Robin Scorpio, portrayed by actress Kimberly McCullough, has been a central figure on General Hospital since her debut on September 6, 1985. Her character has resonated with audiences, particularly because of the challenges she has faced and overcome. McCullough's portrayal has earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards, one for Outstanding Juvenile Female in 1989 and another for Outstanding Younger Actress in 1996.
Kimberly McCullough as Robin Scorpio
Early Years and Family Ties
Seven-year-old Robin arrives in Port Charles having been raised to believe her mother, Anna Devane, was her aunt. Her father, Robert Scorpio, has no idea that he shares a daughter with Anna but soon selects three of his closest friends-Sean Donely, Frisco Jones and Dr. Buzz Stryker-to serve as Robin's godfathers when he and his wife Holly Sutton leave for Australia. Robin is asked to be BJ Jones' godsister while Tania is pregnant. Robert later returns to Port Charles to find Anna married to Duke Lavery. During her childhood, Robin's grandmother was killed and she faced tough times when her parents were supposedly murdered in an explosion. She is then adopted by her uncle Mac Scorpio who marries Felicia Jones.
A 7-year-old McCullough was one of three actresses narrowed down for the part of 5-year-old Robin and was brought in to screen test with her on-screen parents Finola Hughes (Anna Devane) and Tristan Rogers (Robert Scorpio). Hughes recalled the event to MSN TV: "We just started improvising with her, like anything. We were throwing things at her and she was just talking away. Tristan and I were looking at each other over her head going, 'This is it! This is what we wanted.'" Improvisation skills were key for General Hospital's process in the 1980s. As Hughes explained: "It was very improvised. Very loose.
Seven-year-old Robin arrives in Port Charles having been raised to believe her mother, Anna Devane, was her aunt. Her father, Robert Scorpio, has no idea that he shares a daughter with Anna. During her childhood, Robin's grandmother is killed and she is faced with threats from enemies of her parents such as Cesar Faison, Grant Putnam and Olivia St. John and she also faces tough times when her parents are supposedly murdered in a boat explosion in 1992, leaving her to be raised by her Uncle Mac Scorpio.
Read also: Is an Aries Man Right for a Scorpio Woman?
Relationships and Personal Struggles
Robin met Michael 'Stone' Cates in 1993 and although they did not initially get along, they began dating in 1994 against her uncle Mac's wishes. Stone had been a street kid taken in and working for Sonny Corinthos. In 1995, after making love to Robin, Stone learned he was HIV+ and then had full blown AIDS due to not asking questions of girls he was with while on the streets. Robin stays with Stone through everything. Before Stone dies Robin finds out that she is HIV+. After a few months, he dies in her presences.
The character came to mainstream attention when she was diagnosed as HIV-positive in the 1990s. In 1995, Stone learns he is HIV+ and eventually contracts AIDS due to his length of time without treatment. After his first HIV test came back negative, he did not take another one six months later. Robin and her family are shocked to learn that she is also HIV+. Robin and Stone fall deeply in love, and she is devastated when Stone eventually dies from AIDS.
Robin then begins seeing Jason Morgan, who was becoming involved in the mob. She introduced him to Sonny Corinthos, soon his employer, and the three become great friends, helping Jason deal with his brain damage, as he was previously Jason Quartermaine. Robin celebrates her birthday with Jason on October 12, 1997. Robin left Port Charles to avoid the mob but returned in 1998 to help her friend Brenda Barrett from her recent break-up. During this period, Robin became friends with Nikolas Cassadine and the two bonded over their similar childhoods. Robin reconciled with Jason but their relationship began to deteriorate when Robin revealed to Jason's brother A.J. Quartermaine that he (and not Jason) was the father of Carly Roberts' son, Michael. Robin left town in 1999, moving to Paris.
Robin and Stone
A few years later she reunited with her mother in Pine Valley. Robin returned to Port Charles to save her friend, Jason Morgan's life when he had experienced seizures. It was during this time that she teams up with Patrick Drake to perform an operation that could determine his fate. Robin was grateful to Patrick when the surgery was a success and this hook-up leads to them being a couple. Their team work came in handy when in a couple of months, Port Charles experiences a virus outbreak, which brings back her father, Robert Scorpio and the two reconcile.
Read also: Understanding Scorpio
Robin had then learned and revealed the paternity of John Michael Jacks, Nikolas Cassadine's son in which her best friend, Jasper Jacks was claiming to be the father of. This caused Carly Corinthos to vow vengeance against her. At the same time, Robin and Patrick admitted their love for one another and at long last became a true couple. Robin helped Luke Spencer reconnect with his traumatized wife, Laura Spencer, who had been incapable of communicating until Robin discovered a miracle drug.
Robin once again faced problems when she was held hostage and was shot in the lower abdomen but was saved when Emily Quartermaine agreed to operate on her with guidance from Patrick through telephone. Patrick and Robin, after the crisis, discovered that they both loved sitting at the pier. Patrick declared to Robin that he loved her and the two reconcile. After a few months of being together, Robin wanted to settle down and commit to each other with a wedding and children. Patrick had different plans which caused Robin to walk out on Patrick. Along with her recent break-up, Robin had to deal with her father's health due to the fact that he was diagnosed with colon cancer. After the funeral of Georgie Jones, Robin's cousin, Robin is devastated and has a one-night-stand with Patrick. Robin later discovers that she is pregnant.
But since she has been planning for some time to use a sperm donor and become a single mother, she does not let on that Patrick is the father, rationalizing her decision by saying that Patrick has been clear about not wanting children. But after discovering the truth, Carly Corinthos criticizes her. Insulted, Robin tells Patrick and the two bond. Robin's mother Anna Devane returns to town, learns of the pregnancy and asks Patrick to marry Robin. Although the two initially refuse, Patrick soon becomes marriage-minded and boldly proposes over the hospital speaker system, only to get shot down. Robin later agrees and they set a date in late October. However, the wedding gets cut short by Robin going into labor.
Robin is initially having contractions that harm the baby, so she has to have an emergency C-section, and Robin and Patrick welcome a healthy baby girl. Robin names the baby Emma Grace Scorpio-Drake and, after a brief scare, the new parents are relieved to find out that the baby has not been infected by Robin's HIV. Patrick and Robin wed right after Emma's first Christmas, but are soon at odds, as Robin is suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) and begins to act out. After months of refusing help from family and friends, Robin nearly dies when she either falls or jumps from the pier. Eventually she agrees to go away for treatment.
Career and Departure
In November 2011, McCullough announced her plans to leave General Hospital in the early months of 2012 to pursue her dream of directing full-time. This came only weeks after a controversial plot, where Lisa Niles (portrayed by Brianna Brown) threatens to inject Robin's blood into her husband, Patrick Drake, which was hard on McCullough and her co-star Jason Thompson considering Robin's critically acclaimed HIV-story.
Read also: Astrological Analysis: Virgo Midheaven Scorpio Rising
While the character was killed off on February 21, 2012, McCullough continued to make several appearances as an apparition in numerous scenes with her loved ones. Frank Valentini, Ron Carlivati and McCullough discussed her departure, and Carlivati, who was uncomfortable with the idea of Robin being "completely dead", rewrote her story.
Returns to Port Charles
On July 16, 2012, Soap Opera Digest announced that McCullough would return to the series for a series of guest spots. She started her series of guest starring spots on July 19, 2012 and lasted until July 27, 2012. In the fall of 2012, Soap Opera Digest confirmed that McCullough would reprise her role as Robin starting on November 6 until December 19, 2012. She guest-starred for one episode on March 25, 2013, in a video message Robin left for Patrick.
On August 21, 2013, Soap Opera Digest exclusively confirmed that McCullough had signed a contract to return to the series. McCullough made her on-screen return on September 30, 2013. Her first airdate back was on August 5, 2014. Robin went on hiatus on September 24, 2014, because Kimbelry McCullough is now directing on KC Undercover. Rumors are speculating that Robin will air again in December. She will be held captive with Luke at the deserted house in Corinth, Pennsylvania.
On October 27, 2015, Soap Opera Digest broke the news that McCullough would be returning for another stint as Robin Scorpio-Drake, set to appear in November 2015. She returned on November 13, 2015. On February 2, 2018, it was announced that Robin will return to Port Charles for Nathan's funeral. She reprised the role for a brief period from February 6-13 in 2018.
In April 2018, it was announced that McCullough would return for the 2018 Nurse's Ball. On August 31, 2018, it was confirmed that McCullough would return again in the fall. On April 26, 2021, TVLine confirmed that the special episode dedicated to John Reilly will air on Friday, May 21.
McCullough debuted on September 6, 1985 and stayed with the series until September 12, 1996. Afterward, she returned as a series regular for brief stints: January 17, 1997 to February 3, 1997; March 12, 1997 to April 8, 1997; June 23, 1997 to August 8, 1997; December 11, 1997 to January 20, 1999; June 20-21, 2000 (for The Nurses' Ball); and July 16, 2004. She appeared on Port Charles in 1998, for one episode. She also appeared on May 30 to June 4, 2001 on All My Children when Robin reunited with her mother Anna.
Kimberly McCullough
Robin's Character and Impact
Married to Dr. Patrick Drake, Robin has two children: daughter Emma, born October 28, 2002, and son Noah, born July 2017. Through her marriage, she gained Dr. Noah Drake and Dr. Robin is a compassionate, resilient, and intelligent character, defined by her strength, loyalty, and deep emotional connections. As a doctor, she embodies a nurturing and determined spirit, shaped by her complex family ties, personal struggles, and enduring relationships in Port Charles. She is seen as a moral anchor and emotional core in General Hospital, often caught in high-stakes drama yet maintaining her integrity.
In 2018, it’s revealed that Robin has a long-lost cousin, Henrik Faison, also known as Peter August, through her aunt Alex Devane. Upon learning of Sasha’s paternity, Anna tells Robert that Robin has always wanted a sister.
The Scorpio-Drake family is off living their new life in California. Dr. Patrick Drake (Jason Thompson), Dr. Although they left Port Charles, they still have very close ties to the residents in their home town, including Robin’s mother, Anna Devane (Finola Hughes). Kimberly McCullough’s return to General Hospital will bring opportunity to develop certain story lines. It is unsure if actress Brooklyn Silzer will be accompanying her TV mom in reprising their roles as Robin and Emma.
Here’s the scoop, Soap Opera Digest just revealed that General Hospital has hired a new actor to portray a man from Sabrina’s past that will drive a wedge between her and Patrick. Assuming that this newcomer, Carlos, played by Jeffrey Vincent Parise, will want to be romantically involved with Sabrina, this could be the solution to the Robin, Patrick, Sabrina triangle. Fans have been waiting and waiting for the return of Robin Scorpio Drake, all the while some fans have grown to love Patrick with Sabrina.
What Was The Stone Cates AIDS Storyline On General Hospital? - Soap Opera Insider
Robin Scorpio's Timeline on General Hospital
Below is a timeline summarizing Robin Scorpio's key appearances on General Hospital:
| Years | Key Events |
|---|---|
| 1985-1996 | Debut as a child, family introductions, early life in Port Charles. |
| 1990s | Diagnosis with HIV, relationship with Stone Cates. |
| 1997-2004 | Relationship with Jason Morgan, leaving and returning to Port Charles. |
| 2005-2012 | Relationship with Patrick Drake, birth of Emma, struggles with postpartum depression, departure from General Hospital. |
| 2012-Present | Recurring guest appearances, returns for special events and storylines. |