Geary exits 'General Hospital' Anthony Geary is leaving 'General Hospital' after nearly three decades | Fox News SearchSign in to comment!LoginFox News HomeWatch LiveTrendingVideoWatch LiveShow ClipsNews ClipsFN Radio LivePoliticsPolitics HomeElectionsExecutiveSenateHouse of RepresentativesDefenseJudiciaryScandalsCongress To-Do ListU.S.U.S. HomeCrimeTerrorismEconomyImmigrationDisastersMilitaryEducationEnvironmentPersonal FreedomsRegionsOpinionOpinion HomeTodd StarnesJudith MillerJuan WilliamsKT McFarlandDr. Keith AblowKarl RoveRic GrenellEntertainment[FOX411] HOMECelebrity NewsMoviesTVMusicStyle[FOX411] VideoTechTech HomeGadgetsGoogleSocialMilitary TechSmartphonesVideo GamesSlideshowsScienceScience HomeArchaeologyAir & SpacePlanet EarthWild NatureNatural ScienceDinosaursSlideshowsHealthHealth HomeMen's HealthWomen's HealthChildren's HealthAlternative MedicineDiabetesHeart HealthAllergiesNutrition & FitnessTravelTravel HomeSlideshowsIn 5 GuidesLifestyleLifestyle HomeAutoFood & DrinkReal EstateRecipesWine with MeWorldWorld HomeU.N.ConflictsTerrorismDisastersGlobal EconomyEnvironmentReligionScandalsRegionsSportsSports HomeFootballBasketballHockeyBaseballCollege SportsTennisNascarGolfMore SportsStatsOn AirOn Air HomeA Healthy You & Carol AltAmerica's News HQAmerica's NewsroomCavutoFox FilesFox & Friends FirstFox & FriendsFox & Friends WeekendFox News SundayGeraldo Rivera ReportsGretaHannityHappening NowJustice with Judge JeanineL&L: The Real West#mediabuzzOutnumberedRed EyeShepard Smith ReportingSpecial ReportSpecialsSunday Morning Futures with Maria BartiromoThe Cost of FreedomThe FiveThe Journal Editorial ReportThe Kelly FileThe O'Reilly FactorThe Real Story w/ Gretchen CarlsonWar StoriesMore from Fox NewsFox NewsFox BusinessFox News LatinoFox News GoFox News RadioFox NationFox News InsiderFox NewsFox BusinessFox News LatinoFox News GoFox News RadioFox NationFox News InsiderMenuHomeFox411 [FOX411] HOMECelebrity NewsMoviesTVMusicStyleVideoThen and NowAnthony Geary is leaving 'General Hospital' after nearly three decades Published May 09, 2015Associated Press Facebook0 Twitter0 Email Print Nov. 16, 1981. Anthony Geary portrays Luke Spencer, left, and Genie Francis portrays Laura Spencer on "General Hospital." (The Associated Press)Actor Anthony Geary, whose character Luke Spencer's marriage to Laura in 1981 on "General Hospital" was the biggest moment in daytime television history, is leaving the soap opera after nearly three decades in the role. It was Geary's decision to leave, and he'll be written out of the ABC show for an episode that will air later this summer, executive producer Frank Valentini said Friday. "Anthony is our friend and a part of our television family, but, as difficult as this may be, we understand and respect that this is his choice," Valentini said. More than 30 million people tuned in to watch Luke marry Laura, considered a storybook event despite the creepy backstory of Laura falling in love with her rapist. Actress Genie Francis, who played Laura but hasn't been on "General Hospital" since 2013, will return this summer to participate in the story of Luke's exit, ABC said. Geary, 67, began playing Luke in 1978 but left the show in 1984. He returned in 1991 but, tired of the character, played Luke's lookalike cousin. Audiences didn't like it, however, so the cousin was killed off and Geary resumed playing Luke in 1993, and has remained with the show since then. Geary told TVInsider.com that he was "weary of the grind and have been for 20 years. "There was a point after my back surgery last year where it became clear to me that my time is not infinite," he said. "And I really don't want to die, collapsing in a heap, on the 'GH' set one day." Geary said he wasn't retiring, however. He spends much of his nonworking time in a second home in Amsterdam, and said he's looking forward to spending more time there. ABC wasn't saying Friday how Geary's unsavory character will be written out of the show. Geary said he thought suicide was an option but didn't think the audience or network would stand for it. "If I were in his place, I'd go to Tibet or Nepal on some kind of spiritual journey, even though he's an atheist," Geary told TVInsider.com. "He needs to be at peace." Advertisement ON OUR RADAR Gigi's bikini birthdayTMZ Megan Fox goes blondeRadar Online Selena shows off curvesTMZ Lohan's a hot messRadar Online Sarah's sexy snapsTMZ Trending in Entertainment 1Is Victoria Beckham the hotel guest from hell? 2'Big Bang' season finale shocker 3Anthony Geary is leaving 'General Hospital' 4Mila Kunis proud to be Stay-at-Home mom 5Best and worst celebrity beach bodies (okay mostly best) See all Trends Advertisement AROUND THE WEB William and Kate -- Royal Subjects Fooled By Princess Doppelganger (PHOTOS) Lindsay Lohan -- No Sleep in Brooklyn ... 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