'General Hospital' Star John Ingle, Edward Quartermaine, Dies at 84

ABC

The Actor Was Also a Teacher Whose Students Included Albert Brooks and Nicolas Cage

John Ingle, the General Hospital star and longtime Hollywood veteran who was as beloved as his GH character Edward Quartermaine was hated, died on Sunday at age 84, after a battle with cancer.

Ingle's family announced his passing on Facebook, writing, "Father, Husband, Grandan, Great Grandan, Brother, Uncle, Friend, Teacher, Inspirer, Mentor: May You Soar with the Angels. You will forever hold a special place in the deepest corners of our hearts."

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Ingle, who had played plotting patriarch Edward since 1992, made his last appearance on GH in the show's Sept. 11 episode. ABC has not commented on whether or not the character will be written out of the show.

The reaction to his passing from his fellow actors made it clear Ingle was nothing like the power-mad Edward, whose wife Lila died in 2004 (as did Anna Lee, the actress who portrayed Mrs. Quartermaine).

"He was genuinely interested in people and everything that was going on … his dressing room door was always open, and many of us would find our way there to pick his brain and, in turn, he would lend an ear and offer his wisdom," GH co-star Leslie Charleson, who played Ingle's on-screen daughter-in-law, said in a statement.

Tweeted Albert Brooks: "R.I.P John Ingle. General Hospital star and my high school drama teacher. Wonderful guy."

From GH co-star Sean Kanan, via Twitter: "John Ingle has passed away. He was a kind man who taught me a great deal about what it means to be an actor and a man. Rest well my friend."

And from former GH and Happy Days star Billy Warlock, via Twitter: "It's true. Today is the saddest day of my life. My friend and mentor John Ingle passed away last night. I'll miss him more than words can say."

Ingle, whose wife of 57 years, Grace-Lynne Martin, died in February, is survived by five daughters and nine grandchildren.

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The actor, who also starred in TV shows like Days of Our Lives, Big Love, The Office, Beverly Hills 90210 and The Drew Carey Show and movies like Heathers, Robocop II, Death Becomes Her and Batman & Robin, was also an acting teacher who founded the performing arts departments at Hollywood High School and Beverly Hills High School.

Among his students throughout three decades of teaching, in addition to Brooks: David Schwimmer, Nicolas Cage, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Kavner, Joanna Gleason, Barbara Hershey, Swoosie Kurtz, Stefanie Powers and Jonathan Silverman.