CAN’T MISS IT! the special episode honoring Anthony Geary HAS AIRED!!!! here’s how you can watch!
General Hospital fans will get to ring in 2026 by seeing a beloved character on television for the final time. Anthony Geary died in Amsterdam on December 14, with tons of tributes pouring in when the news came out.
Anthony portrayed one of the most iconic characters in the show’s lengthy run, with Luke Spencer becoming a household name for soap opera fans.
The show said goodbye to Luke as a series regular in 2015, though he’d make one guest appearance two years later. The show that made him a star is paying one final tribute to him in 2026.
On January 1, the soap opera will air a special encore of Geary’s final episode as Luke Spencer, TV Insider reported on Monday, December 22. The episode originally aired on July 27, 2015, and marked the end of Geary’s nearly four-decade run with GH.
Geary, who died at age 78 on December 14, joined GH as Luke in 1978. The role earned him a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He appeared as a series regular on the soap until 1984 and later returned in 1991 to play Luke’s look-alike cousin, Bill Eckert. Geary remained in this role until 1993, when he resumed his role as Luke until 2015. Following his retirement from the show, Geary made a guest appearance as Luke in 2017.
Geary’s husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed his death to TV Insider on December 15.
Anthony Geary Spent His Last Decade in Amsterdam After ‘General Hospital’ Retirement: His Final Years
“It was a shock for me and our families and our friends,” Gama told the outlet in a statement. “For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband.”
Gama shared that Geary died in the Netherlands, three days after undergoing an operation.
Geary had relocated to Amsterdam with Gama following his retirement from GH. At the time, Geary revealed that he had been thinking about leaving the show for “10 years.”
“Ever since I found the place where my heart is, which is the city of Amsterdam. I never felt as comfortable or as authentic as I have felt there,” he said during a May 2015 interview. “One of the reasons I became an actor is that I felt not at home in my skin and not really comfortable with the people I grew up around, and it became a sanctuary for me to live in my imagination. In Amsterdam, I find the whole city is just a big playground for my imagination and I feel very comfortable there.”
GH executive producer Frank Valentini paid tribute to Geary via X after his death.
“The entire #GeneralHospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing,” he wrote. “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.”
Additional tributes poured in from Geary’s former GH costars, including Finola Hughes, John Stamos and more.
General Hospital’s Genie Francis Reacts to Anthony Geary’s Death After Playing Luke and Laura for Decades
“Tony The original. He took my breath away, so magical, creative, fearless. The thing of legend. So glad I spent time with you and Claudio in Amsterdam for a couple of summers,” Hughes, 66, wrote via Instagram. “The best host, conversationalist, deep thinker, witty, kind raconteur. Deeply mischievous, naturally my kids adored you.”
Meanwhile, Stamos, 62, wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and former costar, Tony Geary. … Tony could not have been kinder or more welcoming. At that age, everything feels big. He made it feel safe. I was mesmerized by his acting. I would stay after my scenes were finished just to watch him work — not because I had to, but because I wanted to learn. Watching Tony was like watching someone rewrite the rules in real time. He changed the face of daytime television. And in very real ways, he changed my life.”
General Hospital plans are being made
The New Year is just around the corner, and with it comes the chance to see a famous character for the last time. TV Insider revealed that the show will air Anthony’s final episode as Luke Spencer on January 1. That episode originally aired on TV in July 2015.
Anthony collected a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Luke. His longtime co-star on the show, Genie Francis, claims she felt him dying not long before she heard the tragic news. Genie and Anthony were an on-screen couple for numerous years. Their 1981 wedding episode drew a record 30 million viewers.
Full House alum John Stamos admitted that he admired Anthony’s acting and dedication to his craft. He says that he loved it so much that he would stay behind after his General Hospital scenes were done to watch Anthony work.
Anthony also played Luke Spencer on the sitcom Roseanne in the mid-90s. Upon relocating to Amsterdam, he said that he’d been considering leaving the show for a decade before finally deciding to retire from acting.
Anthony’s husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed his death on December 15. He was 78.
