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Anthony Geary

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Anthony Geary
Geary in 2013
Born (1947-05-29) May 29, 1947 (age 77)
Coalville, Utah, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1970–2017, 2022
RelativesBrendan Steele (nephew)[1]

Anthony Geary (born May 29, 1947)[2] is a retired American actor. Geary is best known for playing the role of Luke Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. He originated the role of Luke in 1978, and went on to earn a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series[3][4] prior to his retirement.[5]

In addition to his role as Luke, Geary had a prominent supporting role in the "Weird Al" Yankovic comedy UHF (1989); other notable films include Johnny Got His Gun (1971), Disorderlies (1987), Scorchers (1991), Teacher's Pet (2004) and Fish Tank (2009).

Early life

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Anthony Geary was born May 29, 1947, in Coalville, Utah, a son of a contractor father and homemaker mother.[6] He was raised a Mormon.[7]

Career

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Geary made his first appearance on television in an episode of Room 222 and later appeared in All in the Family, The Mod Squad, Mannix, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Streets of San Francisco, and Barnaby Jones.

Geary's first daytime role was in NBC soap opera Bright Promise from 1971 to 1972.[8] He also played George Curtis, who was a rapist, in The Young and the Restless from August to November 1973.

In 1978, Geary was hired for a 13-week story arc to play Luke Spencer in ABC soap General Hospital. Luke Spencer began as a hit man and later became a rapist who fell in love with and subsequently married his victim, Laura Webber (played by Genie Francis). His portrayal of Luke Spencer on General Hospital was well received and grew into a full contract role. The 1981 on-screen wedding of his character and Laura Webber holds the record as the highest-rated soap opera episode of all time.[9]

He holds the distinction of winning a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He was first nominated in 1980 and had his first win in 1982.[10][11] Geary was nominated again in 1983, before leaving the show in 1984. Over the next several years, he took roles in various theater and television productions, as well as in several films, but not at the level of success he had hoped for. Despite the popularity of his work as Luke Spencer, filmmakers such as Oliver Stone pigeonholed Geary based solely on the fact that he was a "soap actor". In a conscious effort to distance himself from General Hospital, he actively sought a role in "Weird Al" Yankovic's film debut UHF (1989), that of the quietly eccentric scientist Philo (named for television pioneer Philo Farnsworth). Geary, a fan of Yankovic, went so far as to grow his hair out like Albert Einstein's and stay in character as Philo when meeting the film's casting team; he immediately landed the role.[12]

Anthony Geary holding his 8th Daytime Emmy next to General Hospital Online creator May Lee, April 26, 2015

In 1991, Geary returned to General Hospital as Luke's cousin and look-alike Bill Eckert, due to the actor's desire to play someone other than Luke.[9] However, due to poor feedback from the viewing public, the character was killed off and Geary resumed the role of Luke in 1993.[9] Tony appeared in more than 50 stage plays, including an award-winning one-man show titled Human Scratchings in 1996. He was nominated in 1997 and 1998 for Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor, and had his second win in 1999,[10] and his third in 2000. He received another nomination in 2003, and had his fourth win in 2004.[13] When Geary won for the fifth time in 2006,[11][13] he set the record for the most lead actor wins.[9] Geary received another Emmy nomination in 2007, and in 2008, he again set a record for most lead actor wins with his sixth[14] Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.[15]

Geary set a record in 2012 with his seventh Daytime Emmy win and again in 2015 for his eighth win for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series after 16 nominations for the same role of General Hospital's Luke Spencer. Geary publicly announced on Friday, May 8, 2015, that he would be leaving his role on General Hospital. [citation needed] Geary finished taping his last scenes on the General Hospital set on June 23, 2015.[citation needed] His last air date was July 27, 2015.[citation needed] He later made a cameo appearance on a May 2017 episode to facilitate the retirement of co-star Jane Elliot, who played Luke's former on-screen wife Tracy Quartermaine.[16][17]

An exception to his series of dramatic roles is the part of a scientist/studio engineer in the comedy movie UHF. He also appeared in 1987's Disorderlies, with rappers the Fat Boys.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1970 Room 222 Tom Whalom Episode: "Choose One & They Lived Happily/Unhappily Ever After"
1971 All in the Family Roger Episode: "Judging Books by Covers"
1971 Johnny Got His Gun Redhead
1971–1972 Bright Promise David Lockhart Soap opera
1972 Blood Sabbath David
1972 The Mod Squad Johnson Episode: "Good Times Are Just Memories"
1972 The Partridge Family Greg Houser Episode: "Ain't Loveth Grand?"
1973 Mannix Eddie Decken Episode: "A Way to Dusty Death"
1973 Shaft David Oliver Episode: "Hit and Run"
1973 The Young and the Restless George Curtis Soap opera
1974 Doc Elliot Dennis Graham Episode: "The Carrier"
1974 Sorority Kill Tony
1971–1975 Marcus Welby, M.D. John Gavanelli 2 episodes
1974–1976 The Streets of San Francisco Gary Jelinek / Cajun / Joe Markham 4 episodes
1976–1977 Barnaby Jones Deputy Blake Jeffries / Nelson Mosley / Wilson 3 episodes
1977 Most Wanted Chops Episode: "The Driver"
1978 The Return of Captain Nemo Bork
1978 Project U.F.O. TV Series Darryl Biggs Episode: "Sighting 4010: The Waterford Incident"
1978 Starsky & Hutch Delano Episode: "The Trap"
1978 The Six Million Dollar Man Arta Episode: "The Lost Island"
1978–1984
1993–2015
2017 		General Hospital Luke Spencer
1983 Shaft of Love Doug Hathaway
1983 Intimate Agony Dr. Kyle Richards
1984 Antony and Cleopatra Octavius Caesar
1984 Sins of the Past Lt. Malovich
1984 The Impostor Cade
1985 Kicks Martin Cheevers
1985 Hotel Eli Gilmour / Phil Tanner 2 episodes
1986 You Are The Jury Sam Billings Episode: "The State of Ohio vs. James Wolsky"
1987 P.I. Private Investigations Larry
1987 Disorderlies Winslow Lowry
1987 Penitentiary III Serenghetti
1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam Steve Reynolds
1988 You Can't Hurry Love Tony
1988 Pass the Ammo Stonewall
1988 It Takes Two Wheel
1988 Dangerous Love Mickey
1989 UHF Philo
1989 Night Life John Devlin
1989 Do You Know the Muffin Man? Stephen Pugliotti
1989 High Desert Kill Dr. Jim Cole
1989 Crack House Dockett
1989–1990 Murder, She Wrote Eric Grant / KGB Lt. Fyodor Alexandrov 2 episodes
1990 Sunset Beat Uncredited Role Made For TV Movie
1990 Sunset Beat Uncredited Role Episode: "One Down, Four Up" (TV Series)
1991–1993 General Hospital Bill Eckert Soap opera
1991 Night of the Warrior Lynch
1991 Scorchers Preacher
1993 Whistlestop Girl Andy
1994 Roseanne Luke Spencer Episode: "Suck Up or Shut Up"
1995 Burke's Law Clayton Cole Episode: "Who Killed the Centerfold?"
1998 Port Charles Luke Spencer
2004 Teacher's Pet John / Juan Voice
2005 Carpool Guy Carpool Guy
2008 General Hospital: Night Shift Luke Spencer Episode: "Past and Presence", (Part One & Part Two)
2009 Fish Tank Van Man
2013 Alice and the Monster George

Awards and nominations

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List of acting awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1980 Soapy Award Best Actor General Hospital Won [18]
1981 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [19]
1981 Soapy Award Best Actor General Hospital Won [18]
1982 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [20]
1982 Soapy Awards Best Actor General Hospital Won [18]
1983 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [21]
1993 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor General Hospital Nominated
1994 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor General Hospital Nominated
1997 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [22]
1998 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [23]
1999 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [24]
1999 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor General Hospital Won [25]
2000 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [26]
2000 Soap Opera Digest Award Outstanding Lead Actor General Hospital Won [27]
2003 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [28]
2004 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [29]
2006 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [30]
2006 TV Land Award Most Wonderful Wedding (shared with Genie Francis) General Hospital Nominated
2007 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [31]
2008 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [32]
2009 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [33]
2012 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [34]
2015 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Won [35]
2016 Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series General Hospital Nominated [36]

References

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  1. ^ Q&A: Brendan Steele Archived January 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "The New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012.
  3. ^ "General Hospital's Anthony Geary: "We'd Been Living on Death Row" - Today's News: Our Take". TVGuide.com. July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  4. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards 2015 winners: 'General Hospital' wins big as Anthony Geary takes home record 200th award - Zap2it". Blog.zap2it.com. June 23, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ Zumberge, Marianne (May 8, 2015). "Anthony Geary to Exit 'General Hospital'". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  6. ^ Anthony Geary profile, filmreference.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
  7. ^ "Anthony Geary".
  8. ^ "Anthony Geary biography". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d West, Abby (March 31, 2008). "Tony Geary Reflects on 30 Years of GH". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Lucci Gets Her First Emmy". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.com. Associated Press. May 22, 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  11. ^ a b "DeGeneres, 'General Hospital' win Emmys". MSNBC. msnbc.com. Associated Press. May 3, 2006. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "We got it all on UHF: An oral history of "Weird Al" Yankovic's cult classic". The A.V. Club. March 23, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Photo Gallery". LA Times. Los Angeles Times. June 4, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  14. ^ "Daytime Emmy nominations snub Anthony Geary and (oh, no!) poor Betty White". Gold Derby. Los Angeles Times. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  15. ^ "Backstage at the Daytime Emmys Brings Laughs, Tears". TV Guide. June 21, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  16. ^ Clifford, Kambra (January 17, 2019). "GH's Anthony Geary regrets the "combative" nature he had while working". Soap Central.
  17. ^ Eades, Chris (May 5, 2017). "Jane Elliot Leaving GENERAL HOSPITAL!". Soaps in Depth. In May of 2017, Tracy said goodbye to Port Charles and Elliot said goodbye to GH. But as a special treat, Anthony Geary reprised his role of Luke Spencer for a special cameo to surprise Tracy in a coffee shop!
  18. ^ a b c "The Soap Opera Digest Awards History". Celebrating The Soaps. celebratingthesoaps.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  19. ^ "1981 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  20. ^ Clark, Kenneth R. (June 12, 1982). "Daytime Emmys Inspire Emotions". Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: E. W. Scripps Company. p. 155. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  21. ^ Goudas, John N. (June 4, 1983). "The best on daytime TV won't be seen on daytime TV". The Miami News. Miami, Florida: Cox Enterprises. p. 47. Retrieved May 18, 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ "1997 Emmy Winners & Nominees". Soap Opera Digest. New York City, New York: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  23. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 11, 1998). "ABC tops Emmy noms". Variety. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  24. ^ "Lucci wins!". The Day. New London, Connecticut: The Day Publishing Company. Associated Press. May 22, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  25. ^ "'General Hospital' named favorite soap at awards". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. February 28, 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  26. ^ Bernstein, Paula (May 22, 2000). "'Million' mints Emmy". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Business Media. Archived from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  27. ^ "'General Hospital' wins 5 honors". The Vindicator. Associated Press. March 11, 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
  28. ^ "Nominees for Daytime Emmys". USA Today. Tysons Corner, Virginia: Gannett Company. Associated Press. March 12, 2003. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  29. ^ "DeGeneres wins Emmy for best talk show". Today.com. New York City: NBCUniversal. Associated Press. May 28, 2004. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  30. ^ "Ellen DeGeneres repeats sweep of Daytime Emmys". Kentucky New Era. Los Angeles: Taylor W. Hayes. Associated Press. May 1, 2006. p. 8. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  31. ^ Bonawitz, Amy (February 11, 2009). "34th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners". CBS News. New York City. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  32. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (June 21, 2008). "Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks Win Daytime Emmys". People. New York City: Time Inc. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
  33. ^ "The 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  34. ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. New York City: Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2012. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  35. ^ "The 42nd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Winners". Burbank: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 26, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
  36. ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 24, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
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