On Sunday, Anthony Geary, an eight-time Daytime Emmy winner best known for portraying Luke Spencer on ABC’s long-running daytime soap opera General Hospital, died. He was 78 years old.
Geary died in Amsterdam following complications from a scheduled surgery
According to NPR, Geary died in Amsterdam following complications from a scheduled surgical operation. ABC was the first to confirm his death.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television,” the television broadcast company said in a statement Monday.
Frank Valentini, executive producer of General Hospital, shared the series’ “family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing” on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday.
He added, “Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for.”
Geary shot a scene with Andres Hove, who plays Cesar Faison on General Hospital, for an upcoming project, a day before going to the hospital.
The late actor is survived by his husband, Claudio Gama, who told TV Insider that Geary’s death “was a shock for me and our families and our friends.”
How Geary’s costars, including Genie Francis and John Stamos, have reacted to his death
Since news of Geary’s passing, many of the late actor’s costars have shared tributes to him on social media. Genie Francis, who portrayed Laura Spencer, a love interest of Geary’s Spencer, said the late actor “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,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Somehow, somewhere, we are connected to each other because I felt him leave last night. Good night sweet prince, good night.”
She later remembered Geary as a “powerhouse” actor and revealed an eerie dream she had before learning of the late actor’s death.
“This morning I woke up and went into my husband’s arms. In my sleep, my life was flashing before me and I was afraid of death. An hour later, I received a call from Frank Valentini, he told me Tony died,” Francis penned.
John Stamos, who also appeared in General Hospital alongside Geary, shared on Instagram that he “changed my life.”
“What always stood out to me was how real he was. He never fell into the traps or tricks that can happen when you’re doing the volume needed for an hour show every day. He attacked every character and every script with honesty, intelligence, and fearlessness. There was no autopilot with Tony — ever. He was truly one of a kind,” Stamos wrote.
Other General Hospital stars penned tributes to Geary, including Maurice Benard, who wrote on X, “What can I say thats not been said? Two things about Tony. He was one of the funniest people I knew. I saw Tony in a one man play and I said it then and I’ll say it now I never saw better acting in my life. I owe a lot to Tony. Daytime wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for luke/Laura.”
Former General Hospital star Emma Samms shared, “My heart was already breaking about the Rob Reiner news.. but now…” with a broken heart emoji.
Rachel Schwartz, head of daytime and children and family Emmys, offered her condolences to those closest to Geary.
“As one half of the power couple ‘Luke and Laura,’ their popularity brought daytime television into the zeitgeist and created one of the genre’s most beloved super-couples. Our sympathies are with his family, colleagues, and loved ones,” she said in a statement.