"General Hospital" star Anthony Geary has died, an ABC publicist confirmed to KABC. He was 78.
The soap opera star, who also went by Tony, is known for playing Luke Spencer on the hit ABC daytime drama.
Fans remember Geary's Luke for being quirky, impulsive, brash and sassy, which made him one of daytime TV's most iconic characters.
Geary's longtime role as Luke began in 1978. He played the iconic soap opera character on TV 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."
"General Hospital" executive producer Frank Valentini addressed Geary's death in a statement, saying the cast and crew "is heartbroken" about it.
"His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer's, will live on through the generations of GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps," he said. "We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace."
ABC also reacted to his death and said in a statement, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television."
The network added, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and colleagues."
Born on May 29, 1947, in Coalville, Utah, Geary got his start as an actor in an episode of the comedy-drama series "Room 222."
He then appeared in shows including "All in the Family," "The Mod Squad," "The Partridge Family" and more before landing his first daytime role in the NBC soap opera "Bright Promise" in 1971.
Geary starred as George Curtis in the soap opera "The Young and the Restless" before landing the role of Luke Spencer in "General Hospital."
In the show, Luke's relationship with Laura Collins (portrayed by Genie Francis), was one of the most famous, yet complicated love stories in daytime TV history. Early on, their relationship was deeply problematic due to the storyline where Luke sexually assaulted Laura. Back then, the scene was framed as a romanticized "seduction" of Laura, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
According to a 2020 People report, Abigail De Kosnik, the author of "The Survival of Soap Opera," said that the storyline of Luke and Laura was a way to "save the show."
"Gloria Monte, the executive producer of 'General Hospital,' essentially was told she had two weeks to save the show and ABC was going to cancel it if she couldn't bring ratings up in that time," De Kosnik said. "In Luke and Laura, she saw potential there to maybe make things happen that shouldn't happen, and that was electric."
The show later reframed their story as an enemies-to-lovers romance and the two characters married in 1981 in a wedding that made TV history. According to TV Insider, the wedding episode drew an estimated 30 million viewers and also included an appearance from Elizabeth Taylor.
Francis addressed Luke and Laura's controversial storyline in an interview with Nightline in 2015.
"The relationship between Luke and Laura was always very real, very realistic, like a real relationship, but the circumstances were absurd," she said.
"It was such a big deal in the media and it took the country by storm," she added in an interview with People in 2020. "I've had to justify it for so many years and I have to say, it feels good to sit here and say I won't justify it. It's awful. They shouldn't have done it."
In a statement on X on Monday, Francis reacted to the news of Geary's death. She began, "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."
"I immediately felt remorse, I hadn't spoken to him in years, but I felt his life end in my sleep last night, and with it a big part of me, and mine," she went on. "He 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. As an artist, he was filled with a passion for the truth, no matter how blunt, or even a little rude it might be, but always hilariously funny."
She added that Geary was "the anti-hero, always so irreverent, but even the most conservative had to smile" and said that working with him was "always exciting."
Francis ended her tribute to Geary by saying, "Somehow, somewhere, we are connected to each other because I felt him leave last night. Good night sweet prince, good night."
Geary's role as Luke earned him eight Daytime Emmys for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
Following "General Hospital," Geary returned to the show here and there for brief appearances, and also starred in several projects including the 2012 film "Alice and the Monster" and the 2009 film "Fish Tank."
Earlier this year, he celebrated his sixth wedding anniversary with husband Claudio Gama. The two married in 2019, according to Soaphub.
"Tony and I met 30 years ago in February," Gama wrote on their anniversary last February.
In a separate post, he also shared photos from their anniversary party.
People who experience sexual assault can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE or text HOPE to 64673.
