Anthony Geary, the actor who brought Luke Spencer to life on General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 78. The news was reported by TV Insider on Sunday, December 14, following complications from an operation three days prior. In a statement, his husband, Claudio Gama, described the loss as a "shock" for their families and friends. "For over 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband," Gama shared.
Geary was a household name for his portrayal of Luke Spencer on General Hospital, a role he originated in 1978. The character's romantic entanglement with Genie Francis's Laura made them the most-watched supercouple in daytime television history. Their 1981 wedding episode was viewed by 30 million people, making it the most-watched episode in soap opera history. Geary left the series in 2015.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on December 15, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini expressed the "entire General Hospital family's heartbreak" over the news. "Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for," Valentini said. "His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer's, will live on through the generations of GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps."
Geary was born in Coalville, Utah, in 1947. He started his career with guest roles on TV shows like All in the Family and The Streets of San Francisco. In 1978, he joined General Hospital as a 13-week stint that turned into a long-lasting role. The show was on the brink of cancellation, but under the guidance of executive producer Gloria Monty, Luke became a central part of the show's revival.
Over time, Luke's character evolved from a "cheap little punk" to a "sympathetic" and "witty" figure, thanks in large part to his romance with Francis's Laura. However, that romance had an ignominious start as Luke raped Laura before they fell in love. The show attempted to recast the rape as a "seduction," but faced backlash from feminist and victim groups. The fictional couple split in 2001, but their 1981 wedding remains one of the most iconic moments in General Hospital's history.
Despite being a 16-time nominee for the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series and winning a record eight times, Geary felt stifled by perceptions that he could only play Luke. He left the show in 1984 to focus on theater and film roles like Disorderlies (1987), UHF (1989), and Scorchers (1991). But he ultimately returned to the series in 1993 and continued to play Luke until his departure in 2015.
Reflecting on his General Hospital legacy, Geary once said it was "once very difficult" for him to deal with the fact that he was best known for his role as Luke. "It’s not my favorite time of my life, and I don’t think it represents me as a person or an actor," he said. "It’s kind of like whenever you are introduced, they haul out a high-school graduation picture. It can be irritating." Nonetheless, he was thankful for the opportunity to be such an integral part of daytime and television history. "It’s been a really exciting ride," he said. "In the end, it’s been well worth it."
