‘General Hospital’ Star Leslie Charleson Dies at Age 79

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It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Leslie Charleson, a beloved member of the General Hospital family, who played Dr. Monica Quartermaine for almost five decades on the popular soap opera. This loss was confirmed by the show’s executive producer, Frank Valentini.

Valentini used social media platform X to share the news about Leslie Charleson’s demise. The cause of death remains undisclosed, but Valentini’s post primarily emphasized on Leslie’s character Monica Quartermaine, whom he referred to as “‘the soul’ of the Quartermaine clan.” He also conveyed that Leslie was deeply cherished by the entire cast and crew. In recent years, Charleson had been absent from General Hospital, last making an appearance on the daytime drama in December 2023. It was reported that she faced a string of falls which impacted her mobility significantly, and she was admitted to the hospital a week before her passing.

Although her character was mentioned without her physically appearing on the show, Charleson would contribute her voice to the soap, making it seem as if Monica was speaking over the phone with other GH characters. The show creatively depicted Monica as still being present, but they found ways to explain why she wasn’t visible on camera, often by having her away at a medical conference or simply resting upstairs in the expansive Quartermaine mansion.

Leslie Charleson Has Been a Mainstay in Soap Operas Since the 1960s

Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri in 1945, the actress known as Charleson embarked on her acting journey in soap operas with a brief stint on A Flame in the Wind in 1964. Subsequently, she joined As the World Turns in 1966 and later moved to Love is a Many Splendored Thing. However, it was when she took over Patsy Rahn’s role as Dr. Monica Quartermaine on General Hospital in 1977 that Charleson landed the career-defining part, cementing her status as a living legend within the genre.

Upon joining the series, “General Hospital” was among the least-watched soap operas on television. However, following Charleson’s arrival and a shift towards the Quartermaine family, the show started experiencing a turnaround in ratings, eventually becoming the most-watched soap opera on TV. For her portrayal of Monica Quartermaine, Charleson was nominated for four Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category in 1980, 1982, 1983, and 1995.

Initially disliked due to her predecessor’s abrupt exit (allegedly fired), Charleson’s portrayal of Monica Quartermaine eventually won over fans, notably for her character’s romantic journey with Alan Quartermaine (played by Stuart Damon). Despite their frequent arguments and Monica’s multiple affairs, their love story continues to captivate the audience. The characters separated numerous times but officially remarried in 1991 and remained together until Alan was written off in 2007. In 2010, Charleson’s role on the show was reduced to recurring, yet with over 2,000 episodes under her belt, she remains the longest-serving cast member on General Hospital.

In numerous cherished narratives, Charleston stood out, yet none seemed to strike a chord as deeply as when Monica was diagnosed with breast cancer during the mid-’90s. This tale has been hailed as one of the most impactful by ‘General Hospital’, and due to her prominence at the time, Charleston became a significant figure in raising breast cancer awareness. The show portrayed this story with genuine emotion and authenticity, a departure from the more dramatic, exaggerated storytelling commonly seen in soap operas.

I’ve been a long-time fan of “General Hospital,” and it’s truly heartbreaking to see the show endure yet another series of losses. The departures of beloved characters such as Epiphany Johnson, played by Sonya Eddy since 2006, Bobbie Spencer portrayed by Jackie Zeman for an impressive 45 years, and Drew Cain/Jason Morgan, brought to life by Billy Miller from 2014 to 2019, have left a significant void.

Sadly, Billy took his own life in 2023 after bravely battling bipolar depression for many years. It’s hard to imagine the show without such a talented and dedicated actor. Most recently, our hearts go out to Johnny Wactor, who played Brando Corbin from 2020 until his untimely death in 2022 at just 37 years old. His life was tragically cut short during a senseless act of violence involving three individuals trying to steal his catalytic converter.

These losses have struck our “General Hospital” family hard, and we continue to mourn each one deeply.

Farewell, Leslie Charleson. Our sympathies are extended to her loved ones, acquaintances, and admirers as they navigate through these challenging moments.

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2025-01-13 19:31