Jonathan Jackson, the actor famed for playing Lucky Spencer on the long-running American soap General Hospital, has delivered an emotional and heartfelt tribute following the death of his on-screen father, Anthony Geary. Geary, who portrayed the iconic Luke Spencer, passed away at the age of 78 earlier this week in Amsterdam.
A Father in the Arts: Jackson's Heartfelt Homage
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, a heartbroken Jackson shared a lengthy post honouring Geary, whom he described as one of his 'closest friends' and akin to 'family'. Jackson, who has played Geary's son on the show since 1993, included nostalgic photos of the pair from events like the Hollywood Reporter's First Annual YoungStar Awards in 1995 and the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in 2012.
"My heart is broken at the news of Tony’s passing," Jackson wrote. "There are no words to express what he meant to me personally." He praised Geary's unparalleled talent as an actor and artist, noting his relentless pursuit of truth and humanity in his work, and highlighted his spellbinding one-man play, Human Scratchings.
Jackson reflected on Geary's character, stating, "He lived through the height of fame and never lost his humor, his compassion and grace." He emphasised Geary's role as a mentor, saying, "He was my father in the arts... He took me under his wing with a depth of grace, respect and belief that I certainly didn’t deserve." Jackson concluded his moving tribute by affirming, "He was family. I love you Tony."
The Legacy of Luke Spencer
Anthony Geary's death was confirmed by his husband, Claudio Gama, to TV Insider. Geary passed away this past Sunday following an operation three days prior. Gama's statement read, "It was a shock for me and our families and our friends. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband."
Geary became a television superstar in the late 1970s and early 1980s through his role as Luke Spencer opposite Genie Francis's Laura Webber. The duo were branded a 'supercouple' and drove massive ratings for the programme. Their on-screen wedding in 1981, which featured a special appearance by Elizabeth Taylor, drew a staggering 30 million viewers, making it the highest-rated hour in American soap opera history.
Despite initial controversy over a 1979 storyline where Luke raped Laura, the characters' romance captivated audiences. Geary's performance earned him a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor before his retirement in 2017, after which he lived in the Netherlands with Gama.
From Utah to Iconic Soap Star
Born in Coalville, Utah, in 1947 and raised by Mormon parents, Anthony Geary won a scholarship to study theatre at the University of Utah before moving to Los Angeles. His early career included supporting roles in TV shows like All in the Family and The Partridge Family, and a stint on the soap Bright Promise.
He joined General Hospital in 1978 for what was intended to be a 13-week stint, but the audience's immediate connection with Luke Spencer turned it into a decades-long legacy. Reflecting on his unexpected status as a sex symbol, Geary once told Soap Opera Digest, "I didn’t set out to be a sex symbol... But if the public finds that attractive, who am I not to be a sex symbol?"
Anthony Geary is survived by his husband, Claudio Gama. The world of daytime television mourns the loss of a true icon, whose impact on the genre and on those who worked with him, like Jonathan Jackson, remains profound and enduring.
