Anthony Geary’s Husband Claudio Gama Shares New Tribute to the Late General Hospital Actor: ‘He Will Always Be Missed’

Claudio Gama is remembering his late husband, Anthony Geary, following his death on Dec. 14.

Geary, best known for his role as Luke Spencer on General Hospital, died at 78 from complications from a Dec. 11 operation, TV Insider reported.

Gama issued a statement to the outlet on Dec. 15: “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.”

On Monday, Dec. 22, Gama penned a heartfelt message on Instagram, sharing how their family said their “last goodbyes to Tony” in Amsterdam.

“He is now resting up where the stars shine bright, he will always be missed, his love, his life, his art speaks for itself,” he wrote. Gama added that he, their cat, Max, and their family “would like to thank all of Tony’s friends and colleagues for the wonderful support and respect you have shown Tony.”

Gama also thanked all of Geary’s fans, “for the wonderful words of support and condolences.”

“He always told me everything he did as an actor as an artist was for his fans,” Gama wrote. “Without your love and support he would have never reached the heights he did in his career.”

Gama noted how acting was Geary’s “passion,” adding that his other passions included “dancing, singing, drinking cola, payday candy bars and cats.”

“He loved his country and his second home of Amsterdam thank you all,” Gama wrote. “Rest in Peace our Tony.”

The Instagram tribute included photos of Geary smiling in Amsterdam, as well as two photos of his photo on the kitchen table, with Max sitting nearby.

Geary, who won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor eight times, retired from General Hospital in 2015. After his retirement, the couple moved to Amsterdam. The pair had been living part-time during Geary’s later years on the soap opera.

“I’m excited to raise the curtain on act 3, to reinvent myself in my new home to pursue whatever opportunity there may be,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2015. “It’s an exciting prospect to me.”

Following the news of his death, General Hospital executive producer Frank Valentini issued a statement to PEOPLE. “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken” over the news, Valentini began.

“Tony was a brilliant actor and set the bar that we continue to strive for,” Valentini said. “His legacy, and that of Luke Spencer’s, will live on through the generations of GH cast members who have followed in his footsteps. We send our sincerest sympathies to his husband, Claudio, family, and friends. May he rest in peace.”

ABC Entertainment noted in a separate statement that Geary’s performance as Luke Spencer “helped define General Hospital and daytime television.”