Anthony Geary, the actor forever associated with the role of Luke Spencer on General Hospital, has died at the age of 78.

ABC confirmed his passing in a statement, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television.” According to reports, Geary died in Amsterdam due to complications following a planned surgical procedure he had undergone three days earlier.

Geary’s career spanned more than four decades, but his legacy is inseparable from the character of Luke Spencer, whom he first portrayed in 1978. Over the years, his work on the long-running soap opera earned him an extraordinary eight Daytime Emmy Awards, a rare achievement that underscored both his popularity and his range as a performer.

His on-screen partnership with Genie Francis, who played Laura Webber Baldwin, became one of the most iconic pairings in television history. The storyline reached its cultural peak in 1981, when Luke and Laura’s wedding episode drew more than 30 million viewers. The event transcended daytime television, becoming a genuine pop-culture moment. Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor, known to be an avid fan of the show, even made a guest appearance during that era. Read more below