Leslie Charleson, Long-Running ‘General Hospital’ Castmember, Dies at 79

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Actress Leslie Charleson, known for her role as Monica Quartermaine in General Hospital, passed away at the age of 79.

On Sunday, it was announced on the official Instagram account of the ABC daytime soap opera ‘General Hospital’, that Charleson had passed away. This news was credited to executive producer Frank Valentini.

As a dedicated gamer, I feel compelled to share some sad news. With a sense of profound loss, I’m talking about the departure of my cherished comrade and fellow cast member, Leslie Charleson. For almost five decades, she graced the screens of General Hospital, leaving an indelible mark that echoes even beyond her time on the show. Just like Monica was the beating heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch to us all, cast and crew alike. I’ll miss our daily conversations, her sharp humor, and her magnetic energy on set. On behalf of everyone here at General Hospital, I extend my deepest condolences to her family during these trying times.

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A cause of death was not given, though she reportedly had been battling an illness for some time.

Since 1977, Charleson has been portraying the character of a cardiologist named Quartermaine at a hospital that is frequently seen on a soap opera. Her performance earned her four Daytime Emmy Award nominations, two Soap Hub nominations, and four Soap Opera Digest nominations. In 2010, there were reports suggesting that her role was reduced to a recurring one. Despite this, she remained a part of the show, with her last appearance being in December 2023, making her the longest-serving cast member on the show.

Born on February 22, 1945, in Kansas City, this individual kick-started her career on the ABC daytime drama ‘A Flame in the Wind’ in 1964. In the subsequent two years, she made an appearance on ‘As the World Turns’, followed by a role in the CBS soap ‘Love Is a Many Splendored Thing’ between 1967 and 1973.

In her early career, she appeared as a guest star in shows such as The Wild Wild West, Adam-12, Emergency!, Mannix, Ironside, Happy Days, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Rockford Files.

Throughout her professional journey, she made appearances in several productions. These included a science-fiction film titled “The Day of the Dolphin” from 1973, where she acted alongside Shelley Winters. In 1971, she starred in the television movie “Revenge!”, and in 1993, she was featured in another TV movie, this time opposite Deirdre Hall, titled “Woman on the Ledge.

More recently, she guest-starred on Dharma & Greg (2001) and on Friends (2004).

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2025-01-13 03:55