Anthony 'Tony' Geary was a veteran soap actor who received honors for his complicated portrayal of Luke Spencer on General Hospital. In fact, his soap opera relationship with Genie Francis became a cultural phenomenon.
Along the way, he won an "unprecedented eight Daytime Emmy Awards and soap opera superstardom," according to The Hollywood Reporter, while dealing with controversial storylines.
Geary has died at the age of 78, THR reported on December 15. According to THR, Geary, who was born in Utah and moved to Hollywood in the 1960s, starred in other iconic television series before getting the breakthrough role as Spencer. He appeared on All in the Family, The Young and the Restless, and Bright Promise before getting the call about General Hospital in 1978.
What was Geary's cause of death? How the actor died is not fully clear, but TV Insider did provide some clues.
He died on December 14, TV Insider reported, noting, "His death was the result of complications from a scheduled operation three days earlier." However, the nature of the operation was not explained. He was living in the Netherlands.
Geary leaves behind his husband, Claudio Gama.
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends,” his husband, Claudio Gama, said to TV Insider. “For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband.”
Fans likely mostly remember Geary for his on-screen relationship with Laura Webber, played by Francis.
Their on-screen wedding "was watched by 30 million live viewers. The 1981 installment remains the highest-rated soap opera episode in American TV history," Variety reported, adding that he married Gama in real life in 2019.
Fans posted shock and tributes online. "Rest in peace, legend. You were the individual that made the anti-hero a things. You helped redefine entertainment for my mother’s generation. Your impact cannot be overstated!" wrote one.
