Photo: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
Farewell, Luke Spencer!
Geary retired from the role in 2015 after 44 years onGeneral Hospital. He first joined the cast in 1978 and became well-known as one half of the Luke and Laura power couple, going on to win a record eightEmmy awardsfor the role. 2021 marked the 40th anniversary of thecontroversial couple’sonscreen wedding, which drew a record-shattering 30 million viewers when it aired in 1981, perABC News. The episode went down as the “highest-rated hour in American soap opera history,“Newsweekreported.
At the time of this retirement fromGeneral Hospital, an emotional Geary toldEntertainment Weeklythat he was looking forward to the next chapter of his career.
Craig Sjodin/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
“I’m excited to raise the curtain on act 3, to reinvent myself in my new home to pursue whatever opportunity there may be. It’s an exciting prospect to me,” Geary told the outlet. “They’ve done a wonderful job of wrapping up the character. So this seems like the ideal time to go.”
Shortly after his departure fromGeneral Hospital, Geary told the outlet that he wasn’t opposed to returning to the show, albeit briefly. “If the story is interesting to me and it works out, I may come back to the show for six weeks or so,” he said at the time.
Geary played Spencer for the last time on the show in 2017. Ahead of the appearance, he spoke withEWabout the emotions he experienced around no longer being a regular on the show after four decades onscreen.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“It was once very difficult for me to realize that more than likely my obituary in the paper will read, ‘Luke of Luke and Laura fame died today.’ It was very upsetting when I came to that realization,” Geary said.
“It’s been areally exciting ride,” he later added. “In the end, it’s been well worth it.”
General Hospitalcelebrates its 60th anniversary in 2023.
source: people.com
