Robert Palmer Watkins is best known for his role as Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital, where he appeared in over 190 episodes from 2014 to 2017. Since then, he’s kept busy with a wide range of projects, from mobisodes and primetime series to feature films.
With the recent General Hospital storyline honoring Leslie Charleson’s legacy as Monica Quartermaine, and a few eye-catching tweets from Robert himself, Soap Opera News caught up with him to discuss his time on the show, share his thoughts on bringing Dillon back, and talk about what he’s working on now. Read on to find out what the actor, producer, writer, and singer had to say.
Robert Explains Why He Chose Acting
If you’ve seen Robert on screen, you know he brings a powerful mix of charm, heart, and intensity to every role. But before all that, he was just a kid with a camcorder, a vivid imagination, and a dream far removed from Hollywood.
“I was always a really creative kid,” he explains. “I was always putting on… You know, trying to grab a video camera with my friends or put on a show in the neighborhood or film a movie with my camcorder.”
In fact, acting wasn’t even his first passion.
“I was way more of a visual artist. I would draw a lot, and my dream was to be an animator.”
That dream followed him through a tough transition from North Carolina to Virginia, where he found himself navigating the minefield that is middle school; new town, new school, a thick country accent, and all.
“We moved to Richmond, Virginia, when I was in middle school, and it was a hard time to move. Everybody was already very clicky,” he jokes. “It was really hard.”
As he struggled to find his place, Robert leaned on creativity as a form of escape and expression.
“I just kind of relied on the arts,” he shares. He adds, “I spent hours and hours drawing. I had a sketchbook and just a lot of animation and stuff.”
But high school brought a turning point. Though academics never clicked (“math and science were not my brain,” he says), certain teachers began to notice something special in Robert.
“I was told I was ADD and needed to be on medication and all the things. But it’s because I was a creative,” he explains. “Sitting at a desk, for me, was just not it.”
He recalls a moment of connection when listening to a Joe Rogan podcast with Lionel Richie, who shared similar struggles in school.
The lightbulb moment came when a combination of teachers—specifically his English and drama instructors—encouraged him to audition for the school play.
“I didn’t even know what I was doing. But I auditioned and got a small part in Don’t Drink the Water,” he laughs.
Even in a small role, the spark was undeniable.
“I loved it. I found my people. The theater kids were just weirdos and misfits and all different types of people coming together. I loved the camaraderie, the energy on stage, the pressure; it felt like a sport, almost. You have to rely on your teammates. Every night, something’s different.”
The Moment He Made the Choice
That was the moment Robert knew he was onto something real. He doubled down—literally—enrolling in both his home high school’s drama program and a magnet arts program at Henrico High School, known as the hub for performing arts in Richmond.
“I got accepted into both the visual arts and theater programs, which was a huge honor,” he said. “I had to choose: do I go with the thing I’ve always done, or this new thing that’s calling to me? And I chose acting. Something in my gut just said, ‘I can see a career in this.’”
Choosing Acting Over Art
From that point on, his days were a whirlwind of acting classes, rehearsals, and performances. “It was kind of cool, because I caught up. It was like I’d been acting since I was born,” he says.
He soon became a staple in school productions, eventually transitioning into musicals, and even found himself in an a cappella group called The Syncopations—a group that, thanks to its cool twist on pop and hip-hop, started drawing in unlikely members.
But even with his heart in the arts, college was the next expected step.
“My parents were like, ‘We support your dream, but we want you to get a degree,’” he says. “And I wanted the college experience too—football games, campus life, all of that.”
He enrolled at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, where he majored in musical theater.
“I was actually the only freshman cast in both the fall and spring productions. Then again, in the fall, my sophomore year. So I was doing well.”
Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was meant to be somewhere else.
“Academically, I just wasn’t present. I knew I wasn’t going to stay.” So he told his parents of his choice, and that’s when his mom handed him a flyer.
“She found this thing for AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy). They had a campus in New York and one in L.A. She said, ‘Why don’t you audition?’”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Mobisodes and the Rise of Vertical Storytelling
Fast forward to today, and Robert has found himself at the forefront of a rapidly growing trend: vertical storytelling, often referred to as mobisodes.
“You know, they’re really popular right now,” he says. “They’re kind of like soaps. We shoot a ton of content in about 10 days. I’ve been the lead male in most of the vertical shows I’ve done, and they’ve been great; very consistent.”
He admits the genre has its tropes. “They can be repetitive; wealthy CEO meets the girl who teaches him to feel again,” he laughs. “It’s a little Aquin Romance kind of vibe. But there’s an audience for it. People love the fantasy.”
That said, Robert believes the genre is evolving, and quickly.
“I think vertical stories are here to stay. Everyone’s watching on their phones now. The scripts are getting better. Big companies, Netflix, Disney, Hulu, are noticing. A lot of the new ones I’ve been auditioning for are American-written, backed by serious players. I think these could become the new CW-type shows.”
He sees an opportunity to capture a lost audience. “We don’t really have networks catering to that teen/young adult crowd anymore, but that audience is still huge. Shows like The Summer I Turned Pretty prove it. Vertical storytelling could be the next evolution.”
Soaps Set the Stage
Robert credits his soap opera background—most notably his role as Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital—for preparing him for the high-pressure world of verticals.
“Absolutely. My soap and theater background helped big time. Memorizing quickly, adapting on the fly, moving fast—that’s soap life. On verticals, you only get one or two takes. You’ve got to go, go, go.”
Let’s Talk General Hospital
Robert Palmer Watkins recently posted a heartfelt message on X about the death of Monica Quartermaine and how deeply connected he still feels to the Quartermaine family.
“I check in with GH when I can, but I don’t get to watch regularly anymore,” he says. “I’ve been filming a lot, which is great. After GH, I went on to do The Walking Dead, SWAT, Uglies, a bunch of TV movies, and more recently, a ton of vertical series.”
But the Quartermaines still matter to him.
“I always get excited when I see Wally Kurth back on screen as Ned. I always loved working with him. And storylines with Monica and Tracy—those hit close, because that’s Dillon’s world.”
Watkins remains extremely grateful for his time on the show—and he didn’t hesitate to say he’d go back in a heartbeat.
Still, Watkins is optimistic about the character’s future. “I think there are still a lot of interesting stories to be told with him. It’d be really compelling to explore how Dillon might react to these crucial moments in the Quartermaine family’s history. And if they ever wanted to bring him back, I’d absolutely be interested in telling those stories.”
That said, Watkins has kept in touch with a number of his former GH colleagues. “Hayley Erin and I are; we’re very close. We’ve stayed best friends.”
“We don’t see each other as much because she’s a mom now, and she’s also very busy. She’s on [The Young and the Restless]. I live in Santa Monica. She lives over on the other side of the hill. But we get together quite often. We’re actually both going to Camryn Grimes’ wedding in a couple weeks.”
He adds, “Wally and I get together for lunch and connect here and there. I also keep in touch with some of the guys, Brian Craig and Chad Duell.” Outside of that, “Social media makes it easy to kind of keep in touch with everybody.”
Landing the Role of Dillon
Robert was nothing but over the moon about his new daytime soap opera gig. He explains, “I didn’t grow up watching soaps, but my grandmother did, which was so funny because I remember going into the kitchen and she’d be in there with her cigarette and she’d be watching soaps on her little TV while she was by the dishes.”
He continues, “When I got on, she had just passed away, but I know it must have tickled her to see that I was now on there. When I found out I booked the role, my manager called me and said, ‘You booked it and you’re playing Dillon Quartermaine, a legacy character.’ And that was exciting. I didn’t know who he was, but I knew that it was a big deal that he was part of the Quartermaine crew. So, of course, I went and did a deep dive on YouTube, and I caught up on old episodes.”
Making Dillon His Own
Robert Palmer Watkins said he watched old scenes and studied how soap operas were filmed, especially Scott Clifton’s portrayal of Dillon Quartermaine, to understand the character’s history. But he also wanted to make the role his own, rather than just copy what had been done before. He was set on bringing the character back through a new lens, his own.
Robert said his first week on General Hospital was intense—they threw him right into the action—but it gave him a chance to prove himself.
One of the most meaningful moments came when Jane Elliot stopped by his dressing room. She told him that everyone on set was talking about how well he was doing, and that while some actors sink or swim when they first start, he was definitely swimming.
That support meant a lot to him, and he ended up staying on the show for three years.
As for his dynamic with Jane, he explains that she was very supportive, consistent, and someone who offered genuine advice.
Leslie, he explains, had this light, sweet, almost motherly energy. She’d crack jokes, laugh off mistakes, and always brought a sense of ease to the set. Robert said both women were incredibly kind, and working with them taught him to own his place in the room and trust that he belonged.
On Returning to Daytime
Robert’s favorite storyline was the Nurses Ball, especially the moment he got to sing “Stitches” with Hayley Erin (Kiki). It was one of the few times he got to blend his real-life music abilities into the character, and fans loved it.
He also really loved his early stuff—especially the storyline where Dillon was directing a movie. Since Robert’s a real-life filmmaker, that felt incredibly natural and fun to play.
He’s open to returning to soaps—he even read for a part on The Young and the Restless a couple years ago. But for now, he’s focused on finding roles that challenge him and let him explore different sides of himself. And yes, he’s ready if GH ever calls again.
Music as Muse
In addition to acting, Robert has dipped into music, and fans may remember his music video “Waiting”.
“Music definitely inspires me,” he says. “If I’m prepping for a role, a certain song or genre can help me drop into that world. I love putting something on at the gym or when I’m falling asleep. Music videos are so good now, too.”
As for a dream collab?
“Maybe someone like Chris Stapleton,” he says. “I’ve released pop stuff, and I love it, but I think there’s some soul and country in my voice that’d be fun to explore.”
What’s Next for Robert Palmer Watkins?
Robert’s been busy, and he’s not slowing down.
- “The Fostered” – A recently released film now streaming.
- “The Veil” – A short film based on the bestselling novel.
- “One Guy Too Many Dates” – A rom-com set to drop soon.
- Multiple vertical series, shot back-to-back.
He also hints at other projects on the horizon, some period pieces and fantasy-driven epics.
“I’d love to do something like Game of Thrones, or Gladiator—where the world is just so different from modern life. That kind of immersive project is definitely on the bucket list.”
A Message to GH Fans
Robert still feels the love from General Hospital fans, even years after leaving the show.
“I just want to say thank you. You guys are the most supportive fan base ever. When I got let go from GH, I couldn’t believe the response on social media. The love, the trending hashtags—it meant the world. And you’ve stuck with me, supporting every project. It makes me feel like people care, and that’s everything.”
What do you think? Would you love to see Robert Palmer Watkins return as Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear from you!
Photo Credit: Robert Adamson.
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