Anthony Geary, renowned for portraying Luke Spencer on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, has passed away at the age of 78. The actor died on December 14 due to complications from a recent operation. Co-star Genie Francis shared a heartfelt tribute, remembering him as a powerhouse performer.
Death and Tributes
Anthony Geary died on December 14, 2025, at age 78 from complications following an operation three days earlier, according to reports from TV Insider. His husband, Claudio Gama, expressed profound grief in a statement, noting their 30-year relationship: "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."
Genie Francis, who played Laura Spencer opposite Geary's Luke for decades, posted an emotional tribute on X. She described feeling his passing in her sleep the night before and called him a "powerhouse" who stood "shoulder to shoulder with the greats." Francis added, "No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind... He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life. I am crushed, I will miss him terribly."
General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini issued a statement on behalf of the cast and crew: "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."
Career Highlights
Geary, a native of Coalville, Utah, joined General Hospital in 1978 as Luke Spencer, initially for a 13-week stint that extended nearly 40 years due to the character's popularity. Despite the controversial origins of Luke and Laura's relationship—beginning with a sexual assault— their 1981 wedding episode shattered daytime TV ratings records, cementing them as a supercouple.
Geary won a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Lead Actor. He retired in 2015 but returned for a 2017 cameo. Outside soaps, he appeared in films like Weird Al Yankovic's "UHF" and the Fat Boys' "Disorderlies." The Daytime Emmys honored his impact: "As one-half of the power couple 'Luke and Laura,' their popularity brought daytime television into the zeitgeist."
Geary emphasized treating his role seriously, fighting to preserve Luke's antihero essence amid script changes. His death marks the end of an era for daytime television.
