Anthony Geary, Utah‑Born General Hospital Star, Dies at 78

Actor Anthony Geary at the 42nd Daytime Emmy Awards on April 26, 2015. Photo by Maypurple.

By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | December 2025

AMSTERDAM – Anthony Geary, the Utah‑born actor who brought the character Luke Spencer to life on General Hospital for decades, has died. He was 78. Wikipedia+1

Geary, a native of Coalville, Utah, died on Sunday, December 14, 2025, in the Netherlands, where he had lived in retirement with his husband, Claudio Gama. His death followed complications arising from a surgical procedure three days earlier, according to family statements. Wikipedia+1

Born in 1947 in the small coal‑mining town north of Salt Lake City, Geary moved to Los Angeles as a young man pursuing an acting career. After years of guest roles on television, he was cast on General Hospital in 1978. What was originally a short 13‑week contract expanded into a career that spanned nearly four decades. TVLine

Geary (left) and Genie Francis (right), best known as Luke and Laura on General Hospital, pictured together in 2013. Their popularity with fans led to Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding becoming the highest-rated soap opera episode of all time. Photo by Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source

Geary’s portrayal of Luke Spencer earned him a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor, making him one of daytime television’s most decorated performers. His on‑screen pairing with Genie Francis as Laura Webber produced one of the genre’s most iconic storylines and drew record audiences, including a 1981 wedding episode watched by more than 30 million viewers. People.com

After retiring from the show in 2015, Geary and Gama made their home in Amsterdam. Gama, in a statement to TV Insider, described Geary’s passing as a profound shock to family and friends. “For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband,” Gama said. People.com

What is next

An official cause of death, beyond the family’s account of post‑surgical complications, has not yet been released. No death certificate from Dutch authorities has been published as of this writing.

Funeral or memorial arrangements have not been announced. Representatives for Geary’s family and longtime colleagues have been contacted for comment.

In Utah, the news has prompted reflection on a native son who rose from a small rural community to become a household name in American television. Local officials in Coalville and nearby communities have not yet released statements.

Geary’s legacy will be remembered both in the entertainment industry and in his home state, where generations of fans recall his journey from rural Utah to international acclaim.


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