Veteran actor Walter “Rif” Hutton, known for roles in General Hospital and JAG, has died at 73, his wife has confirmed.
The actor passed away at his home in Pasadena, California, his wife, Bridget Hoffman, told The Hollywood Reporter. He has battled a year-long illness with glioblastoma.
The veteran character actor made a lasting impression through his iconic roles in series such as Doogie Howser, MD, JAG, and General Hospital.
The sad news was also announced by his friend and voice-over colleague Steve Apostolina. On April 20, he paid tribute to his friend, writing on Facebook that he was a “remarkable human being.”
“To say that Rif Hutton was one of a kind is a gross understatement. There will never be another like him,” Apostolina wrote, explaining that Hutton was “incredibly bright and the hardest working person I’ve ever known.”
“I worked in the voice over community with him for over 30 years but I really got to know him well when I directed him in one of my early plays. And while I knew him and spent a fair amount of time with him, he’d rarely talk about himself, because he was a humble man,” the actor continued.
‘General Hospital’ and ‘JAG’ actor Rif Hutton dies at 73
Apostolina concluded, “I was lucky to cross his path and I am a better person for knowing him.”
Born on November 28, 1952, in San Antonio, Walter Hutton grew up moving across the United States due to his father’s service in the U.S. Air Force, spending much of his childhood in New Jersey. It was there, in eighth grade, that something clicked. After delivering a powerful recitation of I Have a Dream in a statewide contest — and winning — he realized acting might actually be within reach.
After graduating from Seton Hall University and serving in the U.S. Navy, Hutton began carving out his place in Hollywood. In the mid-1980s, he appeared in popular TV shows such as The Jeffersons, Remington Steele, 227, and Night Court. He also landed a role in the 1988 film Stand and Deliver alongside Edward James Olmos.
Over the years, Hutton became a familiar face on television, appearing in beloved series such as Married… with Children, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Family Matters, and Shameless.
Last appearance in 2025
Rif Hutton’s most iconic role was as Dr. Ron Welch, a friend and colleague of Neil Patrick Harris’ title character on the sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D., on which he starred in 17 episodes across all four seasons. Moreover, he starred on 15 episodes of JAG and 32 episodes of the daytime soap General Hospital.
His final TV appearances came in two episodes of S.W.A.T., airing in 2024 and 2025.
While Rif Hutton did plenty of work in front of the camera, he also excelled behind a microphone. He lent his voice to several animated hits like Shark Tale, Rio, Hotel Transylvania, and The Angry Birds Movie 2
Rest in peace, Rif Hutton. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones.
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