On October 8, General Hospital leading man Jon Lindstrom took to Instagram to share the worst of news. “It is my solemn task to announce the passing of the great Nicholas Pryor” at age 89, he wrote. “Nick was an actor’s actor and an exceptional friend. He passed [a day prior], surrounded by loving family.

“Nick may be best known for his role as the father of Tom Cruise in Risky Business or as the same to Robert Downey Jr. in Less Than Zero. He shared the screen with the likes of Jack Nicholson, Kurt Russell, Ewan McGregor. Too many to name, really.”

Lindstrom isn’t exaggerating. The veteran actor’s credits run the gamut from 1975’s The Happy Hooker to 2015’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1. “He starred on Broadway and delivered terrific work in film and TV for over 60 years,” said Lindstrom. “But to me, he was my friend. One of the best I’ve ever had. He was a mentor, a sounding board, a trusted confidant and even a father figure beyond, yes, playing my own father [Kevin’s dad, Victor] on General Hospital and Port Charles. And he was one of the funniest people you could hope to spend time with over a bottle of good wine and a great meal.

“I will miss him terribly, as will his beautiful wife Christina, his daughter Stacey and his two grandchildren, Gus and Avril,” he concluded. “R.I.P.”