John Ingle
Frederick M. Brown/Getty
John Ingle, a stalwart on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital for two decades, died on Sunday, a representative for the show confirmed to PEOPLE. He was 84.

In a posting on Facebook Monday, his family said: 'Father, Husband, Grandan, Great Grandan, Brother, Uncle, Friend, Teacher, Inspirer, Mentor: May You Soar with the Angels. You will forever hold a special place in the deepest corners of our hearts.'

Frank Valenti, executive producer of General Hospital, on which Ingle played calculating patriarch Edward Quartermaine from 1992 until last week, also Tweeted: 'With great sadness, I share the news of John Ingle's passing. We love him and will miss him. John will always be a part of the #GH family.'

In person, Ingle was said to be nothing like his character on the program. A native of Tulsa, according to the Internet Movie Database, Ingle graduated Occidental College in Los Angeles and became a teacher of English and theater – first at Hollywood High School, then at Beverly Hills High.

Among his students, it is reported, were David Schwimmer, Swoosie Kurtz, Julie Kavner, Albert Brooks, Nicolas Cage and several other future stars.

In 1954, a year before he started at Hollywood High, he wed Grace-Lynn Martin, and the two remained married 58 years, until her death this past February. They had five daughters, says IMDB. .