Legendary General Hospital star Anthony Geary has passed away. The late actor was best known for playing the role of Luke Spencer on the show from 1978 to 2015.
Anthony Geary passes away at 78
General Hospital actor Anthony Geary died on Sunday, December 14, at the age of 78. According to a report by TV Insider, the cause of death was complications from a surgery that he had undergone three days earlier. There have been no additional details on the nature of the surgery.
In a statement to PEOPLE, Geary’s husband Claudio Gama said, “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.”
Anthony Geary’s General Hospital costars honor the iconic actor
Tributes have poured in from across the entertainment industry, honoring the memory of Anthony Geary. Speaking with PEOPLE, General Hospital’s executive producer, Frank Valentini, shared that the “entire General Hospital family is heartbroken” over Geary’s death.
Geary’s GH costars have also shared heartfelt messages to remember the iconic soap opera actor. Genie Francis, who played Geary’s on-screen wife as Laura Collins on GH, penned a lengthy emotional note on X (formerly Twitter). “[Geary] was a powerhouse as an actor. Shoulder to shoulder with the greats. No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind,” she wrote.
Kin Shriner, who also shared the screen with Geary on GH, said, “Tony came on General Hospital and created Luke Spencer in one scene. We became instant friends and always have been.”
Shriner continued, “I watched him shine for decades and loved every second — on stage and off! He made me laugh, and we got each other in trouble more times than I can remember — at work and on the road. I am going to miss him more than anyone could know” (via TV Insider).
John Stamos, who made his television debut on GH, remembered his former costar as well. In a heartfelt Instagram post, the actor recalled being “mesmerized” by Geary’s acting. “I would stay after my scenes were finished just to watch him work — not because I had to, but because I wanted to learn. Watching Tony was like watching someone rewrite the rules in real time,” Stamos wrote. “He changed the face of daytime television. And in very real ways, he changed my life,” the actor concluded.
Other actors who have paid their respects to Geary include Rick Springfield, Jonathan Jackson, Anders Hove, and more.
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on ComingSoon.
