emmy nominations for the years 1979 and 1980 as an outstanding supporting actor. His capability to enact the difficulties Ryan's Hope faced both at work and at home helped reinforce his role as an acting versatile person.

Apart from the soap work, Hale appeared in some of the prime-time series, such as Matlock and MacGyver, that claimed to offer more than what the soap opera format could. Hale also appeared in the critically acclaimed All the President's Men (1976), in which Frank Sturgis appears in a climactic political thriller. With so many diverse roles in his life, he showed that he was adaptable to the varied genres that he played in, though the most memorable roles he played were in the soap opera world.

---

Interested viewers can catch the episodes of General Hospital on ABC every weekday.