In the American soap General Hospital, Tristan Riggs took over the role of Aiden Webber in May, and last year, he played Young Daniel Brayer in Tubi Original horror film Dante’s Hotel, sharing the role with Judd Nelson, and he played Andy in an episode of True Lies. Amongst Tristan’s other projects, he played Kyle H. in the Apple TV+ series Best Foot Forward, Young Liam (Keegan Allen) in an episode of Walker, starred as Nicholas in the 2021 horror film The Seventh Day with Guy Pearce, and he worked on his first horror film in 2018 as Young Dax (Robbie Kay) in Blood Fest. Tristan has recently wrapped on a horror film on location in Atlanta, with a 2025 release date, and he has worked on a number of YouTube projects with a future release. Talking to Tristan, he told us about his time as Aiden Webber in General Hospital, playing Young Daniel Brayer (Judd Nelson) in horror film Dante’s Hotel and working on The Seventh Day.

In May, you took over the role of Aiden Webber in General Hospital, was there anything that drew you to the character and show and how did you feel finding out you’d booked the role?

I was really excited when I found out that I booked the role. I had gone in for a producer session at the studio and we went through the scene one time. They asked me a few questions about what I do outside of acting and then thanked me for coming by. I was in the parking lot when my manager called and said she was getting on a call with casting to discuss my session with them. It was just a short time later when we were at dinner that I got the call that I booked the role, so that was really nice. You never know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing if they just have you do the scene once.

How did you find your time working on a soap opera and what do you remember from your first day on set?

What was really interesting to me working on a soap opera versus film and other single-camera series that I had been on was the pace that they film a scene. They move very fast! They film a scene so fast, sometimes just a couple of takes, and then they move on! The reason is that the sets are already built, the lighting is already in place, and they have multiple cameras rolling at the same time so there is no setting up and breaking down and waiting around between scenes.

What was Aiden like to play and how was it filming alongside the rest of the cast and crew?

I really had a great time playing Aiden and working alongside the rest of the cast. Many of the cast and crew have been on that show for many seasons and it’s just a very polished process at this point. Everyone shows up and is ready to go and just very professional and a joy to work with.

You played Young Daniel Brayer in the 2023 Tubi Original horror film Dante’s Hotel, how was it getting into character and sharing the role with Judd Nelson?

Yeah, that was a cool experience to share a role with Judd Nelson! I remember him, of course, from The Breakfast Club and his iconic role so getting to work with him and playing the younger version of the same character is a cool experience. Getting into character is always fun on a horror film for sure. You kind of have to really put yourself in the situation and ask yourself what the character would be thinking and feeling and then use that.

What was it like playing Andy in an episode of True Lies last year?

Really fun! I’m always excited when there are stunts or martial arts, especially when I get to do some of them myself! In this case, we were able to do some martial arts and then when it got really intense we had our stunt doubles step in. Also, getting to work on anything James Cameron is involved in is super cool.

Can you tell us about your character Kyle H. in Best Foot Forward for Apple TV+ and what did you enjoy most about playing him?

I liked that Kyle H. was kind of a bit self-centred and a bit of a bully because I feel like I always play the victim or the nice guy. So that was something a little different than most of my roles and it can be really nice to play a different type of character every now and then.

What was the series like to be part of and did you have a favourite scene to film?

Probably the field day scenes where we are all running around and racing each other. This was fun because I had made a lot of friends on set and it really kind of felt like a real field day at school.

How was it filming your episode of Walker as Young Liam (Keegan Allen) in Series 2?

It was fun. I got a chance to chat with Jared Padalecki during filming and hang out at an old house for those scenes. Also, my scene partner Mason Thames and I played football between takes and waiting to film so that was another fun thing to do on set. That was filmed outside of Austin so it was nice to get to film something in my hometown!

How did you find the experience playing Nicholas, one of the lead characters in the 2021 horror film The Seventh Day with Guy Pearce?

Playing Nicholas was so fun to film. I enjoyed every moment on set, whether it was spent in the special effects chair getting my makeup done, going over my stunts with the stunt crew, or even socialising with the other very talented actors on set. It was overall a great experience and truly sparked my interest in continuing being in horror films.

What are some of your stand-out memories from working on The Seventh Day?

It has to be being chained to a bed with a lot of special effects makeup on my arms and face for a couple of days in a row while we filmed those opening scenes. I also really liked that I got to do some of my own stunts in that film and doing the wire work when my character levitates off of the bed during a possession.

In 2018, you played Young Dax (Robbie Kay) in Blood Fest, what was this like?

It was a bloody good time! It was a great experience getting to work with Robbie as well as with Tate Donovan too. Blood Fest was really my first real horror film that I worked on so it was a new experience to me.

Over your career so far, you have worked on a number of other projects including short films, Sesame Street and Scare Package, can you tell us about some of them?

Yeah, I think when you are starting out as a young actor you try to take on as much as you can so you get experience working on a lot of different types of projects. Scare Package was great because I got to work with professional wrestling legend, Dustin Rhodes. Sesame Street was great because who hasn’t watched Sesame Street? It is an iconic show with puppets!

You have won and been nominated for many awards, including three nominations/one win at this year’s Young Artist Awards, how does it feel being recognised for your acting?

It feels great! There is so much work that goes into it that I don’t think people realise that are not in this industry. You are told “no” a lot so when you finally get to “yes” and then for it to turn out really well and get recognised, it’s really nice. There are so many people that are involved in a film or series that are all working hard to make something great so it’s really an amazing feeling when it all comes together.

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it?

That really just came from seeing my older sister, Charlotte Delaney Riggs, get into theatre first and then acting. I wanted to get involved too. We sometimes get to work together although usually not as a brother and sister pair, which seems strange. For example, a recent film that we both worked on, we were two high school friends in the film.

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch and how do you like to spend your free time?

In my free time, I skateboard a lot, go to concerts, and hang out with my friends. My family and I also travel a lot. I just got back a few months ago from my third trip to Japan. We also visited South Korea. I really love travelling and just getting to experience new cultures and trying new foods and seeing new places. As far as films or TV shows, I just finished binge-watching Ghosts, which is really funny. One of my favourite series of all time was Breaking Bad.

What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can tell us about?

Well, I just wrapped on a horror film in Atlanta a month or so ago that should come out in early 2025. That stars William Baldwin, Glenn Morshower, and Tom Arnold. I shared some scenes with Glenn and Tom and am playing William Baldwin’s younger character, Teen Moses. That one was fun to film! I also have some YouTube projects I’m working on that will release soon with YouTuber and influencer Txunamy so keep an eye out for those. In the next year, I want to work on something that I can star in and be the lead on. I also would really love to work on an action film, like a Marvel project or something like that.

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