The soap world has been in mourning since the passing of one of its most beloved veteran actor’s, Tristan Rogers. The former General Hospital and The Young and the Restless star, died on August 15th from lung cancer. Rogers was 79-years-old.
However, Rogers and Y&R had one last surprise for viewers. Tristan actually filmed scenes as a dying Colin just several weeks before his own death, pairing him with his on-screen son, Cane, now played by Billy Flynn.
In the set-up of the story, alone in a his train car, Cane reflects on how his children and Lily (Christel Khalil) want nothing to do with him for disappearing on them for six years and becoming the wealthy business magnate “Aristotle Dumas.”
Courtesy/CBS
As Cane poured himself a drink, he flashed back to being at a gravely ill Colin’s bedside, marking the first time we see Rogers in the episode. Cane gets Colin glass of water and he responds, “I don’t suppose you could put a drop of scotch in it?” he joked weakly. Cane refused, and told Colin not to try this with Jill (Jess Walton) either. Colin responds, “Why do you guys think you know so much about me?” Back in the present, Colin looks at a letter from his mother, Genevieve Atkinson, and then proceeds to open up to his children, in a lengthy video message to hopefully open the door fo him to eventually step back into their lives.
After Phyllis (Michelle Stafford) arrives and convinces Cane to send the video, he hits send. After he asks Phyllis to leave, Cane flashes back to sitting by his father’s bed, urging him to stick around to add more zeroes to his bank account. “I’m tired,” Colin replied. Even though he is tired, Colin shows love to Cane, sharing that he is worried about his son. Colin reminded Cane that Aristotle Dumas was just a name, not a person with a family who needed him. “Wait too long and the mask burns into the skin,” said Colin wisely. Next Cane promised he wouldn’t let it get that far. Meanwhile, Colin with having the same snide remarks we used to love, snarks back, “Famous last words.”
Courtesy/CBS
In a hankie-inducing moment, Cane remembers when Colin says, “Don’t tell Jill how much I love her. It’ll just make it that much harder when I’m gone.” In addition, Colin urges his son to try to reconnect with the woman he loves now, before it’s too late. adding, “Make it up to Lily in 50 years when it’s your turn to go?”
Cane promises his father, he will let go of Dumas soon but he needs to finish one more thing. Colin firmly tells Cane that “Dumas has served his purpose, and what is important from now on is Cane and his family. “
In his final lines, Tristan Rogers as Colin told Cane, “Then you bury Dumas forever, “You promise me.” In that moment, Cane reached out and took his father’s hand.
While it was heartbreaking to see a very frail Tristan Rogers, he left fans this big gift – that he never stopped acting until the very end, and he gave closure to one of his favorite TV roles – while getting the chance to play scenes with his new and last television son in Billy Flynn.
In addition, it should be noted that Billy Flynn delivered another very fine performance in his career. as the entire hour focused on Cane making the videotape for his kids, reflecting on his actions thus far, changing his plans for the future, and remembering his dad’s dying words.
So, how did you feel about seeing Tristan Rogers one final time as Colin on The Young and the Restless? Did you reach for the hankies? What were your thoughts on Billy Flynn’s scenes with Rogers in today’s special episode? Share your thoughts via the comment section.
