John Stamos pens emotional tribute to ‘friend’ Anthony Geary after General Hospital star’s ‘heartbreaking’ death

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John Stamos shared a heartfelt message remembering his friend, Anthony Geary, who recently passed away after a career on General Hospital.

The 62-year-old actor, known for his role on Full House and a previous part on an 80s soap opera, shared his thoughts on a remarkable actor and how that person profoundly impacted his life.

Richard Geary died on December 14th in Amsterdam at the age of 78, just three days after having surgery. His husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed the news to TV Insider.

John Stamos shared old photos and a heartfelt message, saying he was very saddened to hear about the death of his friend and former colleague, Tony Geary.

He also mentioned that Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, died on the same day as Geary.

I was so incredibly saddened to hear about the loss of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. I’ve always looked up to them both – they were true inspirations as I was learning and growing in this industry, and it feels like a real blow to all of us who benefited from their work. It’s just a heartbreaking time.

On Sunday, Reiner and his wife were discovered stabbed to death in their $13.5 million home in Brentwood. Later that night, their son, Nick, was arrested by the LAPD in connection with the crime.

Stamos recalled being just 19 years old when he started on ‘General Hospital,’ and Tony was incredibly kind and supportive. He explained that at that age, everything seems overwhelming, and Tony helped him feel secure.

He was deeply impressed by Geary’s acting, often staying after filming his own scenes just to watch the late actor perform and learn from him.

Stamos described watching Tony as witnessing a complete reinvention of the game. He revolutionized daytime TV and had a profound impact on Stamos’s own life.

The Big Shot star then shared how ‘real’ Geary was. 

He consistently avoided the common pitfalls and mistakes that often occur when producing an hour-long show daily.

Oh my gosh, John Stamos said the perfect thing about Tony Geary. He said Tony didn’t just play his characters, he absolutely attacked every single role with so much honesty, intelligence, and, like, total fearlessness. Apparently, there was no way Tony would ever just go through the motions – he was completely present, 100% of the time. Honestly, Stamos is so right – Tony was truly one of a kind, and I’m not sure anyone will ever be able to touch his talent!

Stamos remembered how kind Ryan Seacrest was when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.

It meant so much to me that Tony was there when I received my star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That was just like him – always supportive and generous, and never seeking attention.

The former Full House star also talked about including Geary in his 2023 memoir, If You Would Have Told Me.

He’s truly been foundational to my career, so I naturally included him in my book. I honestly believe his influence will always be visible in everything I do as an actor. He’s just that important to me and my work.

I still remember how dedicated he was, how well he listened, and how he inspired those around him – those qualities have stayed with me.

The star ended with a heartfelt message, writing, ‘Thank you, Tony, for being so talented and kind, and for inspiring everyone with your incredible work. You were truly one of a kind. Rest in peace, my friend.’

Anthony Geary became famous for playing Luke Spencer on General Hospital, a role he held from 1978 to 1982.

He returned to play Luke in 1993 and continued in the role until he left the show in 2015. He also made a brief appearance in one episode that aired in 2017.

Geary received many awards for his work on General Hospital, notably eight Daytime Emmy Awards for being an outstanding lead actor in a drama series.

Stamos also took on the role of Blackie Parrish in General Hospital from 1982 until 1984. 

Geary passed away on Sunday, December 14 in Amsterdam following an operation three days earlier.

Claudio Gama confirmed to TV Insider that Tony had passed away. He shared in a statement, ‘This came as a shock to me, our families, and our friends. Tony and I were friends, companions, and husbands for over 30 years.’

The actor rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s, becoming popular for his role as Luke on a popular, long-running soap opera, opposite Genie Francis, who played Laura.

I remember when they first got together – everyone called them a ‘supercouple’! They were a huge deal for the show, and honestly, they brought in amazing ratings. It was exciting to watch!

Following his retirement, Geary lived in the Netherlands with Gama. 

The late star was born in Coalville, Utah, in 1947 and raised by Mormon parents.

He received a scholarship to study theater at the University of Utah before relocating to Los Angeles in the 1960s to pursue acting opportunities.

In the early 1970s, Geary began appearing in guest roles on popular television series like All in the Family, The Partridge Family, Marcus Welby, and The Mod Squad.

Anthony Geary first appeared as Luke Spencer on General Hospital in 1978. He was initially hired for just 13 weeks, but viewers quickly fell in love with his character, leading to a much longer run.

In a controversial 1979 storyline, Luke sexually assaulted Laura while she was intoxicated. The episode portrayed the attack as a forced, seductive encounter, set in a disco and accompanied by Herb Alpert’s song ‘Rise’.

Okay, so a few people were totally grossed out, but honestly, the rest of us were obsessed with them together! It was like magic, and thankfully, the writers at General Hospital got it. They started building this amazing love story around them, and I was living for it! Seriously, it was everything.

Their romance caused quite a stir when they first got together. The characters they played eventually married on the show in 1981. Elizabeth Taylor loved the couple so much that she made a special appearance as the character Helena Cassadine in the wedding episode.

The wedding episode drew an incredible 30 million viewers and was dubbed ‘the wedding of the year.’ It’s still the most-watched hour in the history of American soap operas.

Geary is survived by his husband, Gama, with whom he lived in Amsterdam alongside their cat. 

He continued to work long after General Hospital.

This actor appeared in a variety of films and TV shows, including Agony, Do You Know the Muffin Man?, The Disorderlies, You Can’t Hurry Love, Crack House, Weird Al Yankovic’s UHF, Scorchers, Night of the Warrior, and Carpool Guy.

Oh my gosh, I was SO thrilled to read his last interview with Digest in 2023! He actually said he was happy with everything he’d done! It just…it made my whole week, knowing he felt good about his career. I’ve followed him for years, and to hear him say that? Incredible!

After being on the show for over 30 years – almost half my life – I feel good about my time there. I’m proud of the work I did, the awards I won, and the people I shared it with. Plus, I feel like I left at the right time, Geary explained.

Looking back, I’m really grateful for everything that happened. It led me to the wonderful life I have today, so I definitely don’t regret it.

I’m finally living in my dream city, Amsterdam, and I have someone who loves me. I have a fulfilling life now – something I didn’t have before, despite all the success I’d achieved. It feels like everything fell into place when it was meant to.

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2025-12-16 21:35