General Hospital star Leslie Charleson, 79, dies as US soap boss issues heartbreaking statement
Leslie Charleson, the beloved actress who portrayed Monica Quartermaine on American soap opera General Hospital for nearly five decades, has died aged 79.
The star passed away on Sunday morning after a long illness, according to an announcement from the show’s executive producer Frank Valentini.
Charleson, who joined the ABC daytime drama in 1977, was the longest-serving cast member of General Hospital, making her final appearance in December 2023.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague,” Valentini said in a statement shared on the show’s official Instagram account.
Charleson had faced significant health challenges in recent years, experiencing several falls that affected her mobility and required her to use a walker.
Despite these setbacks, sources close to the actress noted that her spirit remained undiminished.
She was hospitalised last week following another fall, Variety reported.
Her health issues had increasingly limited her appearances on General Hospital in recent years, though she continued to be mentioned in storylines as being “upstairs in the Quartermaine mansion”.
Her final appearance on the long-running soap opera came in December 2023.
During her tenure on General Hospital, Charleson earned four Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Her portrayal of Monica Quartermaine, a cardiologist at the fictional hospital, spanned more than 2,000 episodes.
One of her most impactful storylines came in 1994 when her character battled breast cancer, a plot that resonated deeply with viewers.
Her character was known for dramatic storylines, including love triangles and family conflicts within the wealthy Quartermaine dynasty.
In 2010, Charleson’s status on the show was reduced to recurring, though she continued to make appearances for over a decade afterwards.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1945, Charleson began her television career at age 19 in the ABC soap opera A Flame in the Wind.
She went on to appear in As the World Turns and Love Is a Many Splendored Thing between 1966 and 1970.
Throughout the 1970s, she made numerous guest appearances on popular American television shows, including The Rockford Files, Marcus Welby, M.D. and Happy Days.
On the latter programme, she notably played divorcée Dorothy Kimber, who shared the first on-screen kiss with Ron Howard’s character Richie Cunningham.
She also appeared in the 1973 film The Day of the Dolphin alongside Shelley Winters.
Tributes poured in following the announcement of Charleson’s death, with Valentini highlighting her lasting impact on the show.
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It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, @lesliecharleson. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/p7mhN9ccO5
— Frank Valentini (@valentinifrank) January 12, 2025
“Just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew,” he said.
The executive producer noted he would particularly miss “our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set”.
Her portrayal of Monica Quartermaine was praised for bringing both comedy and drama to the role, including her character’s trademark habit of slapping other characters.
“I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set,” Valentini added in his tribute.