New Delhi, Dec. 15 -- Anthony Geary, the award-winning actor who played Luke Spencer on the long-running soap opera General Hospital died on Monday at the age of 78.

Geary's husband, Claudio Gama, confirmed the actor's death to TV Insider, saying, "It was a shock for me and our families and our friends. For more than 30 years, Tony has been my friend, my companion, my husband."

The 78-year-old died of complications during a medical procedure.

The actor's first role was in an episode of Room 222. He went to play small parts in All the Family, Dan August, and Mod Squad among others in his early career.

Geary's breakthrough, however, came in 1978, when he was cast as Luke Spencer on ABC's soap opera General Hospital.

Spencer's romance w...