COUPLE: Luke Spencer ">SHOW: GENERAL HOSPITALRANK: 1PLAYED BY: "Luke:" Anthony Geary"Laura:" Genie FrancisYEARS: 1978-1982, 1983, 1984, 1993-2002, 2006, 2008STORY:Nurse Bobbie Spencer (Jacklyn Zeman) was determined to split up Laura and Scotty Baldwin (Kin Shriner). Since everyone knew Bobbie hated Laura, she enlisted the help of her brother, Luke. Luke and Laura had instant chemistry, and Bobbie continued her manipulations, but eventually Laura and Scotty were married anyway. When Laura needed money to help pay for Scotty's law books, she borrowed it from Luke. To pay the money back, she began working at the Campus Disco he managed. The two had an attraction and grew closer, but one night Luke forced himself on Laura, raping her. The aftermath was messy and complicated (obviously) but eventually the feelings shared between Luke and Laura turned into love. As Laura moved away from Scotty, Luke and Laura's lives turned into a series of love on the run adventures.After surviving mobster Frank Smith, Luke marrying Frank's daughter (Jennifer), Laura's divorce from Scotty, Mikkos Cassadine, the Ice Princess and much more, Luke and Laura were finally married. Unfortunately, Mikkos' widow, Helena (Elizabeth Taylor), placed a curse on the couple and it wasn't long before Laura disappeared. Luke became Mayor, had more adventures with Robert, Holly, Jackie and others, then Laura returned alive (having been kidnapped) and, in 1984, Luke and Laura left town. In 1993 they returned to Port Charles with their son, Lucky, in tow. Over the next several years, they dealt with the Smith and Cassidine families, including Jennifer Smith (now Roseanne Barr), had another child (daughter Lulu), found out about Laura's son, Nikolas, and faced a crisis in their family when Lucky learned about the rape. Sadly, in 2002, Laura began to lose touch with reality and slipped into a catatonic state. Luke married Tracy Quartermaine. Laura came out of it briefly in 2006 then relapsed, again again in 2008 when Lulu joined her at Shadybrook. Luke is currently pursuing a potential relationship with Anna Devane while fans wait, and wonder, if Laura will ever return.IMPACT:Luke and the Laura captured the imagination of the audience and helped GENERAL HOSPITAL achieve new heights in the ratings, not only in total viewers, but in young, passionate viewers. The show had been increasing in the Nielsen ratings thanks to some other unforgettable couples (Rick and Lesley, Alan and Monica) so the foundation was there. But Gloria Monty used Luke and Laura and their growing popularity to put GENERAL HOSPITAL and Daytime Television in a whole new stratosphere. They were one of Douglas Marland's many creations in this countdown, taken over by new head writer (Pat Falken-Smith) in 1979.Luke and Laura (and Geary and Francis) were everywhere in the early 1980s. In a 1981 cover story, "Newsweek" called GENERAL HOSPITAL "TV's Hottest Show". Their impact went well beyond the Daytime press, and even beyond the typical Primetime press. GENERAL HOSPITAL was a pop culture phenomenon celebrated across the country on college campuses, in music on the radio ("General Hospi-tale" anyone?), and in merchandise. Luke and Laura covered "TV Guide", "Us", "Star", "People"; made television appearances on MERV GRIFFITH, JOHN DAVIDSON, FRIDAYS, etc.; and were talked about at water coolers in offices, on the street, in the classroom, and by the media around the world.Luke and Laura's 1981 wedding was watched by nearly 30 million viewers, a record for Daytime TV that still stands to this day. For his work, Anthony Geary is the most awarded actor in Daytime Emmy history, winning seven times. Genie Francis was finally honored with a win for her work during the 2006 return appearance. They share seven Soapy/Soap Opera Digest Awards between them, and have wins and nominations from many other magazines and media outlets from "Afternoon TV" to the TV Land Awards.CLASSIC CLIPS:- SOAPNET'S 'LUKE ">Share your thoughts on Luke and Laura in our "Comments" section below or on our MESSAGE BOARD.RELATED:- 50 GREATEST SOAP OPERA ACTORS: THE COMPLETE LIST- 50 GREATEST SOAP OPERA ACTRESSES: THE COMPLETE LIST- THE COMPLETE LIST: 25 BIGGEST BLUNDERS IN DAYTIME SOAP OPERA HISTORY
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