General Discussion

niyad

(129,607 posts) Tue Dec 16, 2025, 08:35 AM Dec 16

Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer on General Hospital)

While reading about the SF cable car accident, I happened to see a headline that said Anthony Geary had died. Now, many people would not recognize the name, unless one was a fan of "General Hospital", and knew the Luke Spencer character.

The reason I am posting this is the connection between Rob and Anthony. In the fifth episode of season 1 of "All In The Family" "Judging By Covers", Tony played Mike's friend Roger, a person Archie assumed to be gay because of his dress and mannerisms. He isn't. Archie is shocked to learn that his own friend Steve, is. That episide of All In The Family was apparently the first time an openly gay character appeared on television.

Anthony also died on December 14, from complications from surgery. He was also 78. Not reading anything into it. I just found it interesting, parrtly because I had been talking about that very episode quite recently, about judging by appearances.

9 replies

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Rob Reiner and Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer on General Hospital) (Original Post) niyad Dec 16 OP

I posted the Luke & Laura theme song by Christopher Cross (Think of Laura) in the Music Appreciation forum eShirl Dec 16 #1

Thank you. niyad Dec 16 #2

To close the circle, Geary is suvived by his husband. WhiskeyGrinder Dec 16 #3

Yes niyad Dec 16 #9

That's an incredible coincidence bucolic_frolic Dec 16 #4

Remembering watching All in the Family with my Dad, BlueKota Dec 16 #5

I remember my college roommate would watch GH everyday, mysteryowl Dec 16 #6

"Judging By Covers" is one of my favorite episodes of All In The Family eShirl Dec 16 #7

It was one of mine as well. That episode aired in February, 1971. Geary niyad Dec 16 #8

eShirl

(20,086 posts)

1. I posted the Luke & Laura theme song by Christopher Cross (Think of Laura) in the Music Appreciation forum

Reply to niyad (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 08:40 AM

Dec 16

R.I.P. Anthony Geary
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1034156297

niyad

(129,607 posts)

2. Thank you.

Reply to eShirl (Reply #1)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 08:41 AM

Dec 16

WhiskeyGrinder

(26,362 posts)

3. To close the circle, Geary is suvived by his husband.

Reply to niyad (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 08:43 AM

Dec 16

niyad

(129,607 posts)

9. Yes

Reply to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #3)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 10:01 AM

Dec 16

bucolic_frolic

(54,064 posts)

4. That's an incredible coincidence

Reply to niyad (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 08:43 AM

Dec 16

I recall GH briefly in the early 80s.

And in the Hollywood can make hay out of anything department, or maybe it's not and this is stone-cold true:

https://www.realitytea.com/2025/12/16/genie-francis-felt-anthony-geary-die-sleep/

Genie Francis Felt On-Screen Partner Anthony Geary Die ‘In Her Sleep’
December 16, 2025

By Debbie Krencicki

General Hospital actress Genie Francis is mourning her longtime TV partner Anthony Geary. The eight-time Daytime Emmy Award winner passed away yesterday in Amsterdam.

“This morning I woke up and went into my husband’s arms,” the soap opera star said. “In my sleep, my life was flashing before me and I was afraid of death. An hour later, I received a call from Frank Valentini, [General Hospital’s executive producer]. He told me Tony died.”

“I hadn’t spoken to him in years,” Genie continued on X (formerly Twitter). “But I felt his life end in my sleep last night, and with it a big part of … mine … No star burned brighter than Tony Geary. He was one of a kind.”

In 1981, the wedding of Luke and Laura (portrayed by Tony and Genie) drew an amazing 30 million viewers. To this day, it remains the highest rated episode in American daytime television history.

BlueKota

(5,053 posts)

5. Remembering watching All in the Family with my Dad,

Reply to niyad (Original post)

Tue Dec 16, 2025, 09:03 AM

Dec 16

and General Hospital with my Mom. It's kind of a strange feeling when a celebrity whose work you enjoyed over many years dies. At least for me there is a type of melancholy that comes over me, like I've lost an old and dear friend, even though I never even met, the majority of them. I am still saddened everytime I think of 3 of the Monkees having passed, and still can't believe Julian McMahon, died so young, and suddenly.