General Hospital fans are in for a heartfelt trip down memory lane as the show pays tribute to Anthony Geary, the eight-time Daytime Emmy winner who passed away on December 14. The series will re-air Geary’s emotional farewell as Luke Spencer, giving viewers a chance to celebrate his nearly 40-year legacy in Port Charles. This special episode highlights the lasting mark he left on daytime TV.
General Hospital to air Luke Spencer’s final episode as tribute to Anthony Geary
On January 1, ABC will re-air the July 27, 2015, episode of General Hospital that featured Luke Spencer’s final appearance (via TV Insider). This will give fans a chance to revisit the hour-long storyline that wrapped up Anthony Geary’s legendary run.
Geary first joined the show in 1978, briefly left in 1983, returned as Luke’s lookalike cousin Bill Eckert from 1991–1993, and then reprised Luke until retiring in 2015, with a final cameo in 2017.
The farewell storyline delved into Luke’s darker side. Starting in 2014, his personality took a sharp turn, earning him the nickname “Fluke” from fans. Luke’s increasingly erratic actions and criminal behavior had viewers wondering if Bill Eckert had returned.
Key moments, including a bomb on The Haunted Star and Luke’s stay at Shadybrook, ultimately revealed the truth. Luke’s dark behavior stemmed from long-suppressed trauma, including his mother’s accidental death and killing his abusive father in self-defense.
After his psychological unraveling, Luke reunited with Laura (Genie Francis) and joined in daring rescues of loved ones from Helena Cassadine (Constance Towers). Back in Port Charles, his personal and legal battles reached a climax, leading to a heartfelt farewell.
Luke returned to his childhood home, confronted his past, and made the difficult choice to leave town, stepping into an uncertain future on his own. In 2022, Tracy told us that Luke had died in a cable car accident in Austria, and Victor Cassadine had something to do with it.
The January 1 re-airing not only celebrates Geary’s lasting impact on General Hospital but also gives fans a chance to revisit Luke Spencer’s defining moments. As one of the show’s most influential characters, Luke helped shape its legacy and played a key role in making the series a fan favorite for decades.
