'General Hospital' star Anthony Geary dies at 78
LOS ANGELES -- "General Hospital" star Anthony Geary, who played iconic ABC daytime character Luke Spencer for 40 years, has died, a publicist confirmed. He was 78.
Geary lived in the Netherlands and died Sunday of complications from a scheduled operation.
Fans remember Geary's Luke Spencer for being quirky, impulsive, brash and sassy, which made him one of daytime TV's most iconic characters. He was half of the ultimate soap supercouple "Luke and Laura," opposite Genie Francis. Their on-screen wedding in 1981 stands as the most-watched daytime episode in history.
"He was a powerhouse as an actor. Shoulder to shoulder with the greats. No star burned brighter than Tony Geary," Francis posted today. "He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life. I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner."
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television. Anthony captivated audiences for decades and earned a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards," ABC Entertainment said in a statement. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and colleagues."
"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 GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps. We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace," said GH Executive Producer Frank Valentini.
Geary's longtime role as Luke Spencer began in 1978 and lasted until 2015.
"He was not created to be a heroic character," Geary told "Nightline" in 2015. "He was created to be an anti-hero, and I have treasured the anti-side of the hero and pushed it for a long time."
"He's not a white hat or a black hat, he's all shades of grey," he continued. "And that has been the saving grace of playing him all these years."
