Eerie connection between Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary emerges as screen stars die on same day

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Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary, both of whom sadly passed away on Sunday at age 78, previously appeared together in an early episode of the TV show All in the Family.

Los Angeles police believe Reiner, 78, and his wife, Michele, 68, were killed by their son, Nick, 32, who is now in custody and suspected of murder. He reportedly has a history of personal struggles.

Anthony Geary, famous for playing Luke Spencer on the soap opera General Hospital, passed away on Sunday in Amsterdam. He had undergone surgery three days prior.

Both actors passed away on the same day and at the same age of 78. Reiner, born March 6, 1947, was just three months older than Geary, who was born May 29, 1947. They would both have turned 79 next spring.

I’ll never forget when these two actors first connected – it was over 50 years ago, on one of the very first episodes of All in the Family. That episode really helped establish the show’s willingness to tackle important social issues, and it’s what All in the Family, thanks to Norman Lear, became so famous for throughout the 70s.

The episode, titled “Judging Books by Covers,” was written by Norman Lear along with Burt Styler and Johnny Speight, and first appeared on television on February 9, 1971.

Reiner put himself on the map in the 1970s playing Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic.

He played a liberal-minded character who frequently clashed with his father-in-law, Archie Bunker (the late Carroll O’Connor), debating issues of society, race, and politics.

The IMDb summary of the episode featuring Sterling Geary describes a scene where Archie, the famously grumpy TV character, gets annoyed with Roger (played by Geary), a quirky friend of Mike (Reiner).

Roger’s appearance and mannerisms cause Archie to wrongly assume he is gay.

The twist in the show comes when  ‘Archie soon learns that one of his best friends is gay.’

This TV show marked Geary’s second television appearance, following his debut on Room 222, during his extensive acting career.

Geary continued to appear in other popular shows before finally getting the role he became famous for on the soap opera.

Popular shows like The Partridge Family, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Streets of San Francisco, and Barnaby Jones were among those featured.

ABC, the network that broadcasts General Hospital, issued a statement after news of Geary’s death was confirmed.

The network announced Monday that they were heartbroken by the death of Anthony Geary, whose iconic role as Luke Spencer was central to the success of General Hospital and the world of daytime TV.

Frank Valentini, executive producer of General Hospital, shared that everyone involved with the show is deeply saddened by the loss of Tony Geary. Valentini praised Geary as a remarkably talented actor who established a high standard of excellence for the entire cast and crew.

I just… I can’t even believe it. I just saw the news, and my heart is absolutely shattered. Rob and Michele Reiner are gone. Their family released a statement to Variety – it said they’re heartbroken, and honestly, that feels like such an understatement. It’s just… devastating. They’re asking for privacy right now, which of course they deserve, but it’s just… so unbelievably sad. I can’t imagine how painful this must be for them. I’m sending all my love and support, even though it feels like nothing can help right now.

It’s just… eerie, you know? Like, April 8th, 2013 – I was devastated when I heard about Annette Funicello, but then, the same day, Margaret Thatcher passed away too? It’s like the universe has these dates marked. And then 2009… June 25th. Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, gone on the very same day! I remember exactly where I was when I found out about Michael. It was awful. And even back in ’91, November 24th – Freddie Mercury, my absolute idol, and Eric Carr from Kiss… both of them. It’s not a coincidence, it can’t be. It’s like certain days are just… destined for loss.

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2025-12-16 06:33