Robert Palmer Watkins, who played Dillon Quartermaine on General Hospital, remains one of those actors fans never quite let go of. His time on the show still comes up in comments with hopeful “come back soon” pleas, and Watkins has never shut the door on returning. As the new year began, he tapped straight into that shared memory, marking January 1 with a personal reflection tied to GH’s re-airing of Anthony Geary’s 2015 farewell episode.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Palmer Watkins remains a fan favorite, with viewers still hoping for a Dillon Quartermaine return.
- He marked the new year by sharing a personal memory tied to Anthony Geary’s farewell episode.
- The post highlighted Geary’s generosity on set, especially toward newer cast members.
- Fans responded with emotion, revisiting Luke Spencer’s goodbye and what it still represents.
A Memory Tied to Luke’s Goodbye
On Instagram, Watkins wrote, “Happy New Year, everyone! In honor of @generalhospitalabc re-airing Anthony Geary’s farewell episode today, I wanted to share a memory.” Along with his words were two photos. The first image shows Watkins standing shoulder to shoulder with Geary (Luke), and the second is a tense episode still featuring Watkins, Geary, and Genie Francis (Laura).
He continued with, “I remember shooting this episode and feeling the weight of Geary leaving the show. I was such a newbie, and he was truly a LEGEND. When we wrapped filming, the entire cast and crew celebrated him with a party and cake on the soundstage. I looked over at @emmerylan and said, ‘I mean, I’ve gotta get a picture with him, right?!’ She encouraged me—and of course, Geary humbly and graciously embraced us all.”
He then drew everyone into the poignancy of his pic with the legend: “In that moment, I was reminded of just how much of an icon he was on the show, with everyone swarming around him. But on set, in our scenes, working together day to day, he treated me—and everyone—as part of a team. We were all artists trying to create something together. Even on my very first day, I was thrown straight into a scene with Geary and Jane Elliott (Tracy), and he treated me as an equal immediately.”
What Fans Still Hold Onto
Watkins shared that within his first few weeks working alongside Geary, the veteran actor checked in on him and offered a few simple words of encouragement that carried a lasting impact, telling him, “You’re good,” without preaching or oversharing. He also recalled Geary suggesting a physical adjustment during an intense scene to help build the moment’s energy, noting that even after decades as Luke, Geary remained fully committed and generous with his craft. He ended with, “Here’s to you, Geary. What an adventure you lived. I’m so grateful I got to work with you. #GH.”
The post struck a nerve. One fan wrote, “I saw it today! It was a nice goodbye to Luke Spencer.” Another called the photos “beautiful” and described Geary as “a legend and humble,” adding that the encouragement Watkins received clearly stayed with him. Several viewers mentioned getting chills watching the episode again, with one saying, “When Luke walked away into the fog, I was sobbing.”
Threaded through nearly all the comments was the same feeling: gratitude that moments like these still live on screen, waiting for the show to circle back and remember what they meant.
