Hollywood is mourning the loss of a familiar face from some of TV’s most beloved shows.
Veteran actor Rif Hutton has died at the age of 73 after a yearlong battle with the aggressive brain cancer Glioblastoma. He passed away on April 18 at his home in Pasadena, California, according to his family and close friends.
Hutton may not have always been the lead, but chances are you’ve seen him on your screen. With nearly 200 TV credits to his name, he built a career as one of Hollywood’s most reliable and recognizable character actors. Fans remember him from hit shows like Doogie Howser, M.D., JAG, and General Hospital, along with appearances in classics like Seinfeld and NCIS: Los Angeles.
Over the decades, he popped up everywhere—from Full House to Married… with Children—becoming one of those actors audiences instantly recognized, even if they didn’t always know his name.
But those who worked with him knew exactly who he was.
Close friend and voice-over artist Steve Apostolina paid tribute in an emotional message, calling Hutton “a remarkable human being” and “one of a kind.” He described him as the ultimate professional—always the most prepared and often the first to arrive on set.
“He was always first to show up,” Apostolina shared, adding that beating him to set was a rare victory.
Hutton also had longer runs on shows like Tribes, where he appeared in 95 episodes, and returned to General Hospital in recent years for a 32-episode stint between 2021 and 2022. On the big screen, he appeared in projects like the animated hit Ice Age: Collision Course.
Even as his health declined, Hutton stayed active and engaged. After being diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2025, he took part in the National Brain Tumor Society’s Southern California walk, using his voice to raise awareness and support others facing similar battles.
“Every person facing this deserves support,” he said at the time, urging others to join the fight and spread hope.
He is survived by his wife, voice actress Bridget Hoffman, and their son, Wolfy.