Anthony Geary, who played Luke Spencer on ‘General Hospital,’ dies at 78

Anthony Geary, who starred as Luke Spencer on the long-running American soap opera “General Hospital,” has died at 78, representatives for the actor confirmed Monday.

No cause of death or additional details were provided.

A Utah native, Geary’s name at birth was Tony Dean Geary, the actor told the Television Academy Foundation in 2007.

“I always felt that Tony was too familiar, and that Anthony had some kind of gravitas that Tony didn’t,” Geary said.

In 1970, when he started his career in television, Geary changed his name to Anthony.

As a kid, Geary always knew he wanted to be an actor.

He attended the University of Utah on a theater scholarship for two years before moving to Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

While in Los Angeles, Geary made his television debut.

He guest-starred on “All in the Family” and regularly appeared on the daytime dramas “Bright Promise” and “The Young and the Restless.”

In 1978, “General Hospital” head writer and executive producer Gloria Monty approached Geary about auditioning.

Geary signed on to play Luke Spencer for 13 weeks. At the end of that period, he was asked to extend his contract for another six months. Luke Spencer quickly became a signature character in “General Hospital” and the role ultimately spanned 40 years.

Geary was one half of television’s most iconic couples: Luke and Laura, a character portrayed by Genie Francis.

The 1981 wedding between characters Luke Spencer and Laura Webber drew 30 million viewers, making it the highest-rated soap opera episode in American TV history.

Francis mourned her co-star Monday.

“He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life,” she wrote on social media. “I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner. Somehow, somewhere, we are connected to each other because I felt him leave last night. Good night sweet prince, good night.

Geary won eight Daytime Emmy awards for his role as Luke Spencer and was nominated nine other times.