The entertainment world mourns the loss of Anthony Geary, the acclaimed actor who brought the iconic character Luke Spencer to life on ABC’s long-running daytime drama ‘General Hospital,’ who passed away Sunday at age 78. While initial reports from TMZ indicate his death occurred in Amsterdam following complications from a planned surgical procedure, the official cause remains unconfirmed.
Geary’s journey to television immortality began in his native Utah, where he earned a theater scholarship to the University of Utah before migrating to Los Angeles during the 1970s to pursue acting. His early career included guest appearances on popular series including ‘The Partridge Family,’ ‘The Mod Squad,’ and ‘All in the Family’ before his transformative casting in 1978.
It was producer-director Gloria Monty who recognized Geary’s potential and crafted the complex character of Lucas Lorenzo Spencer specifically for him. Monty envisioned Luke as an antihero—a morally ambiguous figure who consistently made questionable choices for ultimately righteous reasons. This groundbreaking character archetype would revolutionize daytime television storytelling.
Geary’s portrayal achieved cultural phenomenon status through his electrifying chemistry with co-star Genie Francis, who played Laura Webber. Their characters’ tumultuous romance captivated millions, culminating in a 1981 wedding episode that attracted approximately 30 million viewers—a record-setting audience for daytime television that even drew Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor for a special appearance.
Throughout his celebrated career, Geary established himself as the most decorated actor in daytime television history, earning an unprecedented eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series between 1982 and 2015, supplemented by nine additional nominations. His tenure on ‘General Hospital’ spanned multiple decades, featuring a brief departure in 1983 before his return in 1991, ultimately concluding his regular appearances in July 2015.
Executive producer Frank Valentini expressed the profound grief felt throughout the ‘General Hospital’ community: ‘The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing. Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for. His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer’s, will live on through the generations of G.H. cast members who have followed in his footsteps.’