Anthony Geary’s Last ‘General Hospital’ Episode Airs

Anthony Geary‘s final episode playing Luke Spencer on ABC soap opera General Hospital aired on Monday, bidding the actor and the character goodbye.

Anthony Geary’s ‘General Hospital’ Exit

Geary’s final moments on General Hospital saw him, as Luke, at the docks in Port Charles. “I’m leaving Port Charles, Sonny,” Luke said to Maurice Benard‘s character. “For good.” Luke also said goodbye to his daughter Lulu, whose mother Laura (Genie Spencer) had told her, “Your dad and I said goodbye a long time ago.” But Luke did give Lulu a letter marked “Angel” to give to her mother before heading off into the fog, saying, “Goodbye, Port Charles. Good luck to you.”

Geary, who has been on and off the show since 1978, revealed back in May that he’d be leaving the soap opera for good.

“I’m just weary of the grind and have been for 20 years,” the eight-time Emmy winner told TV Insider. “I really don’t want to die, collapsing in a heap, on that GH set one day. That wouldn’t be too poetic.”

Geary had shot his last episode of General Hospital June 23, effectively retiring from the soap opera he had been a part of for 37 years. During his last day on the set, the actor was shown a video montage of his highlights on the show as well as well wishes from the cast and crew.

“Thank you for the best acting partnership I’ve ever known,” said Francis, who’d long starred as Geary’s love interest on General Hospital.

In a statement after wrapping up his final scenes, Geary expressed his excitement at what the future could hold.

“I’m excited to raise the curtain on act 3, to reinvent myself in my new home to pursue whatever opportunity there may be,” Geary told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s an exciting prospect to me. They’ve done a wonderful job of wrapping up the character. So this seems like the ideal time to go.”