Marco Rios Went Out a Hero on General Hospital and Adrian Anchondo Would Not Have Had It Any Other Way

ADRIAN ANCHONDO GAVE MARCO RIOS EVERYTHING HE HAD AND IT SHOWED

TL;DR: Adrian Anchondo spoke with TV Insider about Marco Rios’ death on General Hospital after nearly 80 episodes in one year. He called the exit powerful, praised his castmates, spoke about the importance of queer and Latino representation in daytime, and revealed he found love with Days of Our Lives actor Colton Little because of the show. And in true soap fashion, he reminded fans that four of his scene partners have come back from the dead.

Marco Rios Went Out a Hero

Adrian Anchondo knew it was coming. He told TV Insider that around August of last year, he started seeing signs and speculation online. He tried to ignore them, but the feeling shifted from if to when. So he did the only thing he could do. He gave Marco Rios everything he had, every single day, until the last one.

When the final scripts arrived, Anchondo did not feel cheated. He felt the opposite. He described the exit as powerful and said it made sense for who Marco was. Marco Rios went out a hero. He saved Britt Westbourne and Lucas Jones. He chose love over his father’s empire. He stole the medication knowing it could cost him everything. It cost him his life.

Filming the death was a marathon. Anchondo shot the stabbing, the discovery in Alexis Davis‘ office, and the surgery sequence all in one long day with hours in the makeup chair. He did not have many lines because Marco was being operated on, but the emotion was real. Van Hansis performed a monologue over his body. Carlo Rota performed a monologue over his body. Anchondo had to lie still and pretend he could not breathe, and the tears were not acting.

Adrian Anchondo gave Marco Rios nearly 80 episodes of heart and soul. Do you have a favorite Marco moment? Send it to [email protected] and we just might feature it!

The Bonds Behind the Scenes Were Real

Anchondo spoke at length about the relationships he built on set, and it is clear that the love Marco Rios had on screen was mirrored behind the cameras.

His bond with Hansis deepened throughout their time together. Anchondo shared that the two of them filmed a scene a few weeks ago where Lucas confronted Marco, and afterward Hansis told him it was one of the most special days he had experienced in years of doing this work. That kind of recognition from a veteran means something.

His connection with Rota was equally significant. Anchondo described feeling like Rota genuinely became his father on set over the last several months, and he credited the veteran actor’s guidance with helping him find deeper layers in Marco.

The biggest surprise for Anchondo was working with Kelly Thiebaud. He said she lights up the set, that Britt’s layers gave him so much to play against, and that he wished Marco and Britt could have become friends. Given what Marco sacrificed for Britt, that friendship was already there. He earned it with his life.

Representation, Love, and What Comes Next

Anchondo was candid about what Marco Rios meant beyond the storyline. He thanked executive producer Frank Valentini and casting director Mark Teschner for bringing a queer and Latino character to daytime during a time when that visibility matters more than ever. He said the messages from fans thanking him for showing multiple dimensions in a queer character were overwhelming, and he could not believe the response.

On a personal level, General Hospital gave Anchondo something no script could have written. He revealed that the show led him to his partner, Colton Little, who plays Andrew Donovan on Days of Our Lives. Anchondo reached out to Little after joining the cast, they started dating, and the response from fans has been beautiful. Marco Rios may not have gotten the happiest ending on screen, but the man who played him found his off it.

Anchondo has already been auditioning for new projects and mentioned callbacks for HBO. Nearly 80 episodes in one year gave him more material than most actors get in five years of primetime. He called it a gift.

And because this is the world of soaps, Anchondo pointed out that four of the people he acted with on General Hospitalhave come back from the dead. So never say never.

Valentini told TV Insider that the cast and crew enjoyed working with Anchondo and wished him the best in his future endeavors. We second that. Adrian Anchondo made Marco Rios someone worth caring about, worth rooting for, and worth mourning. That is not a small thing in daytime. That is everything.

Do you think Marco Rios could ever return to Port Charles? And what was your favorite Marco moment? Sound off below because this character deserved every tear we shed!

WATCH THIS: As it turns out, NO, we CAN’T have nice things.

@soapoperamag MARCO BETTER NOT BE DEAD! Why can't GH ever let us have nice things? Why do they always ruin our joy? Marco was PERFECT! Alexis better walk in that room and find a pulse or so help me, I'll cry! #GeneralHospital ♬ original sound – Soap Opera Magazine