When General Hospital's Anthony Geary (Luke Spencer) took an extended leave of absence last year for back surgery, fans wondered if he'd ever return to Port Charles. But viewers weren't the only ones: the actor admits that he also questioned whether or not he'd be able to return to the role he originated in 1978.

WABC's Sandy Kenyon sat down with Geary for a revealing interview in which the Utah native opened up about his invasive back surgery and the fears he had about no longer having the strength or vitality needed to play Luke.

"Back surgery is always scary, because you have to sort of learn to walk again. Your balance is off," he explains, adding that he was "very fearful" that he'd have to permanently call it quits at GH.

Fortunately, Geary managed to find the strength to return this past November, and he was welcomed back with an exciting -- yet exhausting -- dual role storyline. "I was in a lot of pain during that period, and I was starting to worry that I wasn't going to be able to give it what it deserved, because I've loved this material so much," he says of the Luke/Fluke storyline.

In fact, the current material is a twist he's been hoping for since the early Luke and Laura (Genie Francis) days. " Luke came from a dark place; I really wanted to explore the darkness," he says.

Though back on the canvas, Geary still has six to eight hours of physical therapy each week, which GH has generously accommodated.

Meanwhile, fans can look forward to a special appearance by WABC's Kenyon, who will be playing a guard on the Monday, February 9 episode.

What do you think about Geary's long road back to GH? How devastated would you have been had he not been able to return? Share your thoughts in our Comments section below, on our message boards, or by submitting Feedback.