Luke Spencer

Luke Spencer
Anthony Geary as Luke Spencer
General Hospital character
Portrayed by	Anthony Geary
Duration	1978–84, 1993—
First appearance	November 1978
Created by	Douglas Marland
Introduced by	Gloria Monty
Book appearances	Robin's Diary The Secret Life of Damian Spinelli
Spin-off appearances	Port Charles General Hospital: Night Shift
Classification	Present, regular
Profile
Aliases	Lloyd Johnson Dr. von Scheemerman
Occupation	The Haunted Star Owner Con artist Kelly's Diner Co-Owner Luke's Club Co-Owner Luke's Place Co-Owner Mayor of Port Charles Campus Disco Owner Mobster
Residence	The Metro Court Hotel 1420 Courts Lane Port Charles, New York
Family Family Spencer Parents Tim Spencer Lena Eckert Spencer Siblings Bobbie Spencer Pat Spencer[1][2] Spouse Laura Spencer (1981–2001, 2006)[note 1] Tracy Quartermaine (2005–10, 2010–11) Children Lucky Spencer Lulu Spencer Ethan Lovett Grandchildren Cameron Spencer (adoptive) Jake Spencer (legal) Aiden Spencer Ben Westbourne Aunts and uncles Fred Eckert Ruby Anderson Nieces and nephews Lucas Jones (adoptive) Carly Corinthos Jacks B. J. Jones (adoptive) First cousins Bill Eckert Jenny Eckert

Lucas "Luke" Lorenzo Spencer Sr. is a fictional character in the American television soap opera General Hospital, and has been played by Anthony Geary since 1978. Geary holds the record for most Daytime Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work as Luke.^[3][4] He is currently the show's third most tenured character after Monica Quartermaine, Scott Baldwin, and Bobbie Spencer.

Casting

Anthony Geary was originally hired for a 13-week stint on General Hospital, which eventually grew into a full contract role.^[5] Geary received Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1980, 1981, and had his first win in 1982.^[6][7] Geary was nominated again in 1983, before leaving the show in 1984.

In 1991, Geary returned to General Hospital as Luke's cousin and look-alike Bill Eckert, due to the actor's desire to play something other than Luke.^[5] However, due to audience feedback and demand, the character was killed off and Geary resumed the role of Luke in 1993.^[5] Geary was nominated in 1997 and 1998 for Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor, and had his second win in 1999,^[6] and his third in 2000. He received another nomination in 2003, and had his fourth win in 2004.^[8] When Geary won for the fifth time in 2006,^[7][8] he set the record for most lead actor wins.^[5]

Geary has been known in later years for his annual long vacations from the show.^[9] As Geary explains to Entertainment Weekly, "That's my contractual situation. There came a point where they really couldn't offer me more money in negotiations. I've made a very fine living and I'm grateful for that. But what they could offer me would be more time. So what's happened is that through the years I've eked out what I think is an ideal situation. I have a minimum number of shows, 31 weeks a year, and the rest of my time is my own.^[5]

Geary received another Emmy nomination in 2007, and in 2008, he again set a record for most lead actor wins with his sixth^[10] Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.^[11] Also in 2008, Geary made a guest appearance on the General Hospital spin-off General Hospital: Night Shift.^[12]

Having received his last nomination in 2009, Geary again set a record in 2012 with his seventh win for Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series.^[3][4]

Storylines

Background

Luke Spencer was born and raised in Port Charles, New York to a low-income family near the docks. Luke, who was street smart, would constantly defend his sister Bobbie when they were growing up. Luke’s father, Tim, was an alcoholic. He regularly beat both Luke and Bobbie as well as their mother Lena. One day Lena was suffering from appendicitis, Tim watched as she lay dying. Finally he asked Luke to call an ambulance, but it was too late and Lena died, and Tim walked out on his kids. Luke befriended Lila Morgan Quartermaine, who was planning to adopt both orphans, but both left town and moved in with their aunt Ruby Anderson, a prostitute who lived in Florida. Soon Bobbie, who was 14 years old, began to work in the same profession.

1978–2002

In 1978 when Bobbie, who was now a nurse, was trying to separate Laura Webber and Scott Baldwin, needing help she called on the help of her big brother Luke. After one of their schemes lead to Laura being in a car accident, Luke refused to be part in any scheme that would hurt Laura, and he eventually fell in love with her. Laura soon began working at the Campus Disco run by Luke. The disco was a cover up for Luke, who was involved in many criminal activities with Frank Smith, was very distraught one night and got intoxicated at the disco club, eventually leading him to rape Laura.

Laura began to fall in love with Luke but due to Luke’s involvement in the mob, Luke was pressured into marrying Frank Smith’s daughter, Jennifer. Luke then told Laura to reveal her rape to Scott, which she refused. Scott eventually discovered Luke’s indiscretion and assaulted him on a yacht, in which Luke fell overboard and was presumed dead. Luke resurfaced and he and Laura began a new life. The only obstacle was the mob, in which the couple tried to send Frank Smith to jail. When that failed, the couple posed as newlyweds and was on the run from Smith’s men. Eventually they discovered evidence and Smith was put away for criminal activities. After that, Luke and Laura made love and returned to Port Charles where the press constantly attacked Laura. To defend herself, she referred to herself as “Mrs. Scott Baldwin” forcing Luke to end their relationship.

Scott left Laura and Port Charles. Luke and Laura both coincidentally moved into the same apartment complex and soon both began working for Edward Quartermaine at ELQ. Edward sought out a diamond named the Ice Princess, which was also pursued by the Cassadines, who were planning on using it in a formula to create a snow machine to take over the world.

Luke met a secret agent named Robert Scorpio who worked for the WSB a government agency that was out to stop Mikkos Cassadine and his brothers. Luke soon teamed up with Robert and headed to the Cassadine compound on an island off the coast of Venezuela. They soon found out Laura stowed away with them.

Together the trio were soon joined by actress Tiffany Hill in their journey to defeat Mikkos Cassadine. After their struggle to defeat Mikkos and his ice machine, Laura got a divorce from Scott and the couple was set to be married.

Luke and Laura were married on November 16, 1981, in a lavish, public ceremony officiated by the mayor of Port Charles at his official residence. The marriage brought an end Laura and Bobbie’s feud and the two have since become close friends. Mikkos’s widow, Helena Cassadine, arrived in town and placed a curse on the couple, blaming Luke and Laura for her husband’s death.

The couple left town only to later return in 1993 with their 10-year-old son, Lucky Spencer. On August 8, 1994, Laura gave birth to daughter Lulu Spencer. Months later, mobster Sonny Corinthos killed Frank Smith and obtained his territory thus befriending Luke. Unfortunately, this friendship almost cost Laura and Lulu’s lives in 1995. In 1996, a young woman name Carly Roberts arrived in town as a physical therapist and slowly found her way into the Spencer family. Months later in May 1996, Lulu was diagnosed with aplastic anemia and was in dire need of a bone marrow transplant. Luke was shocked when 16-year old Nikolas Cassadine arrives in town and was revealed to be Laura’s son with Stavros Cassadine conceived when Laura was held captive. Nikolas’ bone marrow was a match and saved Lulu’s life. Soon after, Nikolas and his uncle Stefan moved to town, therefore ending the Spencers’ marriage. Luke then discovers that Carly Roberts was actually Carly Benson, Bobbie’s daughter that she gave up years ago during the time she was a prostitute. Luke kept the secret but constantly blackmailed Carly. After Bobbie divorces Tony after catching Tony and Carly in bed, and married Stefan. The marriage however is short-lived due to Luke’s attempt to kill Stefan.

Luke and Laura faced emotional turmoil when Lucky discovered that Luke raped Laura. Lucky then began to date Elizabeth Webber, who had also been raped at the age of 15. In 1999, Lucky was presumed dead, causing Luke and Laura to end their long separation with a divorce. In 2000, it was revealed that Lucky was indeed alive and that Helena Cassadine had held him captive. Luke and Laura joined forces to search for their son and rekindled their feelings for each other. Their reunion was incomplete due to Luke's relationship with Felicia Jones during that time.

Realizing that she and Luke were really over, Laura began a new relationship with her first husband Scott Baldwin, making Luke jealous, but did nothing to try to get her back. After months of dragging their feet, the couple officially divorced in 2001, shortly before their 20th wedding anniversary. Afterwards, Scott asked Laura for her hand in marriage. Luke found out and was devastated, but told Laura he wanted her to be happy. However, Laura painfully declined Scott's marriage proposal. When Luke found out, he used the opportunity to try to get Laura back and become a family again. Luke surprised Laura with his own re-marriage proposal. Luke romanced Laura for months, convincing her that they belonged together. Eventually, Laura agreed to marry him again. By 2002, Luke and Laura had reconciled and made plans to remarry. Unfortunately, Laura was sent to a mental hospital after recovering the memory of murdering her stepfather Rick Webber on the night the remarriage was due. Laura left the canvas in 2002.

2005—

Luke then married Tracy Quartermaine after a drunken night in Vegas. Their marriage eventually blossomed but was interrupted in 2006 when Laura re-awakened thanks to Robin Scorpio’s medical aid. Luke’s niece, Carly, was preparing to marry Jasper Jacks on the same day Luke and Laura were planning on remarrying, which was exactly 25 years after their first marriage. Carly and Jax gave their entire wedding to Luke and Laura, who had a lavish wedding. Unbeknown to Laura, they were wed by an actor not a real Reverend, therefore making their marriage invalid.

On November 22, Laura slipped back into her catatonic state but told her daughter Lulu that she does not believe she killed Rick in 2002. After Luke realized that Laura had left him, he exited the room and cried. Luke then faced more issues when Lulu discovered Luke raping Laura but Lulu was calmed down by Carly and eventually forgave Luke. After gaining his daughter’s forgiveness, he was unable to break the union of Lulu and Scott Baldwin’s son, Logan Hayes.

Tracy and Luke then decided to attend the Cassadine’s Black and White Ball, which was dedicated to a deceased Alan Quartermaine. At the party, Luke experienced a near-fatal heart attack and required surgery. Luke initially refused to do so but finally completed the surgery after having a discussion with Lulu. Luke was given a clean bill of health in January 2008, in which he had enough time to say good-bye to Skye Chandler.

That year in August, Lulu murdered Logan Hayes and was slowly becoming mentally unstable. Laura then re-awoke in time to protect her daughter from an enraged Scott Baldwin. As revenge towards Luke, Scott revealed to Laura that Luke had been married (illegally) to Tracy all those years from the time she slipped into a catatonic state. Laura eventually was reunited with Luke and the couple bid farewell as she moved to France and shared one last kiss. Luke then reconciled with Tracy on December 31, 2008.

On January 15, 2009, Luke catches a thief trying to rob the Haunted Star, Luke’s property gained back in 1984. Ethan was eventually revealed to be the creation of Luke’s one night stand with Holly Sutton, whom Luke shared many adventures with during General Hospital’s golden age. Luke was later kidnapped by Helena Cassadine but was held captive until September 30, 2009, in which Lulu and Ethan rescue him and bring him and a sick Helena Cassadine back to Port Charles. Luke also discovers that Elizabeth Webber, who is planning on remarrying his son, Lucky, is having an affair with Nikolas. Helena reveals to Luke that Mikkos’s long-lost son, Valentin, is planning on returning to Port Charles to wreak havoc on the Spencer and Cassadine families.

In March 2010, Ethan is accused of assaulting Sonny's daughter Kristina Davis. Luke believes Ethan when he swears that he didn't hurt Kristina, and persuades him to remain in town while Lucky and his partner Dante Falconeri investigate Kristina's story, all while warning Sonny, who is contemplating putting a hit out on Ethan, to stay away from Ethan. His friendship with Alexis Davis, Kristina's mother, becomes strained due to this. On April 2, Kristina is beaten again, but this time, the truth comes out that she was attacked by her boyfriend Kiefer Bauer on both occasions. However, Kiefer is hit and killed by a car that same night, and Ethan is suspected and arrested due to damage to his car. However, Alexis confesses that she had accidentally hit Kiefer while taking Kristina to the hospital, and Ethan is released. However, Ethan, furious that he had been falsely accused again, blows up on Kristina at the hospital and is forcibly removed. After calming down, Ethan leaves to apologize to Kristina, and Luke declares to Lucky that, while Ethan probably should apologize, everyone else in Port Charles, including Kristina herself, should line up and apologize to him first.

On May 13, 2010, Sonny finally apologizes to Luke for accusing and trying to kill Ethan for a crime he didn't commit. Though reluctant to forgive Sonny for impulsively accusing his son and trying to kill him, Luke nonetheless sympathizes with his currently-strained relationship with his children.

In June 2010 Luke admitted to Tracy that they were never legally married. After jumping through many hoops from Tracy, they were married (legally) in front of their friends and family on December 22, 2010. In February 2011 Luke was at Sonny's wedding to Brenda. He was there when the Limo blow up and held Sonny back like he did for Sonny's wedding to Lily. On March 28, Luke is discovered to be the one who hit Jake, much to his horror. Though Lucky accuses him of drunk driving, Luke firmly insists that he was not. When later confronted by Jason, Luke, having been expecting him, is resigned to his fate and even gives Jason his gun to use on him; however, Jason refrains from pulling the trigger at the last second.

On May 24, 2012 Luke and Tracy discover Anthony Zacchara's dead body at the boat house. Luke and Tracy were both arrested for the killing of Anthony Zacchara. At the Haunted Star on June 21, 2012 Luke finds Heather Webber evesdropping on him and she later yanks him with a beer bottle, causing him to fall down to the ground, where she later held him hostage at a shack in the woods. On July 23, 2012 Anna Devane finally finds him, but when she found him the shack was on fire. Later Heather shows up and knocks Anna out, then Anna strikes back by fighting her back and later put her in handcuffs. When Anna frees Luke from the fire, Heather pulls out a gun and aims at her. She pulls the trigger and Luke steps in the bullet's path, taking a shot in the shoulder. He is rushed to General Hospital in critical condition, and is gradually stabilized before undergoing emergency surgery.

In the November 12, 2012 episode Robert Scorpio revealed he had been imprisoned in Turkey.

See also

• Luke and Laura
• Supercouple

External links

• General Hospital at ABC.com

Notes

References