David Gail, known for his role as Dr. Joe Scanlon on the ABC soap opera “Port Charles” and his appearances on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has died at 58. The news of his death was shared by his sister, Katie Colmenares, on Instagram on Saturday. The cause and date of death were not disclosed.
In the mid-to-late 1990s, David Gail was a prolific television actor, leaving a mark on popular shows. His most significant role came in the “General Hospital” spinoff series “Port Charles,” where he portrayed Dr. Joe Scanlon in 216 episodes during the 1999-2000 season. Dr. Scanlon’s character was a love interest of Dr. Karen Wexler, one of the main characters on the show, as noted by a “General Hospital” fan site.
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Earlier in his career, Gail had a notable presence on the iconic series “Beverly Hills, 90210.” In 1991, during the first season, he initially appeared in a one-off role as a hotel bellhop named Tom. Despite not securing a recurring character part initially, Gail made an impression on casting directors. Two years later, his return to the show in Season 4 featured him as Stuart Carson, the son of a wealthy businessman engaged to Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty). The storyline depicted a tumultuous relationship with the wedding never taking place.
Reflecting on his return to “Beverly Hills, 90210” in a 2021 podcast, Gail expressed his initial shock, questioning how he could return to the show. However, the decision to play different characters on the same show turned out to be successful, and he embraced the opportunity.
In addition to his roles on these prominent series, David Gail had notable appearances in other television shows. He portrayed Eddie Bartlett in 22 episodes of “Robin Hoods” (1994-1995) and took on the character Dean Collins in 34 episodes of the series “Savannah” (1996-1997).
As of Sunday night, details about survivors and other aspects of David Gail’s passing were not available. Messages to Gail’s representatives had not been returned at the time of reporting. The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a talented actor who left his mark on beloved TV shows.
