General Hospital star Jonathan Jackson honors Anthony Geary after his on-screen dad passed at age 78

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General Hospital star Anthony Geary is being honored by his on-screen son, Jonathan Jackson. 

Anthony Geary recently passed away at 78. Now, Jack Wagner, who has played his on-screen son, Lucky Spencer, on General Hospital since 1993, has shared a heartfelt message remembering Geary as a mentor and father figure in the acting world.

On Tuesday, a saddened Jackson shared a tribute on Instagram to the late actor best known for his role as Luke Spencer on the soap opera General Hospital, which he played on and off from 1978 to 2017.

In a heartfelt post, Jackson described Jackson as one of his closest friends, like family, and shared several photos of them together over the years. These included pictures from the Hollywood Reporter’s first YoungStar Awards in 1995 and the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2012.

I was deeply saddened to hear about Tony’s death. It’s hard to put into words how much he meant to me. He was a truly exceptional and gifted actor, and so many people recognized his incredible talent.

He dedicated his life to his work, constantly striving for honesty, depth, and a touch of humor and humanity. His play, Human Scratchings, was truly remarkable – a captivating performance that deeply moved everyone who saw it.

He experienced great success and remained funny, caring, and elegant throughout his life. While the world recognizes him for his talent, I’ll always remember him for being humble, kind, loving, and quick-witted!

I always thought of Tony as a whirlwind of creativity – he really saw the beauty in everything around him. He had an incredible gift for writing, a real poetic soul, and honestly, I’m hoping more people get to discover his work someday. It’s truly special.

Even as a young boy of eleven, he showed me incredible kindness, respect, and faith, more than I deserved. He became a father figure in my artistic life, guiding me to trust my gut and appreciate the magic of storytelling and performance.

Over the years we worked together, there were countless moments that felt truly magical. I’ll always treasure those memories.

As I got older, Tony became a truly close friend – one of the best I’ve ever had. We just understood each other, no matter how much time passed or how far apart we were.

I’m deeply saddened by his passing and will miss him greatly. He was like family to us, and Elisa and our children loved him very much. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time, and I’m sending them my love and prayers.

We will always remember and cherish Tony. I find comfort in the belief that love outlives death, and that’s how I feel about him. Saying ‘I love you’ feels like a way to keep his memory alive. Deep down, I believe we’ll meet again. I love you, Tony.

Geary passed at age 78 this past Sunday in Amsterdam following an operation three days prior.

Claudio Gama confirmed the passing of his husband to TV Insider, sharing that the news was a shock to him, their families, and friends. He described Tony as his friend, companion, and husband for over 30 years.

The actor rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s thanks to his role as Luke Spencer on a popular soap opera, where he starred alongside Genie Francis, who played Laura Webber.

The couple was famously dubbed a ‘supercouple’ and significantly boosted the show’s viewership.

Before retiring, he won an unprecedented eight Daytime Emmy Awards for his leading role in a drama series. He then moved to the Netherlands to live with his partner, Gama.

Geary was born in Coalville, Utah, in 1947 and raised by Mormon parents.

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

During the early 1970s, Geary appeared in guest roles on popular television series like All in the Family, The Partridge Family, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Mod Squad.

Before becoming known for his role as George Curtis on The Young and the Restless, he first appeared as David Lockhart on the 1971 NBC soap opera, Bright Promise.

He made his debut as Luke Spencer on General Hospital in 1978.

Geary was originally only supposed to be on the show for 13 weeks, but fans took to his character.

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

While some viewers disliked them as a couple, most actually enjoyed seeing the two characters together, so the writers of General Hospital decided to develop a romantic storyline.

When they started dating, it caused quite a stir. Their characters actually got married on the show in 1981, and Elizabeth Taylor was such a devoted fan that she made a special appearance in the wedding episode, playing the character Helena Cassadine.

The wedding episode drew 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.

Luke and Laura became the power couple of the day.

You know, I never tried to be a ‘sex symbol’ – it honestly never crossed my mind. I’ve always been upfront about my looks – I’ve joked about my hairline, my chin, even my skin tone. But if people out there do find me attractive, who am I to argue with that? It’s really flattering, and I’m happy if it makes people happy.

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

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2025-12-18 00:52