Luke Spencer

Luke Spencer
General Hospital character
Portrayed by	Anthony Geary
Duration	1978–84 1993–2015
First appearance	November 20, 1978
Last appearance	July 27, 2015
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	Former; regular
Profile
Other names	Lloyd Johnson Nick Charles Dr. von Scheemerman
Occupation	Con artist Restaurant owner Casino owner Nightclub owner Mayor Club owner Disco owner Mobster
Family Family Spencer Parents Tim Spencer Lena Eckert Sisters Pat Spencer[1][2] Bobbie Spencer Spouse Laura Spencer (1981–2001, 2006) Tracy Quartermaine (2005–11, 2014) Sons Lucky Spencer Ethan Lovett Daughters Lulu Falconeri Grandsons Aiden Spencer Rocco Falconeri Aunts and uncles Fred Eckert Ruby Anderson Nieces and nephews Carly Corinthos B. J. Jones (adoptive) Lucas Jones (adoptive) Valerie Spencer First cousins Bill Eckert Jenny Eckert Other relatives Michael Corinthos Morgan Corinthos Cameron Webber Jake Spencer Dante Falconeri

Lucas Lorenzo "Luke" Spencer, Sr. is a fictional character in the American television soap opera General Hospital, and has been played by Anthony Geary from 1978 until his on-screen exit in July 2015. 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 fifth most tenured character after Monica Quartermaine, Laura Spencer, Scott Baldwin, and Bobbie Spencer.

Casting

Anthony Geary was originally hired for a 13-week stint on General Hospital in November 1978, 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 on December 27, 1983. Geary later reprised the role from October 26 to December 10, 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 on October 29, 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] In May 2015, Geary announced his decision to permanently leave General Hospital, stating: "This show has been a huge part of my life for over half my life and Luke Spencer is my alter ego. But I'm just weary of the grind and have been for 20 years." Geary made his final appearance on July 27, 2015.^[13][14]

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, Patricia and Bobbie as well as their mother Lena. One day Lena was hit in the head with a baseball bat by Luke by accident, and older sister Patricia drove her to the hospital in her father's car which he loved more than his kids and she died at the hospital. Tim told Luke he was just like him, then Luke hit him to death. Luke blocked out the memory until In 2015, his older sister, Patricia Spencer, reveals that Luke had accidentally killed his mother and then killed his father in a fit of rage on April 1, 1963 when he was 15. Luke had been blocking out the memory for decades, with Pat and Bill Eckert helping to keep it a secret. Luke befriended Lila Morgan Quartermaine, who was planning to adopt both orphans (Luke and Bobbie), 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 leads 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 remarriage 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.

2005–2015

In May 2005, Luke married Tracy Quartermaine after a drunken night in Vegas. Their marriage eventually blossomed but was interrupted in 2006 when Laura re-awakened. Luke, unwilling to tell Laura that he was married to Tracy, staged a re-marriage ceremony for Laura, performed not by a minister, but an actor. On November 22, Laura slipped back into her catatonic state. Luke reconciled with Tracy. the family faced more issues when in May 2007, Lulu discovered the history of her mother's rape, from decades before. In October 2007, Tracy and Luke attended the Cassadine’s Black and White Ball, which was dedicated to a deceased Alan Quartermaine. At the party, while looking after Tracy following a fall and injury to her back, Luke experienced a near-fatal heart attack and required surgery. Luke initially refused to do so but finally underwent bypass surgery in December 2007. Luke was given a clean bill of health in January 2008.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 to Tracy since 2005. 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, while both being held as Helena's captives together, Luke admitted to a delirious and ill Tracy that they were never legally married. After becoming engaged at Thanksgiving, Luke and Tracy were married (legally) again in front of their friends and family on December 21, 2010, and leave for a honeymoon trip to Prague. In February 2011 Luke was at Sonny's wedding to Brenda. He was there when the limo blew up and held Sonny back like he did the night Lily died. 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.

Luke's family stage an intervention, to prompt Luke into facing up to his alcohol addiction. After promising to go into rehab, Luke once again gives his loved ones the slip, and flees Port Charles for the summer.

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.

In the fall, Duke Lavery comes to town and Luke is immediately suspicious of this man. He persuades a distraught Anna that they should test his fingerprints. The fingerprints check out due to "Duke" having access to Duke's.? It is later revealed that the man is actually Cesar Faison masquerading as Duke Lavery. Luke flies to Turkey, "Duke" says that he was held prisoner in a Turkish prison, to investigate the mystery man.

Faison is finally revealed as himself in December and the real "Duke" is rescued. In February Anna dumps Luke, believing Luke will always love Laura Webber. Laura and Scott Baldwin return to town and say that they are now engaged. Laura is under the impression Luke has moved on with Anna. Luke figures out that Lulu's present from the Valentine's Party is a knockoff of the Ice Princess. On March 6, Luke goes to see Laura and Scott and tells them that his main suspect is Scott. Scott responds that Luke is only targeting him because Luke can't stand seeing Laura with another man. After Scott says that he will throw him out and then says that he will call security, Luke leaves. Luke goes to the Quartermaine Mansion and talks to Tracy Quartermaine. Laura and Scott go for dinner and they see Anna kissing Duke Lavery. They then head back to the room and they think that Anna is cheating on Luke. However, Laura starts to think that there might be another explanation.

On March 21, Luke Spencer, Laura Webber and Olivia Falconeri go to Dante Falconeri and Lulu Spencer-Falconeri to see the first ultrasound images of their new "grandchild" being carried by Maxie Jones. Lulu receives a gift from her aunt Bobbie Spencer that is ticking. Luke thinks it's a bomb but Bobbie calls and says it's a teddy bear with a clock in it. It was a trap and Lulu goes missing. After Nikolas is shot while trying to say something about Lulu, Luke attempts to put adrenaline into his IV to wake him up. Laura and Bobbie stop him. A new lead comes up when the Haunted Star goes missing. Luke and Laura take off in a helicopter trying to track down the Haunted Star and Lulu. They find the Haunted Star and is subsequently captured by Helena Cassadine and her goons. Luke tells Helena about Nikolas, Laura is forced to call Scott Baldwin's cell, which Natasha "Alexis Davis" Cassadine picks up and Helena is convinced that Nikolas is indeed in dire situation. Helena tries to get Laura to shoot Luke's son Ethan Lovett and then tries to have him kill Luke Spencer. She mentions about the rape, cheating and producing Ethan, trying to inject Nikolas as motivation. Luke is able to get the gun from Laura and shoot couple of Helena's goons and Helena herself. They presumed that Helena is died and sees another boat is coming towards them. They have Ethan leave on another boat. After some struggle, they are transplanted to the Cassadine Island and Laura remembers the room that they are in when they wake up. It is the room that Stavros had her in when she was captive years ago. They get dressed and head to the dining room where they see a much alive Stavros Cassadine on April 10.

Luke, Laura and Dante rescue Lulu from Starvos's ice chamber. Lulu has no memory of any of them and thinks shes married to Starvos. They bring Lulu back to Port Charles and Luke encourages Dante to keep trying to get Lulu to remember. Luke and Laura bonded on their adventure and shared a kiss upon their return to Port Charles. Afterwards, they realized that the romantic chemistry between them was no longer there. Laura went on to marry Scott and Luke wished them well. Lulu is able to get her memories back soon after.

In the weeks that followed, Luke's health began to decline. In May 2013, Luke attempted to revive his relationship with Tracy, who wanted more of a commitment from Luke than he offered, at that time. Luke collapsed while visiting with Tracy, and she had him rushed to the hospital. Luke insisted that he was fine whereas Tracy believed that Luke's consumption of alcohol had caught up with him. At Tracy's insistence, Luke agreed to find out what was wrong and was stunned to learn that he had been poisoned with a rare radioactive substance. After he learned the results, he received a posthumous message from Helena in which she admitted that while he may have killed her, she retained the upper hand in their ongoing game. Helena went on to explain that several months earlier, she had arranged for Luke's earring to be replaced with one that leaked the deadly toxin into his body. Helena's message also included a hint that a cure did exist, but that Luke would not find it in Port Charles.

The Real Luke Spencer

With Anna's assistance, Luke discovered that Jerry Jacks had also been injected with the same radioactive substance, Polonium 210. Although Jerry was presumed deceased, Luke left town with the hope of finding Jerry and a possible cure. Luke's search for Jerry led him to Sean Donely in Ireland and then to Cassadine Island where Jerry resided. When Jerry realized that Luke had also been poisoned, he made Luke his captive and planned to test a small dose of the cure on him. However, Tracy sneaked onto the island and turned the tables on Jerry. With Tracy's help, Luke gained access to the entire dose of the antidote and they escaped. In 2014, Luke finds Carly tied up in the Quartermaine boat house but before he can rescue her Heather has her goons knock him out. Luke is later seen dressed in wig at Miscavige to make him look like Heather Webber from behind. On February 11, 2014, Scott found him in a padded cell. On February 20, Anna rescues Luke and Scott but Luke isn't himself after Victor Cassadine is revived and became the new director of the WSB.

Luke and Fluke

Luke is released from the hospital after being rescued from the Miscavige institute on February 27, 2014. Unbeknownst to everyone, Luke has undergone a radical mental change while he was there. Tracy and Lulu believe he was drugged. On March 6, after his recovery, Luke proposes to Tracy and she says yes, after some thought. He starts taking an sudden interest in ELQ, and decides to work with Tracy. Ned Ashton doesn't trust Luke, due to the fact that Luke tried to kill him after Ned discovered Luke having large sums of money in his office, plus Ned believed that he would ruin ELQ. Ned tries to convince his mother Tracy not to trust him. His pleas fall on deaf ears and she tells him to leave the house. It is soon revealed that Luke is Julian Jerome's bankroller and the true head of the Jerome Crime Family. He wants to use ELQ to fund his drug operation and launder the drug money. He suddenly develops a penchant for younger women and hits on Kiki Jerome many times. Kiki goes to Ned and Michael Corinthos with the information. Tracy and Luke finally marry at the Nurses Ball in May an impromptu ceremony and afterwards Ned reveals that Tracy has been fired as ELQ's CEO, due to the board voting her nephew Michael in as CEO as payback for her marrying Luke. Later, Julian, growing tired of Luke's ambitions and wanting nothing to do with drugs, tells Luke he wants to quit the mob. Luke hires a gunman to shoot his son Lucas Jones and then tries to finish the job while he is at the hospital, but Julian sees him and stops him. On May 29, it was revealed that the real Luke, drugged and weak, is being held at Miscavige. His kidnapper, a Luke look-alike Cesar Faison, brags about his conquests with Tracy and how his family knows nothing about the truth. He then leaves and returns to the city. The kidnapper, now known as "Fluke", soon threatens Spencer Cassadine after he learns that Fluke wants to hurt Uncle Sonny. In January 2015, Fluke was suspected of possibly being Bill Eckert. He denied it several times. However, on February 6, after conspiring to commit mass murder by placing a bomb in the Haunted Starr while it was full of people, it was revealed by the police that the fingerprints of "the man we have in custody", presumably Fluke, are actually those of Luke Spencer. Meanwhile, in his cell, Fluke makes fun of all the fantastic theories people have proposed about his identity. Then, on February 9, 2015, it is revealed that he is the actual Lucas Lorenzo Spencer. He stands trial and is sentenced to Shadybrook after biting off part of Scott Baldwin's ear.

On March 30, 2015, Luke escapes Shadybrook with the inadvertent help of Franco and Nina Clay. His family soon hears that he escaped. They figure out that he left to locate his long-lost older sister Patricia Spencer because she is the only one who knows what is causing his mental break. He finds her in a convalescent home in Pennsylvania and gags her so she won't reveal anything. Later he also holds hostage Tracy, Lulu and Bobbie when they show up at the convalescent home in search of Luke, but Tracy manages to break through his dark persona with words of love and Luke returns to normal. He has a tearful and emotional reunion with both of his sisters, but when some police arrive at the home, he escapes again, not being able to bear the guilt of everything he has done.

On April 1, 2015 he runs away to his old childhood home on Elm Street in order to remember what happened there that caused his breakdown, with Tracy, Lulu, Bobbie and Patricia chasing after him. While there he remembers that on April 1, 1963(the show's premiere date) he accidentally caused his mother Lena's death, and then he killed his father by bludgeoning him with a bat. His father, Tim Spencer, was an abusive husband and father. Luke was trying to stand up to him after years of abuse and lost control, causing the incident. Patricia confirms the story and reveals that she buried their father's body in the house's attic with Bill Eckert's help and then sold the house to him in order to protect Luke. Luke finally breaks down in tears after remembering, has an emotional farewell with his family. Dante Falconeri, Lulu's husband, arrives to arrest him. He escorts Luke out and has him sent to a medical facility to treat his illness.

See also

• Luke and Laura
• Supercouple

External links

• General Hospital at ABC.com

Notes

References