An era came to a close today. Anthony Geary’s last scenes as Luke Spencer aired on ABC’s last standing soap opera, General Hospital.
Geary has played Lucas Lorenzo Spencer on the show since 1978, aside from a short break from the show during the 1980’s. He was half of one of the most famous TV super couples, Luke and Laura. Their wedding in November 1981 was viewed by 30 million people, and is still referenced today. According to the LA Times, during the height of Luke and Laura and General Hospital in the 1980’s, the soap’s profit was high enough that it could fund ABC’s entire prime time development slate.
Geary told the LA Times, “Luke really is iconic, one of the original gray hats of daytime. He was designed as the guy you love to hate and hate to love. He’s a classically romantic character, a classic anti-hero.”
When asked about Luke and Laura’s stardom Geary responded, “It’s amazing that people still talk about it. For me, Luke and Laura became as much as a burden as an advantage. Whenever I go on a talk show, they run that clip. It’s like having your high school picture dragged out every time you meet someone. I appreciate it was a seminal moment for daytime. But personally it was not a wonderful time for me. It’s difficult for me to appreciate it the way other people do. Plus, I had that awful ‘80’s ‘fro!” However Geary had nothing but praise for Laura’s portrayer, Genie Francis. “When Genie looked up at me, I really felt like somebody. She gave me romance. I gave her danger. That was the gift we handed each other without realizing it,” Geary said.
It was reported in May that Geary would be leaving the show. His last episode aired today on ABC.
Credit: INFevents.com