General Hospital lost yet another legend. On December 14, 2025, Anthony Geary passed away following complications from a scheduled operation. Immediately after the news broke, Hollywood, including Geary’s former co-stars, paid tribute to the actor who helped change the face of daytime television.
Tributes to Anthony Geary
Executive Producer Frank Valentini spoke on behalf of the entire GH family in a heartfelt message posted on the show’s official Instagram page.
The entire #GeneralHospital family is heartbroken over the news of Tony Geary’s passing. 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. – Frank Valentini
On Facebook, CBS’s The Young and the Restless also paid tribute to the actor, who was an alum of the soap.
The entire Y&R family mourns the loss of the incomparable Anthony Geary, who appeared during the show’s inaugural season in 1973. His remarkable talent and lasting impact on daytime television will never be forgotten. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and our colleagues at General Hospital.
The National Academy of Arts and Sciences (NATAS), the organization that presents the Daytime Emmy Awards, released a statement honoring Geary and his amazing legacy.
Our condolences are with our friends at ‘General Hospital’ on the passing of Anthony Geary, who won a record-breaking 8 Emmys in the Lead Actor category. As one half of the power couple ‘Luke and Laura,’ their popularity brought daytime television into the zeitgeist and created one of the genre’s most beloved super-couples. Our sympathies are with his family, colleagues, and loved ones. – Rachel Schwartz, Head of Daytime / Children’s & Family Emmys
Genie Francis (Laura Spencer, GH) was one of the first of Geary’s heartbroken co-stars to put into words how much the actor and the man meant to them. In a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, she wrote that “No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind.” And she went on to say that, “He spoiled me for leading men for the rest of my life. I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner.” (More on Francis’s tribute here).
Geary’s TV son, Jonathan Jackson (Lucky Spencer, GH), told TV Insider that to him, Geary “will be remembered most for his humility, kindness, love and wit! Tony’s mind was a creative cosmos, always on the move, exploring and cultivating the art and poetry of life. He was a truly brilliant writer, which many don’t yet know, but I hope his work will come to light one day.”
Jackson also posted his message on his Instagram.
His TV daughter, Julie Berman, who played Lulu Spencer from 2005 to 2013, posted a photo featuring the actress talking to Geary while holding a Daytime Emmy in her hand. On the photo were the words, “Love you Tony.”
Jacob Young played Lucky Spencer #2. On Instagram, he wrote, “I’m at a loss for words over the passing of my mentor, on-screen father, and dear friend, Anthony Geary. He gave so much to his craft and cared deeply about his fellow actors. Even after my time on General Hospital, we always remained close, and I will forever be grateful for his guidance, generosity, and friendship. RIP Tony.”
Beyond the Gates star Greg Vaughan played GH’s Lucky Spencer #3 for seven years, so he really got to know his TV dad. In an Instagram post, he shared thoughts and stories about the man who had a profound impact on his life.
He taught me that greatness doesn’t announce itself. It listens. It gives. It lifts others quietly. His impact on my life — personally and professionally — didn’t come from lessons spoken out loud, but from how he showed up every day with love and a smile.
I am deeply grateful for the time, the trust, and the humanity he shared with me.
Tony, thank you for the work, the love, the laughter, the guidance — and for reminding me that the most meaningful legacies are carried softly.
Maurice Benard (Sonny, GH) feels daytime wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Luke and Laura. He posted more about Geary in a thoughtful message on X: “What can I say thats not been said? Two things about Tony. He was one of the funniest people I knew. I saw Tony in a one man play and I said it then and I’ll say it now I never saw better acting in my life I owe a lot to Tony.”
John Stamos played Blackie Parrish on GH during the ’80s and starred alongside Geary and Demi Moore. In his Instagram post, he talked about how “deeply saddened” he was to lose his friend and former co-star. He ended his message by saying, “Thank you, Tony, for your brilliance, your kindness, and for setting the bar so impossibly high. You really stood out. Rest easy, my friend.”
On Instagram, Wally Kurth, who works on both GH and Days of Our Lives, shared his thoughts on working with Geary. He mentioned how the actor, his friend, “raised the acting performance bar to a level I know I will never meet.”
GH executive Nathan Varni shared his goodbye on X.
Sarah Joy Brown (Ex-Carly, GH) said she would “never forget his encouragement and generosity towards me.”
Antonio Sabato Jr (ex-Jagger) stated that he cherished every moment of working with him.”He was a true legend, a mentor, and like a big brother to me. His spirit and talent will always be remembered.”
Rock star, actor, and GH alum Rick Springfield wrote to his Facebook followers, discussing Geary’s legacy and what it was like to work with him back in the ’80s. “Sad to hear of Tony’s passing. He was the reason GH went where it went in the early ‘80s. The rest of us rode along with him and did our part but Tony was the driver along with the great Gloria Monty. Had a really great evening with Tony and my guys in Amsterdam years ago. Such a good guy who deserved all the accolades he received. Love to those he left behind.”
On Threads, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis, GH) wrote a post consisting of one word — “Heartbroken” —and then she followed up with another post where she wrote about losing both Geary and actor and iconic film director Rob Reiner, who was murdered along with his wife, Michelle, on the same day that Geary died.
Grahn’s co-star, Laura Wright, may be an actress on soap operas, but before that, she was a GH fan. “I grew up watching the incredible Luke Spencer— I fell in love with daytime because I fell in love with Luke and Laura. My heart is so sad — Daytime lost the one that changed it all !!! RIP.”
One of my first scenes with Tony we were in Kelly’s and he said “ Just so you know, I like to juggle, tap dance and sing all the same time’ and I laughed and said let’s go !! I grew up watching the incredible Luke Spencer- I fell in love with daytime because I fell in love with Luke and Laura. My heart is so so sad – Daytime lost the one that changed it all !!! RIP 💔 #LukeSpencer @generalhospitalabc
As for Kin Shriner, he remembered his pal with so much love, fondness, and fun. On Threads, he reflected how Geary “had a perm and punch and 7 Emmy’s and my friend who loved comedy especially WC Fields , we skated thru the 80 and 90s into your living rooms and loved . , every minute of it , I stayed in touch with Tony thru his pal Jim Warren we will miss him deeply!!”
Writer and film critic Richard Roeper quoted Entertainment Weekly’s article announcing the heartbreaking Anthony Geary news. Roeper reposted it on X and shared his expert opinion about the actor’s legacy. And who knew, but he was also a GH fan from way back. “No matter how insane the storyline, Anthony Geary’s approach to the material was all-in. You would have thought he was in a Tennessee Williams production. It was wildly entertaining work — and yup, I watched “GH” quite a bit back in the day. RIP.”
On X, Jon Lindstrom, who pulls double duty on GH and BTG, had this to say about his former co-star. Like everyone else, he spoke in superlatives to describe Geary’s acting talent and his humor.
Amber Tamblyn originated the role of Emily Quartermaine in 1995 and played her until 2001. She sent her to GH and wrote about how much Geary meant to her from her Instagram Stories.
Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans (In Living Color, Scary Movie franchise, Bel-Air) wrote about how his sisters felt about Geary. “Not Luke! R.I.P. Anthony Geary. My sisters used to love them some Luke and laura. They’d say ‘That white boy is sexy.'”
