The Soap World Remembers Late ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Loving’ Star Randolph Mantooth

Randolph Mantooth may have been best known to primetime TV fans as Emergency‘s John Gage, a role he played for seven years, from 1972 to 1979. But daytime television fans also hold a special place in their heart for the Mantooth, who died at the age of 80 on July 9, 2026. The actors who starred with him on various soaps through the years were devastated to learn of his passing and took to social media to pay tribute. According to TMZ, Mantooth had battled cancer during the last decade of his life.

Late Actor Honored by Co-Stars

After Emergency left the airwaves in 1979, Mantooth found a second acting chapter on daytime soaps. He landed the role of Clay Alden on the now-defunct ABC soap Loving in 1987. Mantooth’s Clay was eventually revealed to be an imposter named Alex Masters, a character who later found a home on the Loving spin-off sequel, The City.

In between Loving and The City stints, Mantooth played Richard Halifax on General Hospital from 1992 to 1993, but also made brief appearances on One Life to Live and As the World Turns through the years.

When news of Mantooth’s death broke, his former soap opera co-stars took to social media over the weekend to remember and pay tribute to their late co-star.

“My first crush.. my first TV kiss… I spent the early 70’s pretending I was on a ride along with Johnny Gage (on a Big Wheel on the sidewalks of Grosse Pointe),” Mantooth’s The City co-star Lisa LoCicero (Olivia Quartermaine, GH) wrote on Instagram. I adored this man, his humor, his talent, his ethic ….. his support in my first years on TV meant more than he could ever know, and he changed my life…there’s a new angel keeping us all a bit safer.. I will miss you beyond.”

Jessica Collins, who played Dinahlee on Loving, also admitted to having a crush on Mantooth, writing, “Every girl’s crush… and one of the kindest men I’ve ever known. Randy, thank you for all you taught me and for your friendship. You were funny, wise, generous, and a truly beautiful soul. You will be deeply missed.”

“I worked with Randy on Loving and The City for many years — no one had better stories or had more fun on a set than Randy Mantooth. So so grateful that I got to learn from you,” GH’s Laura Wright (Carly Spencer) posted on X, along with an old photo of herself and Mantooth from the 1990s.

Kin Shriner (Scott Baldwin, GH) noted how popular Mantooth was with fans, writing, “Sorry to hear of Randy Mantooth’s passing. I love when @GeneralHospital brings TV icons, he was fun last time I saw him he had a line around the block to get his autograph!!!!!!”