‘General Hospital’ icon Anthony Geary dead at 78 – three days after planned surgery

Anthony Geary, best known for playing Luke Spencer on General Hospital throughout the 1970s and ’80s, has died at the age of 78.

ABC released a statement that confirmed the actor’s passing. It read: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Anthony Geary, whose portrayal of Luke Spencer helped define General Hospital and daytime television.”

According to reports, Geary died in Amsterdam from complications related to a planned surgical procedure he had undergone three days prior.

During the course of his more than 40-year career, Geary earned eight Daytime Emmy awards as Luke on the aforementioned General Hospital, after first joining the soap in 1978.