Daytime television legend Anthony Geary, forever remembered as Luke Spencer on General Hospital, has died.
Daytime Icon Anthony Geary Dead At 78
According to TV Insider, Geary passed away on December 14 at the age of 78 due to complications from a scheduled operation performed three days earlier.
In the late 1960s, Geary relocated to Los Angeles, where he began building a steady television résumé with appearances on popular primetime series, including The Partridge Family, The Mod Squad, and All in the Family. He soon found a home in daytime television, first portraying David Lockhart on Bright Promise from 1971–1972, followed by the controversial role of George Curtis—a rapist—during the inaugural year of The Young and the Restless.
That fearless work caught the attention of legendary General Hospital producer Gloria Monty, who cast Geary as Luke Spencer in 1978, a decision that would change the landscape of daytime television forever. The casting became historic when Geary was paired with Genie Francis’ Laura Webber. Their electrifying chemistry and the wildly popular on-the-run storyline in 1980 propelled General Hospital to the top of the ratings, transforming Luke and Laura into a cultural phenomenon.
In 1981, Geary and Francis appeared on the cover of Newsweek, a rare honor for daytime performers. Later that year, Luke and Laura’s wedding drew an estimated 30 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched events in television history. The episode featured screen legend Elizabeth Taylor, an avid GH fan, as Helena Cassadine. To commemorate the moment, Geary, Francis, and Taylor later graced the cover of People magazine.
Remarkably, the day before Geary was scheduled to enter the hospital, he completed a scene with Anders Hove (General Hospital’s Cesar Faison) for an upcoming project—marking his final acting work.
Geary retired from General Hospital in 2015 and went on to live exclusively in Amsterdam, a city he deeply loved and considered home.
He is survived by Gama, his partner of more than three decades, who shared exclusively with TV Insider:
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband.”
For the past 16 years, their family also included “little Max,” their beloved cat.
Anthony Geary leaves behind an unparalleled legacy—one that helped define daytime television and turned General Hospital into a cultural institution. His impact on the genre and on the millions of fans who welcomed Luke Spencer into their homes will never be forgotten.
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