Soap vet Stuart Damon, best known as General Hospital‘s Alan Quartermaine, has died. He was 84

BC7 Eyewitness News reporter George Pennacchio broke the news Tuesday in a tweet, noting that the legendary actor had been struggling with renal failure.

Damon first appeared as General Hospital‘s steadfast Chief of Staff Alan Quartermaine on May 13, 1977, and remained in the role as a series regular until his character’s death in February 2007. Damon continued to appear sporadically as Alan’s ghost until December 23, 2008.

He returned for a dream sequence in 2011 and made his final appearance for the series in 2013 to commemorate the show’s 50th anniversary. Highly regarded as the Quartermaine family patriarch, he won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in 1999 for his portrayal.

Tributes have begun to pour in from his acting peers.

Broken hearted to hear of the passing of Stuart Damon. He played my adopted dad on General Hospital for 7 years and he was the most kind, wonderful, loving, supportive person. He always made me laugh and made me feel safe on set. I love you, Stewy. Rest well now, my friend. pic.twitter.com/XY5mEfwezn

— Amber Tamblyn (@ambertamblyn) June 29, 2021

I am so grateful to have had this wonderful man in my life. I am very sad today. #StuartDamon #GH pic.twitter.com/0qYFHKboMU

— Genie Francis (@GenieFrancis) June 29, 2021

RIP Stuart Damon. A giant teddy bear of a man and a magical, thrilling actor. His Dr. Alan Quartermaine on ⁦@GeneralHospital⁩ was pure soap greatness (back in the day, Alan & Monica were IT, baby, and who can forget his insane red wedding to Lucy Coe?) What a star! 💙#GH pic.twitter.com/hyVLBv3HGL

— Michael Logan (@TVGMLogan) June 29, 2021

Prayers go out to the Damon family and his colleagues.

The Culture Keeper-