Anthony Geary
Anthony Geary (born May 29, 1947) is an American actor.[1] He is known for playing the role of Luke Spencer on the ABC daytime drama General Hospital. He originated the role of Luke in 1978 and received a record eight Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series[2][3] prior to his retirement.[4] 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).
Anthony Geary | |
|---|---|
Geary in April 2013 | |
| Born | May 29, 1947 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–2015, 2017 |
Early life
Anthony Geary was born May 29, 1947, in Coalville, Utah, a son of a contractor father and homemaker mother.[5]
Career
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.[6]
He played George Curtis, who was a rapist, in The Young and the Restless from August to November 1973 and in 1978 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.[7]
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.[8][9] 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.[10]
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.[7] However, due to poor feedback from the viewing public, the character was killed off and Geary resumed the role of Luke in 1993.[7] 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,[8] and his third in 2000. He received another nomination in 2003, and had his fourth win in 2004.[11] When Geary won for the fifth time in 2006,[9][11] he set the record for the most lead actor wins.[7] Geary received another Emmy nomination in 2007, and in 2008, he again set a record for most lead actor wins with his sixth[12] Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.[13]
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 and former on-screen wife Tracy (played by Jane Elliot).[14][15]
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
| 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 (Also played by Geary in a Dual Role) | 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
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Soapy Award | Best Actor | General Hospital | Won | [16] |
| 1981 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [17] |
| 1981 | Soapy Award | Best Actor | General Hospital | Won | [16] |
| 1982 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [18] |
| 1982 | Soapy Awards | Best Actor | General Hospital | Won | [16] |
| 1983 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [19] |
| 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 | [20] |
| 1998 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [21] |
| 1999 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [22] |
| 1999 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Outstanding Lead Actor | General Hospital | Won | [23] |
| 2000 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [24] |
| 2000 | Soap Opera Digest Award | Outstanding Lead Actor | General Hospital | Won | [25] |
| 2003 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [26] |
| 2004 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [27] |
| 2006 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [28] |
| 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 | [29] |
| 2008 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [30] |
| 2009 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [31] |
| 2012 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [32] |
| 2015 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Won | [33] |
| 2016 | Daytime Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | General Hospital | Nominated | [34] |
References
- ^ . Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on December 29, 2012.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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]
- ^ Zumberge, Marianne (May 8, 2015). "Anthony Geary to Exit 'General Hospital'". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Anthony Geary profile, filmreference.com; accessed August 31, 2014.
- ^ "Anthony Geary biography". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c d West, Abby (March 31, 2008). "Tony Geary Reflects on 30 Years of GH". Entertainment Weekly. ew.com. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ a b "Lucci Gets Her First Emmy". The Seattle Times. seattletimes.com. Associated Press. May 22, 1999. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "We got it all on UHF: An oral history of "Weird Al" Yankovic's cult classic".
- ^ a b "Photo Gallery". LA Times. Los Angeles Times. June 4, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ . Gold Derby. Los Angeles Times. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ "Backstage at the Daytime Emmys Brings Laughs, Tears". TV Guide. June 21, 2008. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Clifford, Kambra (January 17, 2019). "GH's Anthony Geary regrets the "combative" nature he had while working". Soap Central.
- ^ 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!
- ^ a b c . Celebrating The Soaps. celebratingthesoaps.net. Archived from the original on March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ . Soap Opera Digest. New York City: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
- ^ Clark, Kenneth R. (June 12, 1982). "Daytime Emmys Inspire Emotions". Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: E. W. Scripps Company. p. 155. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ . Soap Opera Digest. New York City, New York: American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on August 18, 2004. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 11, 1998). "ABC tops Emmy noms". Variety. Los Angeles, California. from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "Lucci wins!". The Day. New London, Connecticut: The Day Publishing Company. Associated Press. May 22, 1999. p. 8. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "'General Hospital' named favorite soap at awards". The Argus-Press. Associated Press. February 28, 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ^ Bernstein, Paula (May 22, 2000). "'Million' mints Emmy". Variety. Los Angeles: Penske Business Media. from the original on December 25, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "'General Hospital' wins 5 honors". The Vindicator. Associated Press. March 11, 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
- ^ "Nominees for Daytime Emmys". USA Today. Tysons Corner, Virginia: Gannett Company. Associated Press. March 12, 2003. from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "DeGeneres wins Emmy for best talk show". Today.com. New York City: NBCUniversal. Associated Press. May 28, 2004. from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Bonawitz, Amy (February 11, 2009). "34th Annual Daytime Emmy Winners". CBS News. New York City. from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (June 21, 2008). "Ellen DeGeneres, Tyra Banks Win Daytime Emmys". People. New York City: Time Inc. from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2013.
- ^ "The 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award Nominations". New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. May 14, 2009. from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
- ^ "Daytime Emmy Awards 2012: The Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. New York City: Prometheus Global Media. June 23, 2012. from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
- ^ . 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.
- ^ "The 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). New York: emmyonline.org and National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. March 24, 2016. (PDF) from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
External links
- Anthony Geary at IMDb
- Anthony Geary at The Interviews: An Oral History of Television