On Friday, February 20, General Hospital will deliver an emotional hour of television as Port Charles pauses to honor the life and legacy of Anthony Geary,

the Daytime Emmy-winning legend who died on December 14, 2025, at age 78. Though his iconic alter ego, Luke Spencer, was written off the canvas in 2022

with an off-screen death, Geary’s passing has prompted the ABC drama to craft a powerful tribute episode that promises to resonate far beyond the fictional town.

Among those at the heart of the memorial is Sonny Corinthos, portrayed by Maurice Benard, whose decades-long history with Geary shaped not only the show’s storytelling but also Benard’s own career trajectory.

A Brotherhood Forged in Fire

Benard joined General Hospital in August 1993, stepping into the role of Sonny just months before Geary triumphantly returned as Luke alongside Genie Francis (Laura) and a young Jonathan Jackson as Lucky. The Spencer family had been in hiding from mob boss Frank Smith, and when they resurfaced in Port Charles, danger followed close behind.

In a twist of fate, Damian Smith appointed Sonny as the liaison between Luke and Frank. What began as a transactional alliance soon evolved into something deeper. Luke and Sonny—two men shaped by the underworld in different ways—found common ground. Together, they conspired to dismantle Frank’s reign, cementing a bond that would ripple through the series for decades.

Behind the scenes, the chemistry between Benard and Geary was immediate and electric.

“From day one until the day he left, Tony and I just had a mutual respect,” Benard has shared. That respect extended far beyond their scenes together.

A Defining Conversation

Early in their working relationship, Geary summoned Benard to his dressing room for a conversation that would change everything.

Geary posed a pointed question: Did Benard want to remain the sidekick—the “Tonto to my Lone Ranger”—or did he want something more? At the time, Benard’s contract was nearing its end. The future was uncertain.

Geary urged him to advocate for himself. “Go upstairs and ask them to give you a family,” he advised.

Benard did just that.

The result was the introduction of Mike Corbin, Sonny’s estranged father, then portrayed by Ron Hale, and the launch of one of daytime’s most iconic romances—Sonny and Brenda, played by Vanessa Marcil. Those storylines transformed Sonny from a mob enforcer orbiting Luke into a fully realized leading man with emotional depth and generational roots.

Without that pivotal nudge, Benard admits he might have left Port Charles altogether.

“What he did for me was incredibly generous,” Benard has reflected. “But that’s who Tony was.”

On-Screen Tension, Off-Screen Affection

Over the years, Luke and Sonny clashed as often as they aligned. Their moral codes differed; their loyalties were tested. Yet beneath the friction lay something akin to brotherhood.

Benard has described the dynamic as sibling-like—distinct from Sonny’s relationship with Jason Morgan, which he likens to an uncle-nephew bond. Luke and Sonny were equals, men who understood the cost of power and the burden of leadership.

That fraternal connection came full circle in 2015, when Geary retired from the series. Benard had the honor of sharing Luke’s final scenes.

“It wasn’t just another day at the office,” he has said. Though the script did not demand overt emotion, Benard found himself holding back tears. The weight of nearly two decades of shared history infused every line.

When Geary left Port Charles for a quieter life in Amsterdam, it marked the end of an era. But the impact of his presence lingered in every corner of the canvas.

A Bittersweet Goodbye

Less than a month before Geary’s passing, a poignant moment bridged past and present. Geary’s husband, Claudio Gama, posted a video of the actor watching and enjoying Benard’s interview with Genie Francis on Benard’s mental health-focused YouTube series, State of Mind. For Benard, it was deeply meaningful—a reminder that their connection endured beyond the soundstage.

Geary’s death so soon after made the moment all the more bittersweet.

Now, General Hospital channels that grief into art.

The tribute episode brings together characters whose lives were forever altered by Luke: Laura, his enduring love; Tracy, his fiery ex-wife; Carly, his niece; and Elizabeth, among others. At the center stands Sonny, grappling not only with loss but with the responsibility Luke once carried.

In a poignant twist, Sonny’s current protective stance toward Laura—shielding her from threats like the nefarious Sidwell—takes on new resonance. It is not merely business. It is personal. Luke was like a brother, and in Luke’s absence, Sonny steps into the role of guardian.

Enemies United in Grief

One of the episode’s most compelling elements is the unlikely unity it fosters. Tracy Quartermaine, who has long harbored a fierce disdain for Sonny, shares scenes with him that transcend their animosity.

“Tracy hates Sonny with a passion,” Benard has quipped. “She’s not his favorite person, either.” Yet in the shadow of loss, old grudges fade. For one hour, rivalry gives way to remembrance.

The script, Benard has revealed, is “beautifully written.” Unlike Luke’s understated 2015 farewell, this tribute embraces emotion fully. Tears are not restrained; they are earned.

The episode underscores what made Luke Spencer singular. He was flawed, fearless, irreverent—a man who could outwit mobsters and woo audiences in equal measure. His adventures—from disco days to international escapades—redefined what a soap opera antihero could be.

A Legacy That Endures

Anthony Geary’s eight Daytime Emmy wins speak to his towering talent, but numbers alone cannot capture his cultural impact. Luke and Laura’s 1981 wedding remains one of television’s most-watched events. His layered portrayal brought humor, vulnerability, and moral ambiguity to daytime in ways that continue to influence storytelling.

For Benard, the tribute is more than an episode; it is a thank-you.

“I could tell it would be beautiful just by reading the script,” he has said. “But then the acting in some of the scenes is beautiful, too. Everybody should watch.”

As Port Charles gathers to remember Luke Spencer, viewers will witness not only fictional characters grieving but real-life colleagues honoring a friend.

In the end, Luke’s greatest legacy may not be the schemes he masterminded or the romances he ignited, but the connections he forged—on-screen and off. Through Sonny’s tears, Laura’s quiet strength, and even Tracy’s reluctant tenderness, the episode promises to remind audiences why Luke mattered.

And as the camera lingers on familiar faces united in shared loss, one truth becomes clear: in Port Charles, legends never truly fade. They live on in the stories they inspired, the hearts they touched, and the characters who carry their spirit forward.

On February 20, General Hospital does more than remember Luke Spencer. It celebrates Anthony Geary—a legend whose light still shines across daytime television.