General Hospital: Port Charles Says Goodbye to Anthony Geary’s Luke Spencer With Touching Tribute Episode

General Hospital viewers are in for quite the emotional rollercoaster on Friday. Port Charles is finally preparing for touching goodbye as the show honors Anthony Geary and his character, the iconic Luke Spencer.

Today on General Hospital

Soap fans have been waiting for this moment, and in the episode airing Friday, February 20th, a much loved cast member gets the heartwarming and tear-jerking farewell. I feel like we all need to mark our calendars and keep the tissues close for this one, you definitely don’t want to miss out.

This will be a milestone event, and marks a final, formal farewell to a man who didn't just play a role; he defined an entire era of daytime television.

While Luke was officially declared dead off-screen following the Haunted Star explosion back in 2022, this tribute will finally provide the closure that both the characters and the audience have needed for years. I love that the show is finally giving us this moment; it’s been a long time coming, but it’s stacking up to be everything we could hope for.

A Bittersweet Set

As you can imagine the day this was filmed would have been hard for the people both infront of the camera and behind it. From the set designers, production crew, the hair and makeup unit, from the top to the bottom everyone felt how important it was to get this just right. After all they were doing this for all of us.

The gravitas of this moment wasn't lost on the cast at all.

In a recent conversation with TV Insider, Laura Wright (Carly Corinthos) opened up about the emotional atmosphere on set, describing the episode as a "beautiful tribute to Tony." According to Wright, the production was a deeply collaborative labor of love. She warned fans to keep the tissues close, noting that filming was a bittersweet experience. I think it’s incredible that Geary’s influence is still such a "felt" presence at Prospect Studios, even long after his 2015 retirement.

How Do You Define a Legacy?

Luke Spencer’s legacy is unparalleled in soap history. Since his 1978 debut, he grew from an often misunderstood outsider into half of the most famous "supercouple" to ever grace the screen. During his time in Port Charles, Luke was a man of many roles: mayor, mobster, club owner, and father. I have loved looking back at old episodes in preparation for this, whether he was trading barbs with the formidable Tracy (Jane Elliot) or navigating his incredible, and often complicated bond with Laura (Genie Francis), Geary broke all of the traditional "leading man" stereotypes, forever.

While we are watching our favorite soaps, it never occurs to us in the moment that we might be watching someone's final scenes or the end of an era. It takes us by surprise and it feels like we are mourning the loss right along with the rest of the country.

"Anthony Geary is the GOAT. Port Charles isn't the same without that Spencer energy." — Fan tribute on X

The TV landscape is currently flooded with similar sentiments. From Facebook groups to X, a community of fans—some who have been watching since the Carter administration—are united in their grief. One viewer noted that for them, Luke will always be the "heart of the show."

I feel this isn't just another plot point in a long-running serial. It is a necessary celebration of a legend, a final bow for a man who turned a soap opera character into a cultural icon. This is one episode you won't want to miss. Set your DVRs and grab that box of tissues as General Hospital gives us the man, the talent: Anthony Geary as Luke Spencer.

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What are your favorite Luke Spencer moments? Would you like to see a Top Five?In the Comments below tell us how you plan on spending the hour of General Hospital tomorrow? Watch Party with friends or a solo battle between yourself and the tissue box?

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