Anthony Geary, the legendary actor best known for playing Luke Spencer on General Hospital, has died at the age of 78. A beloved figure in daytime television, Geary passed away on December 14 due to complications from a scheduled operation he underwent three days earlier. Over the course of his career, he won eight Daytime Emmy Awards and helped redefine what a soap opera star could be.
Just weeks before his death, Geary was seen watching former co-star Genie Francis appear on Maurice Benard’s State of Mind podcast. The moment was shared online by Geary’s husband, Claudio Gama, who wrote that the video “really made Tony very happy.” Gama said Geary remarked, “Those are two lovely and talented people, great friends, and I miss them.”
Geary was born on May 29, 1947, in Coalville, Utah, and raised in a Mormon household. His father ran a construction company, and his mother was a homemaker. He grew up with three sisters — Dana, DeAnn, and Jana. Although his mother hoped he would become a teacher, Geary felt drawn to acting from an early age, a passion that would ultimately shape his entire life.
While studying at the University of Utah, Geary’s talent caught the eye of actor Jack Albertson of Chico and the Man fame, who attended one of his performances. Albertson cast Geary in a touring production of The Subject Was Roses, launching his professional acting career. Over the years, Geary appeared in more than 50 stage productions, remaining deeply committed to theater even as his screen career flourished.
In the late 1960s, Geary moved to Los Angeles and began landing television roles, appearing in shows such as The Partridge Family, The Mod Squad, and All in the Family. He soon became a familiar face in daytime television, first playing David Lockhart on Bright Promise from 1971 to 1972. He then took on the controversial role of George Curtis, a rapist, during the first year of The Young and the Restless.
That performance caught the attention of legendary producer Gloria Monty, who cast Geary as Luke Spencer on General Hospital in 1978 — a move that would change daytime TV forever.
Geary’s pairing with Genie Francis’ Laura Webber became one of the most iconic duos in television history. Their on-the-run storyline in 1980 sent General Hospital to the top of the ratings and turned Luke and Laura into a cultural phenomenon. In 1981, they appeared on the cover of Newsweek, a rare honor for soap stars. Their wedding episode in November of that year drew an estimated 30 million viewers and featured Elizabeth Taylor — a devoted fan of the show — as Helena Cassadine. Geary, Francis, and Taylor later appeared together on the cover of People magazine.
After Francis left the show in 1982, Geary remained the anchor of General Hospital, working alongside Demi Moore and Emma Samms. Francis returned in 1983, and the pair later exited the series together, briefly returning again in 1984. In 1991, Geary came back to the show as Luke’s lookalike cousin, Bill Eckert, a role he played until 1993, before once again resuming the role of Luke Spencer.
The day before he was scheduled to enter the hospital, Geary filmed a scene with Anders Hove for an upcoming project, marking the final acting work of his career.
Beyond General Hospital, Geary appeared in a wide range of films and TV projects, including Intimate Agony, Do You Know the Muffin Man?, The Disorderlies, You Can’t Hurry Love, Crack House, Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF, Scorchers, Night of the Warrior, and Carpool Guy.
Geary is survived by his husband, Claudio Gama, who told 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 their beloved cat, Max.
After retiring from General Hospital in 2015, Geary moved permanently to Amsterdam, a city he deeply loved and proudly called home.
Anthony Geary’s impact on daytime television is impossible to overstate. While he will forever be remembered as Luke Spencer, his true legacy is that of a fearless, transformative performer whose influence will continue to shape television for generations to come.
