Veteran actor Jack Axelrod - known for his work on General Hospital - dies aged 93 of natural causes

Veteran television actor Jack Axelrod — best known for his work on the long-running soap opera General Hospital — has passed away at the age of 93.

The performer died of natural causes in Los Angeles on November 28, as confirmed by his rep Jennifer Garland to Entertainment Weekly on Saturday. 

Garland said she 'had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with him in his last years, as he had no immediate family.'

She then gave the media outlet insight into the final months of the performer's life.

'We spent much time outdoors, where Jack loved to sketch, read news articles, and recite Shakespearean sonnets,' Garland recalled.

The actor was born in Los Angeles on January 25, 1930, and later served as a corporal in the United States Army, being stationed in Germany from 1953 until 1955.

He went on to study architecture at the University of California, Berkeley and became a licensed architect in Washington state.

He also moved to New York City, where he studied acting underneath Uta Hagen at the Herbert Berghof Studio for a total of six years.

Axelrod began his acting career while maintaining his position as an architect.

He played Banquo in an off-Broadway production of Macbeth that premiered in 1969, as reported by Variety.

Axelrod went on to appear in the off-Broadway play Gandhi, which premiered the following year, and starred in the Broadway production of the project, which closed after just one performance.

The late performer made his big-screen debut in the Woody Allen-directed feature Bananas, which premiered in 1971.

Axelrod maintained an active career as a film actor over the years, and he appeared in numerous productions, including Vice, Hancock and J. Edgar.

The entertainment industry figure also broke into the television world, and his first appearance on the small screen was in a 1977 episode of the crime drama series Kojak.

The actor went on to begin his tenure as Victor Jerome in General Hospital in 1987 and portrayed the character in a total of 40 episodes, with his final episode airing in 1989.

The performer later appeared in supporting roles in programs such as My Name Is Earl, Grey's Anatomy and Ray Donovan. 

In addition to his acting career, Axelrod served as a member of the theater faculty of several learning institutions, including the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin and Penn State.

The actor's final appearance in a filmed project was in the 2020 feature Bad Therapy, and he retired that same year.